In sales, immediate communication with your prospects and current customers is important. Being available to answer questions or further negotiate a deal allows your clients to feel secure and more apt to purchase from you. But what if you can’t answer the phone when they call? Make sure you have a voicemail system set up so your clients have the opportunity to leave you a message.
If you have a business VoIP phone system that offers an auto attendant feature, you should be able to create a phone menu fairly easily. Be sure to state which key the caller should press to select an option on the menu.
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Covid-19 is creating a lot of firsts for many businesses. School districts, theme parks, government agencies, restaurants, and retail stores in nearly every state are closing and monitoring the situation every day. It’s important to update your phone system messages as new information becomes available.
Hi. You've reached Teflon Carpeting. Our business is located at 103 Maple Pine Street, Atlanta, Georgia....
When you want callers to leave a message, make sure your voicemail greeting indicates that. Be sure to keep your greeting short and direct, and include the info you want to capture.
There is no definitive answer here, but you should include one of the two at the beginning of your message based on what makes the most sense.
1. Actually Write a Script! 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.
Hello, you've reached Dr. Samantha Smith, specializing in family counseling services. I'm unable to take your call right now. Please state your name, phone number and message after the beep, and I will return your call as soon as possible.
Some of us may still remember a time when voicemail was a blank canvas for pranksters and humorists. They would use voicemail greetings as a place to begin recordings as if they were answering the phone (“Hello? I can’t hear you… Just kidding! Leave a message…”) or to flash some personality with music or themed messages. Unless your business is a costume rental facility or joke and magic trick shop, it’s best to avoid this strategy. Instead, try to remember a few key points to focus on-
3. Department Wide Voicemail Greeting. This voicemail greeting should list the name of the department, the hours of operation or the whereabouts of your personnel, the protocol for following up with the customer, and another way to get in touch with the department.
“Hello ____. This is _____ again, calling from ______. I ran across some information on a client who made dozens of offers on houses before someone finally accepted one of them. We learned a lot from the experienced and I successfully used the findings to help other homebuyers make bids that were accepted early in the house hunting process. I thought I would share it with you in hopes of saving you time and making it easier for you to purchase the home of your dreams. I’ll email you the information. Give me a call if you would like to review it together. Thank you.”
If your auto-attendant starts with the main menu of options, it needs to be clear and have the option to speak with a human-being if the question isn’t answered by the list of options. Try something like this:
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.
Hello! Thanks for calling [LinkedPhone. We’re currently tied up assisting other entrepreneurs & small businesses at the moment]. But please leave your name, number, and the reason for your call and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We look forward to working with you. Thank you.
A general voicemail greeting is what callers will be greeted with if you are unable to answer the phone at work. It is the everyday greeting, used as the default, unless you have set up a temporary greeting, such as an away message while you're on vacation, or …
Thanks for calling (ABC Inc). The office is closed in observance of the holiday. We will re-open Monday the 7th at 8am. If you need assistance, use our online form to email us or you can leave a message after the tone and a representative will call back when we return to the office. Thank you.
1. Limit Background Noise. If you’re recording your greeting from the back of a New York City cab with the windows down, it’s gonna be pretty obvious to your callers.