The right way to leave your phone number is to start saying your phone number with your area code and then take a 2-3 second pause while the person listening to your voicemail message gets a pen and paper. Then, continue with the next 3 digits, make another 2 second pause, and then say the last 4 digits. Then, slowly repeat your phone number again.
Hello, it’s obvious you have bad timing, because nobody is home. Please leave your name, telephone number, and a brief message in a voice similar to mine, and your call will be returned as soon as humanly possible.

It is no surprise that your actual voice mail greeting must be delivered in the same way: Professional, clear, brief, and to the point. In a previous blog, "Marketing Messages on Your Cell Say You Mean Business," some techniques for making a professional voice mail greeting were discussed. There are many similarities between leaving a voice mail, and producing a voice mail greeting. You want your callers and receivers to hear a confident and professional person on the other end delivering a coherent message. You should introduce yourself to a prospective client in a personal way. An email doesn't generate much discussion, nor does it necessarily show you went the extra mile in contacting the client. Generating conversation. A professional, well conveyed voice message shows the voice mail receiver that you are confident and well-spoken, and that there is a person behind the message. Emails can be prepared, edited, and revised unlike voice mail messages An email or email chain thread is documentation of a conversation that can easily be referenced In an email you can include a phone number, address, website, etc that may be hard to remember or record through voice mail communication Emails can be forwarded, CC'ed, and blasted.
Note: If you are using a non-Campus number in your call-answering rule, you must prefix the number with "+1". Example: +1-415-222-1212. You will not be required to prefix a Campus number. Will the University be providing training sessions for the new voicemail system? We are not planning on providing any training at this time. If training becomes necessary. we will plan sessions accordingly. How do I save voicemail messages within Outlook for longer than 1 year (356 days)? Per the Unified Communication Operational Voicemail retention policy for all Cisco Unity Voicemail users, all Unity Mail Boxes will retain voicemail messages for 1 year (365 days). To save voicemail messages for longer than 1 year (365 days), you will need to create a new folder within your Outlook account and drag and drop these voicemail messages into it. Cisco Phone Quick Start Guides Cisco Phone Model 8961 - Quick Start Guide (PDF) Cisco Phone Models 7821, 7841, 7861 - Quick Start Guide Part 1 (PDF) Cisco Phone Models 7821, 7841, 7861 - Quick Start Guide Part 2 (PDF)