Voice Mail Messages that Get Results
"Leave a message at the sound of the tone." Sound familiar? More and more, placing a telephone call means getting a recorded message asking you to leave a message. And your message is probably just one of dozens. How do you increase the odds that your message will make a positive impression and be returned?
"In order to get your calls returned and the results you want, you must develop good voice mail techniques," says Renee Grant-Williams, a leading voice coach and communication skills expert. "Whether you want to land a new job or make a good impression on a client, when the call really matters, good preparation guarantees that you will leave a concise, effective message. It boils down to content and delivery," she says.
Grant-Williams offers these tips:
- Jot down one sentence which clearly states what you most want to accomplish, change or put into motion by your message;
- Organize your message so that you state the most important information first, since you may be cut off at any time;
- Ask for specific action. A well-thought-out message can effectively articulate your request and wrap up your communication so you can move forward and avoid a frustrating game of telephone tag; and
- Be brief and to the point. Know when to stop talking. Dont ramble just because the tape is still running.
- Leave your name and telephone number both at the beginning and at the end of the message. Give people plenty of time to write down information.
"A little preparation can lead to a big pay-off," says Grant-Williams. "You dramatically increase the likelihood that your calls will get returned and your business concluded when you leave a concise and carefully considered message."
Grant-Williams offers more advice in her book, "Voice Power: Using Your Voice to Captivate, Persuade, and Command Attention" published by AMACOM Books, New York. This book is endorsed by Paul Harvey and was selected by "Soundview Executive Book Summaries" as one of the best business books of 2002.
Grant-Williams coaches business executives, sales professionals and celebrities including Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Travis and Huey Lewis. She presents communication programs to business organizations throughout the United States and has been quoted by Business Week, Cosmopolitan, AP, UPI, TV Guide, Southern Living, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe and the San Francisco Chronicle. She has appeared on numerous broadcast outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, Bravo, USA, MTV, GAC, NPR. Grant-Williams is a former instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as the former director of the Division of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Renee Grant-Williams, call 615-259-4900 or visit www.MoreVoicePower.com.
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