You have reached our general company mailbox. No one is available to take your call at the moment, but please leave your name, telephone number, and a brief message, and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you and have a great day.
Context does matter here. If the caller would reasonably expect you to answer the phone (such as if they were calling a store or other place of business), an apology for not being able to get to the phone makes the most sense.
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Hi! John’s answering machine is broken. This is his refrigerator. Please speak very slowly, and I’ll stick your message to myself with one of these magnets.
43. Hello, this is [X company]. We’re not able to take your call at the moment, but please leave a brief message so we can get back to you shortly.
"The phone number early in the conversation is key," advises John Crossman, CEO of real estate firm Crossman & Company. "If it is a long message with a phone number at the end, I may not even listen to it."
What kind of company do you run? A law firm may prefer more formal business voicemail greetings than a trendy retail store, for example.
Typically, most of these services are uniform—i.e. include the same tools and features (send a script, they record it in a tone you approve, they send it as a file, you supply any feedback, etc.); however, there are some services that go above and beyond. For example, VoiceOverPro, is a single voice professional who records 30 second voicemail messages based on users’ scripts. This is standard; however, users also have options like adding music, recording up to 60 seconds (or 150 words), rush, 2-day turnaround, and even same day delivery.
We’re all familiar with this type of voicemail greeting. Simply put, a caller reaches you by dialing your number or extension directly. For an optimal personal voicemail greeting, be clear about who you are, the team you’re on, and when the caller can expect a callback. Unlike company and department voicemail greetings, you may not be able to configure a greeting for open and closed business hours. If that’s the case, use a general voicemail greeting that accommodates both scenarios.
12.) Benvenuti alla John Doe. Potete contattarci dal Lunedì al Venerdì dalle 8am alle 12.30pm e dall’1pm alle 4.30pm. Al momento non possiamo rispondere personalmente alla vostra chiamata. Si prega di lasciare un messaggio con il vostro nome e numero di telefono e vi richiameremo al più presto possibile. Per casi urgenti, potete raggiungerci al numero 0821 91039-1211. Grazie.
If you are going to use your own phone to record your greeting, be sure to use a land line. Cell phones can’t always be trusted to produce a high quality sound and often the callers will hear distortion, static, or flight information in the background because you decided to record a new message while waiting for your plane at the airport. Always use a land line in a quiet setting to make your recording.
4. Give them a realistic expectation: “Congratulations! You’ve reached the right person! It’s [your name]. Unfortunately, you’ve called at the wrong time. Please leave a message with all your contact information, and I’ll call you back within 24 hours.”
While it may seem like a small detail, setting up an after hours announcement can help you win and keep customers. By presenting a clear, welcoming message containing relevant information about your business, you are showing callers that you value their time.
4. You have reached [your business]. All of our sales representatives are busy serving other customers but we would like to return your call as soon as possible. For current pricing information or to check the status of your order, please visit us on the web at [your website]. Otherwise, please leave us a message with your name and number after the tone. If you would like to return to the previous menu, press the [key to main menu].
34. Hello, this is [your name]. I’m currently out of the office celebrating [X holiday]. I’ll be back on [X date], so leave a quick message and I’ll be sure to return your call when I get back. Have a happy [holiday]!
4. 'ABC Company. This is XYZ, and how are you today? ' This option is tricky, but can work well for companies that bank on personalized service and friendly interactions with clients.
Do Not Disturb sends incoming calls straight to voicemail without ringing your phone. UniTel Voice also allows you to read a transcription of any voicemail so you can stay in the loop, even when you're too busy to talk.
While a short recording may not seem like a place to win new business, the professionalism, courtesy, and clearness that you convey in your greeting will leave a favorable impression in a customer's mind.