A clear and concise list of terminology and definitions of the audio marketing and on-hold industry. Decisions are so much easier when the information is clear.

On-hold telephone marketing can be a daunting place when it comes to the terminology and equipment, if we have used any technical words, there should be a definition for that term below:

On hold messaging

This is a service we provide is used by businesses and organizations of all sizes to deliver targeted information to their callers waiting on hold or transfer on the telephone. Also Commonly called Music on Hold.

Sound Marketing

A specialist on-hold audio marketing company based in Wiltshire. Formed in 1997 Sound Marketing is the country’s leading supplier of audio solutions for business. Providing bespoke productions to entertain and inform your callers whilst also reducing their frustrations.

Audio Marketing

Audio marketing is a combination of voice-over and music designed to reassure, entertain and inform callers while they wait to be transferred or placed on hold.

On-hold

On Hold is another term for on hold messaging, which is used to introduce new products and services to callers on hold, to reinforce awareness of existing offerings, provide information about the company, deliver helpful tips, or to shorten perceived hold times and improve the caller experience by providing humorous or entertaining content.

Telephone system

Compatible telephone systems include a port which links the message player to the phone line. Sound Marketing can supply playback equipment to play the messages if required.

Music on-hold

Refers to the business practice of playing recorded music to fill the silence that would be heard by telephone callers who have been placed on hold. It is especially common in situations involving customer service. Sound Marketing provide License free music to cover PRS licensing combine with professional voices.

External music on hold

Is another term for on hold messaging which is played through an external playback unit – Either a CD player, MP3 player or Digital Announcer that Sound Marketing can supply if required.

Telephone on hold

Telephone On Hold Messaging enhances a companies image. It can make a small company seem larger and a large company seem friendlier. With clever scripting created in house at Sound Marketing the on hold message will reflect the personality of the organisation.

MMOH

This is an abbreviation of music on hold. A bespoke marketing script combined with license free music to create a production that cross markets all aspects of your business, whilst easing your customers telephone transfer or on hold time.

Telephone prompts

Sound Marketing provide professionally recorded prompts as an auto attendant, out of hours message, voice mail and IVR messages. Our Studio facilities include an Esmono sound booth which can be used for a wide range of projects including ISDN to ISDN voicing, show reels and radio projects. This also allows us to carry out many assignments completely in-house, increasing our flexibility and speed of turnaround. The technology and equipment we use is state of the art and full technical engineering support is available on site.

IVR messages

Sound Marketing create tailored recordings to be used with IVR systems (Interactive Voice Response). IVR technology is used extensively in telecommunications that allows a computer to detect voice and keypad inputs, Sound Marketing record prompts to direct callers to correct menus.

Telephone branding

Telephone branding is part of a companies brand marketing exercise to have consistent media across every customer contact.

Marketing by telephone

This is the method in which products, services special offers and alike can be marketed to your customer via the use of on-hold audio equppment. Using professional voice artists to prioduce the on-hold audio.

Waiting on hold

Waiting on hold or transfer is an opportune time to cross market your products and services to a captured audience, whilst entertaining and informing your callers.

Web audio

Sound Marketing provide a unique service enabling clients to professionally voice pages of their website. This process usually takes a considerable amount of redevelopment time and expense but we have the technology to bring the clients two dimensional pages to life within 24 hours.

Telephone advertising

Is a form of advertising new promotions or offers to a captive audience, cross marketing products and services, to callers whilst on hold or transfer.

Marketing telephone messages

This is the method in which products, services, special offers etc, can be marketed to your customer via the use of on-hold audio equipment. Using professional voice artists and license free music to produce the on-hold audio.

Auto attendant 

Auto Attendants greet your incoming callers with the same professional voice that you use for your audio marketing messaging. Callers can be directed to specific departments or to your receptionist.

Broadcast

A broadcast of your organisation which reflects your companies image can play on the telephone whilst your callers are placed on hold or transfer.

Audio Marketing Association

The Audio Marketing Association, is the organisation which represents the leading UK businesses responsible for providing audio branding and marketing solutions throughout the UK and Europe. It is AMA (Europe)’s role to ensure that audio marketing customers benefit from consistently high standards of trading practice and product quality.

Voice over

Professional voice artists record tailored scripts for each individual business. The client can choose the style of the voice to reflect the company image, using male and female artists alternately through the script.

Scriptwriting

Sound Marketing scriptwriters will create the content, language and tone of your messages to reflect the personality of your organisation. Audio marketing productions are designed to give short, concise messages so that the caller is able to listen to at least one or two messages during the time they are on-hold or transfer.

Standalone player

A standalone audio player is an external piece of equipment that plays the on hold production. It plugs into the telephone system and plays in a loop so the messages will play 24/7. Sound Marketing supply a range of playback equipment from CD Digital Announcer to MP3 Announcer and remote download equipment. All the systems play crisp, clear audio and offer rock solid reliability.

Sound management system

The Sound Management System is an internet based 'on hold' facility with a compact flash card which plugs directly into the on hold port of a telephone system. The new daily dynamic news, sport and weather messages are downloaded every day with a wide choice of music interspersed.

Dynamic messages

Dynamic messages are daily news, sport and weather messages voiced and downloaded to each Sound Management System across the UK.

Self check feature

This is a design feature of the Sound Management System, in which the system checks on a regular basis to see if there are any new dynamic messages that need to be downloaded to the audio message.

Keith Edwards

Keith Edwards started the Sound Marketing Group in 1997, with the Audio Marketing service, providing telephone marketing and prompts to a number of businesses across the UK. The development of the group developed in 2006 with Arctic Spas Bath and later the creation of Sign Marketing and Embroidery UK in 2008.

Audio Marketing

This is the method in which products, services special offers and alike can be marketed to your customer via the use of on-hold audio equppment. Using professional voice artists to prioduce the on-hold audio.

The sound marketing group

Is made up of five companies, Sound Marketing provides audio services, Sign Marketing creates signs, banners and digital printing, Embroidery UK produces embroidered and printed garments for businesses as well as sports clubs, Sound Networks provides IT support, hosting and website design, development and search engine optimisation.

Sign marketing

Sign Marketing creates and manufactures signs for all commercial vehicles, shop fascias, banners, exhibition stands, window graphics and other bespoke images. Our state of the art wide format digital printing equipment produces high quality full colour print on a huge range of materials.

Website promotion

This is the method in which products, services special offers and alike can be marketed to your customer via the use of on-hold audio equppment. Using professional voice artists to prioduce the on-hold audio.

Sound Networks

Sound Networks provide a wide range of services including IT support to new or existing networks, a wide range of after care services for any IT infrastructure and equipment. As well as hosting, website development, programming services and search engine optimisation.

Embroidery UK

Embroidery UK produce bespoke embroidered garments to all types of business and clubs. We supply a huge range of branded garments including Samurai, Kukri, Fruit of the Loom, Henbury amongst other well known brands.

Website voicing

Sound Marketing provide a unique service enabling clients to professionally voice pages of their website. A static site is instantly brought to life allowing you to; Guide your viewers around the site, Emphasise important areas of the page, and highlight promotions.