Call menu options automatically perform an action when a keypad button is pressed. For example, a caller may press 1 for store hours, press 2 for customer service, press 3 for billing questions, press 4 for voicemail, press 5 for company directory. What used to cost small businesses over $10,000 is now available from LinkedPhone for $19.99 a month.
34. Hello, this is [your name]. I’m currently out of the office celebrating [X holiday]. I’ll be back on [X date], so leave a quick message and I’ll be sure to return your call when I get back. Have a happy [holiday]!
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Lines and extensions: With an analog phone system you might, for example, pay your telco for two or four lines to allow your business to have that many simultaneous phone calls. For that to work, you'd need a two- or four-line analog business phone system, which are some of the most common analog systems on the market.
21. Hello, this is [your name]. I’m not much of a phone person, so don’t bother leaving a message. Send me an email at [email address] and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
The best small business phone systems are no better than the provider that supports them. You'll invest a lot into planning, hardware, and setup, so don't skimp on service. Think through the following factors as you choose a service provider.
Thanks for calling (our company). The office is currently closed. Office hours are 9am to 6pm, Eastern Time. Please leave a message at the tone and we'll call you back on the next business day. Thank you.
If done tastefully, you can promote your products or services on your voicemail greeting without sounding pushy. In fact, it’s a great way to keep customers up-to-date on company events, sales, and other news. Be sure to keep it short and have fun with it.
Hi, you’ve reached Customer Service. We are busy assisting other customers at the is time. Please leave a detailed message with your order number or customer ID, the reason for your call, and the best number to reach you. A Service Specialist will return your call as soon as possible.
Rehearse or write down your message before recording it. Remember that old saying “practice makes perfect?” It’s certainly true when it comes to creating an electronic greeting. The more you’ve rehearsed, the easier the message will be to restate. If you don’t have time to practice, writing down the greeting before recording it – and then reading it aloud from the paper – may help you stay focused on the correct wording.
Before you read this, stop and listen to the voicemail greetings for your cellphone and business line. Seriously, I’ll wait.
1. "Hi, you've reached [your name] at [your company]. I'm unavailable right now — probably helping [type of company] get [X results, e.g. ‘double their leads in 60 days,' ‘hire the best and brightest engineers,' ‘convert 40% more customers.'] Leave your name and number, and we'll discuss how your company can see similar results."
Every VirtualPBX user can access their business voicemail messages through several different methods – over the phone, over the internet, and/or an email. With email, we can simply notify you that a message exists, or we can actually send you the message itself as a .WAV file attachment to the email.
If you aren’t sure whether eVoice is the right way to go, you can test out the service without any risk thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Regardless, you have to remind your callers that it’s the holidays, that things are busy, and that in order for you to run your business more smoothly and get to as many customers as possible, you need your customers to leave a detailed message, and you need your voicemail greeting to express that it’s the holiday season and things will be slower. Remaining transparent by acknowledging it’s the busiest time of the year allows customers to anticipate a wait. This helps improve the customer experience and make them feel more welcome.
(I use Verizon. My Smartphone IS my business phone. I got rid of the land line a year ago.)
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.”
UniTel Voice takes all the features and functionality of other leading auto attendant phone systems and simplifies it. So, whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur, busy small business owner, or bootstrapped startup – UniTel Voice is a professional virtual PBX you can easily set up and afford. No instruction manuals or technical knowledge needed.