Quick Summary
A good sales voicemail is short, scripted, and gives the prospect one clear reason to call you back. This guide gives you seven word-for-word sales voicemail scripts: three for cold calling new prospects, two for following up after a demo or quote, and two for prospects who have gone quiet. Copy them, adapt them to your offer, and always say your phone number slowly, twice.
Key Takeaways
- Script every prospecting voicemail. Winging it is why your messages get deleted.
- Keep it under 30 seconds with one clear reason to call back.
- Say your phone number slowly, and say it twice.
- Match the script to the situation: cold call, follow-up, or a prospect who went dark.
- A returned “no” beats silence. Ask dodging prospects for a decision either way.
Good Voicemail Scripts Get Prospecting Calls Returned
I don’t know about you, but it shocks me when I listen to the voicemail messages sales reps leave for me. They ramble on and on, stumble over ‘um’s’ and ‘ah’s’, and they leave no compelling reason for me to call back. And they almost always leave their number so fast that I need to listen to it two, three, sometimes four times just to make it out!
It’s no wonder so many voicemail messages get deleted and never called back!
Here’s the thing, though: voicemail is not dead. Your prospects still listen to their messages. What’s dead is the rambling, me-focused voicemail that talks about your company, your product, and your quota, and gives the prospect nothing to gain by picking up the phone.
Think about it from your prospect’s side of the desk. They’re busy, they’re behind, and your message is competing with everything else screaming for their attention. In the first few seconds they’re deciding one thing: is this worth my time? A tight, confident, benefit-first message says yes. A wandering one gets deleted mid-sentence.
And even when a prospect doesn’t call you back right away, a professional voicemail is still working for you. It puts your name and your company in their ear, it builds familiarity, and it makes your next dial part of an effective cold calling approach instead of a cold interruption. The reps who treat voicemail as a wasted dial are leaving all of that on the table.
If there ever was a time when you needed a script, it’s with voicemail. Good voicemail scripts will get more of your calls returned.
Voicemail Messages Should Be Scripted
If ever there was a situation that begged to be scripted, it’s your voicemail message. For example, voicemail is one piece of an effective cold calling approach. The message you leave decides whether the prospect ever hears from you again.
Isn’t this the time you want to sound your best, be perceived as a professional, and prepare the most polished message you can? Of course it is.
Here are seven sample voicemail messages you can start using today to separate yourself from the other 95% of voicemails that get ignored, deleted and never returned.
- Three voicemail scripts for cold calling new prospects.
- Two scripts for following up with a prospect.
- Two voicemail scripts for situations when your prospect or client isn’t calling you back.
The best voicemail message has a specific purpose that addresses the needs of your prospect. It should also offer a solution that compels them to call you back.
Cold Call Voicemail Scripts for New Prospects
Sample Voicemail Message #1:
Here is the classic template when cold calling a new prospect – adjust and adapt it to fit your product or service. In this and all examples, leave your phone number SLOWLY.
“Hi __________, this is ___________ with (your company). I’m calling about your new office that’s opening in Houston next month, and I wanted to provide you with some ideas that may help with your networking issues. We work with a number of companies in the area, and I think you’ll find it useful if we talk.
You can reach me by calling 844-447-3737. That number again is 844-447-3737, and ask for _________. I look forward to speaking with you and thanks in advance for returning my call.”
Sample Voicemail Message #2:
“Hi _________, this is _______ _______ with (your company). You and I haven’t spoken yet, but I’ve been doing some research on your company and I think you’re a great fit for (our networking solutions – your products here). We can provide you with (BRIEF list of one or two benefits) and I know you’ll be happy if we spend just a couple of minutes discussing how this can help you.
When you get this message, please call me back at 844-447-3737. That number again is area code 844-447-3737 and ask for _________. I look forward to speaking with you, and I guarantee you’ll be glad you returned this call.”
Pro tip: Get even more cold calling scripts in our FREE download 25 Ways to Ask for an Appointment
Sample Voicemail Message #3:
“Hi _________, this is ________ ________ with (your company). Briefly _________, I need to speak with you about how you’re handling your sales tracking (Or your kind of product or fulfillment), because I have something that can (solve their unique problem). Our clients include (list some companies they are familiar with), and I know this would work for you as well. Believe me it’ll be worth a 5 minute phone call to find out why.
Please do me a favor when you get this message and call me back at 844-447-3737. That number again is area code 844-447-3737 and ask for _________. I look forward to speaking with you and I guarantee you’ll be glad you returned this call.”
Follow Up Voicemail Scripts
The next two examples are for follow up call voicemails scripts:
Sample Voicemail Message #4:
“Hi _________, this is ________ _________ getting back with you at (your company). I’m looking forward to speaking with you because we just (give an update here – you have a new special, new product update, added a new client they would know about), and I know that based on (their specific need you uncovered during the last call) this is going to make it even easier for you to (give the benefit you both discussed). I’m excited to share this with you.
Do me a favor when you get this message and please give me a call back at 844-447-3737. That number again is area code 844-447-3737. I look forward to speaking with you!”
Sample Voicemail Message #5:
“Hi ________, this is _______ ________ getting back with you about (your demo, quote, etc.). Briefly, I’ve been doing some more research on how we may be able to save you even more (or make you even more – whatever your product or service can do for them), especially in regards to your (list a specific need they told you about during the initial call), and I’m excited to share that (or discuss that) with you.
I’ll be in my office the rest of today, so do me a favor when you get this message and please give me a call back at 844-447-3737. That number again is 844-447-3737. I look forward to speaking with you.”
Voicemail Scripts for Prospects Who Don’t Return Your Calls
And for the prospects that are dodging you or just not calling back:
Sample Voicemail Message #6:
“Hi _________, this is _______ ________ again with (your company). For some reason we haven’t connected since I sent you (your demo, proposal, etc.). And believe me, I’ve been in sales long enough to know what that probably means. I’m assuming you either found another solution, or you put this on the back burner for now. Either way, that’s fine.
Do me a favor though please. So I’m not bothering you anymore, could you please give me a quick call and just give me an update so I know what direction you’re moving in? If I’m not available, just leave me a voice mail.
Again, either way, it will be good to know what’s going on. Thanks in advance for that, and I’ll look for your call. You can reach me at 844-447-3737. That number again is 844-447-3737. Thanks again, ________.”
Sample Voicemail Message #7:
“Hi _________ this is _______ ________ again with (your company). I’m sorry we haven’t been able to get back together on this. If you’re like me, I’m sure you’re being pulled in many different directions. Do me a favor, though, and when you get this message, just call me back and leave me a voice mail with what you’ve decided to do about (your proposal or demo or quote). If you’re still interested in it, great, but even if you’ve decided not to move forward with it, that’s fine as well.
Either way it will be nice for me to know.Thanks in advance for that, and I’ll look for your call. You can reach me at 844-447-3737. That number again is area code 844-447-3737. Thanks again, ________.”
Voicemail Scripts for Every Situation
There you have it – voicemail messages for most of the situations you’ll find yourself in. Once again, by using these scripted, proven messages you’ll be giving yourself the best chance to get your prospecting voicemails returned. Remember, even if their answer is no that’s a lot better than chasing unqualified prospects who are never going to buy.
If your team needs to master the phone, our Cold Calling Edge training covers voicemail, openers, frameworks, and objections with frameworks your sales reps can run start running immeadiately.
Common Questions Salespeople Ask About Sales Voicemail Scripts
Yes, when they give the prospect a reason to return them. Most sales voicemails get deleted because the rep rambles, offers no benefit, and rushes the phone number. A scripted, benefit-led message under 30 seconds separates you from the 95% of voicemails that get ignored, and even when the prospect does not call back, a professional voicemail builds familiarity that pays off on your next call.
Voicemail works as part of a sequence, not as a standalone tactic. Pair each voicemail with a call attempt and an email touch, and vary your message each time instead of repeating the same script. When a prospect has gone quiet after multiple touches, use Script #6 or #7 to ask for a decision either way. A returned “no” frees you to spend your time on prospects who will buy.
Say who you are, why you are calling this specific prospect, and one clear reason it is worth their time to call back. Then leave your phone number slowly, twice. Cut everything else. The goal of the voicemail is not to sell. The goal is to earn the callback.
Keep it under 30 seconds. Long enough to state your name, your reason for calling, and one compelling benefit, and short enough that the prospect never reaches for the delete button. If your message runs past 30 seconds, you are selling in the voicemail instead of selling the callback.
Open with your name and company, connect your reason for calling to something specific about the prospect’s business, promise one concrete benefit, and close with your number stated slowly, twice. Script #1 above is the classic cold call voicemail template. Adapt the specifics to your product and territory.
Related article: Five Ways to Stay Persistent Without Being Pushy
Related e-learning: The NEW Essentials of Voicemail
