“Your persistence is valuable if you can show them that you are willing to show up on a regular basis and those unreturned voicemail messages mean something” – Jeff Bajorek in today’s Tip 369
What do they hear? Do they hear your voice welcoming them to your voicemail box?
Join the conversation below and update your own voicemail!
Jeff Bajorek Website
Jeff’Bajorek on LinkedIn
Jeff’Bajorek on YouTube
Jeff Bajorek on Twitter
The Why And The Buy Podcast
Have feedback? Want to share a sales tip? Call or text the Sales Success Hotline: 512-777-1442 or Email: [email protected]
Transcript
Scott Ingram: You’re listening to the Daily Sales Tips podcast and I’m your host, Scott Ingram. Today’s tip comes from Jeff Bajorek. Damn you Jeff and your tips that make me do things. Here he is with a really smart suggestion.
Jeff Bajorek: I’m noticing a startling and disturbing trend in the sales industry around voicemail. And yes, I know you can debate this with me, but I still think it’s valuable for you to leave voicemail messages for your prospects. It gives you an opportunity for another touchpoint. You can deliver a message in those first 5 or 10 seconds that you wouldn’t otherwise if you didn’t leave the voicemail, and I know every 10 seconds is precious because you’ve got a hundred calls to make today. Give me a break. It’s a touchpoint. Your persistence is valuable if you can show them that you are willing to show up on a regular basis and those unreturned voicemail messages mean something, but that’s not even the voicemail I’m talking about in the instance that a prospect actually returns your call and they don’t get you because you’re closing a deal somewhere.
What do they hear? Do they hear your voice welcoming them to your voicemail box? Do they hear something that might make them smile or laugh or do they hear something that will give them another reason to think highly of you? Or do they hear some computer-generated text that basically says; “Leave a message for 555-123-4567.” This is an opportunity of all the things that you’re trying to automate right now, this welcoming message to give people a higher impression of you because they’re more likely to respond and leave a message if you can make them laugh, right? If I hear some bland, generic boilerplate message that came from the phone company, I’m not likely to leave a message. If you want your customers to engage with you, if you want them to leave a message, give them every reason to do so and why you’re there you might as well make them laugh. This is your report card. How many people leave you a voicemail message and say; “I want a call back just so I can hear that thing again.” It’s just such a great opportunity. I think you’re underutilizing it. I think you could have fun taking advantage of it. I think it’ll take you two minutes and I know you’ve got a hundred calls to make today, but those two minutes will be worthwhile.
Scott Ingram: After Jeff sent me this tip I called myself and listened to my own voicemail. It sucked and was boring, and how can I expect you to take advantage of these tips if I’m not willing to act on them myself? After some Internet research for inspiration and a bit of tweaking, I now have a new outbound voicemail message. To hear what it says you can call me and wait for me not to answer, or better yet just read the script that I’ve posted along with the video version of Jeff’s tip and all of his links at DailySales.Tips/369 Oh, and Jeff just sent me his voicemail as well so there are two examples waiting for you right now.
Scott’s Voicemail:
“This is Scott Ingram and you didn’t quite reach me on my mobile phone. Studies have shown that people that leave messages are usually intelligent, outgoing, friendly and motivated. People that hang up are usually dark, depressed, cynical and sometimes psychotic. Please categorize yourself at the tone, and if you’re really brilliant you’ll probably realize that texting me afterward is even more effective and likely to get a quicker response.”
Jeff’s Voicemail:
“Hi! You’ve reached Jeff Bajorek, thank you so much for your call. I know it may be hard to believe, but I am actually away from my phone right now and I can tell you that because if it were in my hand I probably would’ve taken your call.
It may be a couple of minutes, it may be a couple of hours, but it will definitely not be a couple of days before you hear back for me. I really appreciate your call and I look forward to talking to you soon. Have a great day.”
Thanks for listening, and after you’ve updated your own voicemail, be sure to come back tomorrow for another great sales tip!