What is "advertising on hold"?
It's known by many names (advertising on hold, music on hold, on hold marketing, etc.) but advertising on hold is a simple concept: an entertianing and informative audio production that your callers listen to while they wait on hold.
The idea is to let your caller know more about what you provide, and get them to ask for more information. Messages on hold are very effective in helping you get the message to your callers.
Read more about the "What" of advertising on hold.
How Advertising on Hold Works
The "how" of ads on hold is quite simple: your music and message program is played into a special circuit on your phone system, callers will hear that audio program when they are placed on hold.
The hardware that plays the audio program is commonly called a "digital repeater". A digital repeater is a specially designed unit that plays an audio file (most take MP3's these days) in a constant loop from digital memory. There are a variety of digital repeaters, offering a range of memory capacities and media options. They all take an audio file and transfer it into Flash memory with no (or few) moving parts. Read about the digital repeaters we offer.
The phone system feature that allows callers to hear an auio program is called Music on Hold, or MOH. If you currently have a radio you're ready to go. Most business phone systems have MOH. Read more about phone systems and music on hold.
Most 2- to 4-line "systems" sold at Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy, etc., do not have the MOH function. However, you can get an after-market adapter that will give you MOH. View a list of phones we can adapt.
Read more about the "How" of advertising on hold.
Why Advertising on Hold Works
Advertising on hold works because it targets a very specific demographic, a group of people who are very interested in your products and services, a group that wants to give you their money: Your customers! Don't waste this prime sales opportunity.
Let Captive Audience advertising on hold gently remind callers about your best features and benefits. Build your business every time you push the hold button.
...or How I Made $250,000 by Saying One Word, One Time
By mentioning in our messages that we also do video production we expanded our services to one of our ads on hold customers, and established a long relationship that has generated over a quarter million dollars in business.
So often we overlook the simple things in marketing that can net such huge results. Advertising on hold. Simple and effective.
Read more about the "Why" of advertising on hold.
3 Things to Look for When Shopping for Ads on Hold
There are 3 areas you'll need to address to get started with any advertising on hold service.
1. Does your phone system provide on hold message capability?
If you have a business phone system with a KSU you should be fine. The function you're looking for is called, MOH for music on hold.
2. What's the best type of message on hold player?
Using a player with Flash memory is best, this reduces or eliminates the number and frequency of moving parts. CD players have moving parts, and that's not good.
3. Should you buy a production or subscribe to a service?
If you have a product that never changes, and your clients and vendors don't call very often, buying is a good option. However, if you change your product line or offers, have frequent repeat callers, or want to use ads on hold to grow your business, then subscribe. When you put flowers in a vase, it's best to keep them fresh.