In sales, immediate communication with your prospects and current customers is important. Being available to answer questions or further negotiate a deal allows your clients to feel secure and more apt to purchase from you. But what if you can’t answer the phone when they call? Make sure you have a voicemail system set up so your clients have the opportunity to leave you a message.
Think through what you are going to say before you place the call. When men hear the beep, they often freeze up and forget what they wanted to say. If you want to be the go-to guy at work, then you have to exhibit competence on all levels. Don’t spoil your confident image by hemming and hawing and filling your messages with “uhhhhs,” and “ummmms.” If it’s a really important call, consider writing out what you want to say beforehand. If the person picks up, great, you now have some notes to remember what you wanted to talk about. If they don’t answer, you can leave a clear and concise message.
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On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.
That’s not to say strip all emotion and personality out of your voicemail, but be yourself! Presumably, you are leaving a voicemail with someone because you want to continue a conversation with them either by phone or in person. What will they think if the “personality” of the voicemail doesn’t match the one in more fluid forms of correspondence? Knowing how to leave a voicemail that is equal parts succinct, professional and courteous can be hard for those not accustomed to doing so.
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7. A Classic Hepburn Answering Greeting for Voicemails. Katharine Hepburn’s iconic and feisty voice goes down in history and can add a bit of moxie to your voicemail greeting.
Services like slydial allow you to bypass the dial and go straight to voicemail. Simply download the app for iPhone or Android, choose from a basic (free) or premium subscription, and start dialing. Your address book will populate automatically in the app. All you have to do is click on a contact to reach their voicemail.
Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.
It’s no wonder so many voice mail messages get deleted and never called back! If ever there was a situation that begged to be scripted, it’s your voicemail message. Isn’t this the time you want to sound your best, be perceived as a professional, and prepare the most polished message you can? Of course it is.
This can also work with your iPhone or Android, if the above methods aren’t working for you. Just connect your phone into the computer with a 3.5mm audio cable. More on that in a minute.
You can also use the Slydial app for iOS or Android. Create a free account with the service, then choose a contact through the app or manually enter a phone number. Once the app has connected the call, leave a voicemail, and hang up when you're finished.
Press *H (Help) or *4 to find out what step you are on in a task and what your options are. Always use *H when you forget what to do next.
Voicemail is a simple and standard phone function. But, it has a major impact on the mortgage industry. Plus, the perception that others have of you is heavily influenced by the messages you leave. So, make sure the voicemails you leave are not stopping you from closing more loans!
20-30 seconds is the sweet spot. A voicemail in this timeframe sparks curiosity without demanding too much time.
14. "Hello, you've reached the Sales Department at [Company name]. All of our representatives are currently helping clients [insert goal such as, 'achieve 40% growth through streamlining HR operations'] and are unable to take your call. Please leave your name, company, and phone number and we'll give you a call back ASAP. Thank you!"
As Dan tells us, "This is the only strategy I’ve ever seen consistently work—but when they call back you'd better have a question ready!"
5.) If you’re calling a home line, and know the family, it’s nice to say a group “Hello” before leaving a message specifically for the person you called. Say something like this: “Hi everyone, it’s Maralee. Hope you’re enjoying Spring Break! Janet, I wanted to see if you and I could meet for lunch one day next week. My schedule is pretty open, and we could pick a restaurant near your office. I know your lunch schedules are tight. I’ll give you a call back at 7:00 tonight. Or I’m around all afternoon, so give me a call!” (Boy, home lines are becoming rare, aren’t they? We gave ours up a couple of months ago.)