Five out of every six phone calls go straight to voice mail. If you‘re in sales, or business of any kind, you know how frustrating this can be.
Potential customers are drawn to Grasshopper's affordable plans, features, and ease of use. Unfortunately, there is talk about dropped calls, which could negatively impact day to day business.
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25.Thank you for calling [X company Company name]. Our representatives are currently unable to take your call as they are helping clients achieve [X goal]. We don’t want to take up your valuable time, so please leave us your name, phone number and message after the beep and one of our representatives will personally assist you within the next 24 hours. Have a wonderful day.
You can use this system to gain the trust of international customers by letting them contact you via local number. Another great feature of virtual phone numbers is the possibility of recording the conversations your staff has with customers or prospects. The list goes on and on.
What is a voicemail transcription service, and should you use one for your business voicemail messages? Here are three options for better voicemail management.
Next is a detailed evaluation for each of the seven companies identified among the best providers of virtual phone numbers.
19. "Hello, you've reached [your name]. I'm currently [exploring Asia, hiking through the jungle in Costa Rica, hanging out on the beach in Bermuda] — or more likely, [recovering from extreme jet lag, googling ‘Are red spiders poisonous,' or looking for SPF 150 sunscreen] and won't be back in the office until [date]. Leave your contact info and reason for calling and I'll get in touch then."
Part of the power of a hosted phone system is that you can route calls based on the time of day.
1. Short Business Voicemail Greetings. Hi there, you’ve reached [your name] at [X company]. Thanks for calling. I'm unable to answer the phone but if you leave your name, phone number, and message.
If the virtual phone system your business uses does not keep employees connecting, soon this will be reflective in the service you provide. The trickling in of unhappy customers will begin.
19. Hi, you’ve reached [employee name]’s voicemail box. [Employee first name] no longer works for [company name]. Please call our main line at [phone number] and we’ll be happy to connect you with a current team member who can help.
Business voicemail greetings are likely to vary by company. Consider these specifics to create a professional voicemail greeting that works for your needs.
Wait, you don't? You view checking voicemail as a chore too? Well, you're not alone!
3. “You’ve reached [company name]. We can’t take your call right now, let us call you back! Please leave us your name, number, the reason for your call and the best time to call you back – we don’t want to miss you again. Talk to you soon.” Let your callers know that you don’t want to miss the chance to speak with them by asking for a convenient time to call them back.
Another advantage to virtual phone numbers is they are transferrable in the event the business changes location. The number can also remain with the business if the owner later decides to change services or phone devices.
12. “Hello, you’ve reached the Customer Support department at [company name]. We are unable to take your call at the moment. We know your time is valuable so instead of placing you on hold, let us call you back! Please leave your name, phone number, the reason for your call, and two different times that are convenient for you to receive a call back from us. Thank you!” Get a better idea of your caller’s schedule by asking them for a few different times you can call back. Their time is important, too!
Context does matter here. If the caller would reasonably expect you to answer the phone (such as if they were calling a store or other place of business), an apology for not being able to get to the phone makes the most sense.