How to Avoid Interactive Voice Recording Fails

Posted on September 10, 2013 by mediagro

Phone off hook

Call automation can really be hit or miss. Whilst there are many advantages to installing a interactive voice recording (IVR) to your telephone lines, there are also many disadvantages. Below are some tips on how to avoid frustrating IVR.

Press 0 or Stay on the Line
Why offer two solutions, when one is enough. Apart from being confusing, it is totally unnecessary. Keep your IVR straight forward, and only give your callers one option to get to a particular department.

“I didn’t get that … please say what you are calling about.”
There is nothing more frustrating than having to repeat myself 10 times, only to be put through to the wrong department and wasting my precious time. If your system doesn’t have a good voice recognition device simply do not use it. It would be better to let your customer service representatives determine what your customers’ needs are, rather than getting them irate because your system doesn’t understand them.

After Business Hours
Fair enough your business may not have the resources or the need to be open 24 hours, but please don’t make us sit through 2 minutes of pressing buttons and saying which department we want to speak to, only to be presented with a message saying that we have called outside of business hours. Do this in the first instance. GRRRR.

Disconnected
Obviously this can happen on the odd occasion, but if your phone line has a habit of disconnecting your callers after they have spent time trying to get to the right department, you will have some very frustrated callers – who may not be bothered to call you back.

An interactive voice recording will definitely make your business sound more professional if produced by a reputable production company, and it will also help direct your customers to the right department, but use it wisely. At the end of the day, people do prefer to speak to people, and where possible – use your staff to interact with your customer-base.

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Brand Exposure

Posted on August 21, 2013 by mediagro

Branding

Branding is an art form! If you think of some of the biggest names out there such as McDonalds, Coke, Nike, Disney … just to name a few, they have really invested much time, smarts and money into getting their brand – logos, colours, slogans, products and services, in front of their customers.

Branding takes marketing to a whole new level, and unfortunately, it is one of the areas in marketing that few businesses truly succeed. Branding is more than just delivering a message; it’s about connecting with your customers, reinforcing your company’s credibility, obtaining user loyalty and creating a brand that exceeds expectations, a brand that is so superior, that there really is limited competition.

Think Tourism Queensland and their 2009 marketing campaign “Best Job in the World Competition”.  An extremely smart campaign that effectively promoted the Great Barrier Reef globally. Basically, Tourism Queensland encouraged visitors to their website by offering the “Best Job in the World” – to be caretaker of the Islands in North Queensland for a year. The role offered a decent salary and accommodation for one year. Entrants were required to submit a video of themselves explaining why they thought they should get the job.

The whole campaign was excellently executed: website, promotional material, television commercials, print advertisements and publicity were strategically rolled out, making the campaign a worldwide success.

Tourism Queensland generated over $200 million dollars worth of publicity globally and the Brisbane advertising agency behind the campaign, CumminsNitro won awards for their efforts at the Cannes International Advertising Festival.

Whilst this kind of campaign would be out of many small businesses depths, it does go to show how effective your marketing can be if you have a strategic integrated marketing plan designed to help grow your business. Successful branding requires strategy, planning and consistency.

Many businesses spend a fortune on branding their company through traditional and external marketing channels such as television, radio and print, but neglect to continue the branding process internally – through their telephone lines.

When you place a caller on hold, you are presented with a great opportunity to further inform and educate your customers about your products and services, hence enhance your branding efforts.

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Promoting your Business’ Blog

Posted on August 10, 2013 by mediagro

If you are into online marketing, then you will have a sound knowledge of search engine optimisation. Basically, this is the art of (as the name suggests) optimising your site in order for it to rank high in the search engines, particularly Google. Blog marketing is a great way to build valuable content for your website and help optimise your site for Google.

You see Google LOVES content, in fact, with the recent Penguin and Panda updates Google loves content more than ever, and in their view, if you are a master in what you are promoting, then you should be able to provide valuable content that people would want to search for.

Many would be forgiven for thinking that all they would have to do is write the blog and then publish it on their website, but in actual fact, there is so much more to blog marketing than meets the eye.

Compelling Keyword Rich Content
First of all, and this should go without saying, but you need to produce compelling content that your target market would want to read, and that includes the keyword you want to rank high for in the Google search. There is a strategy to blog marketing – read our tips in our blog “Blogging for Business”.

Promoting your Business’ Blog
Just because you have written a blog and posted it on your website, does not mean it will automatically come up high in a Google search. How will Google even know it is there if there are no links pointing to it?

Blog Site Map
Make sure you have a site map for your blogs, and make sure Google has access to this. You can upload your blog’s sitemap directly to Google through the Google Webmaster Tools.

Social Media
Promote your blog on social media platforms – Facebook, Reddit, Twitter and Stumble Upon, just to name a few. Not only will this get in the faces of your customers and draw traffic to your blog, but it will also help Google's "Spiders" find links pointing to your site; directing them to crawl your site … hence your blog will be indexed.

Links in your Email
If you are providing valuable content in your business’ blog then make sure you promote the blog to all your customers, and include a link to your blog in your email signature. If Google can see your blog gets a decent amount of traffic, it will do wonders for your site overall.

Online marketing is really an art in itself, and in this day and age it is fundamental for most businesses to have an online presence of some kind. If you can offer your customers valuable advice that is relevant to what your business is all about, then build the content on your website by sharing your knowledge and wisdom with your customers.

Media Messages has been adding valuable business, audio and marketing blogs to our website for a number of years. We also feature many of our customers’ telephone on hold messages so that potential customers can also see the quality of our professional audio productions.

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Testimonial – PCYC

Posted on July 30, 2013 by mediagro

testimonial

“Media Messages has not only helped us through our on-hold messages now portraying a professional image to our clients but has also allowed us to market directly to them in a very cost effective manner.”  

Sgt Steve Wakerley

Relief Branch Manager

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Mobile Site for Media Messages

Posted on July 28, 2013 by mediagro

Online Marketing | Mobile Sites

Media Messages Australia is pleased to announce we now have a mobile friendly site for users on the go. What this means, is that all you business people who need to access our website while out and about can now do so on your mobiles; our site is up-to-date with the digital era with an easy to navigate mobile site.

Whilst you have always been able to surf our site in the past, the mobile site is made specifically for, well mobiles. Has your business adapted to smart phone media access?

Here’s just a couple of advantages of employing a mobile site for your website.

Easier to Navigate
As most mobile users can relate to, a website that you access on your desktop computer isn’t always the easiest to explore when on your phone; even if you have a larger Samsung Galaxy or iPhone. A mobile site is made specifically for people who are on their mobiles, and the navigation system is made in order to help the user find what they are looking for straight up – without having to search the website.

Unlike a normal website, a mobile site is much smaller and usually consists of just a menu that will help you get to what you find what you need much quicker. A mobile site generally has less information than your typical website, but will help the user with the most important information – such as contact details, special offers and enquiry forms.

Google AdWords
As each day passes, it seems that Google evolves more and more. And today Google AdWords can now tell exactly what device a user is searching for information on – whether it be a mobile device or a PC. By incorporating a mobile site for your website, it will effectively help mobile users to find what they are looking for much faster – especially if they are looking for contact details. Call and directions on mobile sites can generally be integrated with your phone, and means that you only need to click on call or directions to get the information that you need.

Furthermore, if Google can distinguish what kind of device your customers are searching for you on, you will have access to more information about your customers. Google AdWords now has a function where you can have advertisements specific for each device.

At Media Messages we like to be at the forefront of the audio advertising industry, and not only do we produce high quality audio productions for your telephone messages on hold programs, but we are also at the forefront of digital marketing.

For more information on our services and products, please feel free to visit out website at www.mediamessages.com.au.

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Unlimited Music and Messages on Hold

Posted on July 9, 2013 by mediagro

Messages on Hold programs

If you are thinking of installing a telephone message on hold system, make sure you get the package that is best suited for your business. For instance, if you are say a busy tavern with weekly promotions, then it makes sense to invest in Media Messages’ unlimited messages on hold package.

Inclusions

  • Creative copywriters write up 7 customised messages – updated regularly
  • 2 x talented voice artists to bring your scripts to life
  • Experienced audio engineers to weave their magic; and
  • An informative and educational marketing tool playing to your callers on hold.

Keeping it Fresh
With our unlimited package, you can request that we update your messages on a regular basis. This is ideal for businesses that have constant promotions, specials and new products. Best of all, it keeps your message on hold program fresh and unique, so every time a caller rings, they hear a different message.

Royalty Free Music
Media Messages has a large library of royalty free music beds for you to choose from; best of all, you won’t have to pay APRA fees to use them. We will help you select the right music to best identify with your customers.

No Set up Fees or Hidden Extras
What you see is what you get! The price we quote you is the price you will pay, and there are no hidden extras. We don’t like little surprises like these, so why would we pass them on to you. And we have the most competitive prices in Australia.

Scheduled Message Update Reminders
Great customer service is all part of the package! We will send you regular reminders to ensure you get the most from your telephone message on hold program.

At Media Messages we’re more than just an audio production company, we are the one-stop-shop for all your creative audio advertising needs; we just happen to specialise in the very best telephone message on hold programs in Australia. Call us today.

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Blogging for your Business

Posted on July 3, 2013 by mediagro

Telephone Message On Hold

In May this year Google rolled out another Penguin update, which affected about 2% of Australian businesses, and whilst it appears that Google is now penalising businesses for spammy links, the search engine also appears to favour websites with useful content that is relevant to search topic (the businesses core business)

Which raises the question, is blogging for your business a good way to create content for your website?

The team at Media Messages certainly think so! Providing you are supplying good copy that is relevant to your business. At the end of the day, you want your customers and potential customers to get value out of visiting your website, if you offer a platform whereby they can gather information they are looking for, then you are giving them additional value, whilst simultaneously increasing the content on your site.

Here’s a few suggestions thought that we recommend you adhere to when blogging for your business.

Relevant Copy
Make sure that your blogs are relevant to the target market you are trying to entice. There is no point writing a whole heap of blogs about a topic that has absolutely nothing to do with your core business. What’s the point of getting traffic to your website that isn’t going to convert into a sale, or doesn’t even have the potential to.

Understand the market that you are trying to appeal to, and make sure that your copy is of interest to them.

Invest in a good Copywriter
There is nothing worse than reading an article that is full of grammatical errors and poor sentence structure. If writing is not your forte, then maybe you need to write down your ideas in point form, and invest in a good copywriter to complete your article.

Be Consistent
Be consistent with your blog marketing. It is recommended that you try and write at least one blog each week in order to create enough content for the search engines to crawl your pages, index you and let your potential customers find you. It is also important that you have a regular stream of interesting articles to drive customers back to your website.

At Media Messages, we believe that content is key in providing a good platform for our customers to find information about our products and services, whilst also helping them in other areas of marketing.

Media Messages is a professional audio production company that specialise in the making of quality audio productions for your telephone message on hold system.

Posted in Media Messages, On Hold Messages | 1 Comment

Instore Music Solutions

Posted on June 26, 2013 by mediagro

In-Store Music and Messaging

Looking for a new and innovative way to engage with your customers? Ever considered installing your very own virtual radio station, with strategically selected music that your customers identify with; and customised commercials promoting your products, services and specials? Then contact the friendly team at Media Messages and ask us about our commercial in-store music and sound packages.

It is imperative that we impress throughout the customer experience with our brand, and whilst many businesses spend a fortune on getting customers in their doors, many neglect to continue to market their products and services once customers are inside. Our music and messaging system is a great way to entertain your customers, whilst simultaneously educating them about your products and services.

Media Messages offers audio productions for use in a variety of media channels, in-store music and sound is just another ground-breaking way in which businesses can promote their products and services to customers in-store.

Moreover, our advanced equipment and experienced professionals allow us to provide fast turnaround times, which means you can promote specials and new products as and when you need to. You simply need to contact your friendly consultant, provide us with all the information and then let our copywriters, voice artists and audio engineers do their magic, and you will have your new customised ‘in-store radio commercial’ playing to your customers in no time.

It really is as simple as that! Call us today for a free trial on 1300 796 694.

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Submitting your Business on Google Places

Posted on June 19, 2013 by mediagro

Google Places for Business

Every Australian business should really have a listing on Google Places. It is one of the free listings that Google offers, and is a great way to get high in the local search rankings, which is of major importance with Google. In fact, you will probably notice, that with many searches, local businesses will be the first to come up in the maps area. Can your business afford not to have a listing?

Audio production company, Media Messages, has written the below guide on how to set up your Google Places listing.

Step 1: Google Places for Business
You will need to head on over to http://www.google.com.au/business/placesforbusiness/, and if you have an account set up with Google you will need to sign in, however, if you don’t have an account, you simply need to have your email address ready and set up a Google Account – this takes about 10 minutes maximum.

Step 2:  Create your Google Places Listing

  • Select the country your business is located
  • Put in your phone number and select ‘find business information
  • If your business doesn’t already have a listing, a form will come up for you to complete – fill out the form, add photographs, YouTube videos about your business and so forth – the more information the better.
  • Once you have completed the form, simply select submit at the bottom of the form.
  • A page comes up confirming your site address and contact name – make sure to put your contact name, as this is the address they will send your Google Places verification PIN to.

Step 3: Wait for your Google PIN
Google needs to verify that you are really at the address that you say you are, and that you are not just a business spamming a whole heap of different areas. They will send you PIN to the site address you specified. Make sure to keep an eye out for this, as your listing will not go LIVE until you have verified your listing with the 5-digit PIN.

Please be aware: your PIN will come with a big GOOGLE logo across it. It does look and feel like junk mail, but it isn’t, it is important you keep an eye out for it.

Sep 4: Verify your Google Places Listing
Once you have received your Google Places PIN, you need to log back into Google Places (URL as above) and submit the PIN where it says “Enter PIN”.

It will then take a couple of weeks for Google to verify your listing, but once it is up – then hopefully you start showing for all the local searches. Make sure to get customers to review your product as this can ultimately help your ranking.

Media Messages is a leading Australian audio production studio that specialises in the creation of quality voice recordings, music and sound effects to educate and entertain your callers on hold.

Posted in Marketing, Online Marketing | 2 Comments

Building your New Business

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mediagro

New Business Tips: Telephone Messages OnHold

If you have a great product or service and have big dreams of launching a new business, there are a few things that are essential for you to really get it up and running. Here are a few tips that helped Media Messages Australia become the successful audio production company that we are today.

Business, Marketing, Financial and Operations Plan
Painful and time consuming – we get it! But necessary it most certainly is. By investing time into producing a fully comprehensive business plan, that covered everything from marketing, financials right through to operations gave us a much better view of how we intended to business, and what would and wouldn’t work.

It’s amazing how differently you can see things, when they are written in front of you, or when you have actually researched them and have a better understanding of how they are going to work. This is absolutely key, and we would recommend to any person wanting to embark on a new business venture, to really spend time on doing up a business plan.

Engage with your Community / Target Market
Why wait until your business is already up and running, start engaging with your community from the onset so that you really understand what it is that they are looking for. At the end of the day – you will need them to build your business, and it is their needs and wants that will help you to grow.

Furthermore, by building a foundation with you a small group that you will be targeted, they will more likely be inclined to share your business and its representations – i.e.: social media and website links. Resulting in helping you get the word out.

Identify the Influencers that are aligned with your Industry
You really want to get noticed by these guys – they can really help show you how to be the voice of your company. Listen to what they have to say, how they interact with their audience, how their audience reacts to that interaction; and don’t be afraid to make contact. If you be a guest blogger for them, of they endorse your product, it could mean so much for your new business.

Media Messages is an Australian audio production company that provides professional quality telephone message on hold programs to various businesses throughout the country.  And we have seen our fair share of new businesses that have gone out into the big bad world and flourished.

Our own experience shows us that you have to work really hard to build your business, and to really get it off the ground. Media Messages started as a two-man operation that has now grown to be a leading audio production agency on the Gold Coast. We did this by nurturing our idea through a business plan, engaging with our local community and building connections with businesses that would inevitably help us to grow.

For more information about Media Messages, please visit our website at www.mediamessages.com.au.

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Telephone: (+61) 7 5502 0264

Fax: (+61) 7 5677 0635

Media Messages
2, 2 Spencer Road
Nerang, QLD 4211