As a small business owner, you want to keep track of where every dollar goes. That’s why it’s important to find the right virtual phone service providers that will fit in your budget. The following list includes companies that charge per minute, and companies with monthly plans. The ideal provider will not require you to pay for features you aren’t using, but will allow you to add them as your business grows.
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.
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A great voicemail greeting can even make people look forward to you returning their call. Whether you want to install a professionally recorded voicemail greeting, or you want to record one yourself, it helps to know what you want to say before you record. Here are some helpful examples.
We'll take you through the five most professional voicemail greetings. This will include how to structure different parts of your voicemail, as well as things to avoid.
“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.” “Hello, this is [your name] at [company]. Thanks for calling. Please leave your name, number, and reason you’d like to chat, and I’ll get to back to you ASAP.” “Hi, you’ve reached [name] at [company]. If you need a quick response, please shoot me an email at [insert email address] and I’ll be in touch by EOD tomorrow. If it’s not urgent, leave me a message with your name and number. Have a great day.” “Hey, this is [your name]. If you’re calling for [X reason], please [contact so-and-so] or [go to our website, send me an email]. For all other inquiries, leave your name and a brief message and I’ll call you back within [one, two, three] business day[s].” “Hello, you’ve reached [name] at company. I’m unable to come to the phone right now. Leave your name and number, and I’ll return your call as soon as I’m free. Thank you.”
Pricing: CallHippo’s free plan allows for up to two users per month. It comes with a free softphone, call forwarding, voicemail greetings, and voicemail transcriptions. Then they offer $8, $15, and $35 per month plans that each offers different features.
The Best Professional Voicemail GreetingsCheck out our tips on making sure your voicemail is ready for your next missed call!
This free voicemail audio clip is to help with verbiage or as using for your own voicemail response. Looking for a voicemail greeting to use instead of your
Nextiva also includes an auto-attendant that will play callers a customized greeting and provide them with a menu that connects them with specific people or departments within your company.
If you have an assistant, include their name and contact information in your greeting. If you have a hard time delegating tasks, this is an excellent way to start building it into your processes.
8×8 offers standard call management features like auto-attendant, caller ID, call queuing and forwarding, voicemail, and free texting online. In addition to these basic functionalities, 8×8 distinguishes itself as a leading call-center solution for small companies. In its set of features, you’ll find an IVR system that guides callers to the right department; call recording that helps with employee monitoring and feedback; operator switchboard that lets agents transfer calls to colleagues; and analytics tools.
Phone features are closely tied to the types of phones your business requires. You will need to determine if some or all of your phones will need features like 3-way calling, intercom, call waiting, holding, transferring, speed dial or automatic callback.
A busy greeting should tell callers that your phone lines are currently in use. You can direct people to wait on hold or leave a message. For example, “Hello, you’ve reached [company name]. Our representatives are currently helping other customers. Please stay on the line to speak with the next available team member, or press one to leave a message and we’ll call you back.”
The value of a VOIP line is also significant, as most VOIP providers pack in a ton of additional features for a low cost, like being able to access your voicemail through a dashboard in your browser. This makes a VOIP line much more convenient, especially for business owners on the go. Instead of forwarding calls when out of the office, many VOIP providers offer smartphone apps or browser extensions that can make and manage calls wherever you have an Internet connection. This means that business doesn’t have to come to a halt just because you left the store or office. Wherever there is an Internet connection, you will have access to your calls and all of the features that your VOIP provider offers.
One way to avoid this is by writing a script. When you’re writing a script for your business voicemail greeting, make sure to look over it to see if there’s any slang or business jargon that could mean two different things depending on your point of view. If there’s any potential for confusion, revise the script and simplify the language. You can always ask a friend you don’t work with to see if your message is clear as well.
When your business is closed for vacation or holidays, it’s imperative that you set appropriate expectations for a callback and to provide an alternative coverage option, if available. The following greeting accomplishes this succinctly.
Professional voicemails are important, because they’re an extension of your personal brand, reflecting what level of professionalism you offer. Use these voicemail greetings for work or personal cell phone messages for your specific needs. You can choose a voice that will best suit your business and will deliver a warm and professional voice message. Your callers don’t want to hear a cold and indifferent machine voice. The information you want to put in your voicemail should be succinct enough for your callers to get every bit of information they need. Leave the relevant information in a clear and precise manner. Professional voicemail greetings for work should be informative. The first message the customer hears should have the company’s name so they can be sure they’ve reached the right number. Be courteous and informative. This could be their first point of contact, and you want it to be enjoyable. You may also like 30 Best Wishes and Congratulations for New Business Adventures If you’re going to make your voicemail message humorous in some way, it should be tasteful and aligned to your brand. It shouldn’t get in the way of giving customers enough information when they call. Your voicemail greetings for work should be welcoming and friendly but not too informal. Customers want to feel confident that they’ve contacted a professional, that the company values their call, and they have made the right choice. So be friendly but not too nonchalant. Your voicemail greeting should be clear, concise and to-the-point. You don’t have to put your clients through a sales pitch when they are trying to just get some information.