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Friday 22 November 2013

Why On-Hold Marketing Matters

We've all been there - a cheesy tune blasting down the phone, a feeling of being ignored by the operator at the other end of the line - it's safe to say, that being on-hold can be a mind-numbingly tedious experience. But it doesn't have to be - and this blog will tell you why. Instead of merely playing music to your callers, use it as a means of marketing your business. For a start, if they're already calling you, there's a good chance that they're interested in finding out more about what you offer. Secondly, using audio and voiceover to tell your customers relevant information about your business can be a lot more interesting than hearing 'Careless Whisper' for a third time in a row! Here's a list of reasons why on-hold marketing matters:

Maximises Time With The Customer
There aren't many instances in business when you have the attention of your customer, but when they're on-hold and waiting to speak to you in person, you have a unique opportunity to connect with them and share information. Make sure you use it!

Allows You To Inform Your Customer
Use on-hold marketing to tell your customer or potential customer about your business' values and guarantees. In addition, why not try telling the caller about your latest deals, discounts and promotions? You could even use a powerful audio testimonial from satisfied customers to underline the quality of your service, or perhaps let them know if your business has won any consumer or industry awards recently? There's no end of useful and relevant information that you can pass onto your callers - so be creative and make the most of the limited time they spend on hold.

Gives A Good First Impression To New Customers
First-time callers or potential customers may be unfamiliar with your business. If they hear a professional and relevant informational package that makes them more familiar with your brand, they are more likely to feel reassured that yours is a business they can trust, plus it also helps distinguish you from competitors who might only play music on-hold.

Reassures Customers
One of the worst aspects of using music for on-hold systems is that it can make the customer feel unimportant and forgotten about. Especially if you're switchboard is often busy and there's a high chance that customers will be made to wait for more than a minute or two, it's important to use on-hold marketing to ensure they feel valued.

Keeps Callers Entertained
Waiting on-hold is never the most exciting experience, so use on-hold marketing to make the wait more entertaining. Use audio and voiceover to get across your brand's personality and don't be afraid to use humour if it's appropriate for your line of business.

Those are just a few reasons why on-hold marketing matters. For more information visit: http://www.voicetakeaway.com

Friday 15 November 2013

Using Audio For Thanksgiving And Christmas

This piece is a guest blog from one of Voice Takeaway's favourite US bloggers, our good friend in Minnesota, Cory Funk. 

We have crested the spooky, candy-laced occurrence of Halloween and are now careering towards what is known here in the United States (especially in retail circles and office enclaves) as the one-two punch of Thanksgiving and Christmas, or The Holiday Season for short.

This 1/6th of the year is fraught with chaos. There are pitfalls and opportunities to be found lurking around every can of cranberry sauce and dish of stuffing. Tasks such as making sure you thaw out the turkey for Thanksgiving in time (hint: it takes longer than you think), bringing promised appetizer or desert to the office party (and not just a bag of crisps), making sure you get little Timmy the absolutely correct plastic figure of some crazy thing on TV you have never heard of before, and sending the Christmas Cards out in time (another hint: the Post Office is closed on Christmas proper), just to name some of the big ones, can provide points of glorious failure.

Yet there are chances to be the hero in these times of sturn und drang as well. If you are an office manager you can ensure that in the shifting timelines of this season that customers know not only the hours you are open but if you are closed altogether for one of the aforementioned parties. You can, in a retail setting, have a cheery and confident voice great customers on the phone to soothe the savaged nerves of Black Friday shoppers. If, while cleaning up the pumpkin smeared plates of your multitudinous relatives, your great Aunt shows off her new tablet computer, you might get the idea to do an audio Christmas card of slideshow this year that you can email to folks and thereby be assured that you will delight and surprise your friends and family with something dynamic.

So, before you end up in a turkey coma slipping in and out of consciousness on your uncle Ed's basement couch watching a sport you don't care about and wondering how you can avoid getting up at 5am the next morning to shop for a pair of jeans, remember that the devil is in the details and that the details of professionalism, preparation, and thoughtfulness go a long way and if you can't muster those things, you can hire a professional to cover the bases for you.

To read more of Cory's blog pieces, visit http://funkomatic.wordpress.com

Tuesday 12 November 2013

How Can Audio Be Used To Sell A Home?


When I was asked to write this post I deliberated over the question, could audio really be used to sell a home?  Buying a home is all about the senses; it’s the emotional feeling you get when you walk through the door, the visual display that awaits you.  But what if those sense were taken away, what would we rely on then?  

Voices have such a dramatic effect, the seductive tones of Sean Connery to the powerful bellows of Brian Blessed.  Actors use their voices to whisk us off to a land of make believe.  Like the words jumping off a page, their melodic descriptions allow is to create a scene in our minds even if we can’t see the picture in front of us.

Selling a home isn’t just selling bricks and mortar; it’s about selling a lifestyle.

So is audio a missed opportunity when selling your home?  Imagine arriving at the viewing and being presented with some headphones.  As you walk up the garden path, the design around you is setting the scene ready for when you open the door.  As you walk through the house you are entertained with a descriptive audio not only describing each room but the helpful information you may forget to ask.  

In addition to this walk through, you are also able to download a number of helpful podcasts regarding the property.  Selling the lifestyle of a home is a growing tool with many estate agents, but why not put these on audio rather than text.  The owners telling the story about why they choose this house, the happy memories they have had there, their favourite part of the home.  Telling in their own words why it is time to move on and how they feel this home would be perfect for you.  Being able to download a Podcast on the locality, local people talking about the area, the schools and their favourite things to do.  Having a Podcast from the estate agent discussing the important sales information, the local market and advice on putting in an offer.  How powerful would these resources be?  How innovative would you think your agent was if they were completely thinking outside the box and trying something new?

We may not all be able to have Sean Connery describing our home – instant sale!  But we should never forget how powerful audio can be.  So why not try something different and try and add a touch of audio to sell your home.

Andrea Morgan has always had a passion for property and interiors.  Her acclaimed twitter account @RightmoveAddict features her successful and award nominated blog www.tryingtobalancethemadness.com.  Andrea recently launched her new venture Citrus Content, a content writing service which provides refreshing content for property and interior businesses. She is a Certified Blog Contributor for Rightmove, has been featured in Show Home magazine, and presented on the interiors stage at Grand Designs Live.

Friday 1 November 2013

Top 5 Audio Marketing Secrets

The days of marketing simply by having an ad in the local paper or having a flyer in the local shop have long gone. Nowadays, internet marketing has helped make the means by which you can reach your target audience broader than ever. One of the most up and coming marketing channels is the proper use of audio.

Audio marketing is a truly multi-platform marketing tool. From on-hold messaging to events and presentations, the options are almost limitless. Check out our list below for our top 5 audio marketing secrets.

1. Have An Audio Logo
Brand imaging shouldn't just stop at a visual logo - audio logos are often more useful because they can be used online, in radio commercials and for call greetings and on-hold switchboards. What is an audio logo? It's a short sound of music and/or voiceover that captures your business' brand. Just think of the Intel jingle or McDonald's whistle! Want to hear some examples, follow the link: http://www.voicetakeaway.com/Audio-Logos-s/1853.htm

2. Use Call Greetings
You should never miss a chance to market your business - even if you are out of the office or unable to reach the phone! Using high-quality audio for a call greeting helps convey a sense of professionalism and could help convince potential customers that they can rely on your business. For ideas - have a listen to these: http://www.voicetakeaway.com/Call-Greetings-s/2001.htm

3. Try On-Hold Marketing
When your clients are on hold, what's the point in just playing them a cheesy old song that'll probably send them round the bend and could make them feel undervalued as a customer. Instead, why not use on-hold messaging to tell them more about your business' values, services, offers and promotions. It's a great way to get your message out there. Tip: Choose a voice type for messaging that fits with your desired brand: http://www.voicetakeaway.com/Voice-Takeaway-Voice-Types-s/1850.htm

4. Use Audio Testimonials
Hearing somebody vouch for your business can often be so much more effective than simply a written recommendation. Audio testimonials at their best convey a sense of passion and emotion than is almost impossible to convey in written words alone, hence they are more likely to be trusted by your customer.

5. Incorporate Audio Into Presentations
If you're pitching to a big client or potential customer or partner, think about the way audio can enhance your presentation. There's nothing worse than a dry and tedious presentation, so why not try using audio to help make your pitch stand out and become more engaging? Want some ideas, listen to the following: http://www.voicetakeaway.com/Presentation-s/1832.htm

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Those are just a few audio marketing secrets. For find out more ways to market your business via audio - visit: http://www.voicetakeaway.com