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HOW MUCH SERVICE
Once the decision is made to proceed with ONHOLD service, you'll need an idea of how much service and when, if ever, new tapes need to be made. If you opt for analogue service (see glossary pages for more information), tapes must be replaced every 90 days -- to assure good sound quality. The amount and cost of service is dependant on how much you have to say, how often the messages should change, and whether or not the change is due to the introduction of new products, services or the like. |
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AD-COPY TOPICS
There are always lots of potential ideas to talk about and at ONHOLD we tend to see them as groups of ideas like: PRODUCT/SERVICE SALES, CROSS-SELLING, NEW PRODUCT/SERVICES, CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMPANY POLICY and COMPANY INFORMATION. Of course there are a variety of sub-sets, and topics really do vary by industry, by target audience (ie: wholesale vs retail) and by company. A small sample of topics include: products and services, new items, sales, clearance, seminars, trade shows, seasonal products or services website, how-to information, cross-selling, customer service, billing, shipping, credit, warranties, service contracts, location hours, parking, businesses history, awards, staff training and experience.
In our years of service we have developed a number of industry specific "prompt" sheets, designed to help new customers organize topic ideas. Please E-Mail us if you would like more industry specific assistance, but, for more information or for help in establishing a list of topics, please see our CUSTOMER PROFILE PROMPT SHEET -- available here on the website. |
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CUSTOM RECORDING OPTIONS
The number of anticipated new topics over the course of annual service should indicate how often new recordings (custom tapes) are required. However, there are some AESTHETIC questions that you may want to review before determining annual service. The number of messages on a tape or CD, the ratio of music to message, the speed of the read and the content of features and benefits, can all have an effect on your choice of service.
To control costs, we do limit the number of messages per custom session. ONHOLD will write and record up to nine messages per custom recording, but be aware that in a six-minute program base, this is (9) 40-second segments. If your topics "read" at 30 or more seconds, this will be perceived by callers to be near-constant verbage (re:selling) -- an esthetic you will want to avoid.
Finally, your total anticipated annual topic count, divided by nine messages per recording, will give you a strong sense of the number of custom recordings needed per year. ONHOLD is pleased to provide pricing discounts for customers requiring multiple annual custom recordings and service packages for custom tapes change in pricing, per annum, as follows:
Single Semi-Annual Quarterly Bi-Monthly Monthly |
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SWEETENED RECORDING OPTIONS
Not all businesses are alike, and we know it. So at ONHOLD we don't just offer custom service packages, but a mix of custom and sweetened recordings for businesses that need or want some variety, but haven't the new topic demand to warrant the cost of regular custom recordings. Best of all, this mix of services, can significantly reduce the cost of ONHOLD, while providing a good program mix.
A "sweetening" is simply a fresh tape or CD engineered with new music and a changed variety of messages excerpted from an existing custom recording. Since the new recording is being assembled from archived recordings you have already paid for, and ONHOLD has none of the associated ad-copy or voice-over costs, this savings is passed on to you. As a result, a sweetened tape or CD costs a fraction of the cost of the original custom recording.
To best illustrate a mix of custom and sweetened recording service, consider the message demands of the hotel industry. Topic needs vary between spring (Valentine's Day, Mothers Day and Easter promotions) and summer (graduation, vacation/family travel, outdoor pool and class reunion promotions) quarters, while amenities (food service, restaurant and exercise room) almost never change.
A nine-topic, custom recording could cover (3) spring related messages, (3) general amenity messages, and (3) summer messages. The spring tape or CD is forwarded with the first six messages and a second, sweetened tape or CD, is sent three months later with the latter six messages. Instead of two custom recordings, this customer gets one custom and one sweetened recording for two quarters of the annual service. Best of all, this customer is getting two almost distinctly different recordings (remember the music is always new) at great savings.
You can mix and match any combination of custom and sweetened services to arrive at the most cost effective means of achieving message coverage to meet your annual needs. Many small businesses, with limited products and services, and few changes thereof, require only a single custom recording and changes in ONHOLD program are provided as low-cost, sweetened service. Some example annual combination packages are: |
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STANDARD RECORDING SERVICES
For customers who aren't interested in customized messaging, but still want to have a simple "thank you for calling....please hold" message, ONHOLD offers standard recording services. Choosing from a half dozen optional, standard messages (including a "happy holiday" greeting), in your choice of male or female voice-talent or alternating between the two, ONHOLD can forward a standard recording on tape or CD, complete with music, whenever you require. |
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MUSIC-ONLY SERVICES
And for customers who prefer just a music background, we have a wide variety of titles to choose from - including holiday and custom music. Our music-only recording services are available on tape or CD and is a perfect alternative to radio, when a music performance is all you require. |
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For more information, or for help, please call us at 503-224-3766 |
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