New voicemail greeting

['putertutor]

I need to change my voicemail greeting. Ok, I guess I just want to, its not really a need. And I am one of those guys that will mull this over for way to friggin' long and then record about 4,000 versions until I feel satisfied with how it sounds.

Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone has any interesting, but still business/professional like outgoing greetings? Right now mine is simply "Thanks for calling, you've reached [business name]. I'm either on the phone or away from my desk, but leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible." Frankly I'm tired of it and it is just too cookie cutter for my liking.

 

[angry_geek]

I know a couple of professional voice over people if you're really worried about it.

 

['putertutor]

Wait. So they could do "In a world were computers had taken over, one man..." That kind if thing? Cause that would be cool! Of course, they would have to be free, because this 'one man' has no budget for voice over talent.

 

[aweston]

I need to change my voicemail greeting. Ok, I guess I just want to, its not really a need. And I am one of those guys that will mull this over for way to friggin' long and then record about 4,000 versions until I feel satisfied with how it sounds.

Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone has any interesting, but still business/professional like outgoing greetings? Right now mine is simply "Thanks for calling, you've reached [business name]. I'm either on the phone or away from my desk, but leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible." Frankly I'm tired of it and it is just too cookie cutter for my liking.

This might sound a bit bizarre, but nobody cares (and by nobody I mean your clients). What they do care about it is that it's short and to the point. Have you ever sat and listened to this really annoyingly long voice mail message where they tell you their entire history before you get to leave a message? I even heard one guy complain about the prerecorded rubbish that the automated service says afterwards giving you instructions on HOW to leave a voicemail. He's convinced it's just a scam by the phone company to rack up your cell phone bill.

First, leave out the obvious. "I'm either away from my phone or ...." No kidding. We kind of figured that out.

How about "You've reached so and so. Please leave a detailed message so I can better serve you when I call you back."

 

[myleso]

we use fiverr, cant beat 5 bucks for a professional voice-mail message

 

[Digital Sage]

I go about it slightly different... I've turned my "voicemail" intoa "technician paging service"

It goes something like :

" thanks for calling digital sage. You've reached our technician paging service. Please state your name, number and computer issue after the tone. Our technician will be notified instantly of your issue, and will be in touch as soon as Possible"

Voicemail system sends a wav file to my email, which also routes thru a SMS gateway so I get a notification on my phone. Don't get many hangups...

Still, i get some time wasters. Lady left me a message today asking fort he apple stores number. Face palm. What am I, a freaking directory service? She won't be getting a technician call her back!

 

[citizensmith]

Some inapropriate sound clips fron the ITCrowd here http://www.soundboard.com/sb/The_It_crowd . the "new emergency number" jingle would deterr the time wasters. And "have you tried ?" is a helpful quick fix to.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

"Thanks for calling, you've reached [business name]. I'm either on the phone or away from my desk, but leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible." .

I dont like how you have it now...i guess i'd have to hear it. I like Thank you over thanks and please instead of but.

Edit: yeah I think i'd check fiverr like one of the above suggested.

 

[Vicenarian]

Or you could load up some text-to-speech website like SitePal, choose a fancy british ladies accent, and then record that into your voicemail? Extra points for having some type of geeky music playing in the background

 

[aweston]

I go about it slightly different... I've turned my "voicemail" intoa "technician paging service"

It goes something like :

" thanks for calling digital sage. You've reached our technician paging service. Please state your name, number and computer issue after the tone. Our technician will be notified instantly of your issue, and will be in touch as soon as Possible"

Voicemail system sends a wav file to my email, which also routes thru a SMS gateway so I get a notification on my phone. Don't get many hangups...

That's awesome actually. I like that idea

 

['putertutor]

I go about it slightly different... I've turned my "voicemail" intoa "technician paging service"

It goes something like :

" thanks for calling digital sage. You've reached our technician paging service. Please state your name, number and computer issue after the tone. Our technician will be notified instantly of your issue, and will be in touch as soon as Possible"

Voicemail system sends a wav file to my email, which also routes thru a SMS gateway so I get a notification on my phone. Don't get many hangups...

Still, i get some time wasters. Lady left me a message today asking fort he apple stores number. Face palm. What am I, a freaking directory service? She won't be getting a technician call her back!

Nice. I like that system. Is this a third party to your telco/cell carrier? If so, who is it?

 

[Digital Sage]

I'm in Australia so it mightn't help those over the pond

But it's a bunch of systems.

A 1300 number that calls my office phone, (1300 number is a national number with local cost)
Then my mobile, then hits voicemail. This then sends the vm as a WAV file to email. The email is then duplicated to a email to SMS service I have with another company.

So I get 1. A missed call with the number showing in my iphone

2. A SMS Shortly there after stating that I have a 30 or so second vm from x number. (If it's a 3 second one I know they didn't leave a message)

3. An email with attached wave file I can play instantly on my iphone

Companies I use for those in Australia.

Telecube - cheapest 1300 numbers, great value,
Instant setup and you can modify how it works instantly

Exetel for office VOIP and email to SMS service.

 

[tom11011]

we use fiverr, cant beat 5 bucks for a professional voice-mail message

I've got a guy on fiverr as well and his voice is incredible. He makes a recording using a professional studio.

For $5 he'll read whatever script you want in one long session. It's up to you to carve up the script into individual files for your phone system.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I've got a guy on fiverr as well and his voice is incredible. He makes a recording using a professional studio.

For $5 he'll read whatever script you want in one long session. It's up to you to carve up the script into individual files for your phone system.

Note: you didnt actually share who the guy was or provide a link.

 

[tom11011]

Note: you didnt actually share who the guy was or provide a link.

Here ya go.
http://fiverr.com/throttleupvoice/produce-up-to-a-60-second-voiceover-spot

Call the number from my website if you want to hear him.

 

[CompConfig]

I think the professional voiceover with a person from fiverr is a great Idea. I do understand the thought that it may not be the most important thing especially to your existing clients however it certainly helps you make a better, more professional first impression. $5 well spent in my opinion.

 

['putertutor]

Yep, I like the professional voice idea and am going to give that a shot. Now I just have to spend the next 400 days polishing up the text, cuz I'm like that. If you guys suddenly end up with lots of missed calls and no voice mails, its probably me getting ideas .

+1 to tom11011 for the link and suggestion!

 

[tom11011]

Yep, I like the professional voice idea and am going to give that a shot. Now I just have to spend the next 400 days polishing up the text, cuz I'm like that. If you guys suddenly end up with lots of missed calls and no voice mails, its probably me getting ideas .

+1 to tom11011 for the link and suggestion!

lol, my pbx greeting is boilerplate I've used this guy for many of my customers. There is really good female voices too, I might have some fiverr links saved if you want a female voice.

If you need any hosted pbx let me know. What's popular right now is pbx where your "desk phones" are your cell phones.

 

[peachypc]

we use fiverr, cant beat 5 bucks for a professional voice-mail message

I'll 2nd that!

 

[Morrison5891]

Wait. So they could do "In a world were computers had taken over, one man..." That kind if thing? Cause that would be cool! Of course, they would have to be free, because this 'one man' has no budget for voice over talent.

Check out fiverr.com and search for voice greetings or something similar.