What is up with people who use this as their voicemail message: “You have reached 310-555-1212. Please leave a message?” There’s nothing warm and nothing pleasant about that.
It’s amazing how many people I call, and the first thing I learn about them is their phone number recited by a computerized woman’s voice. Do you realize that your first “meeting” with and introduction to someone might be via your voicemail message?
You may thereafter hand somebody a business card with the intention of introducing yourself to them for business purposes, but their first impression of you will remain hearing “You have reached 310-555-1212 . . . ” Do you know what type of first impression that makes? None.
The other terrible thing about this ever-so-sexy computerized voice reciting a phone number as your voicemail message, is that as the caller you sometimes think you may have dialed the wrong number because there is no way to know whose voicemail you’ve reached (since today we don’t usually memorize everyone’s phone number). So you don’t leave a message. Thus, even though we know we dialed 312-555-1212, we might have hit the wrong button and we didn’t memorize it.
I don’t care whether it’s your business or your personal voicemail, you need to leave a warm personally recorded message so people who hear it can get an idea of your personality. For example, I’ve been using basically the same voicemail message for years. In mine, I say:
“Hey, it’s David. Great to hear from you. Looking forward to speaking with you, but I can’t get to the phone right now. I’ll call you back as soon as I get into the office. Take care, and make it a great day!”
Your voicemail message should at a minimum be something that’s strong. I have excitement in my voice in my message.
I want people to be excited to talk to me. I want people to be interested in talking to me. I want them to know that I’m a warm person.
It’s amazing how lazy most people have become. This is a problem that is equally prevalent in men as it is in women.
There is no reason you should have a computerized voicemail message at work. It’s unprofessional in every way. Let people know about who you are.
If you’re dating, then having a computerized voicemail message is simply ridiculous. If I call a woman and get the “You’ve reached 310-555-1212 …” voicemail, then I wonder if I was handed a wrong phone number and very often I will not want to leave a message.
Why should I leave a message in that situation? I don’t know whose phone I’ve reached. I don’t know if I’ve reached Amy, Lisa … or some weird 90-year old guy in prison somewhere who just likes to listen to voicemail messages.
So when you record your voicemail message, make it warm and friendly – but don’t make it stupid. I can’t tell you how many times I have called someone and, after hearing their dog barking in the background, their message in their cutest tone of voice says “Fred says ‘leave a message!’ Ha Ha Ha …” That is really annoying.
Also, what about when you call up a family home and after the voicemail begins “You’ve reached the Wilsons ….” you hear each child in turn yell their own name like “Timmy! Amy! Joe!” followed by the dog barking after being introduced. How cute … if you’re a part of that family.
How about the people who put an excerpt of a tv show or song as part of their voicemail message? Like that makes sense. Why in order to leave someone a message am I being forced to endure 30 seconds of a tv show that I don’t watch?
It’s time we all grew up. It’s time we all stopped being lazy. It’s time we all recorded a personal voicemail message.
So for all of you who have the “You’ve reached 310-555-1212 …” message on your voicemail, it’s time you decided to say “hi.” As for me, I’ll end this blog by saying “This is David . . . and welcome to my voicemail!”
Going further into voice. Do you know how to create powerful emotions with the tone of your voice.
Todays video explores that and more!
Hi everyone,
David u right, it’s of lazy people to do that but sometimes it also happens that people are shy, you know, they say: what should I say in the voicemail message? may be people won’t like. you know, the monkey chatter.
Anyway, it is amazing because just before reading this post I was actually setting mine and I was trying to think what to say. I will think sth cool, personal and warm and then i’ll share it with all here.
cheers
oh god i hate leaving away message or giving a voice mail! i ususally just say ” hey it’s me call me back!”
and i think my voicemail says ” hey this is rey, i cant reach my phone right now …. blah blah blah”
definitely something i can improve on.
You know what my voice my says? Hey, this is Joe. My phone sux, so leave a message. LOL everyone who has heard it loved it. I had a voicemail from a woman who was representing a school i was trying to get into. And the first 5 seconds of the message was her laughing. So there’s my little jem for all of you to share!
I don’t even remember what my voicemail greeting is. Maybe I should check it LOL.
I think mine is something like “hey, you know what to do so go ahead and do it.”
There’s definetley room for improvement…
I’m with ya on this one man. I’ve known this is crucial for years! I have an energetic message on there using my famous nickname, so the ladies know exactly who it is, and the creditors don’t!! lol
cheers man!
*C
Oh oh! I just recorded that message on my voicemail! It sounds so much better! I didn’t even think of that before! When I was a teenager though, I used to make up these lyrics to songs that went along with leaving a message. Went something like: “riding down the street and ya just decided to call me, well I can’t get to the phone right now – so leave your name and # and I’ll hit ya back!” It used to drive my aunt nuts ’cause it was about 5 minutes long!
You are so right about reading the children’s stories and Dr. Suess is definitely the best! You will crack up at reading those stories out loud as you get all tongue tied! The Happy Birthday, Good Night story, and the one about the Zoo are some of the funniest! Ya’ll really have to try that! I might have to try that to warm up my voice in the morning or before I go out on a date to loosen up that nervous energy, warm up my voice, and my storytelling abilities……..thanks David!
Haha Khiem, same deal with me. I didnt remember how shitty my voicemail messaage was for like 5 years. Oh what damage it must have done! I sounded like a little child saying my name – “Richie DeVVVoe!”
brilliant. sheer brilliant. i can’t tell if this i should actually do this for the hialrious after story or if i should do this for my own benefit. haha
When I changed my voicemail, I was at the beach and it was ok. Except for the waves crashing against the shore, making it a little difficult to hear my message. Then, I changed it to, “Hey it’s Thomas. Leave a message.” I know – pretty lame.
I personally don’t like voicemails so I would rather them NOT leave a message.
These days, it’s a little different because I have been in contact with so many people lately. Thus, I have to change it to make it appropriate. This is a good foundation to work with, David.
It’s all about the energy. No matter what you do, you have to release positive energy. People will feel it and it’ll make them want to be around you for that reason alone. Combine that with some great wordage, then you got yourself a great voicemail message.
I will warn you though, I feel like your voicemail will increase. But that’s what happens when you’re desired
Okay, on this one Davd, I’ll go half way with you. I think that people should be pleasant and say Hi, this is so and so, and leave your name and number and I’ll call you back. But when you go on and on and maybe the person just doesn’t have alot of time or they are in a crisis and maybe not having a great day or maybe they already know you, which is 90% of people who call you. They just want to hurry up and tell you they called and that’s it. It’s frustrating to me to listen to a long message, so I say keep it short and pleasant with the needed info and let people do what they need to do.
Thanks David! I just used your voicemail message above (well I changed it to my name of course!) to change it from the one where I just give my number.
Jade
Anytime
How I wish everyone who has a cellphone will read this blog.
I have two male friends who had the same exact voicemails last year. Theirs were “Hi, how are you?” and they shut up for like 3 seconds, which makes the caller to respond, and then they say “really? ah huh go ahead” and they shut up again for like 15 seconds, and comes the “I see what you’re talking about. Please leave a message after the beep.”
Now that one is stupid, plus it’s also disrespectful to any caller. So anyone out there who does the same thing, it’s about time to do something about it. Lol.
I guess i should change mine…. “Hey its 2008. You know what to do”……. yeah…..
Right on! Good post.
Amazing site! love the easy layout
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.
Do you guys have a recommendation section, i’d like to suggest some stuff
I don
This is an awesome site. I hope to join this site. Is there a fee?
What is the point trying to make people think that you’re a warm and nice person by recording some prefab voicemail message.. I think you will just reach the opposite reaction.. “Gee, another one with the David W. message”.. Gets to be some kind of hype.
You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body.