First off – voicemail is so twentieth century.  My email address is easy to find yet people insist on leaving me voicemail.  Oh well.  I have nothing against talking to people it’s just that email is so much more efficient for leaving messages.  john@johnarobb.com in case you needed it

I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to using the phone.   I may have call display but you won’t know it.  The only thing call display tells me is what phone is calling, not who is calling.  Too many people assume the latter.   That’s just one of the things i’m particular about.  The other is voicemail messages.  I spent 15 years in sales.  I’ve left lots of voice messages over ther years.   Here are my five tips to help you leave better voicemail messages.  Or think of this post as an easy way for you to share tips with those people you wish would leave you better voicemail messages.

1. Speak slowly and enunciate.  It is not a race.  You are leaving me a message because you would like me to know or do something.  Don’t make it hard for me to help you.
2. Tell me who is calling at the beginning of the message and at the end.  Say it at the beginning so I know not to delete your message and then at the end when i’m writing your phone number down.   Can you see why email is much better?
3. Leave your number even if you think the person already has it on file.   This is doubly important if you actually want a call back.   If he purpose of your call is to have someone call you back then why make them look up your number?  And when you leave me your number pretend you are learning it for the fist time.  That’s the speed I want to you give it to me at.  So many callers have uttered their phone number so many times they forget it might be the first time I’m hearing it.
4. Tell me why you are calling.   I’ll warn you right now, if all you do is leave me your name and number you’ve only got a 50/50 shot of ever hearing back from me.   Don’t waste my time and yours with phone tag.  If I know why you called perhaps I can leave the answer on your voicemail when I return your call.
5. Dates and times.  Tell me when you called and when would be a good time to call you back.  I prefer email so I don’t always get to voicemails right away.   Some information is time sensitive.  Your location might be time sensitive.  Help me help you by telling me when you called and when I should call you back.