18. "Hi, you've reached [your name]. I'm away from [date] to [date]. If you need help with [X] before then, please contact [name] at [phone number]. Everyone else, please leave your name and number and I'll return your call when I return. Thanks and have a great day."
One major pain point for any business is when customers aren’t going into a phone call or meeting prepared. If, for example, you’re a lawyer, you need your clients to come prepared with their documents ready. You also know that there are a ton of papers that need to be organized and filed — often with tight deadlines as well — and it’s imperative for the client to have it all readily accessible.

But VoIP requires a reliable broadband Internet connection. So for businesses that don't have access to broadband, an analog system may be the only option. If you're unclear on how the two systems differ, this Guide to VoIP compares them in easy-to-understand language.
But professionalism also means paying attention to detail. Imagine if you were to leave a voicemail without mentioning any of the following: • Your full name. • Name of the recipient, if important. • Your company name. • What it’s regarding. • Phone number for the call back. • Brief message.