Product Reviews Site Article Directory » Retain Customers with Music on Hold

11.11.2009 | Author: Kirby Whitehall | Posted in Mobile Phones | Kirby Whitehall has blogged 27 posts other posts by Kirby Whitehall

Music on hold helps to retain customers while they wait, making it an important feature of your phone system, whatever the size of your business. As opposed to hearing silence, customers appreciate music to listen to while holding on the line, and it also minimizes the perceived wait time. You are able to choose music that fits the style of your business, with tailor made play lists, messages and advertisements that entertain and inform customers while they wait.

Many professional phone systems such as Avaya and Aria are already configured to play on hold music, and it can be set up quite easily. If you do not have a phone system for your business, on hold music firms can still set up on hold music or messaging for your business, offering high quality production of original messages and advertisements as well.

Firms offer the best in digital audio processing, professional copywriting of messages and advertisements that you approve, fully orchestrated music that is pleasing to customers, full licensing through ASCAP and BMI, professional voiceover talent, and guaranteed customer satisfaction, among other benefits. A business might think that they can produce their own on hold music, but taking into consideration all that goes into the production, they are probably not able to do so.

Other common shortcuts to on hold music include simply using the radio, but this is not only against the law, for you are not allowed to rebroadcast the radio without a license, but even if it was not illegal, it would take all control of the content away from you. Simply playing CDs, you might think, is a good shortcut, but licensing laws prohibit that as well. Even if you were to produce your own music to play over a CD player or an MP3 player, reliability, sound quality and continuously play issues would arise, so either way, you are best to go with a professional provider of on hold music.

When you offer messages or advertisements on hold, the customers who are waiting will not only hear the same message repeated continually. They will hear different parts of the message so that the on hold time does not become overly repetitive. With the on hold music and voice provider you can have several different messages on a cycle. The purpose of on hold messaging is to reduce perceived hold time for customers, limiting hang ups. Professional firms are in business to keep you customers on the line.

Additionally, on hold advertising offers a chance to build your companies image and encourage sales in areas that customers are not necessarily inquiring about. Some larger firms even sell advertising space to other firms to play while customers are on hold, increasing revenue and building relationships with other businesses.

Costs are not as steep as you might think for on hold music and messaging. Many professional phone systems are equipped for on hold music already, you just need to find the provider. The installation of music on hold is often as simple as plugging a jack into a phone system. Most firms find switching their on hold music and messaging 4 times annually works fine for their needs, but you can choose to switch it more often.

With on hold music and messaging, you will create an enjoyable atmosphere for your waiting customers that will help you retain business and build stronger relationships. Silence can actually make customers feel like they have been waiting for longer than they actually have, so you should avoid it at all costs. Do not underestimate how long your customers have been on hold, for this could be bad for business. On hold music increases satisfaction, reduces hang ups, and lets your customers know you are thinking of them.

About the author: Kirby Whitehall is a telecommunications specialist from Infiniti Telecommunications, who are market leaders in phone systems and phone system services.