Rene, Very friendly! What happens if they can't call by 5pm (work, errands, etc.)? This puts a deadline on reaching you. How can you re-frame this portion to meet them where they are?
Elizabeth Wheeler
Something that works well for me is a message like this..."Hi Shannon, this is Rene with (my school). Thank you for filling out an online application for the PN program. I have some exciting news for you regarding our program, so please return my call by 5pm today and I will tell you more. My phone number is ____. Once again, my phone number is ____. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon."
Sometimes we offer incentives at the campus. An example of that is we run free workshops and have prize giveaways just for showing up to the event, but they have to call us to register for the event. Also, if I have already met them, I usually try to add something personal about something that happened at the campus to let them know what they are missing at the school.
Iza,
Thanks for posting! It's great to hear that you will try out the voice mail tips. Come back and let us know how it goes!
Dr. Jean Norris
Aaron,
Great! Please come back to the forum and share your success. Good luck!
Dr. Jean Norris
The message at the end with the six points is the great example. Plus hearing what it could sound like is the great example as well. I printed it and might example it for myself.
Smiling and being enthusiastic while speaking with clarity is the first step to ensure they can clearly hear your message. Additionally, ensuring to use information about them to catch their attention and purpose. Creating urgency and potential deadlines is also great. Most importantly, place a plan of action.
I am very much ecstatic to start using professional and acceptable humor while leaving voice messages. I do believe this can be an awesome ice breaker.
David, Agreed! Thank you for all your thoughtful posts in the forum.
Dr. Jean Norris
Voice tone and humor. If you are dry and dull, you will continue to talk with an answering machine. If you can make someone feel welcome and that you may be able to help them you create curiosity. People that are looking for change normally call to satisfy their curiosity. If you use humor then you will be remembered more by the person you left a message for.
I think people respond when humor is used and/or an event date is approaching that will interest the student. I have used these techniques on many occasions and have found them to be successfully techniques.
I hope this helps,
When leaving a voicemail if you sound excited about your product they will be too. Creating urgency has also been a very good way to gain the students interest in calling back.
Corin, Generating interest is really important, great job. A best practice is to make sure that you really do have something interesting to tell them :)
Elizabeth Wheeler
Making sure you give little teasers about the school that would intrige your student and making sure that time is running out for enrolling.
We can use humor to get people to respond to our voice messages. Moreover, folks of what is in it for them can assist them in moving forward with the process.
I like to be enthusiastic, reminding them I a replying to their request for information, and looking forward to taking the next step of seeing the school. you have to show a sincere interest in each opportunity to reach a potential student.
Good point on leaving the number twice - it is helpful when receiving inbound calls ourselves, so I'll be doing this from now on!
When leaving messages I like to have a smile on my face while leaving it and mention what I am calling for and how I can help them. Leaving my phone number twice is also very important.
Rocco, Thank you for posting. Is this interesting fact something you give in addition to the reason you are calling?
Dr. Jean Norris
Madelyne, That's a great strategy however, I'm curious, do you always have interesting news for them when they call back?
Dr. Jean Norris
A brief interesting fact about their perceived area of interest.
