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.
Please leave a message and your call will be returned when we return. Happy Holidays from [Company Name]! At this time, our office is closed for the holiday season. Please leave a message and your call will be returned when we return. Thank you for calling [Company Name]. At this time, our office is closed …

Identify Yourself—I believe identifying yourself through your voicemail greeting shows respect to everyone who calls you. It allows your callers to confirm they have dialed the right number. When people don’t include their name in their greeting, it leaves me wondering if they have something to hide. I have seen this to be true far too often.
Once you thank your customers for calling, state your name and the department. Make sure to speak clearly so the caller knows they called the right place and can understand what is being said. Don’t rush through in case the caller wants to write the information down.