In this Section

• Messages On-Hold
• Pricing
• Benefits of Messages-On-Hold
• Equipment
• Easy to Start
• Testimonials
• "On Hold" statistics

How To Get Your Customers To Ask About New Products

Now you can target information on your products and services at your very best prospects: your own customers. 

You've heard our voices and music-on-hold at over 200 Fortune 500 companies and thousands of smaller firms since 1984.

Our subtle, low key phone messages, alternating with licensed background music, educate your customers and stimulate their interest. Our 8 minute long Messages-On-Hold™ programs have room for lots of copy and music, so your customers will stay focused and won't get bored by repetitious phone messages.

The results:

Marketing Messages® will Speak Your Brand®. We've been creating compelling audio for business phone systems since 1984.

Pricing

Messages-On-Hold programs are typically 8 minutes long, and include script writing, voiceovers, background music and a lifetime music license for 1 location.                  There are no monthly or other recurring charges, and updates are easy at any future time. 60 day Full Satisfaction Guarantee.

Click for information. 

Hear Demos & Find A Great Voice

Why Use Messages-On-Hold?

If you want to produce qualified leads, Messages-On-Hold is a powerful tool. Your established customers will start asking about products and services they never brought before. They'll ask about new products you are introducing too.

                    "We plant the seeds, you reap the leads!"

Equipment

Messages-On-Hold programs are played on a digital announcer, connected to the phone system. Some larger phone systems can store the Messages-On-Hold without need for a digital announcer.   

Music on hold connection

All telephone systems support music on hold. With most small business systems, the music source simply plugs into a jack on the cabinet. A few brands require a phone technician to install the music on hold. Look on the phone system's cabinet for a female jack; it's usually marked either "music or "MOH." If you don't see one, ask your hardware vendor. Single line or multi-line telephones without a central system need an adapter to play phone music on hold. Ask us about a music on hold adapter.

It's Easy To Get Started

1. Working from your outline or a rough draft of your copy points, we will email a suggested script to you within 4 days for your approval or any changes.
2. Choose any of our 20+ leading voice talents.
3. Select the background music on hold.

Money Back Guarantee: If you are not 100% satisfied for any reason, just return our system for full credit within 60 days.

Testimonials

UniFirst Corporation
"Your telephone messages have turned into a valuable sales tool for our location managers. Customers are now asking for additional catalogs and inquiring about specific products. Your customer service has also been extremely responsive to all of my company's needs." (used in over 100 offices)
- Raynna

Boston Wireless, Inc.
"The messages on hold you did for us came out great. We have gotten numerous compliments already and I have personally been told "We didn't know you guys did that" by a customer. Sorry we waited so long to get this done!"
- Mike

Lady Fortunes Inc.
“Marketing Messages has proved to be an invaluable asset that I would recommend for any company that wished to immediately improve their image.  Prior to getting Messages on Hold from Marketing Messages, my company had a regular radio playing during the time customers and potential clients were placed on hold. Our rate of people dropping the call and not holding was very high. Since we added the Messages on Hold, our "hang-up" rate has diminished to nearly "0" –people are now happy to hold and comment all the time about the great information we provide while they are on hold. Marketing Messages gives us an unobtrusive way to capture our listeners’ attention and inform them of new products and services that we offer, without making them feel like they're being given a sales pitch. Our business has increased dramatically as a result of people "shopping around" and feeling confident that are we are a reputable company thanks to our professional informative recording!

Thank you so much for providing such a great service –you helped me improve my company image AND you did it in SUCH a short time!”
- Daria

Stewart International Ltd.
"We are 14 years old, but many of our clients are still not fully aware of all the services we provide. Within 24 hours of implementing Marketing Messages Messages-On-Hold, a number of long time clients remarked 'I didn't know you did that.’”
- Christine

Law Office of Richard Hubbard
"I just wanted to let you know that our new phone system is up and running. The telephone messages you provided are working seamlessly, as promised. Thank you for the work you did for us. It is a pleasure to do business with a company that follows through exactly as you promised, providing an excellent end result."
- Sandy

Newport Yachting Center & Hotels
"I recommend working with you because of your excellent customer service and fast pace. You and Cindy have both treated me with patience and courtesy on every occasion, something your competitor has not done. Also, your turnaround time is far faster. It has been a pleasure dealing with Marketing Messages and I am very happy to have found a company that is so easy to work with."
- Lisa

TypeCase, Inc.
"Your on hold phone messages performs its marketing role admirably. Customers have responded positively, and there has definitely been an increased sales response to new services. We have received a much higher return than from direct mail. It is fast, easy, and cost-effective."
- Kent

Electrical Controls, Inc.
"We have achieved many cross-over sales using your system. Most of these incremental sales alone would have paid the cost of your Messages-On-Hold service and the equipment! The biggest surprise to me is how easy it is. It is truly a pleasure doing business with Marketing Messages."
- James

Music Copyright Law 

What are your legal obligations re music on hold?

A.S.C.A.P. is one of four companies who collect royalties for playing music on hold. See bullet #10 at A.S.C.A.P. re playing music on hold.

The following is excerpted from a Better Business Bureau Publication. The full article appears at www.bbb.org.

Music in the Marketplace:
"Who Pays the Piper?" Why Do I Have To Pay Royalties?
The short answer to this question is: "Because the law says you do." But, clearly, some further explanation is needed as to why, for example, a merchant has to pay to play radio music in his or her store, when playing the radio or listening to tapes at home or in one's car is "free."

Generally speaking, public performances are very broadly construed under the law and are defined as performance "at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." This has been interpreted to mean that most performances at so called private clubs and fraternal organizations are "pub­lic" under the Copyright Law.

Early versions of the copyright law limited the exclusive right to performances given "publicly for profit." Today, however, the "for profit" limitation has been repealed and only an explicit list of exempt performances do not require a license from the copyright owner. These include perfor­mances by instructors or students in the course of face to face teaching activities of non profit educational institu­tions, performances of music in the course of religious services at a place of worship, and performances by the /'public reception of a transmission on a single receiving / apparatus like those commonly used in private homes when no charge is made to hear or see it and the perfor­mance is not further transmitted to the public.

Given the broad scope of the protection given copyright holders and those assigned their rights, anyone whose business in one way or another performs music for its customers or members should be aware that they may be called upon by one or both of the major performing rights organizations to license the performance of copyrighted works in their respective repertories. And buying a license ­from one organization, say BMI, does not protect a business from liability for unauthorized performance of songs in ASCAP's or SESAC'S repertories.

A list of places and events at which licensing could be required including, but is not necessarily limited to: restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels where live or recorded music is played; shopping malls; stores that play broadcast or recorded music; spas, gyms or other sites that offer exercise to music; trade shows; conventions; dance stu­dios; skating rinks; private clubs or fraternal organiza­tions; factories; summer camps; schools; and offices and stores that use "music on hold” for telephone customers.

This Better Business Bureau Publication has been made possible, in part by grants from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).

"On Hold" statistics: Take Them With A Grain of Salt

You'll see statistics on many on-hold companies' websites with dramatic claims of customers suddenly buying much more. And that without on-hold music and messages, large percentages of customers will hang up and go elsewhere.

Are they credible? We don't think so. You decide, but be very skeptical.