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One of the great things about signing up for an 800 voicemail number service is that you can create your own personalized greeting. This means no more using the robot voice that everybody hates so much. You can put your own personality into your voicemail and this makes folks more likely to leave messages.

The only trouble is that the first time you record your 800 voicemail number greeting, you'll feel self-conscious and it'll probably bomb entirely. That's okay; you're not professional voiceover talent. But here are some tips on making it go as smoothly as possible.

Who Goes There?

Make sure that you identify yourself and your company. This lets them know that they've reached the right number. Most people won't leave a message if they're not sure. Lots of people forget to do this and they pay dearly in missed calls.

Relax!

Don't be self-conscious. Try your best to relax and imagine that you're talking to a good friend or family member. Okay, don't be too casual - you want to sound respectable and professional. But imagine the person on the other end of the line and picture yourself speaking directly to them. If you're self-conscious, it also helps to make sure you're recording away from everyone else in private.

Be Natural

Use an even tone and enunciate naturally. When you're done recording, imagine that you're the customer and listen to it. This is the best way to see if it sounds right or not and you'll know quickly what you need to change. For example, you'll hear it if your voice is unnaturally high or too flat.

Use a Script

Even for a simple message, it's always a good idea to use a script. This will significantly cut down on the 'ums' and 'uhs.' You may also forget an important detail when you're in the zone of recording. For ideas, look at sample voicemail greeting scripts online. Find one that you like, copy it, and then make whatever necessary changes.

Be careful when you're reading off your script not to sound like you're reading off a script. Just use it as a basic guideline and reminder. Practice it several times before you do your first recording.

How to Blow People Away with Your Greeting

If you really want to blow away your customers, here's a tip - change your greeting every day. It's so easy to record your 800 voicemail number greeting that you can actually do this without too much fuss and bother. Say the date for each message. This will tell people that you're accessible and you check it often. They'll know that the call is really important to you.

Tell Them What to Do

Finally, there's one more essential part that lots of people forget. Tell them exactly what they need to do - leave a message. Tell them what information they should leave. This should be at least their name, a callback number, and a detailed message. 'Detailed' is better than 'brief' because you need to know the reason they called and you don't want to miss any information.