8 Voicemail Scripts That Boost Sales Call Response Rates

When it comes to leaving voicemail, everyone has their struggles. Some of us feel put on the spot and not sure how to be succinct without losing the important parts of the message. Others may launch into a story-like message that most decision-makers won’t pay attention to for more than two seconds, thereby losing interest, once again. Fortunately, with the help of some research and the inspiration of some voicemail scripts, you can improve the way you leave messages to increase response rates and more. 

The modern sales rep has tons of different ways to get in touch with prospects. And yet, phone calls and voicemail remain some of the most frustrating (and also frequent) methods. You spend a lot of time leaving messages. As many as 80% of all calls go to voicemail. Not only that, but 90% of first-time voicemails aren’t returned and the average response rate for voicemail is currently only around 4.8%.  

Do you want more? Who doesn’t? Here are some voicemail scripts that will ensure that you increase your response rates and boost the effectiveness of your sales team. 

Example #1: Using company and caller details 

When you do something as simple as identify your caller and the company they work for, it shows you’ve taken the time to figure out who you need to reach and why. 

“Hello, Carol. This is Jeff from [company]. I heard that you’re in charge of the decisions regarding [product]/service/pain point] at [their company] so I wanted to touch base to offer our assistance with our new line of solutions. Feel free to reach out to me at [number]. Again, Jeff with [company], at [phone number]. Thanks!”

Example #2: Referencing competitors 

This is a great example of how you can reference your competitors and show that you have done your homework. 

“Hey, John, this is Steve with XYZ Company. I was on [competitor]’s website and noticed they use our services for [need]. I imagine that you’ve got similar needs and in case you wanted to give us a try, I’m going to help you out. I’ll drop you an email with an organizational chart so that you can see what we can do and why [competitor] likes to work with our team. Feel free to respond there or give me a call back and let’s see if we can get you set up.”

Example #3: Creating a sense of urgency

Urgency gets people’s attention, too. Here’s a simple example.

“Oh, shoot, I was hoping to catch you—Hi, Jeff, sorry, this is Mark from XYZ company. I wanted to touch base with you real quick about a new [product/service] that I think you’d love but we only have so many slots for the first round. Get back to me as soon as you can and I’ll hook you up. Mark, [phone number]. Thanks.”

Example #4: Short and sweet 

Why waste people’s time? If they do call back, you can go over the details later. 

“John – Dave from XYZ. Sorry I didn’t catch you. Call me back at [number]. Thanks. Again, Dave with XYZ, [number].”

Example #5: Lead with the benefits 

If you want to get people’s attention, you can (and should) lead with the product benefits that they will find. Don’t spill all the beans, but give a few key highlights. For example:

“Hi, Tim, it’s Jen from XYZ company. I was hoping to catch you to offer you a chance to improve your database with our new software solution. We’re just testing it now but I think your company would be a great candidate to get in on the ground floor. Call me back. [phone number]. Thanks. 

Example #6: Explain your follow-up intentions

If you tell people you intend to email them or return a call if you don’t hear from them in a certain amount of time, it could elicit a reply from them to save you the effort. They know you’re going to be reaching out so they might as well beat you to the punch. Here’s a script to use. 

“Hello, Sarah, it’s Dave from XYZ again—sorry I missed you. I’m going to forward you an email explaining our new program so that you can look over it at your convenience, and if I don’t hear back from you in a couple of days, I’ll give you a quick buzz to make sure you got everything. Thanks. Again, Dave, XYZ, [phone number].”

Example #7: The double voicemail 

This one is a great way to get people’s attention. It’s a tactic that’s been used by plenty of salespeople over the years. You simply leave one short, simple voicemail and then immediately call back with a second message regarding a detail you “forgot” in the first call. 

“Hey, Dave, it’s John calling from XYZ to go over our new line of solutions and see how else we can help you. Give me a ring when you can. [phone number], thanks!”

(second message) “John again, sorry to bother you a second time but I wanted to let you know we’ve actually got the perfect solution for that [pain point] that you’ve been struggling with. Anyway, call me back. [phone number]. Thanks.”

Example #8: Be mysterious

If you want to cater to people’s curiosity, this is a great way to get a response. A simple, short message with limited information will likely get a lot of people to respond when they might not otherwise. 

“Hi Dave, It’s Susan at [company]. Give me a call when you can at [number]. Thanks! Again, Susan, [number].”

Or let the pros leave the messages for you

The alternative is to hire a virtual receptionist team like Smith.ai that can field calls and messages for you, along with handling other aspects of your admin and communications. Not only that, but with our outreach campaigns we can even help qualify leads to save you the trouble of leaving voicemails in the first place. 

The virtual receptionists at Smith.ai offer 24/7 solutions for outbound sales and support, outreach campaigns, lead screening and intake, appointment scheduling, and so much more. 

To learn more about what we can do for you, schedule a consultation or reach out to us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.