When you get this message, please call me back at [Your Phone Number]. That number again is [Your Phone Number] and ask for [Your Name]. I look forward to speaking with you, and I guarantee you’ll be glad you returned this call.”
*Note: Some of your users don’t celebrate all the same holidays you do. Remember to keep these voicemail greetings neutral 🌟
.
If you are currently in the job market and you can’t remember what your voicemail greeting is, it might not be a bad idea to check in and see if it needs updating. Depending on what it is, when a hiring manager hears it, they may decide to not leave a voicemail after all. “You have reached the voicemail box of Jane Smith. I am sorry I missed your call. Please leave your name and number and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.”
The tone of your voice when leaving sales voicemails is almost as important as the actual words you say. If you obviously sound like a salesman, your message will be deleted before it even ends. You want to speak in a tone of voice thats friendly, confident, and casual—not overly excited, nervous, or desperate-sounding.
19. "Hello, you've reached [your name]. I'm currently [exploring Asia, hiking through the jungle in Costa Rica, hanging out on the beach in Bermuda] — or more likely, [recovering from extreme jet lag, googling ‘Are red spiders poisonous,' or looking for SPF 150 sunscreen] and won't be back in the office until [date]. Leave your contact info and reason for calling and I'll get in touch then."
The Right Way to Leave a Voicemail 1. Assess your surroundings 2. Prepare a brief outline 3. State your name and telephone number 4. Identify your purpose for calling 5. Speak in a confident, respectful tone 6. Remain brief 7. Briefly restate your point and contact information
For example, if you are planning to go on vacation for two weeks, make sure you update your voicemail greeting stating how long you’ll be out of the office when you’ll be back — and who can be contacted in your absence.
2. When prompted, press 1 for voicemail. Your most recent voicemail message is read. Press 1 to move back to the beginning of the message. Press 8 to pause the message. Press 9 to fast-forward and skip portions of the message. Press 66 to have the message play faster. Press # to go to the end of the current message.
The more personal and specific the question, the more likely it'll get a response. Think about it this way. If you start to have chest pains on a busy city street, and you cry out, "Somebody call 911!" you might get help … but you might not. However, if you were to point at one specific person and shout, "Would you please call 911 for me?" it's almost a certainty that the stranger you selected would grab their phone and dial.
With a voicemail, though, you (should) know exactly who you’re calling – their name, their company’s name, how many employees they have, etc. Your message can be hyper-customized to that one person you’re calling. When you make that message just for them, they’ll feel more of a responsibility to return your call.
Maralee McKee is dedicated to helping you become the person you most want to be and to live a confident, kind, and generous life! She is a contemporary etiquette, manners, and people skill expert and the founder of the prestigious Etiquette School of America. She's in the top one percent of experts in her field, and her etiquette skills blog is the most read in the United States. Maralee presents business etiquette seminars to corporations large and small and coaches individuals one-on-one virtually and in-person. Her book on how moms can teach their children to become the best version of themselves (Harvest House Publishing) earned the prestigious Mom’s Choice Gold Award for excellence in parenting books.
“Just turn it off and back on again.” You may have heard this as a joke, but it’s actually advantageous to regularly reboot your devices.
2. To recover your data, connect your phone using a USB cable, then launch the recovery software.
When your small business is closed, ensure that your callers know that! If appropriate, you might want to reiterate your business hours to manage callback expectations.
To end the voicemail, state (or restate) your main question, then say your phone number. You can also say you’ll follow-up with an email. Now, this isn’t the same as saying, “If I don’t hear from you, you’ll hear from me!” Instead, it’s giving them another way to contact you, one they may be more comfortable with. They should still feel a responsibility to respond to your question, but now they have two options for how to get back in touch. (Then send that email, of course.)
I will share examples with you, so it’s easier for you to remember and also, so that you can start using them straight away.
That’s why it’s critical that each customer interaction with your business is consistent, positive, and represents the values and personality of your company. This includes your storefront, website, social media presence, emails, and every interaction you have with your customers, both online and in-person.