Website: https://www.weavehelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061022331-Set-Up-Voicemail
Almost 70% of Americans say that it’s their general practice to not answer the phone. At some point or another, you’re going to have no choice but to leave a voicemail for your clients. Here’s how to do it in a HIPAA compliant way.
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6. Vacation Voicemail Greetings. Hey, this is [your name] at [X company]. I am actually on a break at the moment, on the other side of the world! Please direct all phone calls to [alternate contact name] at [phone number] and emails to [X email address].
Your business’s voicemail greeting could be a potential customer’s first impression. Learn how to record an excellent greeting here! Click To Tweet
Ryan Bozeman is a writer and conversion optimization consultant in Seattle, WA. He works with B2B technology startups, helping businesses find and execute effective content strategies. Any views or opinions represented in this post belong solely to the author. 8 Ways To Build Brand Trust & Make Your New eCommerce Business Look Established Tools, Templates, & Tactics You Can Use To Start, Run, & Grow Your Business 100+ Startup Tools About Us Work With Us Go to UniTel Voice »
Pro Tip: Avoid using a monotone voice when you record a voicemail greeting for a virtual answering system. You want your customers to be engaged and feel welcomed, not like a burden.
I’m out walking my donkey but as soon as I get my ass back in I’ll call you back. Leave me a message.
I began my career with over 15 years in sales and sales training. Among other roles, I was a national sales trainer and a branch manager for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
Expect to spend $100-$400 for a voiceover session. (For a lower price point, look at Fiverr, but if you have more room in your budget, check out a voice acting agency.) The average professional studio session from start to finish will take approximately two hours, depending on how many scripts you have to record and how prepared you are.
The above eight rules of engagement for voicemail greetings may sound easy enough, but they’ll require some practice to get just right. Let’s look at some examples to provide some context in how to apply the rules to various types of greetings and situations.
1. "Hi, you've reached [your name] at [your company]. I'm unavailable right now — probably helping [type of company] get [X results, e.g. ‘ double their leads in 60 days,' ‘hire the best and brightest engineers,' ‘convert 40% more customers.']
The reality is you’ll never know when the perfect time for your prospect, but you can be smart about when not to call.
A word of warning: These greetings will not do you any favors if you’re in the midst of a job hunt or work in a conservative industry. Always remember your target personas. If there’s a chance they won’t appreciate your sense of humor, opt for a straightforward greeting instead. “This is Bond. James Bond. Okay, it’s really [your last name]. [Your first name] [your last name]. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m done helping M16 save the world — which will probably be tomorrow at the latest. Have a good day.” “Hmm. Gryffindor … No, Ravenclaw. Yes, you definitely belong in Ravenclaw. *Pause.* Okay, you haven’t reached the Sorting Hat — it’s the voicemail of [your name]. Please leave your name and number (and just for fun, the Harry Potter house you think you belong in) and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.” “Hello! You’ve gotten the voicemail of [your name]. Leave your name, contact info, and the answer to the eternal question ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ Anyone who gets it right will receive a call back.”
Make sure you keep your promises too. If you want to specify a time (which you should) ensure you get back to the customer within the timeframe.
You may even want to take voice lessons or watch some YouTube videos on how to create authority in your voice.
6. Prove your attentiveness to voicemail: “Good morning. You’ve reached the voicemail of [your name]. Today is [date]. Please leave me a message with your name and contact information.
From time to time, the information provided in your voicemail greeting will update. Maybe your business hours or phone number will change. No matter what the change is, make sure that if the altered information appears in your voicemail greeting, that you update the recording as soon as possible. Don’t mislead customers through mistaken communication.