Voicemails are often overlooked as a sales tool, but they can be a powerful way to connect with prospects and move them along the sales process. However, leaving effective voicemails requires some skill and strategy. Here are some best practices for crafting voicemails that get your prospects to call you back.
Before you dial, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your voicemail. Is it to introduce yourself and your offer, to follow up on a previous conversation, to schedule a meeting, or to provide some value? Depending on your goal, you should tailor your message accordingly and have a clear call to action.
Stop using words like "Following up" or "Just checking in". Instead ensure your prospect understands the value of your time as well. Using words like "Following Up" "Just checking in" automatically make you a sales person. Say something along the lines of "Hey Bill, Josh w/ Big Biz here. I had some time to get back to you. I know we had spoken about your need and my service and was wanting to see if I could swing by on _____ to work through the details. Do me a favor and call me back either way so I will know if I should continue to reach out. Thanks"
This one always makes me laugh when people forget it and are suddenly talking to their prospect. Be prepared not just for your message BUT for them to pick up when you are calling. So many times you may think you are going to just leave a well planned message, but sometimes they pick up and you need to be ready for both interactions in your call. Have a clear plan and objectives for both scenarios as you place the call and be mindful of their time/perspectives.
Agree with this, and make the objective singular, and simple for them. Don’t complicate the reason for the voicemail by going into detail, or qualifying what you’re asking them for. Make it easy for them to choose to get back to you.
No1. They're not going to call you back so don't even ask! Instead tell them the problem you solve. 1 sentence. Then ask them if that's of any value to them then to grab your free (tool or resource - lead magnet) that you've just emailed them the link to!) Then when they grab it and are on your email list, you can email them value tips and resources until they've seen enough to want to engage with you, which you make really easy for them to do!
Your prospects are busy and have limited attention span, so you want to keep your voicemail concise and clear. Aim for no more than 30 seconds, and avoid unnecessary details, jargon, or filler words. Focus on the main benefit or value proposition that you can offer to your prospect, and how it relates to their needs or pain points.
Also, your style of voicemail will determine if they listen to the next one you send. If you send long voicemails, it will be the last one they listen to.
With the heavily decreased attention span of this age and time, to leave effective voicemails, keep them brief and focused. No brainer! Aim for 30 seconds or less and avoid fluff. Highlight a key benefit that addresses the prospect’s needs and state clearly how you can help. Skip the jargon and get straight to the point to respect their time and increase your chances of a callback.
Your voice is the first impression that your prospect will have of you, so you want to sound friendly and confident. Use a warm and conversational tone, and avoid sounding robotic, scripted, or pushy. Smile as you speak, as it will make your voice more pleasant and engaging. Also, use your prospect's name and personalize your message as much as possible, to show that you have done your research and that you care about them.
Not completely on board with this. Your tone should reflect their personality style. To a dominant style, too much friendliness can be disingenuous and irritating, so be aware of the character you’re leaving the voicemail for.
Definitely agree with smiling while speaking. But like the feedback above, to match or reflect the listener’s conversational style is equally important. Where to choose in the spectrum from being casual/friendly to formal/confident is largely dependent upon the audience, who you will be able to gauge after the initial contact. So that being said, I think it is much better to keep the cold call voice mail short, neutral and with space for curiosity and imagination.
No just for a voicemail, in general in life it is a good practice to let your voice reflect warmth and confidence. Avoid sounding mechanical or overly scripted instead, aim for a natural, engaging tone. Smile while speaking to enhance your delivery and make your message more appealing. Show and try to actually care about what you are saying beyond it being your job
One of the key elements of an effective voicemail is to create curiosity and urgency in your prospect. You want to pique their interest and make them want to learn more about what you have to offer. You can do this by asking a relevant or provocative question, sharing a compelling statistic or testimonial, or mentioning a time-sensitive opportunity or challenge. However, avoid making false or exaggerated claims, as they will damage your credibility and trust.
CONTINUED FROM ABOVE Second, I make them wonder who they are talking to. If you start with "Hi this is Josh with Big Biz..." you're going to get deleted. They know you want to sell them something and they are tired of being sold. So instead, I wait for a few moments into the call or vmail to identify myself. That way the commiseration and hopefully potential laugh draws them in, as they are now curious who this real human is on the other side of the phone.
One way I pique curiosity is to not tell the prospect my name until a few moments into the call/vmail. And then commiserating with the prospect at the same time. "Hey Bill, I know your phone has been ringing off the hook and I don't want to bug or bother you, but I do want to be a resource. This is Josh with Big Biz and you had inquired about...". First, you commiserate with the prospect. If you're calling them, they are likely getting a ton of calls from your competitors. So their phone is blowing up. Be real and human and acknowledge the fact that their phone is annoying the crap out of them. "I know your phone has been going crazy and I don't want to bug or bother you..." (second point below)
Depending on the nature of the voicemail this could work. If you’re leaving one for a prospect you haven’t spoken with before, social proof is a good tool, but be succinct and state the clear benefits relevant to their industry. If it’s simply a follow up, I wouldn’t over complicate it, the above sounds a bit salesy
The last and most important part of your voicemail is to leave a clear call to action for your prospect. You want to tell them exactly what you want them to do next, and how they can reach you. For example, you can ask them to call you back, to reply to your email, to check out your website, or to confirm a meeting. Make sure to repeat your name and phone number slowly and clearly, and to give them a reason or incentive to take action.
100% and something constantly missed. Say your number slowly so they don’t have to listen to it twice, and tell them your availability for a call back.
When leaving a voicemail, the call to action is crucial. Clearly state what you want the prospect to do next, whether it's returning your call, replying to an email, or visiting your website. Repeat your name and contact number slowly and clearly, and provide a compelling reason or benefit for them to take action. This clarity helps ensure your message is understood and prompts the desired response.
Finally, you should track and follow up on your voicemails. You can use a CRM system or a spreadsheet to record when and what you left as a voicemail, and whether you received a response or not. You can also use tools like email tracking or call recording to measure the effectiveness of your voicemails. Based on the results, you can adjust your strategy and timing, and plan your next steps. Remember, voicemails are not a one-time thing, but part of a consistent and persistent sales process.
As with the call to action, I would always let them know when and how you will follow up again, should you not hear back. Careful how it comes across. The idea is to infer that you are supporting them with good communication.
Leaving a call to action with clear intent of the reason for your voicemail, & letting them know you’re going to email them as well, as another means of an outreach, is great because it gives the customer an option on how to get back to you. These days most live on emails.
I think it’s important to differentiate yourself from the competition. What do you or your company or products do differently and better?