If your recording is vague, confusing, or drags on, customers will lose interest and hang up the phone instead of leaving a voicemail message. To help you create an effective after hours announcement, here are some best practices and sample scripts you can employ.
Press the Program ButtonScroll to Phone Setup and press Enter (it’s the center navigation button)Scroll up to VoiceMail Setup and press EnterScroll up or down to access individual settings

Recognize Their Need. When someone calls your business, the voicemail should give them a sense of validation. This means that your voicemail should extend gratitude for their interest in your business, or an apology for not being there to answer your call. These two simple courtesies can go a long way in the creation or establishment of client/business trust. Make it Informative for the Caller. Your voicemail must include all the information the customer will need for your particular business. For instance, if you’re a brick and mortar establishment, it’s wise to include your store hours. It’s also a good idea to leave them an alternate way to contact you, especially if it’s after hours. After all, you don’t want to miss just one potential customer. Here are some suggestions for elements to include in your voicemail: Business name Hours (if brick and mortar) Alternate method of contact, such as email Your name
As a matter of fact, some reports that have explored the decline of voicemail say the service is really only used by two types of people anymore: older parents and business people. But that still doesn’t lessen the annoyance of the receiver when they have to listen to the voicemail from mom and pop or the used car sales guy.