
On Hold Company's CEO Bryant Wilson was elected vice-chairman of the On Hold Messaging Association's board of directors.
We are pleased to announce that our CEO, Bryant Wilson, has been elected vice-chairman of the board for the On Hold Messaging Association for 2013-2014.
The On Hold Messaging Association is our industry trade organization that ensures member companies maintain the highest standards in all aspects of their audio marketing businesses. On Hold Company is proud to be a part of this elite group of providers. Wilson said the board is looking forward to growing its membership in the coming year.
“OHMA members are the top providers in the industry,” Wilson said in a news release. “We network and share ideas about how to use new technologies to increase the quality and value of audio marketing.”
At the annual OHMA conference earlier this month in Nashville, Wilson gave a presentation to fellow members on technology tools that can boost efficiency and collaboration within their companies. He featured applications such as DropBox for file sharing, SalesForce for CRM and a host of mobile apps to help boost productivity.
“They’re great options for smaller companies that can’t invest in expensive infrastructure,” Wilson said. “Managing a growing business is never easy, but new technologies make the task easier by streamlining operations without breaking the budget.”
Read the full press release here.
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Online reviews from customers can build trust in your business. Be sure to include some of those reviews in your on-hold messages as well. (iStockphoto)
From movie producers to your employees, everyone loves receiving positive feedback. Besides just boosting your ego, positive reviews from your customers can be a boon to your business, if you know how to take advantage of them.
In today’s business climate, you don’t have to wait for JD Power or Consumer Reports to endorse your product anymore. The Internet, and especially social media, gives anyone and everyone a platform to share their experience with your products and services. And they are sharing their opinions, making customer reviews free and plentiful. Customer Reviews Help Build Trust in Your Brand
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Just like a good fitness routine doesn't focus on one body part, a good marketing and customer service strategy takes a well-balanced approach. (iStockphoto)
When you go to the gym, you don’t just work on building your biceps. Well, maybe you do, but it’s not the best strategy to achieve total fitness.
No, a good fitness routine needs a well-balanced approach to the entire body.
In the same way, a company’s marketing and customer service need a well-balanced approach to reach customers and clients at all possible touch points.
Mobile seems to be eclipsing even social media as the latest marketing and customer service trend. And why not? Everyone is doing just about everything with a smartphone these days. Take an ‘All-Over’ Approach to Your Marketing and Customer Service
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Leaders at more companies should follow Marissa Mayer's example of paying close attention to their on-hold marketing.
When Yahoo’s new CEO, Marissa Mayer, complained that her company’s on-hold music was “garbage,” she got results. Yahoo’s callers now hear a specially recorded ditty from New York’s Jingle Punks:
“You’re on hold, hold on Yahoo, gimme a second while I patch you through . . . The CEO didn’t like da’ hold music, so I wrote this jam for you” and, “Yes, it’s Yah – Yahoo!”
Mayer approved, as did contributors to tech blogs and readers at Yahoo’s forum. But what does a company do when it can’t command that sort of high-level talent? Find a full-service on hold service provider with the expertise to create custom on-hold messages that meet your marketing objectives and build a positive audio brand for your company. Bad Music Is A Customer Service Problem
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Don't let fear keep you from utilizing one of your best marketing options — the hold button on your telephone. (iStockphoto)
Fear of change is a basic human trait. It’s also a trait of many businesses, especially large ones.
In the past year alone, I have observed numerous companies that opted to stick with the “status quo” concerning their on-hold messages instead of looking at what was best for their businesses.
Let’s break it down like this: If you were shopping for a new vehicle to drive your children around in, would fear of change factor into what you drove? Probably not. More than likely, your decision would be based on the credentials of the brand (Ford, Chevy, Mercedes-Benz, etc.) — things like performance and safety, for example. Choosing an On-Hold Messaging Partner Isn’t Scary
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On-hold messaging and proper training will help your receptionist make positive first impressions with visitors and callers alike. (iStockphoto)
It’s unlikely Will Rogers was thinking of an office receptionist when he said: “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression,” but that’s a truism every business should take seriously. Your receptionist is the public face of your organization and often the first employee customers encounter in person or by phone. Some companies even have this job title for their receptionists: “Manager of First Impressions.”
But what if she (this is a traditionally female occupation) is trying to do a minimum of two things at once: greet a walk-in customer and handle a ringing phone? Deciding who takes priority is the classic “receptionist’s dilemma,” and your business needs a plan to resolve it. Solving the “Receptionist’s Dilemma”
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On-hold messages can be an extension of your customer service team just as much as they are an extension of your marketing team. (iStockphoto)
Are you scrambling to be all things to all people when it comes to customer service? There’s a lot of that going around. Here’s a piece of advice that should help: put the people ahead of the platform.
Customer service is, after all, pretty self-explanatory. It’s about serving the customer.
If you’re thinking about moving the bulk of your customer-service efforts to social media outlets, here’s something to consider before cutting the cord on traditional channels, like telephone support. How to Use On-Hold Messages for Customer Service
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Startup businesses are nimble and purposeful in what they do. They can teach companies of any size some things about marketing, including on-hold messages. (iStockphoto)
Chicago’s business community is experiencing a confluence of large, well-established corporations and small tech startups. So it has become a great microcosm for studying things like marketing.
A recent roundtable at the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center addressed marketing lessons that all businesses could learn from startups. Four Marketing Lessons From Startups
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On-hold marketing from On Hold Company can help your business stay on course by keeping connected with callers. (iStockphoto)
Marketing can be tough for any business to navigate. The Internet and social media have dramatically changed the marketing landscape. Audiences are more fragmented now, and messages live and die at a faster pace. It’s enough to keep the most experienced marketer’s head spinning, much less the owner of a start-up or small business who might want to extend their marketing efforts. On Hold Company Can Help You Plot a Course for Success
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