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].
When you set up a virtual phone system, you need to choose a business phone number. Depending on your current professional needs and scaling plans, you’ll want a local or a national toll-free number. Some entrepreneurs target foreign markets with their products and services so they’ll need an international number.
.
A main decision point when choosing what's best for your business can be whether you are comfortable with an internet-based Cloud voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system, or whether you currently have a system that uses a landline with a physical set of phone trunk lines stored on your premises.
Informal voicemail greetings are those that don’t adhere to the rules of professional and business voicemail greetings. Here, you are free to just leave a simple greeting, or use it to show your more witty side. This style of greetings can be used for both home and business if you like, depending on the type of caller you expect. For instance, a novelty shop could probably create a rather informal message, using sound effects that represent the type of items they sell.
A good voicemail greeting is short and professional, lets people know that you’ll get back to them, and invites callers to continue engaging with a call-to-action. You should also show your personality if you’re in an industry or role that allows that. If your industry is more conservative, however, you’ll want to keep humor and personal touches to a minimum. A greeting Your name Your company A simple explanation for missing the call (e.g. you’re away from the phone or are on holiday) A rough estimate of when you’ll get back to the person An alternative person to reach out to (if you’re out of office) An alternative mode of communication (if you prefer email or text) A call-to-action such as “Leave a message” or “Send me an email at [email protected]”
Whether you’re using popular tools from Microsoft or Google, be sure to always take into account if these tools are useful, such as messaging platforms, SMS, emails, and phone system capabilities.
As far as pricing goes, costs will vary from provider to provider. Some basic VOIP plans only require users to pay government-mandated 911 fees, which helps keep costs low. Of course, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Basic VOIP plans may not include many of the advanced features that you’re looking for. The good news is that most VOIP providers offer clear, transparent pricing on their website with each tier displaying the features it holds. This makes shopping and comparing very easy.
Here are several tips to consider when setting up a professional voicemail greeting:
Some voicemail transcription services are completely automated, while others rely on people to do the work manually. The one that is best for your business will depend on what level of accuracy you need, and how quickly you want to receive the transcription.
In brief, a VoIP voicemail service for businesses is much more extensive than consumer voicemail – though it doesn’t have to be more complicated. This document will address the types of features a business can expect to find in an enterprise-class voicemail service.
Your phone number is the last thing you should say on a voicemail. Say it once, slowly, and make sure to repeat it again. This has two benefits: First, it makes your phone number the last thing they hear, which encourages an immediate callback.
“Hi, you’ve reached [XYZ Company]. We can’t take your call right now but feel free to call back during business hours from [hour] to [hour], Monday through Friday. In case of an urgent query, you can contact us through our website [URL] and access our live chat.
Success is a Choice 25 Best Elevator Pitch Examples for Startups and Entrepreneurs 21 Best SMART Goals for Project Managers 25 Leadership SMART Goals Examples for Managers and Employees Force Field Analysis Explained with Examples Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Explained [with Examples] 21 Best SMART Goals Examples for Teachers and Educators The 5 P’s of Marketing Explained with Examples 21 Best Active Listening Exercises with Examples 25 Professional SMART Goals Examples for Work Porter’s Five Forces Model Explained (w/ Examples of Competition Analysis)
Some of the more popular small business phone models are Polycom VVX, Cisco 68xx, 78xx and 88xx series phones, and Yealink phones. I have a Polycom VVX 500 on my desk at the office. At my home office, I use a Polycom VVX 400.
Of course, there are a few things you will always want to keep in mind when you are recording any message. First, a voicemail greeting can be your first impression, so you'll always want to take the time to think about what you'll say when you record it. You might want to write a script or just go over what you'll say in your head. Be sure to ask callers for their name, a message, and a call back number, or you might get stuck with "Hey, it's me, call me back" (I'm notorious for leaving messages like this). Be sure you practice speaking slowly and clearly as you deliver your short, to the point message. It's also a good idea to leave 1 to 2 seconds of silence before you begin speaking, so callers have time to absorb your message. 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)
Business owners wishing to sample the services offered by Grasshopper can sign up for a seven-day trial to determine if the service fits their needs. Provider Plan Features Rate/min. Trial Period Setup Fees Monthly Fees Details
This article will break down the advantages of choosing a VOIP provider for your small business communications, what to look for when shopping for a provider, the costs you can expect by choosing VOIP, and some of the best companies in the industry.