Getting People to Leave a Message at the Beep Instead of Leaving at the Beep.
Does anyone actually like voicemail? George Costanza’s “Believe it or not” message might be the fondest thought any of us have on the subject.
Nowadays, there is a certain age, below which no one will leave a voice message (mom, would you please stop… just text already!). Nevertheless, voicemail seems to be here to stay, so why not make the best of it?
Tip #1: Avoid Cliché Jokes
They might sound funny the first time, but that “clever” message will soon become an annoyance for anyone who has to sit through it whenever they call you.
Tip #2: You Don’t Need to Tell People How it Works
It is not necessary to say “leave a message after the tone,” we all know how it works. It is just wasted words and wasted time in the end.
Tip #3: Specify the Information You Want
If you have a business voicemail, ask for the preliminary information you might need for a quote on a job. This will help you get back to them with more information than needed. For example, a carpeting company might request the size of the job area. You could say something like “Thanks for calling Carpet Kings, please leave your contact information and a brief description of the job you’re looking to have done.”
This will make the caller feel like they haven’t wasted their time calling you because the process is moving along and when you get back to them, the preliminary exploration questions will be limited. It will also give you an excellent way to break the ice.
Tip #4: Don’t Share Too Much Information
Have you ever called into a business only to be bombarded by irrelevant information? Every second of recorded voice telling you things you don’t care about ticks up levels of impatience on an exponential level.
Make sure you are cutting to the chase and not wasting your caller’s time, because when you waste their time, they will never become your customer.
You can use button options to organize information sharing better, but be cautious with these systems too.
Tip #5: Reassure Callers of a Prompt Follow-Up
Combined with Tip #3, assuring a caller of a prompt follow-up, and actually following through, will help to minimize the lead-losses you will experience from having callers land in your voicemail.
It could sound something like; “Please let me know if there is an ideal time to call you back, otherwise I will likely get back to you in the next 30 minutes.” This demonstrates a respect for their time, and a dedication to responding quickly to their request.
Tip #6: Be Concise
Make sure your voice is clear, there isn’t background noise, and you don’t use three words when one will do. That voice message will be your representative for a long time, and potentially the last point of contact in your sales pipeline. Put some thought and effort into making it polished and precise.
While voicemail is not an optimal solution for your business, there are ways of making the most of it.
