Good Housekeeping rules for voice mail
01. STOP, don’t just dial and blunder. Nothing makes a worse impression than a “bad” voice mail message. Remember that the recipient of your message would really rather be talking to his wife, girlfriend, bookie, friend, dentist, … anybody but you! So you have to make them want to listen carefully.
02. Do you need to introduce yourself? Will the recipient recognize your name? Do you need to give the recipient some idea who you are?
03. What is your objective with this call? Write it down. (You are measuring results. Right?)
04. What are the key points you want to make? Limit the message to cover the most important point. You can’t really expect your monologue to do more than that.
05. Write out the text of your message. Pretend it’s a telegraph at 10$ per word. If you want an action or call back, ask for it clearly. If asking for a callback, when can they catch you.
06. You have to try to speak slowly. Make your call standing up. Try looking in a mirror as you are talking. Smile. It comes over the wire in your voice. Pretend that it’s video mail.
07. Use a written script.
08. Your name is familiar to you, but not necessarily to the recipient. Give your first name, pause, last name, and then spell your last name.
09. Area code, phone number, calmly, slowly, clearly.
10. Read your brief telegraph message slowly.
11. Give your phone number once again… SLOWLY.
12. You did remember to say thanks.
13. Update all your logs, paperwork, and computer systems (i.e., JibberJobber contact tracking?)
# # # # #
Reinke Faces Life 