Music on hold licensing, as boring and annoying as you may think it is, is actually big business. As much as you might want to play your favorite music for your phone callers while they’re stuck on hold, it’s more complicated than buying a few of your favorites on iTunes and putting them on your mp3 player. The moment you start thinking about hooking that mp3 player up to your phone system, you also have to think about making sure you’re doing it legally.
Music on hold licensing is easy, but not cheap
When it comes to using music on hold legally, you have a few choices. First you can pay the ASCAP (SESAC, BMI, etc.) music on hold fees. For an annual fee of just a few hundred dollars a year but at least you’re legal. Another option is to purchase “royalty free” music. There are lots of websites that offer it, but you’re not going to find your favorite hit from your favorite star. You’ll end up paying for music you really don’t want, and your callers don’t want to hear. There’s got to be a better solution, right?
Some phone systems come with their own music on hold included. Recently a very successful CEO from a Greenwich, CT company got a new phone system with computer generated hold on music that he said was so annoying it was making his callers hang up. He needed a better solution, too.
More than just music on hold
You can have more than just music on hold, for less than the cost of licensing music. We all know that your customers and prospects don’t call be to be entertained by music. They’re calling because they want your help. They want information. They want to find out if you can help them. So why not start informing them? Turn your “on hold” time into a chance for your callers to learn more about what you do, and why they should work with you and not your competition.
Why would you want to play the radio, or even your favorite mp3’s for your callers to hear when you can accomplish more, for them, and for your business?
When you just play music on hold on your phones, you’re losing an opportunity to help your customers better. Let’s talk about how you can make the most of hold time, and use it to sell more on every call. Call for a Free 15-minute strategy session to replace your music on hold: in Connecticut call 203-655-3920. Nationwide, call Toll Free 800-862-8896.