In this post, I’ll share what makes a good voicemail greeting — and the best voicemail greeting scripts you can use.
The professional voicemail greetings is the cornerstone of any good business. Not every voicemail recording is relevant to every situation. This guide is going to demonstrate some of the specific custom voicemail greeting examples for doctors, dentist, real estate agent, lawyers and other professionals.
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You should acknowledge that right off the bat by apologizing that they couldn't reach you directly.
Shut the office door and turn down the music—it’s time to record! Pretend that your office is your music recording studio as you prepare to vocalize your message. Remember that obscene background noise can be a major turn off to potential customers and prospects.
If your company is using a cloud-based VoIP service like Nextiva, Ring Central or 8x8, let me know when you send your script so I can create the correct audio file to use.
If you use one, your automated phone system is the first point of contact a caller makes with your business. You want to make the best first impression. Instead of a complex series of robotic instructions, choose a friendly, warm voice offering simple phone prompts to guide the caller to the person or information they’re looking for.
If anything big changes- address, phone, etc.- make sure you correct your voicemail early on. Keep It Short; We know, we know. We just gave you all this information and we’re now telling you to ‘keep it short‘. But, a professional voicemail greeting (or any for that matter) shouldn’t go beyond 20-25 seconds.
Keep your message brief. Restrict your voicemail message to 20-30 seconds. There will rarely be an occasion when a voicemail needs to be longer. You don’t want to bore the recipient with …
The above section details types of phrasing to avoid; however, it doesn’t detail what users should NOT say on their greeting. Though this is a bit loaded, as there are hundreds of combinations of things one shouldn’t say, there are some key components users should ALWAYS avoid. a. Forget About Slang: You should strive to be as professional and welcoming as possible in your greeting. While this may steer you towards using slang, in an attempt to make callers comfortable, it’ll most likely work against you. As a professional, your demeanor, tone, and speech should be clear cut and well articulated. Using slang undercuts this and works against you. b. Don’t Even Think About Profanity: This is a no-brainer. Never, under any circumstances, curse in your greeting EVER! c. Keep Your Sentences Clean, Don’t Ramble: Introduce yourself and give your caller specific direction. Avoid long diatribes detailing tangent thoughts. Keep it simple and quick. d. Always Return Your Calls: It’s important for callers to feel they are valued. Nothing dissolves this quicker than a greeting that doesn’t stress this. For example, “I’ll call you when I can,” “If I don’t return your call, please call back”—these phrases are terrible and completely destroy any good will you may have with a caller.
Hi, this is Lauren Jones. I’m not able to get to the phone right now but please leave a message and I’ll call you back as soon as I can. Thank you.
No answer at (Member’s phone number). Voicemail message left explaining purpose of call and if Member has questions, to return my call at (insert Care Manager phone number or for Behavioral Health outreach calls, insert 24‐hour Nurse Advice Line at 1‐800‐535‐9700).
Thank you for calling [Company Name]. If you know your party’s extension, please dial it at any time. To reach our company directory, press 1. For more information about [Company Name], press 2. If you are an existing customer, please press 3. For billing questions, press 4. To repeat menu options, press 9. For all other inquiries, press 0. 3. Language Options
When someone reaches your voicemail, it’s important that you help them confirm that they have reached the right person by providing all of the relevant information that they will need. Who have they reached? Did they contact the right person and the right business? Should they leave a message? When will you get back to them? Is there a better time for them to call?
If your recording is vague, confusing, or drags on, customers will lose interest and hang up the phone instead of leaving a voicemail message. To help you create an effective after hours announcement, here are some best practices and sample scripts you can employ.
Consider leaving your e-mail in addition to your phone number. People like choices. Some people like to have conversations on the phone, while others prefer communicating through e-mail. You don’t know what kind of person your listener will be, so leave the option on the table. For many, e-mail correspondence is less threatening and might actually encourage them to reach out to you. Podcast #742 The Power of Talking to Strangers Podcast #741 The Exercise Prescription for Depression and Anxiety Podcast #740 Life’s 10 Biggest Decisions Podcast #739 Rewild Your Life How to Take a Punch (To Minimize Its Damage) Podcast #739: Rewild Your Life Everything You Didn’t Know About the Trusty Tape Measure How to Fold a Dress Shirt for Packing
For example, callers shouldn’t reach a business-as-usual voicemail, and therefore expect a return call within the business day, if the subject they’re calling is out on vacation for two weeks. Such a lack of communication is a recipe to lose that caller’s trust and tarnish the brand’s reputation. Related: Business VoIP Providers
Make sure you keep your promises too. If you want to specify a time (which you should) ensure you get back to the customer within the timeframe.