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How to Create an Effective Voice Message
How to Create an Effective Voice Message
Leaving a voicemail
- Leave contact information right away
Voicemail systems are notorious for cutting people off near the end, so it's important you state your most important information right at the beginning. One of the most important is your contact information. Your name and how you can be reached should be the first words out of your mouth
- State your purpose
Are you returning their call? Are you asking for them to do something for you? Are you just passing along some important information? Whatever it is, make it clear why you are calling and what you are expecting the recipient to do, like call back or perform a task.
- Avoid covering numerous topics
Before you meet face-to-face with your qualified applicants, make sure that they are at least a possibility for the position and don?t have any attributes that would make them unable to perform the necessary tasks. In order to do that you are going to have to conduct preliminary phone interviews. Start by developing a list of questions. The questions should not require long-winded answers. They are meant to be quick and easy questions that weed out applicants that aren?t right for the position. For example, if the position you are trying to fill requires a fair amount of traveling, ask applicants how they feel about that. If some applicants aren't up for it, then eliminate them. Or you can ask how much money they expect to make. If certain numbers far exceeds what you are capable of paying, then you can eliminate those people as well. Make sure that you are using the same set of questions for each applicant when conducting the interviews. There needs to be a basis for comparison.
Recording a voicemail greeting
Encourage detailed messages
Have you ever returned a phone call and ended up feeling completely unprepared for the conversation because you didn't know what it was going to be about? It happens frequently. That's why you should urge your callers to leave as many details as necessary. That way when you call back you'll be armed with the right information and won't have to waste time on the phone playing catch up.
Update your message
It's a good idea to keep people up to speed on when you're available and when you're not, so don't be afraid to change your greeting frequently. Just make sure it doesn't become outdated. Out-of-date greetings are an easy way to create a negative impression.
Review your recorded message
Always take the time to listen to your recorded message before you make it official. Do you sound bored or curt? Did you get tripped up or stutter at any point? Did you mention all the things you intended to? If you?re happy with it, then great. If not, then re-record as many times as needed.
