Gary Harvey //May 16, 2013//
One issue many salespeople struggle with is voicemail. Prospects hide behind it, screening then simply ignoring your message. Too many voicemail failures, and you end up in what I call “voicemail jail”.
There are a number of ways to improve your chances of getting a return call from a voicemail. Here are some tips:
• Don’t pitch your product or service: It broadcasts you’re calling to sell them something.
• Practice on your own voicemail.
• Sound confident.
• Don’t talk too fast.
• Leave your phone number twice.
• Leave a message that sparks their curiosity.
• Keep your message should be short – less than 15 seconds.
• You don’t always have to tell them the name of your company and where you’re calling from.
• Your message can’t sound canned.
• Differentiate yourself from the competition.
• Asking for help works well.
• Give the person a “compelling” reason to prioritize your call.
• Remember that it’s not what you say in a voice message as much as how you say it.
• Tell them when you’ll be available to take their return call. This stops the voicemail tag game.
Try a few of these and you might see some difference in your return calls.