In previous blogs, I’ve mentioned the importance of making a good first impression on a potential client. Most of the time, the first contact will be over the telephone. Since we are often in session, it is very likely that the first time a client hears our voice is on our voicemail greeting. This is why a professional greeting is so important. Identify yourself because you need to reassure the client that they have called the correct number. Clients will be a lot less likely to leave a message if they wonder who will get it. Use a warm friendly voice to say something like, “You have reached xxxx, licensed mental health counselor.” Tell clients what to do if they are in crisis. Although it seems obvious to us, clients may not realize that it could be several hours until we can return their call. I suggest something like, “If you require immediate assistance, please dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.” Ask for what information you need. Yes, the obvious name and number, but if it would be helpful to get their insurance information, ask for that, too. Give clients an idea about when you’ll return their call. Common business practice is within 24 business hours. Any extra messages or information you’d like clients to know. For example, if you are no longer accepting a particular insurance plan, the end of your voicemail greeting is a great place to convey that information.
Website: https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115069?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop
.
As I mentioned above, some words like ‘can’t’ are often mispronounced by non-native speakers and it can sound like a swear word!
Expand your message with 'We're sorry we couldn't take your call this time.' The inclusion of 'this time' or 'on this occasion' suggests that the voicemail is the exception rather than the rule.
1. Write a list of information you want to include in your voicemail greeting. Writing out a list of points to include may sound arduous, but when your voicemail could potentially be the first impression someone has of you, it’s best if it doesn’t come with a bunch of "Um, uh," noises and awkward pauses. You want your voicemail to contain some basic information in a polite manner that will help the caller know that it’s you, and information to leave so you can call back as soon as possible. Include your name (and the company if this is a business voicemail), a statement that lets the caller know you apologize for missing the call, and information you would like from the caller such as name, number, and a brief message concerning the purpose of the call.
Do you find yourself putting pen to paper, staring blankly at the wall, searching for just what to say? Well, know that it happens to the best of us. To help you out, we’ve included some voicemail greeting samples for you to look at. Both the 10 formal and 10 informal samples should give you the prompting you need to start crafting your own voicemail script.
Thank you for the tips! I will definitely use these when I record my voicemail greetings and messages when my customers are on hold using MightyCall. It’s very important to have effective greetings in order to maintain customers before the human to human interaction.
You don’t want it to sound too scripted. So queues are a great way to make sure you stay on point without sounding like a robot!
While phones and other devices are getting better all the time, there are frequently problems with audio recorded on low-quality equipment. Static pops, grainy voice quality, and background noise interference are all common with audio recorded on non-professional equipment.
Always keep in mind the people who will be listening to your professional voicemail greetings. What type of tone and information resonates with them?
How to Create the Best Voicemail Greetings As we have established, your business’ voicemail greeting should invite your potential customer to leave a message. Armed with the four building blocks of creating business voicemail greetings of clear and concise information, confirmation, invitation, and duration as outlined above, we’ll now walk
4. Give them a realistic expectation: “Congratulations! You’ve reached the right person! It’s [your name]. Unfortunately, you’ve called at the wrong time. Please leave a message with all your contact information, and I’ll call you back within 24 hours.”
Hi! I told you never to call me at this number. But since you did, I left the knife on your back porch…Check to see I got all the blood off. Don’t forget to leave a message, and we’ll talk about the…plan.
Translation: If you sound unsure, then your current clients, prospects, and partners won’t be so sure about you either.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.
“Hey, there! This is [your name]. Please leave me a message with your name, number, and the reason you’re calling. If you also tell me [insert random fact] I’ll be sure to move you to the top of my call list. Have a great day!”
If your business is off for a holiday, it's a common courtesy to update your voicemail to acknowledge the closure. Mention the closure in the beginning of the message, convey when your business is reopening, and don't forget to wish the callers a happy holiday if the occasion calls for it. If you're away from your office, check your voicemail remotely to keep up with incoming messages if necessary. Or get voicemail to email capabilities set up on your phone system. Thank you for calling Merlow Plumbing. We are closed for Christmas from December 24th, 2015, until January 2nd, 2016. Our normal business hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 6 pm. Please leave your message after the tone. Have a happy holiday, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year. 5. Emergency Situation Voicemail Greeting