On Hold Marketing is only one slice of the total marketing pie if you’re an HVAC/R, HARDI, or ASA distributor.  After all, a large portion of your sales come to you via the telephone…and the typical HVACR/HARDI/ASA distributor location puts around 30 calls a day on hold…so making sure you handle inbound calls properly isn’t something to ignore.  You should have a mini-marketing plan for the message-on-hold slice of your marketing.   Although HVAC/R distributors serve their own unique markets, they do share a common caller profile.  Knowledge of the HVAC/R distribution business and your caller profile allows one to address distributor marketing specifically, but the elements shown here can work no matter which On Hold provider you’re using for on hold message.  Here’s how it all works:  Your advertising tools (eg: sales force, web site, flyers, trade ads) encourage contractors to call. (to order, check on an order, ask for specs, register for an event or promotion) If callers go on hold for a moment or two, then your message on hold program reinforces your other advertising in web sites, print ads & sales team promotion. It’s all about multiplying your marketing. 

Here’s how to really get something back from your on hold message….get your calendar out and make dates to.. 

#1 - Consult managers on a list of hot topics

#2 - Change the message at least quarterly (at least re-visit it!)

#3 - reinforce your marketing messages being used elsewhere

       (e.g.; your web site, flyers, promotions) 

#4 - Inform your inside sales staff of the content of the on hold message 

#5 - help inside sales people prepare to answer questions generated by the on hold message

     (yes, this looks allot like #4, this is actually anticipating questions and preparing answers) 

#6 - create a specific plan for inquires received by inside sales people..

      ...so they transfer the inquiry to the appropriate outside sales people asap.

#7 - Draw in delivery drivers to help with your marketing...they can leave flyers or pens, or pads...some customers only see two of your staff members...their rep...and their delivery driver!  

 Call it whatever you want, message on hold, on hold message, or on hold marketing…it deserves more than passive glance.  If you'd like to brainstorm this with someone with industry experience, call us at 800-342-0098.