Website: https://provider.carefirst.com/carefirst-resources/provider/pcmh-kc/care-coordination/standard-email-signature-voicemail-2020.pdf
Writing a script doesn’t mean you have to write a speech. A simple greeting is fine, like this sample voicemail message:
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In this quick guide, we’ll take a look at what makes a good business voicemail greeting, breaking it down into the elements that every voicemail greeting should contain.
e. Never Assume Anything: Phrases like “You Know What To Do,” “Sing Your Song at the Beep,” and others mentioned above are awful to leave in your greeting. For the sake of universality and comprehensiveness, NEVER assume the caller knows what to do. Lay it out clearly. f. Leave a Message: This phrase, by itself, will not do. It’s imperative for users to identify themselves in their greetings. Callers need to know they’ve reached the right person. g. Disregard Lethargy: If you’re not excited about your greeting, why would anyone else be? Never display a lack of enthusiasm in your greeting as it could turn callers off to both you and your business. h. Speak Clearly and Never Slur: Callers need to understand your every word; therefore, mumbling, slurring, and all other detractions of speech should never be recorded. d. Be Creative Without Sacrificing Quality: Callers know how voicemails work–i.e. leave a number, message, etc. While you want to be clear, it’s important not to be contrive or redundant with your message. Creativity can help users to differentiate themselves, as well as intrigue callers. While users should avoid the tropes of creativity listed above, it’s definitely good to think outside the box. That being said, scripting and practice can help users to experiment more with their greeting–ultimately allowing for more unique and creative approach. e. Speak With Diction: It’s important to present one’s self as an authority without alienating callers. As such, it’s crucial to articulate and speak with clear diction. “ if your voice recording has you stumbling over words and speaking haltingly, it does not convey confidence and competence,” states Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research & Consulting. Remember, this greeting represents you; therefore, you want to appear collected and professional, as well as welcoming. To do this, one must carry themselves well through their recorded message. f. Account for Timeliness: Your message should be concise. No caller wants to be sitting through a rant/diatribe of redundant statements. Your greeting should flow without dragging. Inversely, one doesn’t want to be terse, either. Engage callers with a simplified approach laden with creativity. h. Account for Quality: Aside from speaking clearly, users want to eliminate any noise in the surrounding environment. The quality of the greeting is just as important as what’s being said in the greeting itself. As such, one doesn’t want to undermine a great message with poor quality. i. Courtesy, Tastefulness, & Tact: This is pretty self-explanatory and straight forward–NEVER be rude. Being light-hearted and humorous is very different from being obnoxious and/or abrasive. Again, these tools can be helpful if utilized properly, but not everyone perceives humor the same way. So play it safe. The last thing your voicemail greeting should do is offend a caller. k. Provide Options: if you’re part of a bigger company, it might be good to offer caller options. For example, allow a menu to defer callers to a colleague or co-worker in your absence. This can help show callers you care about their well being. Another option might be offering different modes of communication–i.e. email, fax, etc. In offering users diversity, contact may be much easier to maintain.
“Hi _________, this is _______ _______ with (your company). You and I haven’t spoken yet, but I’ve been doing some research on your company and I think you’re a great fit for (our networking solutions – your products here). We can provide you with (list of one or two benefits) and I know you’ll be happy if we spend just a couple of minutes discussing how this can help you.
I've helped thousands of professionals in dozens of industries. If you know you or your team is capable of more, then you’ve come to the right place.
8.) Bem-vindo ao Departamento de Serviços do John Doe. Infelizmente, todas as linhas estão ocupadas no momento. Por favor deixe uma mensagem após o sinal com seu nome e número de telefone. Vamos ligá-lo de volta o mais rápido possível. Te desejamos um bom dia.
17. “Hi, you’ve reached [your name, the office of X company]. We’re closed until [date]. Please leave your name and phone number and someone will return your call ASAP. Have a great [New Year’s, Fourth of July, day].”
Thank you for calling (business name). This office is closed due to inclement weather. We're normally open from 9am to 6pm Central time. Please call back on the next business day to insure we have re-opened. If this is an emergancy, press 3 for assistance
Generally, people that call and leave messages are more likely to be ideal customers of your business. Your voicemail message is often not much more than a formality to the person calling.
Nothing frustrates customers more than feeling like they have an emergency and no one is available to help them.
“Hello! You’ve reached the voicemail of [your name], [your job title]. I’m currently either away from my desk or on the other line. Please leave your name, telephone number, and a short message after the beep, and I’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as I’m available.”
-If your phone has a gangsta rap ring-back tone, then I might wait for you to answer.
4. Friendly and professional. Remember, first impressions count so you want to sound both warm and professional. When you record the message, stand up (this will make you sound more confident) and smile (this will soften the voice and make you appear warm).
It makes sense to have an after-hours / weekend voicemail greeting for important teams at your business so that your clients feel confident that they will be taken care of. You may also suggest alternate resources like a help forum, knowledge base, or online chat to support customers while closed, if available.
“Hello ___. This is ______ from _________. I’m calling because you requested information through [vendor] about [address of house]. I’m available right now to answer questions. I found a couple of other homes near the one you’re interested in, and they are similarly priced. Do you want to talk tonight? You can call or text me at ___________. I look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions. Again my number is ___________. Thank you!"
Each example addresses a specific - and common - scenarios and to enable you to leave a message that will create an excellent first impression. Remember, your professional voicemail greeting recording can be an excellent opportunity to put your best foot forward …