Voicemail – First Impression?

What first impression are you giving on your voicemail?

Verbal communication is still important in business. Last week I was making calls to potential customers and realized the difference in my impressions of what I thought of a business based upon their voicemail greeting. Those without voicemails or without a custom greeting caused me to think that they really didn’t care a lot about who was calling. Does that mean they do not check their voicemails? Do they perform that way in business as well?

While small business owners do not have a lot of time to work ON their business, at least we need to be setting up our tools to communicate our brand when we are not able to do it ourselves. That includes everything from our voicemails to our websites and even how we shake hands.

Even if email is your primary form of communication, people still pick up the phone and call. Your voicemail message conveys the image, or brand, you are representing which is very important. And as we know, we only get one chance to make a first impression.

Here are a few pointers to ensure that there is a good impression of you and your business.

1. Set up your voicemail with a personal greeting rather than using the standard computer generated greeting.
2. If you have a ringback tone, use it wisely. This is the song you hear when you are calling someone. “Please enjoy the music while your party is reached.”  Now, some of the songs, I actually enjoy listening to, but not everyone has the same taste in music. An impression of you, regardless of whether or not you believe it, will be made based upon this ringback tone.
3. Don’t make your message too long. Just communicate the necessary and use the opportunity to show your personality. If you sound like the teacher from Ferris Bueller’s day off, “anyone. Anyone”, then have someone else record your greeting.  And for those of you who are not aware of the movie Ferris Bueller’s day off, it’s a classic from the 80’s.
4. Check your voicemail.   know that seems standard, but many times I have run across the message that a voicemail box is full.

In our world of the talking, texting and Skyping, our phone voicemail is an important tool in creating an positive impression.

Have you made an impression of another person based upon their voicemail? Please comment below and tell us about your experience.