Magnolia Desk PartnerMost voicemails are deleted before they finish. A few simple habits make yours the one that gets a call back.
A voicemail is a short audition. The listener decides within a few seconds whether it is worth hearing the rest, and most outreach voicemails lose them at "Hi, my name is."
Lead with the reason, not the introduction
Start with why you are calling them specifically. A reference to their renewal, a packet they received, or a colleague who pointed you to them earns the next ten seconds. Your name can come after.
Keep it short and specific
- One reason for the call.
- One clear next step.
- Your number, said slowly, twice.
Pair it with an email
A voicemail followed by a short email the same day gives the prospect a way to respond on their own terms. Many people who would never return a call will reply to a two-line email that references it.
General mailboxes are different
When the only option is a general department mailbox, leave a message addressed to the person by name and ask for it to be passed along. It works more often than you would expect, and it costs nothing.