Your automated voice messages aren’t just a formality. They could be your ticket to more sales success.
Remember those early days of automated voice messages? The phone would ring, you’d pick up, say hello, and then? That robotic voice comes on the line, sounding mildly unsure of how to communicate in human languages. Maybe they were a little too perky? Too staccato? Or just generally strange? You’d get the template phrase with what sounded like an “insert-specifics-here” message.
“Hello? This is Bob calling from ABC Industries. I’d like to share some exciting information with you about our latest extra-special service for people like you. I’ll be in your area on Tuesday next week. Please call me at One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. to arrange a meeting.”
Oh, those heady days of the late 90s and early 2000s! Except for one little detail. You probably received a call like that yesterday (or at least within the last week).
As sad as it seems, many businesses that use automated voice messages are doing the exact same thing they were doing 20 years ago. True, the technology has improved, and there are a number of regulations and laws that have changed the field. But, the basic, boring messages remain. Do those types of messages even work? When is the last time you listened to one of them the entire way through?
The thing is, automated voice messages don’t have to be so sterile and unappealing. We could be wrong, but even with all the regulations around phone sales, we are almost positive there’s not a single one that requires your messages to be bland.
What can you do, though? You can’t always connect with the person you’re calling, and it’s essential to leave a message. But how do you do that in an appealing way?
Call Logic can help you manage your voicemail scripts and convert on more calls. Find out how. Sign up for a free demo today!
Your automated voice messages are about to bring you a lot more success.
1. Be human
Literally. We love artificial intelligence as much as anybody. AI is excellent for things like your robotic vacuum cleaner, checking your bank account, or monitoring your social media accounts. But for leaving a sales message? Nope. People want to talk to people, especially when it comes to things like spending money or taking time to meet.
Record an actual message with your real voice that you can leave when you need to. With software like Call Logic, you can pre-record your message and leave your voicemail with the click of a button. You can move on to your next call while the software leaves the message for you.
2. Be concise
You only have a few seconds to generate enough interest that ensures the rest of your message gets heard. Beyond that, you have a total of 20 to 30 seconds to leave a message if you have any hope of someone listening to it all the way through. That’s not bad, though. It forces you to very carefully craft your message in a way that highlights the hook. Think of it as a movie trailer or book synopsis.
3. Don’t give away the ending
Speaking of movies, when a major film comes out, especially one that a lot of people are anticipating, you’ll find plenty of articles posted with “Spoiler Alert” warnings. This helps those who haven’t seen the movie maintain that excitement and anticipation. How does the story end? What happens to the hero? What about the villain? Approach your automated voice messages the same way.
“Hi! This is Mark from ABC Shipping Systems. We specialize in helping small businesses save money. In fact, we just worked with a company similar to yours and saved them 18% on shipping costs, and I think we can do the same for you.”
What does the recipient think about that message?
“18% savings? That’s a lot of money. This is intriguing. I need to find out how this works!”
4. Stay upbeat
When you record your message, stand up, smile, walk around. Do whatever you need to do to sound energetic and happy. Believe it or not, your posture and demeanor come through clearly over the phone. If you’re slouching in a chair, with your head in your hands, your message will sound drab and won’t do anything to entice your prospect to call you back.
5. Practice your voicemail before you record it
Just like you have a call script (you do, right?), you should have a voicemail script. Practice it. Read it out loud several times. Read it to a colleague or friend. Ensure that it sounds the way you want it to and that it also has all the necessary information. Record it, listen back, and record it again if you need to. This voicemail is a sales tool that can be your first step in making a sale, so take it seriously and put just as much effort into this as you do into speaking directly with a prospect.
6. Make sure the necessary information is there
Speaking of relevant information, don’t forget to include your name, your company name, and your contact details. You’d be surprised how often these simple but essential items get neglected.
7. Don’t try to make a sale
Of course, you eventually want to make a sale, but not through your automated voice messages. The only thing you want to accomplish with a message is to get a callback. If you can achieve that, you are successful.
When you approach your automated voice messages as the powerful sales tools that they are, you are steps ahead of your competition. Far too many sales professionals ignore the importance of leaving a carefully crafted message, and as a result, they lose sales before they even have a chance at success.
And don’t forget, your auto dialing software is the perfect place to set up your messages, so whether you need to leave a cold call voicemail or a message for your hottest leads, it’s all right at your fingertips.
Create custom voicemail scripts with Call Logic’s call management system. Schedule a free demo today to learn more!