I hate to date myself, but I was around back in the day when there were no electronic tools used to answer the telephone.
Some research has shown that each time you leave a message, the chances of a callback go up about ten percent! Here’s how it works out: 1st voicemail = 11% callback rate. 2nd voicemail = 22% callback rate. 3rd voicemail = 33% callback rate. According to Zoominfo, the average callback rate after one call is just 4.8%.
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Don’t include the date unless it’s completely necessary. 16 of the messages I heard last month had the wrong date—one of the messages had a date over 2 months old!
With all these things to include, it's easy to write your greeting the wrong way. To keep it simple, something like this:
Website: https://blog.zencare.co/what-to-expect-on-an-initial-call-with-a-therapist/
I could see an argument for relaxing that for mobile voicemail, on the basis that mobile phones are pretty personal and not generally shared by multiple people, but I've no idea whether that may have happened. Or, indeed, whether such policies may vary between organisations within the NHS.
Whether you are a solo therapist recording a voicemail greeting, or you have a whole office and need a system message, don't just wing it! Take the time to actually write out a script. Read it aloud to colleagues to make sure it says what you need it to say. Make sure to identify what your service is, to ward off any callers who aren't sure they've reached the correct person.
No one wants to listen to an unenthusiastic message or do business with an individual who appears unenthusiastic about their business. That’s boring! Put some passion into your tone so you sound inviting to your customers. It may even help to smile as you record your voicemail. The first impression you make with a potential customer may very well be your voicemail, so make it count!
2. Company Wide Voicemail Greeting. You want to be a little more formal when you're recording a business voicemail greeting for your company. State your business name, your hours of operation, the manner in which you'll reach out to the caller, and a place where he or she can obtain more information about your business.
Thank you for calling (Your Name) at (Your Business), where (What You Do). I’m sorry that I was unable to take your call. Please leave me your name, number, and a quick message and I’ll call you back shortly.
The main point that we want to drive home with this article is that you shouldn’t overthink your business voicemail greeting. Just keep it short, and state the relevant information.
For example, if you are no longer accepting a particular insurance plan, the end of your voicemail greeting is a great place to convey that information. For example, here is mine: “Hello, you’ve reached the confidential voicemail of Dr. Barb LoFrisco, CounselorBarb, a licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist
You can play a voice message at different speeds and pause/resume the message, using desktop client visual voicemail, or by dialing into their voicemail. Pressing a certain key on your phone controls how you can hear the voicemail: Read your voicemail transcription
I can’t come to the phone right now because I’m down in the basement printing up a fresh new batch of 20 dollar bills. If you need any money, or if you just want to check out my handi- work, please leave your name, number, and how much cash you need after the tone. If you’re from the Department of the Treasury, please ignore this message.
State your name first. You would think this would be so basic that it shouldn’t even be mentioned. However, I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten voicemails where people go on and on and I don’t even know who’s talking to me until the very end. Pretty annoying.
First of all, I want to say great work on using the phrasal verb “to pick up!” Native English speakers love phrasal verbs and we use them often. In this example, to pick up the phone means to answer the phone.
You should script out your greetings, rehearse, and find a tone of voice that is reflective of your professionalism and your company’s personality. If applicable, your tone and your message should take into account that certain industries and companies are more conservative than others.