All sorts of funny issues can occur when your phone hasn’t had a reboot in a while. Rebooting allows your phone to clear out and fix any issues. So try switching it off for at least five minutes, then see if the problem is resolved.
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.
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Why the difference in response? When you made the request specific to one person in the second circumstance, you placed a burden of responsibility on that person. So it is with sales voicemails: The more specific the question, the more responsibility the person feels to answer you.
The number you have xxx-xxxx (your number) has been changed, the new number is xxx-xxxx (again, your number). CULATA!
Knowing how to leave a voicemail that is equal parts succinct, professional and courteous can be hard for those not accustomed to doing so. Below are tips on proper voicemail etiquette to help you craft and leave the perfect voicemail:
Sending an email to each prospect before you call gives them an additional way to get in touch with you when they're ready. As you're leaving your voicemail, mention that you've sent them a quick email as well that has further details on who you are and the purpose of your call. As Florin Tatulea of Loopio explains:
If you’re making several calls, make sure you document your messages so you can be on top of it immediately if/when your call is returned. Nothing worse (or more stupid) than getting a returned call and having no idea who it’s from.
iPhone users have another option: You can send a voice message from Apple's Messages by tapping the microphone button inside the text box (this works only when you're messaging other iPhones). By default, these voice messages last for only two minutes before they are deleted, but you can change that. Either tap Keep under any sent voice message or go to Settings > Messages and tap Expire under Audio Messages. You can set the expiration date to Never, but this affects only your record of the conversation, not the recipient's.
Let’s be honest, you (hopefully) set up your voicemail when you first got your phone, and it probably hasn’t changed since then. If you’re about to start job-hunting, now is the perfect time to refresh your professional voicemail greeting.
“Hi (PROSPECTS NAME) this is (YOUR NAME) with (YOUR COMPANY) and I see we’ve left you a few messages / emails regarding (HOT BUTTON / WHATS IN IT FOR THEM VALUE STATEMENT) but haven’t heard back from you.
Ivan Gomez is a Force Management Partner who specializes in training inside sales teams. He's also the President and Founder of NextStage, LLC, a consulting firm that helps companies accelerate go-to-market strategies with sales development and inside sales. This blog was originally published on NextStage's website.
Similar to sharing your 24-hour response time on your own voicemail message, let contacts know if there’s a good time to reach you when requesting they call you back.
Here are 5 sample business voicemail greeting scripts that will leave a positive and personable impression on your callers.
Voicemail Scripts for New Prospects Sample Voicemail Message #1: Here is the classic template when calling a new prospect – adjust and adapt it to fit your product or service. In this and all examples, leave your phone number SLOWLY. “Hi _____, this is _____ with (your company).
When you get this message, please call me back at (your number). That number again is (your number) and ask for _________. I look forward to speaking with you, and I guarantee you’ll be glad you returned this call.”
I believe honesty and creativity is the key. Understand that in order to increase your callbacks, you need to pique the prospect’s interest without raising doubts or fear.
Context will make your message sound much more authentic and will result in a higher response rate.