Five Tips for Leaving a Voicemail Message They'll Return

Get the Call Back: Five Tips for Leaving a Voicemail Message They'll Return

Whether you are making a cold call or phoning a valuable customer, there's a good chance you'll be leaving a message. Given the ease at which someone can hit "delete" and move on, it is essential to hone your skills at that short and valuable pitch - the voicemail message.

Here are five tips to help you make the most of your voicemail messages:

1. Pleased to hear from you

Introduce yourself as someone your customer wants to hear from and can easily contact. There's a reason for the expression "smile and dial" – some sales pros say that smiling before the call helps keep their tone professional and friendly. Be sure to provide essential information up front (your name and phone number), not at the end. Maybe they'd rather just call you back (wouldn't that be nice?) rather than listen to your voice mail, so make it easy for them to do so.

2. Brief is beautiful

Do not try to pack too much into a voice mail message. Keep things brief and on-target. Be clear and concise. Voicemail is no place for lengthy explanations or anecdotes. Keeping your messages between 20 and 40 seconds is optimal. In fact, it is not a bad idea to practice and time yourself so that you get the message right, and in the right amount of time.

3. Timing is important

If you leave a message on Friday afternoon, it is likely to get ignored on the rush to finish a week's work and get to some weekend fun. And Monday mornings are jam-packed so messages might get lost in the shuffle. Keep time zones in mind when you make calls. Leaving messages at odd hours may be perceived as an effort to avoid speaking to the person you are calling.

4. Master your message

For very important messages, it is worth writing key points out in advance. Lead off with your contact info (as per our first tip above); then, in as few words as possible: establish your credibility, show you understand your prospect's business and marketplace and tie in your value proposition. Don't forget to end your message confidently. You know you can and will deliver value and the two of you will be doing business together so convey it in the tone with which you conclude your message.

5. Leave them wanting more

Leave a message that centers on a call to action, a key date or a time-sensitive offer so the customer will have a pressing reason to call you back, rather than one that creates a decision not to buy based on the voicemail alone