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The Art of the Voicemail: Call Me Back, Please!

Dec 4, 2013 | Cold Calling

Four missed voicemails

To leave a voicemail or not to leave a voicemail – that is the question! Leaving a voicemail “cold” and hoping the prospect responds can be wishful thinking. Many times it’s a better use of your time to move on and not leave any message. Here are some strategies to encourage that elusive call back.

Provide a convincing reason for them to return your call – be clear about why they shouldn’t ignore the opportunity you are giving them. Grab their attention while you have it! Lead with a hook that provides a persuasive reason for them to return your call, and then leave your contact information. For instance, mention a solid referral or brief anecdote if you have one that puts a positive mental picture in the prospect’s mind. Allude to your product’s results and let your lead know what success you’ve provided their competitors. Good prospecting gets you noticed and keeps people engaged.

Do you know specifics about your Decision Maker or their company? Show your familiarity with them and that they are not just a phone number on a record. Don’t be afraid to be creative and energetic to be noticed; it won’t work for all prospects, but it certainly helps with creating a reason for the call back. Just keep that excitement to 30 seconds or less so the recipient doesn’t hang up before your name and number are left! Never, never, never remind your prospect of the 3 other calls you’ve made that have gone unreturned….why give them a ready-made excuse not to return this one?

As an outsource cold calling firm, we don’t want to waste your client’s time if the voicemails aren’t targeted and relevant. As part of an overall contact strategy composed of a variety of touches your odds of someone responding drastically increase. A good rule for voicemails is this: ask yourself, “would I call back?” If the answer is “no”, put some of these suggestions into your calling routine!