Whether you’re out for the day or are off for the week, the first rule of an out of office voicemail greeting is: let callers know when you’ll be back! You’ll save them the frustration of continuing to call and yourself the hassle of listening to redundant voicemails. It’s also a good idea to set the expectation of whether you are answering messages while you’re away, and who they can reach for assistance in your absence.
A professional and personable voicemail greeting is beneficial for several reasons. Read ahead to find out what these are.
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You can review your latest bill statement from Cox Business. If you notice the phrases, “Standard Voice Mail,” “Group Voice Mail,” “Extension Voice Mail,” or “Related Services,” you use Cox Business voice mail. You must have a Cox Business voice line, trunk, or VNS service to subscribe to Cox Business Voice Mail. From a desk phone, VoiceManager or IP Centrex users can access their voice mailbox by dialing “*298” or “*86”. Depending on how their line and caller ID is configured, the user may just be prompted for their PIN, or they may be prompted for the 10-digit telephone number (TN) and the PIN. (Click here for more details.) This provides access to the voice mail main menu.
If they are calling without an expectation that you always pick up (such as if you are a business coach or a one-man shop) then thanking them for calling might make the most sense.
>Check out these great Christmas voice mail message ideas from the folks at Smart on Hold
“Thanks for calling (insert company name), where your dream is our destination. I’m helping another customer at the moment, but please leave your name and number, and I’ll return your call.”
With VoiceOverPro, there is only one professional recorder; therefore, there are no tonal options. If a user was looking for different voice options, they may be better to head to a larger company. For example, VoiceArchive offers a library of over 1300 professional voice talents (including child talent). Users can select commercial samples of each talent to get a feel for the talent’s style. While this can be a bit daunting, the provider even offers a search option to find specific talents. As such, users are able to experiment with much more flexibility. Additionally, users are able to select from over 90 languages including Dutch, French, German, Italian, English, Spanish, and many more. Aside from this, users are guaranteed delivery of their message within 24 hours.
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Why Your Business Should Have a Business Voicemail Greeting. A voicemail greeting is a simple message that plays before callers leave a message. It may play either when you don’t answer or if your phone is off. A professional greeting may encourage people to leave messages, which in …
34. Hey, this is [your name]. I’m sorry for not picking your call right now. Please leave your name, number and a brief message, and I will get back to you at the earliest opportunity. You can also reach me via email at [email address] and I will reply to you shortly.
If you are unsure of what voicemail system you are on, please contact our customer service team at 1.800.888.1300. How to access your voicemail To access your voicemail from your business phone: Dial 611 and follow the prompts. Your 10-digit mailbox number is your area code + phone number. If auto login is on, skip to steps 2 and 3. Press #. If requested, enter your password, then #. Your default password is 0000. To access your voicemail when you’re away from your business: Dial 1.877.700.2224, and then follow the prompts. Your 10-digit mailbox number is your area code + phone number. If requested, enter your password, then #. Your default password is 0000. How to manage your voicemail Press 1 to play message. Press 2 to save message and go to next one. Press 3 to delete message and go to next one. Press 4 to save message as new. Press 7 to back up three seconds. Press 8 to pause/continue message. Press 9 to go forward three seconds. Press * to return to the main menu. How to set up or change your voicemail greeting
Instead of you making your clients and customers sit through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR menu) so they may be directed to the person they would like to talk to, try to make fewer hurdles and steps for your customers.
What’s more, according to WP Beginner, “more than 88% of local searches on mobile devices end up in a phone call,” so you don’t want to be caught off guard when a customer calls!
6. Vacation Voicemail Greetings. Hey, this is [your name] at [X company]. I am actually on a break at the moment, on the other side of the world! Please direct all phone calls to [alternate contact name] at [phone number] and emails to [X email address].
The simple truth is that you need to be more aware of what you’re leaving for other people to hear. Sure, this doesn’t always register as a priority for users, but it’s never too late to reassess your greeting. a. Reading/Speaking in the Imperfect Tone: Tone is absolutely everything. Users don’t want to come off as being too nice, as it sounds insincere, or being too terse, as it can be interpreted as being rude. That being said, striking the right balance is absolutely essential. Your greeting exists as its own entity, and therefore, it should NOT rely on callers’ familiarity with you. Instead, it needs to appeal to the masses. As such, your inflection, i.e. the way you state your name and directions, needs to be both welcoming and firm. b. Injecting Humor & Insincerity: While humor/light heartedness can be welcoming, it can also convey a sense of informality, insincerity, and ultimately unprofessionalism. Why, because you’re not there to lend your humor or to contextualize. Instead, you’re assuming the caller has a working knowledge of your personality to ground the message. Though this might not sound like it’s all that terrible—it can be detrimental. As stated above, one should NEVER rely on a caller’s familiarity with you. Instead, aim to appeal to the masses. Humor is ultimately subjective, meaning not everyone has the same tastes; therefore, someone is bound to be turned off by a quirky or off-color remark. While implementing a light-hearted or even tongue and cheek tone can work, it’s just a really bad idea.
11. “Hello! You’ve reached [company name] support line. We’ll be happy to help with your inquiry. In the meantime, have you checked out our [website, help forum, etc.]? It may have the answer you’re looking for. If not, leave your name, number and reason for your call. We’ll reach out to you within the day. Thanks for calling [company name].” Sometimes, a caller likes to find the answer to their own questions. Let them discover by directing them to your website or help forum if you have one.
17. Hi, this is [your name] at [X Business Name]. Our office is currently closed, but I’ll be back in the office at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Feel free to leave a message or send me an email at [email address], and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.