What Is a Voicemail Greeting?Why Is a Profressional Voicemail Greeting Important?Key Tips When Recording Your Voicemail GreetingSpeak ClearlyKeep Your Message Short and Concise (10–30 Seconds)Speak Slowly and Do Not RushSmile as You TalkReassure the Caller They Have Reached the Right PersonThank the Caller and Apologize for Missing the CallInclude an Alternative Contact if AppropriatePractice and Record Multiple Takes of Your Voicemail GreetingGet a Second OpinionProfessional Voicemail Examples to Use in the Workplace:Personal PhoneSelf-Employed BusinessBusiness With Lead GenerationBusiness With Alternative Contact PersonCustomer ServiceVacationWhat Not to DoFinal Thoughts
When recording, choose a quiet area, speak clearly, and use your full name (first and last).
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Do you speak a second language and serve customers in an area that primarily uses a language other than English? Make it known that you speak both languages. Start the voicemail with the most dominant language spoken in your market followed by the same message spoken in the secondary language:
If you have an assistant, include their name and contact information in your greeting. If you have a hard time delegating tasks, this is an excellent way to start building it into your processes.
12.) Herzliche Willkommen bei der Mustermann GmbH. Wir sind Montag bis Freitag von 8 Uhr bis 12.30 Uhr und 13 Uhr bis 16.30 Uhr zu erreichen. Wir können Ihren Anruf derzeit leider nicht persönlich entgegen nehmen. Sie können uns jedoch gerne eine Nachricht hinterlassen. Bitte teilen Sie uns Ihren Namen und Ihre Rufnummer mit.Wir rufen Sie dann zurück.In dringenden Fällen erreichen Sie uns unter folgender Rufnummer 0821 91039- 1211. Vielen Dank.
21. “Happy holidays. Thanks for calling OpenPhone. Our hours are a little different during the holiday season. Please listen carefully to the following changes. Customer Support is available December 23, 27, and 30th as well as January 2nd, 3rd from 11 AM – 5 PM EST. On December 24th, 31st, and the holiday weekends from the 21st to the 5th we are open from 12 PM – 3 PM EST. We are closed on December 25th, 26th as well as January 1st. In the case of an emergency, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also reach out via email to [email protected]. Thanks for using OpenPhone and enjoy your holiday season!” Since our holiday hours are shorter, it’s a little harder to get in contact with us immediately. That means we need to be as detailed as possible for our callers’ convenience. Yet, we still kept it brief and friendly.
If you are a self-employed business, it is especially important to sound friendly and welcoming.
1.) Welcome to John Doe. Unfortunately, there is no one in the office right now or your are calling outside of business hours. Please leave a message or send an email to [email protected]. Many thanks for your call.
Calls overflow to the voicemail box if they can’t be answered during business hours. This may be during unusually busy periods or if there is no one to take the call.
Keep it simple, concise and to the point. Callers won’t need your life story, and won’t want to wait around for a 2-minute greeting to end just so they can leave a message. Don’t hide the details, tell them where you will be, when you will be there, or when you won’t be there, and how to get in touch.
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.
These are just a few ideas to get the gears turning. These are simple examples, but don’t be afraid to show a little personality.
For example, if you have an alternative method of contact, you can leave the details of it here.
Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select countries or regions.
Voicemail Service Local Voicemail Service Toll Free Voicemail Announcement Only Line Read My Voicemail Question & Answer Line Automated Order-Taking
“CBW Productions got its start in a two-bedroom apartment in Cohasset in 1999, and in the early days, most business was in professional voiceover recordings. But after the attacks of 9/11, Verizon hired the firm to permanently record victims’ last messages sent and provide them to survivors.”
Your greeting is very important as it can be the first contact people have with you or your company. Voice mail is only impersonal if you make it that way. One way to help increase the effectiveness of voice mail is to change your greeting at least weekly if not daily.