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."
There's no doubt about it -- leaving a good sales voicemail is hard. And even if you do record a well-crafted message, do prospects actually listen to them, or take the time to call you back? Not usually.
.
Before we tackle appropriate voicemail etiquette for outbound messages, let’s first discuss proper etiquette for setting up your own voicemail system. As a professional, make sure you are regularly updating your voicemail greeting with information most relevant to those calling you.
So, is there an opportunity for your clients, referral partners, and prospects to reach you via voicemail? Or is your voicemail box always full?
Although it is okay to give a little bit of information, keep in mind the goal of your voicemail is to take the next steps in the conversation, and not to have the whole conversation then and there in your recording.
The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.
Rehearse or write down your message before recording it. Remember that old saying “practice makes perfect?” It’s certainly true when it comes to creating an electronic greeting. The more you’ve rehearsed, the easier the message will be to restate. If you don’t have time to practice, writing down the greeting before recording it – and then reading it aloud from the paper – may help you stay focused on the correct wording.
The key to leaving voicemail messages that get returned is keeping in mind who you are calling in the first place. Whether you are making sales calls, speaking with current borrowers, or trying to gain mortgage clients, you must adapt to your audience.
Introduce yourself at the beginning of your message. Take your time in providing your contact information, making sure you are loud and clear in the pronunciation of your name and number.
If your landline doesn’t have a way to save messages already built in, the best way to save that gorgeous message is with a recorder. But before you rush out to get it, don’t forget that most smartphones have a built in recorder. Try that first and see if it will pick up her voice loud and strong. It should save the message as an MP3 automatically, that you can send (via email or text) directly to your computer for safe keeping. If the quality is not great, then you can borrow a recorder or purchase one. We like the Olympus brand ourselves, because they save in MP3 and can upload to a computer wirelessly. We have the vtech phone/answering system indicated above. The outgoing message/greeting is of my young daughter’s voice and we would like to save it somehow. Am wondering if you have a process or can suggest how an outgoing/greeting message can be downloaded for safekeeping.
In the video lesson, I shared this example for a common voicemail greeting in English:
Join the Most-Read Etiquette, Soft Skills, and Interpersonal Communications Blog in the United States! FREE Five-Day Challenge LEARN THE 25 HABITS OF A REMARKABLY CLASSY PERSON. Count Me In!
1. Enable airplane mode on your phone, so calls are automatically routed to voicemail.
Here are a few sample voice mail greetings to get you started: Standard Voice Mail Greetings. Normal Greeting (Without pager notification) "This is (name) of (company). I'm currently unable to take your call. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, and I will contact you as soon as possible. Thanks."
Take a deep breath before beginning and stay calm while speaking. Try practicing a few times beforehand if you need to. No rule says you have to build out what you want to say on the fly.
Hi there! You’ve reached [LinkedPhone – Where Freedom Rings!] We’re away at the moment but please leave your name, number, and let us know how we can help you. We’ll make sure the right team gets back to you within [the next 24 hours]. We appreciate your call. Thank you.
Thank you for calling [LinkedPhone]. Due to the current pandemic, our team members are working remotely and are available [Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm Eastern Standard Time]. Please leave a message with your name, number, and how we can serve you. We will respond as promptly as possible. Thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. Let’s get through this together. Stay safe and well.