Answer machines and auto attendant-based answer services have evolved into modern voice mail systems that small-business owners and employees use to interact with clients as technology has advanced over the last decade.
You can use these small business voicemail greeting examples as inspiration for your own. Professional recording artists created them.
Why is it important to have voicemail greeting?
Voicemail is frequently the first point of contact for a new customer with your company. In the case of a cold call, it could even be the first impression your company makes on a customer—and a bad first impression is nearly impossible to overcome.
How to get record greeting
Your voicemail message is important. Jackie Silver has 25 years of experience as a professional voice-over artist. “Voice is the first connection a client has to the business – make it count!” she says of business voicemail. This is your first point of contact, so regardless of the type of answering service you use, you want to get it right.
Some voicemail greeting examples
Making a good voicemail greeting isn’t difficult, but making a great one is. You don’t want to waste time, and you want to maximise the caller’s experience and exposure to your brand in about fifteen seconds or less.
With a little tweaking, any of the sample voicemail messages below could make excellent greetings. Using the tips above, add a few personal touches, and even include an on-hold message so your customers know exactly what’s going on when they call:
1. Hi, this is [name]. I can’t come to the phone right now. Your call is valued, so leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon I can.
This greeting is brief and to the point, stating clearly what information is required to follow up. It also maintains a personable and professional tone by mentioning the importance of the caller.
2. Hi, this is [name]. I can’t get to the phone right now, but leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. If you need to speak with someone immediately, contact my assistant, [name] at [local or toll-free number].
This message is similar to the first, but it includes an additional contact in case the caller has an emergency and cannot wait for a return call.
3. Thank you for calling. You have reached the office of [name], [position at company]. I am either speaking with another client or I am away from my desk. If this is an emergency, please call my answering service at [number]. Otherwise, please leave a detailed, confidential message after the tone, and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.
This message is a little longer, but it also contains more information. In addition to the person’s name, it also includes the job title in case the caller is unfamiliar with the specific contact. The offer to leave a confidential message assures the caller that the information will be heard only by the intended recipient. As a result, it is ideal for sensitive businesses such as a doctor’s office.
4. Thank you for calling [name] at [company]. I’m currently assisting another client, but if you’d like to remain on hold, press 1 on your phone keypad. I’ll answer your call shortly. If you’d like me to call you back, press 2 and please leave a message with your name, number, and other vital details, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. You can also press 3 to return to the office main menu and speak with another company representative.
These various options allow your customers to choose to wait a few minutes so that you can return their call during business hours. If they don’t have time to wait for you to finish your current call, they can simply leave a message and wait for you to call back or contact someone else at your company.
Don’t forget to followup
With your voicemail greeting in place, all you have to do now is check your mailbox, respond to your messages, and watch your business grow.
Rather than letting your mailbox fill up, take the time to listen to messages, call back if necessary, use your cell phone if you’re out of the office, and take care of anything actionable mentioned in the messages. This level of detail can go a long way toward establishing a positive reputation and company image.