At
our recent sales meeting, I overheard many of the sales team
complaining about voicemail. What's more, I was shocked to
hear some suggest that the best thing to do when they get
voicemail is simply to hang up and call back later.
Oh
what a waste that is! Don't they know that voicemail is one
of the best media for sales and marketing messages? It is
not a nuisance. It is a private, one minute, personal audio
message right in the ear of the intended recipient. When used
properly, you can really get through to your prospect with
a sequence of concise, precise, quality messages. Problem
is, most of the sales and telemarketing team leave rambling
long, unintelligible messages that sounds more like an order
to call back.
What
if, instead, our sales people used that new CRM system we
recently gave them to track how many times they have left
a voicemail message for their prospects? Especially if they
had sample scripts to work off. One for the first time they
get voicemail, a different one for the next time, a third
thereafter, etc. Professional messages that are brief and
concise and build on each other. With the relevant message
data only and our number and their first name only at the
end of each message. And no repetition and plaintive "call
me" pleas.
Then
when they do finally get through, the red carpet welcome is
more likely to already be in place. And the customer will
remember them as from the polite team that left them constructive
and different messages. Heck, they might even start getting
call backs!
