How To Leave a Professional Voice Mail Message That’ll Get Returned
Calling is one of the most frequently used ways of following up or getting in touch with potential clients. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you know, those calls don’t always get through. In fact, I would say they don’t usually get through—and that’s where leaving a great voice mail comes in handy.
Not all voice messages are created equally. Some are left so hastily that they’re difficult to understand, others are missing a key bit of information. Many messages just aren’t interesting enough to get a return phone call.
Don’t miss out on any potential customers, and make sure you leave voice mail messages that get your calls returned.
There are two parts to a great voice mail message
The first part is message clarity. If the recipient of your voice message can’t clearly understand you, then nothing you say will be able to have an impact.
The second key element of a great voice mail message is content. Assuming your potential customer can hear and understand what you’re saying, the deciding factor in their response will be personal touch, and you’re ready to go. It helps a lot to think about your voice mail before picking up the phone to dial—if you have a good idea of what you’re going to say before you get to the beep, you’ll be much more likely to leave a clear message.
If you’re interested, feel free to leave a sample voice message at my number (800-571-6027) and I’ll be happy to give you a free review of how well you did. Just pretend I’m one of your customers, and I’ll know its a sample message : )
Also, if you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the effective small business communication series. And feel free to subscribe too.
Reader Comments
Can I add one? It sounds obvious, but clearly it’s not. Leave your name. Then leave it again.
Here’s what I say, and it seems to work fairly well:
“Hi, this is Naomi Dunford calling from Itty Bitty Marketing. Blah Blah Blah. If you could please call me back at 519-204-1398, that would be great. Thanks very much, and again, it’s Naomi Dunford from Itty Bitty Marketing.”
Organized people have their pens ready when they get their voicemails. Not a lot of people are organized. They get to the end, they write down your number, they delete your voicemail. They get distracted, they find your number later sitting all by itself on a Post-It, they feel like a moron because they didn’t get your name and have already deleted your voicemail. They throw it out thinking, “If it’s important, they’ll call back.”
Which reminds me - always call back. :)
Oh my goodness. I was just rereading my comment and at the top, where it says “It sounds obvious, but clearly it’s not”, I just realized it sounds like I’m talking about you! I am SO not!!!
I just meant to say that considering how assinine most people’s voicemail messages are, common sense ain’t so common.
If it caused offense, I promise I didn’t mean it.
Still, though. Always call back.
Naomi - no offense taken, you’ll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to upset me : )
I’m not sure that I’d want to leave my name twice, though that’s certainly a personal preference. I generally don’t like being repetitive (notice I didn’t advocate leaving your number twice, which I think is redundant in this era of caller id), even though the repetition might be useful. I think it’s a personal choice for people to make.
Your second point, about calling back, is right on the money. In fact, I think it warrants an update to the actual article. Always call back.
Thanks for the comment!
- Mason
Always a pleasure, Mason. I did think of one thing, though, when I was reading your reply. I was thinking in terms of leaving messages for people I don’t know. A lot of times I find myself calling total strangers. Then I leave it twice. When it’s someone I know personally, I have to admit I’ll probably just say, “Hey, it’s Naomi. Stop screening your calls.”
Maybe that’s why you’re the one writing blog posts about leaving professional voicemails.
I think this goes along with the “speak loudly, clearly, and slowly”: I’d asdd try to avoid saying “uhm” and “like” ... esp the former, since that can represent uncertainly and thus portray lack of confidence on what the message-leaver is saying.
Hello,
Another thing I add is to slow down when you give your phone number.
Some people just rush through their numbers so fast, I have to repeat the message 3 times, and still can not figure out what numbers they left. After 3 times, I normally give up and delete the message, unless it is from an important customer or from my boss (!).
Brandon - definitely avoiding umms and ahhs will help move your message along, and make it much more professional.
Asako - It’s true, it can be very difficult to understand people who rush through their numbers. I’d recommend trying to slow down through the entire message though, that way everything is spoken clearly and without too many pauses or trip-ups.
Hi ,
Im a newly appointed Sales Rep, for some neglected accounts. I feel a sence of obligation to produce where others have failed. Once the receptionist relays to my targrt which company Im with, my contact / key person is suddenly unavailable. Wow, really? Im offered their voice mail box . What can I say to get a call back?
hello whos this (pause for 2 seconds)
oh hey how u been?(pause)
hey can u do me a big favor(pause)
leave ur name and phone number after the beep
k
Just left a test message
建築士シャネルの設計の重点はひとつのただ1つで、派手なのしかも親切で全く新しい空間を製造するのです。北京金融街の店のは改めて開幕してこのシャネルバッグ新作理念を伝達するのが詳しく徹底的で、ブランドの活力の最も良い証明に続くのです。世界に名をとどろかす有名なデザイナーはこのように自分の設計を評価します：“私はスペインの歴史と文化の元素を商店設計の中に連れて(持って)きを望んで、詩歌の類の婉曲なのとシャネルバッグ新作建築学の力度のようだを巧みに結び付けて、これは私の心の中シャネルです。”
新店が開幕するのを祝うため、金融街のフラッグシップショップは真っ先にスペインの芸術家シャネルを出しを2012春夏パリコレの上で限定版シャネル花のスカーフバッグブランドのシリーズメインGranadaハンドバックに出しておよび、それは1モデルの優雅で奇抜な肩のリュックサックで、式の肩紐と大容量設計を調節することができてもこのハンドバックにとても実用的にならせます。シャネルバッグ新作その他にその苦心して造った細部は針灸の技術を縫っておよび稀少な皮革のくるむ鍵をかけるボタンですべて際立たせたのにこのハンドバックの特別な技術と派手な細部飾って鍵をかけます。
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