SeaFM Gold Coast Shedding for the Wedding Runner Ups!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by mediagro

It’s been three crazy weeks in the Media Messages offices as Accounts Manager Amanda Nolan and her fiancé Paul Firth battled it out to cut the fat and be the victorious couple shedding the most amount of weight to take out Sea FM’s Galey, Baggs and Charli’s Shedding for the Wedding competition.

There were copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears as Amanda and Paul’s Team Firth made it to the finish line. At the final weigh in, their hard work paid off with an astounding combined weight loss of 15.6kg and weight loss percentage of 7.0%. However it wasn’t enough to beat their competition, and now close friends Tara and Nathan, who lost a whopping 24kg and weight loss percentage of 11.0%.

During the 3 week challenge, both teams endured a tough training session with the Gold Coast Titans, training sessions with the Lady Jane trainers, a wedding dress marathon and a final triathlon. It wasn’t all work-out and no play, there were also Hen’s and Buck’s parties and the usual pre-wedding preparations including wedding dress fittings and spray tans for the girls, and waxing for the boys.

While they didn’t end up being the weight loss victors and walking down the aisle, Amanda and Paul got out of the competition exactly what they set out to do- that was to lose weight and learn the wholesome lifestyle lessons needed to ensure a very long and HEALTHY life together- when they do ACTUALLY get around to tying the knot.

The team at Media Messages, the on hold message specialists, would like to extend a big congratulations to Amanda and Paul on their achievements so far, and look forward to seeing a much lighter pair as they walk down the aisle- for real this time.

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SeaFM Gold Coast – Shedding for the Wedding Competition

Posted on May 3, 2012 by mediagro

amanda

This week Media Messages Accounts Manager, Amanda Nolan, found herself behind a microphone instead of behind a desk. No she hasn’t swapped her number crunching duties for that of a voiceover queen- but her and her fiancé Paul Firth were shocked to find out they had beaten out all other Gold Coast couples to be the final two battling it out for Sea FM’s Shedding for the Wedding Competition.

Last week on one of Amanda’s “Why not” whims she entered the Sea FM competition when plucky breakfast radio trio Galey, Baggs and Charli put the call out for two couples to compete as they ‘Shed before they wed’. The competition involves two engaged couples going head to head, kilo against kilo, to lose the most weight before their 3 week wedding day deadline. The couple that lose the most weight win an all expenses paid wedding, reception and honeymoon at the Watermark Hotel and Spa Gold Coast.

While it’s literally a once in a lifetime prize up for grabs, Amanda who has been engaged to Paul for 6 years thought that if they were a finalist it would be a great chance for the busy pair to shed their “combined” baby weight and be fit and healthy role models for their 2 year old son Lincoln.

At the start of the week Amanda and Paul were shortlisted as the final three couples before it was announced that Team Firth were in the final two. Amanda may be expert in sorting out the accounts for on hold messages, but there will be no holding back for this competition- it’s game on!

As a vital team member to the growing success of Media Messages, all the team are behind Amanda and Paul 100% as they count the calories and push their bodies to the limit. With the team giving motivational support and the Lady Jane Trainers taking the reins with healthy eating advice and personal training, both Amanda and Paul are giving this competition their all to be the lightest couple walking down the aisle in 3 weeks time.

Until then the Media Messages team is on board with Team Firth, and will be joining them for public group training sessions, in which everyone is invited to participate. For more information or to put your support behind Team Firth, check out all the action at the Media Messages Facebook page.

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OFFICE WORKS GIFT CARD WINNER

Posted on April 28, 2012 by mediagro

“Awesome… really appreciate it” – Ryan.B (Casey Jackson Homes)

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Media Messages has entered the Blogosphere

Posted on March 22, 2012 by mediagro

One of Australia’s favourite message on hold companies, Media Message has just launch a new blog – aimed specifically at small to medium businesses.
Media Messages Australia is sharing their business knowledge, tools and systems to the public, via their new blog.

The group’s national operations manager, Joshua Loftus, said the blog will focus on a number of areas supporting business, including marketing, cashflow, management and of course tips on audio advertising.

“We work with thousands of businesses every year, and most importantly, we have successfully started our own group. We want to share the knowledge we have acquired with SMEs to give them ideas and to help get the thinking process going.

“We understand the trials and tribulations many business can go through, and by sharing our experience and connecting with our clients, it might just make it a little easier for them also,” he said.

Mr Loftus also believes the blog will be an eye opener for the team at the Media Group, as customers will no doubt give “valuable feedback”, which get the message on hold companies creative juices flowing.

Media Messages offers businesses throughout Australia with powerful telephone message on hold solutions – which in itself is a powerful marketing tool. Join their online community by visiting their blog at http://www.mediamessages.com.au/messages-on-hold/Blogs/2011/media_messages_blogs_March_2011.htm

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Poor Excuses not to have a Messages On-Hold Program

Posted on March 20, 2012 by mediagro

wait-not-me

Failing to see the value in a telephone messages on hold program, can mean you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to promote your business on a daily basis.  There are plenty of excuses people use to avoid having a messages on hold program, though they are doing their business a disservice by making such a decision.

Excuse # 1 – We’re not big enough for messages on hold
If you believe that a messages on hold program is purely for big businesses, then you are sadly mistaken.  Doesn’t it make sense to seize every possible opportunity?  Personalised advertising while your customers are on hold, can give the impression that your business is bigger than it is.

You will appear more professional, and give your customers confidence when dealing with you. Putting customers on hold is unavoidable, so why not take advantage of the situation and let your callers know exactly what you have to offer.

Excuse # 2 – Messages on hold is too expensive
Another popular excuse is expenditure. You may consider that the program is too expensive. On the contrary, can you really afford not to have a telephone messages on hold program?  Consider this: it works around the clock, even after hours and on weekends and public holidays. Imagine how many potential customers call after hours and do not get their call answered.

If you view the argument this way, you can see that it is in your best interests to have such a system working for you, 24/7.

Excuse # 3 – I don’t have enough time to organise messages on hold
Maybe you’re too busy to organise a personalised messages on hold system. Perhaps you need to make the time to get a system organised.  If you have a busy switchboard, then this is a perfect opportunity to let your customers know all about your products and services. There is nothing worse than phones ringing out, and not having your call answered.

Excuse # 4 – We’re happy with the radio playing on hold – and so are our customers!
Messages on hold is not only a powerful marketing tool, it is like having your best sales person delivering very targeted messages directly to your customers.  You might argue that you are more than happy playing the radio to your customers whilst on hold and you have never received complaints. The majority of people will never complain directly to you. They’ll tell their family and friends instead.

You also should be aware that you are obliged to pay APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) fee’s for the privilege, and if you have many incoming lines, those fee’s can be very hefty.  Not to mention that your competitors may be running very attractive advertisements on those radio stations that you are playing directly into the ears of your customers.

Callers Prefer Messages On Hold
Callers are happy to listen to messages while they are on hold; in fact studies have shown that they prefer them to complete silence or terrible inappropriate music.   A telephone messages on hold program can certainly add value to your business, don’t make the mistake of dismissing the power of this clever marketing strategy.

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Testimonial – Ritek

Posted on March 15, 2012 by mediagro

testimonial

Hi Rebecca, We are all good at the moment thanks but we will probably look at updating our messages when our new product comes on board in next couple of months – will keep you posted! Thanks – we are loving our new messages on hold by the way – I have received some great feedback!
Kind Regards
Amy Rawson

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Messages On-Hold Killed the Radio Star

Posted on March 7, 2012 by mediagro

radio-megaphone-man

If you choose to play a radio station to your callers on hold, there are some initial things to consider. While It may seem like a good idea, it’s wise to do your homework as there are certain regulations that you are required to follow if that’s the path you elect to follow.

According to the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) you are required to obtain a licence to play radio music to your callers if you are a commercial business. In fact, it covers more than the radio.  If you are considering any of the following you will require a licence to do so:

  • Radio
  • CD (compact disc)

You’ll be required to pay an annual fee, which will vary depending on the amount of external telephone lines your business has.  If the number is low, the fee is reasonable, though as the number of lines you have increases, so do the fees and it can be quite substantial.

While this may be conducive to certain businesses, to others it can be quite damaging.  If you can find a radio station that is favourable to your business then can have it’s advantages, though you do have to take into consideration how your customers may react. You have no control over what certain radio stations play or say on air.

Commercial radio stations play advertisements to acquire their revenue.  If you have a competitor that is running various campaigns with that particular radio station and they are played while your customers are on hold, you run the risk of losing them to your rivals, if they have a better offer.

A good marketing strategy is to have your own audio production prepared by means of a messages on hold program. With these programs you have full control over what your customers hear.

You can promote your business and inform them of products and services that you offer, in addition to upcoming events, offers and sales that your company may be planning to run.

Your telephone messages on hold program will be crystal clear unlike some companies who play static radio, due to obstructions from servers, bad connections and also inclement weather.

You can target your messages on hold to reflect your business values and in turn, seize the opportunity to turn callers into customers.  Not all of your customers will always know everything about your business; Messages on hold gives you the opportunity update regularly and add new and interesting products all the time.  It will give you an opportunity to tell them of upcoming offers and ways they can potentially save money, making it beneficial for all involved.

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Creating a Compelling Message On Hold Script

Posted on February 28, 2012 by mediagro

So you’ve invested much of your time and money into marketing your business and getting people to call you, right? Now what are you doing once they have made the call? Telephone message on hold has proven to be an extremely effective marketing and customer service tool … providing it is used properly. Just like with any other form of marketing, you will need to apply a little time and effort, but done properly, you can most certainly reap the rewards.

Think of your telephone messages on hold as a mini-radio station for your business. It works in much the same way as radio – by entertaining your callers, whilst also promoting your products and services. But just as with radio, you only have a small window of opportunity to grab their attention – your callers are only going to be on hold for an absolute maximum of 30 seconds, and on average your telephone callers will only be on hold for around 10 seconds, so you really need to make sure you get the right message across to them in a clear and concise manner.

Be Selective with your promotions
It’s important not to go over board here. Choose only a couple of your products or services that you would like to promote – and don’t necessarily go with your core product offering. Your message on hold program is a great tool to up or cross sells, so use this effectively. Remember, your customers already have a fair idea of what your company is about, so make sure you use your messages to promote areas you have not promoted as extensively through other channels. A great analogy is McDonald’s “Would you like fries with that”, your message on hold program is chance to entice them to something else that you offer.

Write down the key elements
Remember, you only have about 10 seconds to really get your message across to your audience, make sure that you only include the key ingredients to get your customers interested. Your messages should be no longer than 4-lines long (Arial 10pt font).

Mention your company’s name
Now your callers will obviously know who they are calling, but seriously telephone messages on hold is a branding exercise, and just like with any other marketing channel, you want to make sure your callers know who you are. Whilst it is not imperative to have your business name in every message on your on hold program, it is important that you do mention it in some of the messages. The more your customers hear your name, the more familiar they become with your brand … and they start to build trust with that brand.

Include call to action
Give your customers a reason to ask about a product or service. For instance, if I were promoting a marketing consultancy business, which also offered a graphic design service, I would say something like:

“Develop your brand through creative vision and ask about our professional graphic design services. Stand out from the crowd with bold, fresh and fearless designs for your logos, letterheads, brochure, flyers, business cards and more. Mention this advertisement when we return to your call and get 15% off.”

Build confidence in your brand
People love to know they are dealing with a reputable company. Is there anything that you can educate them about yours to build their confidence? Here are a few ideas:

  • Has your business won any awards?
  • Are you a member of any relevant industry associations?
  • Does your company regularly donate to a charity?
  • Does your company or directors hold any relevant qualifications?
  • Do you have a blog or new site that customers can increase their knowledge base?
  • Does your company hold regular seminars or forums that might be of interest?

This is an opportunity for you to point out to your customers why you are better than your competitors. What is your unique selling point? What is your competitive advantage?

Mention your website
Your website is one of your most valuable tools! A website really needs to be promoted at every opportunity, and what better way to do this than to your callers who are on hold. Sign off on at least one of your on hold messages with “for more information, visit our website at media messages dot com dot au.

Determine how often you need to update your message on hold program
Get the most out of your telephone messages on hold program, and really plan how you are going to use this tool. If you put callers on hold on a regular basis, or if you have quite a few season specific promotions or events, then it might be worth while getting a package that allows you to update your message on hold program regularly. Also, make sure you have the ability to include messages that are in date – around Christmas or New Year, make sure you send out your season’s greetings.

Telephone messages on hold should be part of your marketing mix and therefore should be treated as such. Put strategies in place to use this marketing tool and plan how, what and when you are going to promote a product or service.

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Messages On Hold Mistakes

Posted on February 28, 2012 by mediagro

Oops!

While the use of a messages on hold service is without doubt a great marketing strategy for most businesses, be aware there are some pit falls to watch out for that could seriously damage the reputation and success of your business. Here we cover a couple of examples:

Mistake #1: Long Winded Messages
Try not to make the mistake of bombarding your customers by overloading the amount of information you give them.  Keep messages to a maximum of 30 seconds.   Telephone on-hold messages are very similar to radio advertisements, so make sure your presentation is clear and concise ensuring that all easily understands it.  Too much information will simply make your customers switch off or even worse, hang up.

Mistake #2: Improper use of Sound Effects
Too many or the wrong types of sound effects can be very annoying.  Listen to your audio production when it is complete and tweak anything that you think may have an adverse effect on your customers.  If you make your messages too long, too loud or too annoying you risk losing that customer.  Remember that some customers will hear your on hold messages in their entirety, while others will only hear a snippet.

Mistake #3: Inappropriate Music
Music has a huge impact on your customers. Select appropriate music that reflects your business.  Upbeat tones are perhaps not the most suitable choice if you are promoting a funeral service for instance.

Mistake #4: Not Enough Information
Don’t be afraid to highlight your businesses strengths and what sets you apart from your competitors.  Give your customers good reasons to come back time and time again and to tell their friends and family about your goods and services.

Mistake #5: The Wrong Voice Over
The tone you use in your voiceover for your messages on hold will have a big impact.  You would not use a monotone voiceover to promote a gymnasium, instead an up-beat, cheerful and motivating voice would be more appropriate as well as upbeat music in this situation.

Mistake #6: Stale Messages On Hold
Forgetting to update your telephone messages on hold service is another common mistake.   Stale messages that tell customers last year’s news is not a smart marketing move.  Keep your messages current and make sure you rotate or change your messages on hold regularly.

Website promotion is another great way to put your business out there.  Be sure to tell your customers your website address more than once, as they may not have written it down the first time. Also let them know what they can expect to find when visiting your site. It’s a great idea to include your basic company information such as your fax number, hours of operation, where you are situated etc.

If you avoid making the commonly made mistakes outlined above, you have greater opportunity to turn the people who call you into your customers.

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OFFICE WORKS GIFT CARD WINNER

Posted on February 13, 2012 by mediagro

“Messages on hold was something that I honestly overlooked when going over my marketing channels. The quality and professionalism that Media Messages has created for my business has been exceptional.” Josh (Media Web Hosting)

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Telephone: (+61) 7 5502 0264

Fax: (+61) 7 5677 0635

Media Messages
2, 2 Spencer Road
Nerang, QLD 4211