Expanding on the simple approach above, let the caller know who they've reached. This will not only eliminate people leaving voicemails by mistake, but it will reassure the caller that they have called the number they intended.
Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Technology Race & Culture Arts & Life Expand/collapse submenu for Arts & Life Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music #NowPlaying Tiny Desk All Songs Considered Music News Music Features Live Sessions Shows & Podcasts Expand/collapse submenu for Shows & Podcasts #NowPlaying Tiny Desk All Songs Considered Music News Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Organization Support Careers Connect Press Ethics Businesses Are Hanging Up On Voice Mail To Dial In Productivity : All Tech Considered It was a workplace necessity not long ago. Now voice mail is the latest mode of communication to be phased out by the digital age. Companies big and small are cutting it to save time and money. Businesses Are Hanging Up On Voice Mail To Dial In Productivity Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email Listen · 4:13 4:13 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed
e. Never Assume Anything: Phrases like “You Know What To Do,” “Sing Your Song at the Beep,” and others mentioned above are awful to leave in your greeting. For the sake of universality and comprehensiveness, NEVER assume the caller knows what to do. Lay it out clearly. f. Leave a Message: This phrase, by itself, will not do. It’s imperative for users to identify themselves in their greetings. Callers need to know they’ve reached the right person. g. Disregard Lethargy: If you’re not excited about your greeting, why would anyone else be? Never display a lack of enthusiasm in your greeting as it could turn callers off to both you and your business. h. Speak Clearly and Never Slur: Callers need to understand your every word; therefore, mumbling, slurring, and all other detractions of speech should never be recorded. d. Be Creative Without Sacrificing Quality: Callers know how voicemails work–i.e. leave a number, message, etc. While you want to be clear, it’s important not to be contrive or redundant with your message. Creativity can help users to differentiate themselves, as well as intrigue callers. While users should avoid the tropes of creativity listed above, it’s definitely good to think outside the box. That being said, scripting and practice can help users to experiment more with their greeting–ultimately allowing for more unique and creative approach. e. Speak With Diction: It’s important to present one’s self as an authority without alienating callers. As such, it’s crucial to articulate and speak with clear diction. “ if your voice recording has you stumbling over words and speaking haltingly, it does not convey confidence and competence,” states Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research & Consulting. Remember, this greeting represents you; therefore, you want to appear collected and professional, as well as welcoming. To do this, one must carry themselves well through their recorded message. f. Account for Timeliness: Your message should be concise. No caller wants to be sitting through a rant/diatribe of redundant statements. Your greeting should flow without dragging. Inversely, one doesn’t want to be terse, either. Engage callers with a simplified approach laden with creativity. h. Account for Quality: Aside from speaking clearly, users want to eliminate any noise in the surrounding environment. The quality of the greeting is just as important as what’s being said in the greeting itself. As such, one doesn’t want to undermine a great message with poor quality. i. Courtesy, Tastefulness, & Tact: This is pretty self-explanatory and straight forward–NEVER be rude. Being light-hearted and humorous is very different from being obnoxious and/or abrasive. Again, these tools can be helpful if utilized properly, but not everyone perceives humor the same way. So play it safe. The last thing your voicemail greeting should do is offend a caller. k. Provide Options: if you’re part of a bigger company, it might be good to offer caller options. For example, allow a menu to defer callers to a colleague or co-worker in your absence. This can help show callers you care about their well being. Another option might be offering different modes of communication–i.e. email, fax, etc. In offering users diversity, contact may be much easier to maintain.
A word of warning: These greetings will not do you any favors if you’re in the midst of a job hunt or work in a conservative industry. Always remember your target personas. If there’s a chance they won’t appreciate your sense of humor, opt for a straightforward greeting instead. “This is Bond. James Bond. Okay, it’s really [your last name]. [Your first name] [your last name]. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m done helping M16 save the world — which will probably be tomorrow at the latest. Have a good day.” “Hmm. Gryffindor … No, Ravenclaw. Yes, you definitely belong in Ravenclaw. *Pause.* Okay, you haven’t reached the Sorting Hat — it’s the voicemail of [your name]. Please leave your name and number (and just for fun, the Harry Potter house you think you belong in) and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.” “Hello! You’ve gotten the voicemail of [your name]. Leave your name, contact info, and the answer to the eternal question ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ Anyone who gets it right will receive a call back.”
Looking for more information about delivering a professional voicemail message? Click here to download our free guide, "Top Tips for Professional Voicemail Greetings" Tags: resources, tips, greetings Recent Blogs Taking Your Presentations To The Next Level With Audio and Voice April 01, 2019 Tools to Support Message on Hold Production October 12, 2018 tips (186) resources (163) message on hold (154) marketing (118) customer experience (101)
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27. Hi, It’s [your name] of [your company]. I’m in a meeting at the moment. Please leave your message and contact information, and I will get back to you within [realistic timeframe]. Thank you for calling.
A well written script is the cornerstone of any great on hold message. It must capture the caller’s attention, so they remain engaged while navigating menu options or waiting on hold. The script that callers hear can set the tone for the rest of the conversation. It should also be in line with your goals, which can be broken down to 3 main objectives. It can be to inform the caller, promote the brand or product, or just entertain the caller. Most of all, it has to be engaging.
Learn how to set up a name recording, default voicemail greetings, and temporary greetings (for holidays and vacations) for your OnSIP voicemail box.
I’ve got you covered. I’ve compiled some of the best voicemail greetings you can use for virtually any situation you’ll come across.
Wexler says the bank's chief financial officer was searching for budget cuts that wouldn't hurt too much. Limo services was one. Voice mail, it turned out, cost $10 per person per month and, intuitively, it seemed ripe for the chopping block.
Are you struggling to come up with a voicemail greeting that you believe in? Do you find that everything you record comes out too casual, overly professional, or doesn’t seem to touch all of the bases that you want it to?
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7.) Welcome to the law office John Doe. Sorry, we're currently unable to answer your call personally, as you call during our annual holidays. Feel free to send us an email to info@lawoffice-johndoe.de - We will contact as soon as possible at our return. In urgent cases, please contact our office representative. These can be found on our website www.lawoffice-johndoe.de. Many thanks for your call - Good bye.
2.) Welcome to John Doe your IT partner for individual business requirements. Please press 1 for sales, 2 for technique, 3 for accounting, 4 for RMX, or remain on the line and you will be connected to our switchboard.
11. Hello, you’ve reached [your name]’s cell phone. I can’t take your call at the moment, but if you leave a brief message, I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
7.) Bienvenido/a a John Doe DE, su especialista en muestras de productos. Si desea realizar un pedido, por favor, utilice el proceso de gestión de pedidos a través de nuestra tienda online www.johndoe.de. Esperamos su pedido. Para cualquier otra consulta, por favor, contacte con nuestro departamento de atención al cliente por correo electrónico info@johndoe.de. Le contestaremos lo antes posible. Gracias por su llamada.