If the mailbox is NOT setup, the fixed system message, "I'm sorry, the person you're trying to reach is unavailable at this time" plays instead of the personal greeting and the mailbox number plays instead of the mailbox name.
Good voicemail greetings should include your name and/or company, your reason for missing the call or an apology, and instructions for leaving a message. Use Emojis in your Business Communications? Than Check Out These! Why Analytics Are the Hot Topic at This Small Business Conference How Zoho Bookings Helps Your Business Grow What Can Small Business Learn From the Rich and Successful? 5 Tips for Building a Great Website for Your Business The A to Z of Business Telephone Systems Annie Pilon is a Senior Staff Writer for Small Business Trends, covering entrepreneur profiles, interviews, feature stories, community news and in-depth, expert-based guides. When she’s not writing she can be found on her personal blog Wattlebird, and exploring all that her home state of Michigan has to offer. Small Business Trends is an award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and the people who interact with them. Our mission is to bring you "Small business success, delivered daily."
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Responding to voicemails is time-consuming. Fortunately, with the right greeting, you might be able to save yourself some hassle. If you don’t have an auto attendant, you can give callers the information they are looking for with your voicemail greeting. Of course, this means that your greeting may be a little lengthy, but that can work in your favor as callers will only stay on the line to leave a message if they still need assistance.
A professional and personable voicemail greeting is beneficial for several reasons. Read ahead to find out what these are.
(Wondering how you can receive texts from your business callers? Check out the OpenPhone App today)
Hello, you have reached the reception of Dr. X please leave your name, reason for calling, and your number so I can call you back as soon as I can. If you are experiencing a medical emergency please hang up and dial 911.
You have reached (Your Name) at (Your Business). I was unable to take your call, but if you leave a brief message I’ll call you back as soon as possible.
Most people screen their phone calls and often avoid answering unknown numbers. If you’re applying for new positions, you should try to view each unexpected call as an exciting opportunity! In the event that you simply can’t pick up the phone, you’ll want a polished voicemail greeting to let the caller know they’ve reached the right person.
2. “Hi! We’re glad you called [company name]. We’re happy to help but we are either on the line with another client or on the go! Please let us know your name, number, and reason for your call today. As soon as we become available, we will call you right back. Thanks!” Ask your callers to leave a short message so you can determine when to return their call.
If you have a business VoIP phone system that offers an auto attendant feature, you should be able to create a phone menu fairly easily. Be sure to state which key the caller should press to select an option on the menu.
At the least, the recording should include your name, the name of your company and your office hours. You can also include the best way to reach you—such as an email—and provide that contact information. If they can leave a message, let them know in the message.
Once I listened to my original recording, I knew it was time for an upgrade. I asked around for some tips about writing and recording voicemail greetings. Here's my process: What's wrong with this voicemail message? "Hey, What's Up?" isn't going to make a good impression for business calls. "Umm..." never makes you seem confident or professional, either. "I'll get back to you whenever I can" really means, "I'm probably screening your call and I won't call you back." "BEEP!" My message was cut off, and for six years, I didn't know and no one told me. Ouch. How I fixed it: 2. Then, I wrote down what I wanted to say and read it out loud a few times until I was satisfied with the flow. 3. I rehearsed and recorded my voicemail script a few times to hear how I sounded. (I tend to talk relatively quickly, so I wanted to make sure the message didn't sound rushed.) 4. For the final recording I recorded my message while smiling so I sounded happy and approachable. 5. I checked my final recording by listening to my voicemail message from both a cell phone and a landline, and also asked a friend to listen for a second opinion.
This is an opportunity to create a memorable impression with something that would differentiate you from everyone else. Most people are professional (think, boring) in their greetings. Why not do something fun instead? The goal is to get the caller to leave a voicemail, but also to reflect your brand identity and stand out from the crowd.
"When closing your voicemail, say that if you do not hear from them in three days, you promise to call back. Three days later, start your voicemail (or live call if you reach the person) with, 'As promised, I am calling again to share...' Close with, 'If you haven't had a chance to return my call, I promise to call back in two days.' Two days later, call back and open with, 'As promised, I am calling back...' The message you are sending is that you keep your promises!"
2. Hello, you have reached the office of [your name]; I will be out of my office starting on [date] and will be returning on [date]. You can call me when I return or leave a brief message. If this is an emergency I can be reached on my cell, which is [your number].
Wondering what to say in your business voicemail greetings? Read on to learn how to record a good voicemail that is professional (or funny) to encourage callers to leave a message.