Written by Donato Diorio @iDonato
Hey guess who this is? You guessed it. Guess what you have to do now? You guessed it.
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If you’re thinking about buying voice mail, don’t just look at the benefit of your convenience. Before you make a commitment to a specific system consider the impact on your customers. Will they be better served? Will you maintain friendly, human service in spite of the voice mail system?
Your second voicemail should include information that was missing from your first. For instance, a rep using this technique might leave the following two messages:
Yet what do winning sports teams do that most individuals do not? They practice. Think about it. The few seconds we invest in practicing our message can create or nurture a positive relationship. That's a personal win for the caller. On the other hand, a messy message can cost us a valued relationship.
Hey guess who this is? You guessed it. Guess what you have to do now? You guessed it.
Michael Pedone teaches inside sales teams how to pick up the phone and close business. He is the CEO/FOUNDER of SalesBuzz.com – An online sales training company.
For all the above cases and more, preparing yourself and being careful will ensure that you only send professional and meaningful voicemails. Here’s how:
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Tips: Just be advised to use a functional Microphone for better recording output, also make sure that you utilize your mobile phone’s hands-free option to increase the volume of the playback.
Find some common ground. If you’re cold calling someone, your voicemail is your 30 second chance to make a connection and leave a good impression. One of the best ways to make a connection in that short amount of time is mentioning a mutual acquaintance. You could also mention a shared affiliation with an organization.
Calling your retrieval number — instead of your home phone number — is a faster way to listen to your messages remotely. You will be prompted immediately to enter your PIN and don't have to wait for your greeting to start.
"When closing your voicemail, say that if you do not hear from them in three days, you promise to call back. Three days later, start your voicemail (or live call if you reach the person) with, 'As promised, I am calling again to share...' Close with, 'If you haven't had a chance to return my call, I promise to call back in two days.' Two days later, call back and open with, 'As promised, I am calling back...' The message you are sending is that you keep your promises!"
Your personal voicemail greeting should be brief and to the point. State your name and your availability, project a welcoming aura, and ask the caller for whatever information you need from them. Hi, you've reached the voicemail of Mike Downing. I'm not available to answer the phone right now. My office hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm. Please leave your name and phone number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks. 2. Company Wide Voicemail Greeting
1.“Hi! Thanks for calling [company name/your name]. Please leave a brief message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Have a great day!”
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.
Aaargh, you are thinking, crap I need to say something, ooooh what do I say, think, think… nothing comes to mind, you are not prepared and you hang up.