How to Leave Effective Voicemails That Get a Response
Aug 29, 2024
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Tom Alaimo, an expert in crafting effective voicemails that drive responses, joins James Buckley to tackle the art of leaving impactful voice messages. They discuss the nine common mistakes that lead to ineffective voicemails and emphasize the importance of starting strong. Learn about the value of personalization, brevity, and how to engage gatekeepers. They also share tips on managing nerves and creating urgency in messages, making your voicemails not just heard, but answered!
Effective voicemails should be concise and engaging, ideally lasting around 20 seconds, to capture interest and prompt action.
Personalizing voicemails with relevant context, such as referencing a known associate, can significantly improve response rates from prospects.
Deep dives
The Value of Voicemails in Sales
Voicemails are an underappreciated tool in sales outreach, offering a personal touch that text and email cannot replicate. The discussion highlights that while the likelihood of a callback may be low, leaving a voicemail can serve as a crucial additional contact point. By initiating multiple touchpoints, sales representatives can enhance the possibility of receiving responses to their other outreach efforts. This strategy contrasts with traditional wisdom suggesting to avoid voicemails; instead, they can be seen as vital in establishing presence and familiarity with prospects.
Crafting Effective Voicemails
Effective voicemails should be concise, engaging, and purpose-driven, ideally lasting around 20 seconds or less. It’s crucial to start with a strong opening that captures interest and calls for action without being overly salesy. Tips include referencing an email that has been sent alongside the voicemail or hinting at a captivating offer, which engages the listener to check the email. Voicemails that direct prospects to a more meaningful interaction, such as an email or social media follow-up, have shown to produce better outcomes than generic messages.
Timing and Context Matter
Understanding when to leave voicemails can significantly impact their effectiveness. Leaving a voicemail early in the sales sequence is often beneficial, but diminishing returns may occur if the same prospect receives them too frequently thereafter. Additionally, ensuring that voicemails have context—like referencing a known associate or a previously discussed topic—adds value and personalization that can resonate better with prospects. Addressing the likelihood of hearing back is also important; for instance, if the caller is uncertain if the number is correct, leaving at least one voicemail can still enhance recognition and relationship building.
Common Mistakes and Best Practices
Salespeople often make common mistakes when leaving voicemails, such as rambling, lacking clarity, or providing excessive detail that detracts from the main message. It's essential to maintain confidence and a friendly tone, as nervousness can lead to a rushed delivery that can undermine the message's impact. Practicing a concise delivery style while using simple language can help maintain listener engagement. Moreover, cultivating a habit of including a friendly greeting and relevant context can significantly enhance the effectiveness of each voicemail.
Leave a message at the tone? Whether or not to do so has been a topic of debate for years.
Leaving awkward, rambling, generic voicemails, is more common than you think but not effective at all.
In this show, Tom Alaimo, who leaves a strong voicemail every time, is giving us the formula for successful voice messages that create the effect we’re looking for. Listen in and find out the 9 mistakes to avoid if you want your message to get results.
You'll Learn:
How to start your message strong so they’ll want to listen
What to say, what not to say, and how much time to spend on it
What to do before you call, plus follow-up strategies to get the results you want