When was the last time you checked your voicemail for missed messages and paid attention to your greeting? If you’ve activated your Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone’s voicemail transcription feature for convenience, chances are it’s been ages since you last listened to your voicemail greeting. So it's probably time that you took the time to update it for your callers.
Reassuring the caller that they contacted the correct number or reached the person they intended helps reduce the number of hang-ups and wasted messages you’ll receive. Here are a few notes on how to leave the best greeting possible, along with some voicemail message examples you can use in your own company!
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Instead of having the typical “You’ve reached ABA Corporation. Please leave your message after the beep”, make it unique and interesting.
The Professional Internship Program is a structured program focusing on providing employment readiness skills. It contains a nationally recognised Unit of BSBOPS201 – Work effectively in business environments, delivered by Readygrad Pty Ltd (RTO 45724). Students will obtain a Statement of Attainment for BSBOPS201 – Work effectively in business environments once all training and assessment has been competently achieved. 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How did you first hear about us?AdvertisingAgentEventFamily/Friend/ContactInternet/Social How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Advertising - BrochureAdvertising - Gmail AdsAdvertising - Media TodayAdvertising - MostWAAdvertising - Perth TodayAdvertising - Street SignageAdvertising - Student VIP How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Agent - Agent How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Event - AcaciaEvent - Adelaide Careers and Employment ExpoEvent - Agent Expo/SeminarEvent - Brisbane Careers and Employment ExpoEvent - CA Careers ExpoEvent - CPA Careers ExpoEvent - CSUEvent - Curtin UniversityEvent - Deakin UniversityEvent - HSC and Careers ExpoEvent - Macquarie UniversityEvent - Melbourne Career ExpoEvent - RMITEvent - SkillsWest ExpoEvent - The Big MeetEvent - University of AdelaideEvent - University of WollongongEvent - UNSWEvent - UTSEvent - UWAEvent - VCE and Careers ExpoEvent - Western Sydney UniversityEvent - Other Event How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Family/Friend/Contact - Former or current PE/Readygrad studentFamily/Friend/Contact - Business ContactFamily/Friend/Contact - ColleagueFamily/Friend/Contact - Other How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Internet/Social - BingInternet/Social - Employability PlanInternet/Social - FacebookInternet/Social - GoogleInternet/Social - Grad ConnectionInternet/Social - Graduate OpportunitiesInternet/Social - GumtreeInternet/Social - HotcoursesInternet/Social - LinkedInInternet/Social - SeekInternet/Social - Studies in Australia How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)University/School - On Campus PresentationUniversity/School - Careers Office How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Association - Deakin Commerce Student SocietyAssociation - International Institute of Business and IT (IIBIT)Association - Melbourne University UMSUAssociation - Monash Business and Commerce SocietyAssociation - Monash WIREDAssociation - PresentationAssociation - University of Sydney SUEUA How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Advertising - AAGEAdvertising - BrochureAdvertising - Street Signage How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Event - AcaciaEvent - Other Event How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Internet/Social - BingInternet/Social - FacebookInternet/Social - GoogleInternet/Social - LinkedInInternet/Social - Seek How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Family/Friend/Contact - Former or current PE/Readygrad studentFamily/Friend/Contact - Other How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Advertising - AAGEAdvertising - BrochureAdvertising - Gmail AdsAdvertising - Street Signage How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Event - Adelaide Careers and Employment ExpoEvent - Other Event How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Advertising - AAGEAdvertising - BrochureAdvertising - MostWAAdvertising - Street Signage How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Event - AAGEEvent - ACENEvent - AIECEvent - NAGCASEvent - Other Event How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Internet/Social - BingInternet/Social - FacebookInternet/Social - GoogleInternet/Social - Grad ConnectionInternet/Social - Graduate OpportunitiesInternet/Social - LinkedInInternet/Social - Seek How did you first hear (please specify) How did you first hear (please specify)Association - Deakin Commerce Student SocietyAssociation - International Institute of Business & IT (IIBIT)Association - Melbourne University UMSUAssociation - Monash Business & Commerce SocietyAssociation - Monash WIREDAssociation - PresentationAssociation - University of Sydney SUEUA What is your enquiry about?* What is your enquiry about?*I have a question about payments or feesI have a question about my placement or internshipI have a question about my enrolmentI have a question about coursework or assessmentsI have a question about attendance or leave applicationsI have a question about graduation or my certificateI would like to provide some feedbackI would like to update my detailsI need help accessing the student portal or LMSOther What is your enquiry about?* What is your enquiry about?*I'd like to host an internI'd like more information about hosting an internI've been a host company before and want to host another internOther All Career Advice Finding a job Working Interviewing Applying Resumes & Applications Seasonal Flexible Life Tips Fun Read
You may think this is boring, but it’s what works. Leave the sales talk and the promotion for when you call them back. Leaving a greeting is all well and good, but if it has no context you’re going to struggle to stop the person from giving up on you. Make sure people know that they’ve reached the right place. Hello, this is the office of X, the Y department. Please leave your name, reason for calling, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. By mentioning the specific department or office they’ve reached, you’re reminding them that they’ve reached the right place, and this is not some generic support department they’ve been redirected to. We talk to lots of different people every day. Make sure you remind people of who you are, and why you’re the best person to handle their call (and more importantly their valuable time). Hello, my name is X, the Senior Manager of Y, I’m sorry I’m unavailable right now, but if you leave your number I’ll return your call as soon as I can. Not only have you revealed who you are, but you’ve also given them the reassurance that their call is important to you. It leaves the right impression. The order of your words can seriously impact how your greeting is received. Research shows that we remember the first and last items on a list best, so the statements that matter most are those at the beginning and those at the end. Hello, you have reached X. I’m out of the office at the moment. Provide me with your contact details and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Do you see how important the order of the words is? The name comes first and the call to action is last. Most people will put all this important information in the middle of their greeting. It may not seem like a big difference, but it really matters. It can be tempting to try to fit as much information into a voicemail greeting as possible. Don’t do that. Sometimes less is more. Try to incorporate some strategic pauses into your greeting, so you can let everything sink in. Hello, this is X from Y. [Pause] I am not available to take your call right now. [Pause] If you are calling about Z, then please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as you can.
It’s important that your voicemail makes a good impression and conveys professionalism to anyone who calls. Here at UniTel Voice, we specialize in helping business owners set up a virtual voicemail system that not only helps them sound professional but also keeps them connected with voicemail-to-email and voicemail transcription (voice-to-text) technology.
While covering all of the relevant information, aim to keep your voicemail to about 20 seconds. You definitely should not ever record a business voicemail longer than 30 seconds, and anything less than 10 seconds will typically mean that you are either speaking too quickly or aren’t providing all of the required information.
The size of your business doesn’t matter as much as its reputation. One small way you can build trust between you and your customers is with a toll-free number. It shows that you’re reliable, and it helps people remember your number more easily. Support your marketing and strengthen your brand with a toll-free vanity number.
These of course are very basic templates. Feel free to make your voicemail fit you — just keep it professional. Good luck! Looking for an Internship? See if Uloop can help you find an internship. Apply to Write for Uloop News Join the Uloop News Team 4 Way To Balance Work and College By Bethany Fischer College takes up a lot of time. Some students choose to dedicate all of their time to studying, without getting a... 4 Ways You Can Stand Out in a Job Interview By Alicia Geigel When applying for jobs, we have a desperate need to do anything we can to stand out. Creating an attractive resume,... How to List Internship Experience on a Resume By Victoria Robertson For many college students, internships are the real way in which we obtain our experience. In other words, without...
You should script out your greetings, rehearse, and find a tone of voice that is reflective of your professionalism and your company’s personality. If applicable, your tone and your message should take into account that certain industries and companies are more conservative than others.
32. Hi, you’ve reached [your name] at [your company]. I’m away from my desk. Please leave your name, number and a message, and I will get right back to you.
16. Hi, you’ve reached [X Business Name]. Our regular business hours are [State opening hours]. If you need to reach someone immediately, please call [contact’s name] at [cell phone number]. If not, leave your name and contact information and a representative will get back to you when we re-open.
"Hello, you've reached [name] at [company]. I'm unable to come to the phone right now. Leave your name and number, and I'll return your call as soon as I'm free. Thank you."
Here are a few voicemail message examples you can record if you have the opportunity to leave a professional sounding message, while still having a bit of fun. Before choosing one of these options, be sure your company allows for a little creativity. If you work in a strict professional position, theses options might not be the best for you.
6. "Hi, this is [your name]. I'm either on a call or away from my desk. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message and I'll get back to you. Thank you.
Please leave your full name, contact details and reason for calling and I will call you back as soon as I’m back. Thanks for calling!”
You may clean your voicemail box by following the instructions given by your service provider.