Leaving a sales voicemail is a business development technique that many sales reps aren’t fond of. However, doing so is necessary to get in touch with the right decision-makers and effectively pitch your company’s products or services.
Many sales reps don’t think leaving sales voicemails is effective because the average voicemail response rate is 4.8%. While this number may seem low, it’s important to consider the number of calls that sales development representatives (SDRs) make a day. Even if a prospect calls back and they’re not ready to set a sales meeting, at least this opens the door to have a better conversation in the future.
When it comes down to it, there are right and wrong ways to approach sales voicemails. Therefore, it’s important to understand the best sales voicemail tips to advance your sales development efforts, secure more sales meetings, and boost revenue.
In this blog, we’ll cover the following:
What to Include in a Sales Voicemail
When leaving a voicemail, sales reps should include the following information:
- Introduction: Start by introducing yourself and your company. Be clear and concise.
- Reason for the call: Clearly state the reason for your call. This can be a brief overview of your product or service and how it can help the prospect.
- Call to action: Provide a clear call to action. This can be an invitation to schedule a meeting or a request for the prospect to call you back.
- Contact information: Make sure to leave your name, phone number, and email address so the prospect can easily get in touch with you.
The goal of a sales voicemail is to pique the prospect’s interest and encourage them to take action, whether it’s to schedule a meeting or call you back. Following these tips allows sales reps to increase their chances of getting a response from prospects.
Tips to Get Prospects to Call Back
Getting prospects to call back after leaving a sales voicemail can be a challenge, but there are several tips that can increase the chances of a response:
Keep the Message Short and to the Point
Research suggests that the optimal sales voicemail length is between 8 and 14 seconds. Keeping a sales voicemail short is important for getting prospects to call back because most people have short attention spans and are busy with their work. A long-winded message can be overwhelming and turn off the prospect, causing them to ignore it altogether. When the voicemail is short and to the point, sales reps can quickly convey their value proposition and pique the prospect’s interest, encouraging them to call back for more information.
Personalize Messaging
Personalizing a voicemail is essential for getting prospects to call back because it shows that the sales rep has done their homework and is genuinely interested in the prospect’s business. Referencing the prospect’s company allows the sales reps to create a connection and show that they understand the prospect’s needs and pain points. This can make the prospect more likely to respond and engage in a conversation with the sales rep.
Provide Value for the Prospect
Providing the prospect with value is crucial for getting them to call back because it shows that the sales rep is focused on solving their problems and meeting their needs rather than just making a sale. By highlighting the benefits of the product or service, the sales rep demonstrates the value of the solution and how it can improve the prospect’s everyday operations.
Be Clear and Confident
Speaking clearly and confidently encourages prospects to call back because it conveys professionalism, credibility, and competence. A clear and confident tone can inspire trust in the prospect and make them more likely to engage in a conversation with the sales rep. Additionally, it shows that the sales rep is knowledgeable and passionate about their product or service, which can pique the prospect’s interest and increase the chances of a response.
Follow Up in a Reasonable Manner
If you don’t hear back from the prospect after a few days, follow up with another call or email. This shows that you are persistent and committed to helping them.
While following up with prospects is a good way to consistently build the relationship, it’s important to avoid leaving multiple voicemails or bombarding the prospect with emails. Respect their time and give them space to make a decision when the timing is right for them and their current stage in the sales process.
Best Sales Voicemail Scripts to Follow
Leaving a good voicemail for sales depends on the attitudes and buyer personas in your target market. Therefore, there are a variety of sales voicemail scripts sales reps can follow to maximize their cold calling impact.
Here are the different ways sales reps can leave effective sales voicemails:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #1: The Lever
The lever is a confident sales voicemail strategy that shows the prospect you know what you’re talking about and isn’t portrayed as a cold call. Ideally, all cold callers want to achieve this type of voicemail. However, it takes a lot of confidence and understanding of the buyer persona to execute this sales voicemail strategy successfully.
Here’s a sample sales voicemail script using the lever strategy:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #2: The Value
Providing value in a sales voicemail message could include insight about things like limited-time promotions, how to improve day-to-day operations, and so on. However, the value sales voicemail script can sound pitchy, so it’s essential to save it for leads that are closer to the end of the sales funnel.
Here’s a sample sales voicemail script using the value strategy:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #3: The Referral
A referral sales voicemail strategy only works when you are referred to a prospect by a third party like a client, employee, or business in your network. If you’re contacting a prospect you haven’t spoken with yet, you may want to introduce the voicemail by saying you were directed their way by the mutual connection. This sets the intention of the voicemail and encourages them to listen to what you have to say.
Here’s an example of a sales voicemail you can leave for a referral:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #4: The Friendly Neighbor
The friendly neighbor sales voicemail strategy is an enthusiastic and upbeat approach to leaving a sales voicemail that’s great if you thoroughly understand the prospect’s personality. If the prospect is as lively as you are, they may be thrilled to hear how excited you are and hurry to give you a call back.
Here’s an example of the friendly neighbor sales voicemail script:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #5: The Business Professional
In some industries, the more professional you sound, the better. When prospects get sales calls, all they want is a straightforward solution to their pain points.
Here’s a professional sales voicemail script you can use for your get-it-and-go prospects:
Sales Voicemail Strategy #6: The Expert
The expert sales voicemail strategy enables you to showcase your skills in a short amount of time. This is ideal for getting off on the right foot with prospects and demonstrating your expertise in the subject matter.
Here’s an example of the expert sales voicemail strategy:
Key Takeaways
While many sales reps avoid leaving voicemails, they’re a vital appointment setting tactic that increases the likelihood of connecting with decision-makers.
At Abstrakt Marketing Group, our SDRs participate in a sales training program to learn the best practices for pitching prospects, setting sales appointments, and leaving voicemails that boost callback rates.
When you’re ready to start building relationships and attending sales appointments with qualified leads, contact the high-performing sales reps at Abstrakt Marketing Group!
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