And for the prospect or client that seems to be dodging you or just not calling you back:
1. Funny Answering Greeting from Seinfeld. Back in 1997, Seinfeld’s character, George Costanza, attempts to avoid a breakup call from his girlfriend and we hear his comical outgoing machine recording.
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9. "Hey, this is [your name]. Thanks for reaching out. I'm busy at the moment, but if you leave your name, number, and message, I'll return your call.”
Keep the conversation going, and give prospects an easy way to return your call by shooting them a quick email once you hang up the phone. Salespeople are used to being on the phone all day -- but not all prospects are.
If you want to save your voicemails, we suggest keeping the emails and deleting the messages on your magicJack to create space for new incoming messages. How do I access my voicemail on magicApp?
So, is there an opportunity for your clients, referral partners, and prospects to reach you via voicemail? Or is your voicemail box always full?
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.
Leave a specific request. What do you want your listener to do? Sure, you want them to call you back, but why? To answer a question? To set up an appointment? People will appreciate it if you give them specific actions for their call back. That way they’ll know they won’t be wasting a lot of time on the call back trying to figure out what you want.
A separate after-hours attendant menu can inform callers that your office is closed, state your business’ operating hours, and provide options that callers can immediately act upon. For example, you can direct them to your website for FAQs. If your business provides an account login page, remind your customers that they can login at any time to get general account information. In this situation, be proactive.
No one should be calling during the holidays, and yet some people do. When you’re out for the holidays, create a voicemail greeting that communicates the cheerfulness of the season while still staying professional.
Refer to your previous conversation to jog their memory, saying, "In our meeting earlier, you said something about your shipping needs that really stuck out to me. I'd love to ask you a question about that."
However, keep in mind that your prospects might be faced with a lot more distractions at the beginning of the day. "The morning is the worst time to orchestrate a voicemail," says Zachary Weiner, CEO of Emerging Insider Communications. "Most decision makers have a lot on their plate when the day starts. Finding them when they have a bit more mind-share is often more conducive to a positive reply."
1. Call the UCSF voicemail system using the number appropriate for your location, then log in to your mailbox. From a Campus phone, call x66000 or press the Message Waiting button on your phone. From an off-campus phone, call 415-476-6000 and press the Star key when you reach the voicemail system. You will be prompted for your ID; enter your 5-digit phone extension. From a mobile phone, call 415-476-6000 and press the Star key when you reach the voicemail system. You will be prompted for your ID; enter your 5-digit phone extension.
20. “Hey there! Thanks for calling [company]. We are unable to answer the phone right now but will get back to you right after the holidays. We hope it’s not an emergency, but if so, we’ve got you covered. Contact us at [company email/other support lines] and we’ll get back to you ASAP. Please be sure to leave your name, phone number, and a brief message to let us know the reason for your call. Thank you and have a great day.” Available even during holiday emergencies? Let your callers know via your voicemail greeting.
When we call our friends and family, we often call and hang up without leaving a voicemail -assuming the missed call will be notification enough that we want this person to call us back. Even though this is acceptable to do in our personal lives, phone call etiquette in the corporate world plays by different rules.
Hello Joan, this is Susan with XYZ Company. I’m calling to get price quotes on your shipping rate. I’d appreciate it if you could call me back at 333-333-3333. Anytime during the work week would be great. Thank you.
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