To improve a a business voicemail greeting, keep these eight rules at the forefront of the creative process: Avoid turning customers off with overused and impersonal phrases like “your call is very important to us..." Avoid leaving customers unsure by not immediately telling them the business, department, and/or person they’ve reached. Avoid leaving customers confused with too many details and complications; just keep it simple. Avoid messages longer than 25 seconds. Do apologize for being unavailable at the moment. Do invite the caller to leave a message. Do tell the caller when they can expect a return call and actually follow through within that timeframe. Do tell the caller about any applicable alternative options of contact and information- website, live chat, email, social media, or emergency numbers. Voicemail Greetings 101
“Good afternoon. You have reached the office of [your name]. I will be out of the office beginning on [date] and will be returning on [date]. Please leave a brief message with your contact information, and I’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as I return on [date]. If this is an emergency or you need to speak with someone before I return, please contact [name of colleague/supervisor], [their job title], at [their phone number].”
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As you develop your voicemail script, keep in mind these important tips to ensure that you’re perceived as a professional.
OpenPhone is a modern business phone service app for startups, small businesses, and individuals. OpenPhone separates your professional and personal communications and enables you to personalize your number to reflect your own brand. Use your business number directly from your existing cell phone!
Record your name to let callers know that they have reached the correct mailbox. To record your name: Connect to your mailbox. The system responds with the status of any messages in your mailbox and prompts you with the Main Menu selections. Press 4, Setup Options. Press 3, Change Preferences. Press 1, Change Recorded Name. Record your name at the tone. Press # after recording your name. The system plays back the recording. To save the recording, press *. Record your personal greeting (standard greeting)
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In both the consumer and business world, it’s becoming more common to hear voicemail prompts that warn callers that their messages might not be heard for a while and suggest that they send a text message or email instead.
5.) Welcome to John Doe - Thank you for your call. Currently we are all in conversations. Please hold, we will be with you shortly
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.
32. Hi, you’ve reached [your name] at [your company]. I’m away from my desk. Please leave your name, number and a message, and I will get right back to you.
Companies use LimeCall to proactively engage with visitors and instantly improve conversions. 30+ Best Business Voicemail Greetings to use in 2020
14. “Thanks for giving us a call! We promise it’s never a bad time for [company name], but you’ve reached us after-hours. Please leave us your name, number and the best time to reach you and we’ll give you a call when we are open.” Let’s face it, you’re not always open. Yet that doesn’t mean you don’t want to help your caller. Let them know you’ll call them right back when you’re open again.
Some voicemail greetings are too loud and distracting and some are so quiet you can barely figure out who you’ve called. Whoever sets up the voicemail greeting for a business should be a confident speaker. Here’s a pro tip—write out a script of what the voicemail greeting should say and practice it a few times before you record it. It will be well worth it in the end!
This type of service can be very beneficial as users are still able to craft their own messages, while a professional reads them. In doing so, companies can spend more time on the scripting process, making sure the text conveys everything they want it to. As such, companies may bring in expert teams to draft, revise, and/or finalize the script itself. The bottom line is you can take more time to get the words right. Additionally, in working with a professional voice talent, you are ensuring your words have the utmost impact—i.e. the words are read perfectly with the right tone, resonance, pacing, etc.
If you like to keep things simple, opt for a basic greeting. Most voicemail options allow you to record just your name, which lets callers know they’ve reached the right person.
A few short years after voice mail was developed in the late 1970s, it quickly became an essential business tool.