Businesses should have two main types of greetings to create an excellent call experience. The first one is what we call a “welcome greeting” – this greeting welcomes callers to your business. Typically, a welcome greeting will present a menu of call options like hours, location, or customer service. For more details on how to create a welcome greeting for your general business number, read this article.
1. Thank Them or Apologize. The basic rule of thumb is that callers should hear one of two things when they first connect with your voicemail — either an apology for not being able to answer the call or a “thank you” for having called.
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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).
While covering all of the relevant information, aim to keep your voicemail to about 20 seconds. You definitely should not ever record a business voicemail longer than 30 seconds, and anything less than 10 seconds will typically mean that you are either speaking too quickly or aren’t providing all of the required information.
In addition, we’re also offering pre-recorded greetings, on-hold messages, and IVR messages on Covid-19 for businesses to download for free and start using immediately. While you may decide you need to tailor your messages to your specifications, these generic messages can help you start preparing your business phone system as soon as possible. You can preview and download these free phone messages here.
14. Hi, you’ve reached [business name]. We can’t take your call at the moment, but if you leave your name and number, the next available team member will return your call as soon as possible.
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28. Hey, there. You’ve reached [your name]. Please leave me a brief message about the reason you are calling and your contact information. I will call you right back at the earliest opportunity. Have a nice day!
Clients will be a lot less likely to leave a message if they wonder who will get it. Use a warm friendly voice to say something like, “You have reached xxxx, licensed mental health counselor.” Tell clients what to do if they are in crisis.
A relatively unprofessional one — like mine, for instance — does the opposite: It encourages prospects, recruiters, and potential connections to run in the other direction.
Give clients an idea about when you’ll return their call. Common business practice is within 24 business hours. Any extra messages or information you’d like clients to know. For example, if you are no longer accepting a particular insurance plan, the end of your voicemail greeting is a …
When calling to schedule an appointment or follow up about a recommended form of treatment, patients expect to be treated with the same sensitivity and care they are treated to in person. A mental health answering service can help ensure your patients get the VIP treatment every time they give your office a …
Thank you for calling [LinkedPhone – The Work From Anywhere Business Phone System]. Our office is closed until [Monday, January 25th for the holiday weekend]. If your call is urgent, please contact [Anya at 212-555-1212 or [email protected]]. Otherwise, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we return. We value your call. Thank you from everyone at [LinkedPhone].
5. Hi, this is [your name]. I can’t get to the phone right now, but please leave a message with your name and number, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Consider the following as you evaluate your voicemail efforts: Role-play your voicemail scripts so you sound like you’re making your 20th call, not your 1st. Ask your friends and colleagues for honest feedback on your voicemail scripts. Continually review what’s working and what isn’t -- there’s always room for improvement.
The following templates for voicemail messages are available for departments and individuals to customize and use. We appreciate everyone following a standard format to convey consistent messaging to students and external constituents who may be trying to reach us during this time.
Businesses across the country are monitoring the Covid-19 status every day, and as new developments become available, it’s important for businesses to be able to fluidly prepare and adapt to minimize any negative effects on operations.