For phone greetings to be successful, they need to be: Crisp. A crisp, clear voice goes a long way. The message needs to be clearer than glass. No shuffling papers or dogs barking in the background. **Professional. **Your phone greeting needs to sound like you're a real company, not a random person answering their cell phone. Thought-out.
Here are some proven techniques for how to leave a voicemail message that gives you the best chance of getting a call back: Say the person's first name ONLY. Say your first name only followed by your company name. Keep your voicemail brief and urgent. Leave a reference name of a person and company you've worked with. How do you answer the phone professionally? Promptly answer calls. The average ring takes 6 seconds. Be warm and welcoming. Introduce yourself and your business. Speak clearly. Do not use slang or buzz words. Ask before you put people on hold. Don't just put calls through. Be prepared for your calls. How do you greet a client over the phone? Answer your phone with a "Hello" if you don't know who it is. Greet the caller by name if you know them. Use informal language with family and close friends. Introduce yourself by name when you call someone else.

If you like to keep things simple, opt for a basic greeting. Most voicemail options allow you to record just your name, which lets callers know they’ve reached the right person.
You have reached xxx-xxxx. We picked this machine up at a garage sale in “as-is” condition. You can try to leave a message on it, but we are not sure it will be recorded. If we don’t return your call, it means the machine did not work.