What should I say in a sales voicemail?

Your name, your company, your number twice, one reason to call back and the day you'll try again. Keep it under 20 seconds.

How long should a sales voicemail be?

Under 20 seconds. Write it out, read it aloud against a timer once, and cut anything that pushes it over.

Should I leave a voicemail every time?

Not on the first try. Call at a different time of day, and leave a message on the second. The cold calling guide covers the rest of the call.

How many voicemails before I stop?

Two or three over a couple of weeks, each with an email or message after it. Then leave the last try script and move them to a list you check in three months.

Should I send an email after a voicemail?

Yes, two lines that say you called and why. Some people would rather reply to an email than return a call.

What should my own voicemail greeting say?

Your name, your company, when you'll call back and another way to reach you. For example: "Hi, you've reached [name] at [company]. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back today. If it's urgent, message me on [number]."

Are the scripts free?

Yes. Copy them, print them or download them for Word. There's no sign-up and no form to fill in.

ActivityTracker

Free scripts for reps and small business owners

Voicemail scripts for sales calls: what to say in 20 seconds, and when to call back

Seven voicemail scripts for the calls that end at the beep: a first voicemail, a referral, after an email, after a quote, returning their call, a customer who's gone quiet and the last try. Each is under 20 seconds, says your number twice and comes with the day to call back. Copy one or download them all for Word. Free, no sign-up.

A voicemail rarely closes anything. What it can do is make your name familiar before the next call, and give a busy person an easy reason to ring back. That takes about 20 seconds: who you are, why you're calling them, your number twice and the day you'll try again. After that, write down that you left it, and ring again on the day you promised.

Seven voicemail scripts, by situation

Download for Word

Voicemail scripts: [your name]

Before you call: their name, one reason to call them, your number, and the day you'll try again

1. The first voicemail

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company], on [number]. I'm calling about [the problem you help with] for [their kind of business]. I'll try you again on [day], or you can reach me on [number]."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [2 working days later]

2. The referral

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name]. [Referrer] suggested I call you about [problem]. My number is [number]. I'll try you again on [day]. That's [number]."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [2 working days later]

3. After an email

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company]. I emailed you on [day] about [topic], with the subject line [subject]. I'll try you on [day], or call me on [number]. Again, [number]."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [3 working days later]

4. After a quote or proposal

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company], about the quote I sent on [day]. I want to check it covers what you need. I'm on [number], and I'll call again on [day]."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [2 working days later]

5. Returning their call

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company], returning your call from [day]. I'm free today until [time], on [number]. If I miss you, I'll try again tomorrow morning."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [the next morning]

6. A customer who's gone quiet

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company]. It's been a while since [the last thing you did together]. I've got [a new product, a date or an idea] I think you'd want to hear about. I'm on [number], and I'll try you on [day]."

Log it: voicemail, [date]. Call back on: [1 week later]

7. The last try

Say: "Hi [name], it's [your name] from [company]. I've tried you a few times about [topic], so I'll stop calling. If it becomes useful, I'm on [number]. All the best."

Log it: voicemail, last try, [date]. Call back on: none. Put them on [the list you check in three months]

After your calls

Voicemails left today: __ Callbacks due today: __ Calls returned: __

For the call when they pick up, use the cold calling script

Five rules for a voicemail that gets returned

Short, specific, and your number twice.

Keep it under 20 seconds. Write it out, then read it once against a timer.
Say your name and number near the start, and the number again at the end
Give one reason to call back, about their business rather than your product
Say the day you'll try again, then call on that day
Send a two-line email or message after, so they can reply without calling

Why most sales voicemails get ignored

They run long, they're about the seller, and the second call never comes.

They open with the company history instead of the reason for calling
The number comes once, fast, at the very end
They ask for a callback and give no reason to make one
Nobody calls again, so the voicemail was the whole plan

A week of voicemails to one prospect, and the call that came back

Lena Ortiz, who sells payroll software, calling Marco Silva, who runs two bakeries. The names are made up.

Monday 5 October: no answer, no message. Logged: no answer. Try again Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday 6 October: voicemail, script 1, 18 seconds. Logged: voicemail. Call back Thursday.
Tuesday, straight after: a two-line email. "I left you a voicemail about payroll for the two shops. Is a 15-minute call on Thursday any use?"
Thursday 8 October: voicemail, script 3. Logged: voicemail. Call back Monday.
Friday 9 October: Marco rang back and booked a call for the next Wednesday.

3 calls, 2 voicemails and 1 email over four days, then the call came back.

Log the voicemail and the day you'll try again

The scripts are free. ActivityTracker, the app we make, is paid. It doesn't dial or record calls. It counts the calls you make and keeps every callback you've promised.

Tap Call when you hang up, and it's logged with the time
Keep every callback on today's list
Today's calls add up as you go, next to everything else you logged

See how sales reps use it

Questions

Say it in 20 seconds. Call back on the day you said.

The scripts are free to use. The app is paid and keeps every callback you promised on today's list.

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