According to RingLead, 80% of sales calls go to voicemail, and 90% of first-time voicemails are never returned. Furthermore, an Invesp infographic noted that 80% of sales require five follow-up calls.
Although voicemail has a lower response rate
than other types of communication, such as
email, what you lose in quantity,
you gain in quality. That’s because
voicemails
are generally more personable and demonstrate a greater level of interest.
Without a carefully planned, thoughtful, and rehearsed
voicemail, you won’t get any responses at all.
Here are some effective voicemail script bullet points that
can be used to stay on track while keeping your tone and delivery friendly and casual:
- Your name
- Reason for calling
- Benefit of calling you back
- Your contact information
- Promise of a follow-up email
With these bullet points, you can create a tailored script
for your business. Here’s an example:
“Hello, Susan. This is
Dana with Sales & Marketing Technologies.
I’m calling because
you downloaded our guide 12 Ways to Get Your Business Growing Again, and I would like to offer you a free marketing audit to go with that. The marketing audit helps you quickly identify your best channels for sales growth.
If you’d like to learn
more, my number is 407-682-2222. I’ll also follow up with an email about how you can reach me. I look forward to hearing what you think. Have a great day.”
The voicemail is simple and straightforward, but also
provides value to the recipient. A voicemail can set the tone for what it’s
like doing business with you, so delivery is everything.
Tips for Writing a Sales Voicemail Script
As you work on delivering your voicemail script, you may
find that certain things work better for you. Here are some best practices to
try out in your voicemail script:
1. Leave your
telephone number twice
This helps ensure the prospect hears and understands your
number. Don’t repeat the number the same way; instead, try saying your number in a different
way. For example: “Call me back at 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0. Again, that's 1-2-3-45-67-8-9-0."
2. Use their name
People tend to pay
attention when their name is mentioned. If you want to grab their attention at
a crucial part of the message, say their name first.
3. Mention an example
Tout your company a
bit by mentioning someone you’ve helped in the past. Including a reference helps establish
authority.
4. Keep it to 15 seconds or less
Your voicemail is
merely to pique the prospect's interest, not to sell them on your solutions,
discuss features, or give your whole backstory. Keep your messages short and
sweet — save the sales pitch for your actual call.
5. Offer value
Express to the prospect the benefit of calling you back like a complimentary assessment, free ebook, etc.
Make sure you state it clearly and how it can help them.
6. Ask for a call or email back
If you want them to call or email you back, be sure to ask
for it. This clear, actionable item will help the prospect understand what to do next.
Refresh Your Follow-Up Strategy
A key component of healthy
marketing systems is follow-up. Doing your research on the prospect and practicing your
script is just the beginning when it comes to reaching out to prospects. With every voicemail you leave, you’ll learn new
ways to speak with authority, provide value, and get a callback.
Book a free consultation with Sales & Marketing Technologies to learn about follow-up solutions that generate more conversations!
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.