What Makes On-Hold Marketing Work (and What Kills It)

Not all on-hold marketing is created equal. A thoughtful message makes your business sound polished and helpful. A poor one can do real damage, because callers judge your brand by what they hear.

What kills on-hold marketing

1. Long, rambling messages. If a message takes a minute to get to the point, callers stop listening.
2. Corporate jargon. Callers want plain language, not mission statements.
3. The same message on repeat. Hearing one message three times in a row is worse than hearing nothing.
4. Poor audio quality. Muffled, uneven or tinny audio makes the whole business sound dated.
5. Outdated information. Last season's promotion or old hours tell callers you are not paying attention.
6. An inconsistent voice. If your hold messages sound nothing like your brand, they weaken it.

What makes on-hold marketing work

1. Short segments

Keep each message to roughly 15 to 30 seconds. Short pieces are easier to follow, and a caller who picks up mid-wait still hears complete thoughts.

2. A conversational tone

Write the way your best employee talks to a customer. Speak to the caller, not at them.

3. Variety

Rotate between different kinds of messages so the experience never feels like a loop:

• Product and service highlights
• Answers to common questions
• Customer stories
• Current promotions
• Helpful tips

4. Professional production

A clear voice, clean audio and music that fits your brand change how your business is perceived in the first few seconds.

5. Fresh content

Update your messages as your business changes: new services, new seasons, new offers. Current messaging signals an active, attentive business.

Sound is part of your brand

Businesses put real care into their logo, website and storefront. Hold time deserves the same attention, because for many callers it is the first thing they hear from you.

Put your hold time to work

VoicePrompts AI writes and produces on-hold marketing around what you sell, and keeps it current as your business changes. Start 30 days free and hear what your callers could be hearing.