Increase Your Voicemail Success
What is currently missing in your voicemail messages and what specifically will you add or change to improve your results?
It's hard to think of anything new to say when you have called a student three or four times and they haven't responded. That is when I usually switch to a different form of communication; maybe email works better for them.
Good awareness, Sandra! Keeping those four C's in mind when you plan your voice mail messages will help you to improve!
Elizabeth Wheeler
The change I will make will be to get to the point on my voice messages. I had been leaving lengthy voice messages with as much information that I could & was speaking quickly to do so. I will get a timing device to help me with this change.
I like the idea of adding humor, I need to try that. Also, I need to give them more of a reason to return my calls.
Jennifer, Interesting! What do you think is the importance of reminding them to call you back?
Elizabeth Wheeler
My biggest challenge is not tell them to call me back but remembering to tell them my office hours in the message.
I too was telling the caller to call me back, then I remember my manners and started asking them to call me back or if they preferred to email me either way was fine.
It goes back to the old saying:
You get more with honey then you do with vinegar
we currently have great vm templates that we use, much of our scripts and training tools came from similar training that we have received here.
Marcie,
Excellent self awareness! Voice mail is a great opportunity to relay an uninterrupted message to your students. Thank you for posting!
Dr. Jean Norris
This was a good module and reminder about the importance of vm's. I find that most students don't listen to the messages and just call me back. I think that has contributed to me getting "lazy" with the message content. I do believe there is true value in having a planned approach to the messages. I am going to work on this asap.
I do the same thing Brenda. And I forget sometimes what I was saying, or get distracted easily by a co-worker, or something going on in the hallway.
Paul, So what can you do to improve your voicemail message?
Elizabeth Wheeler
I don't always tell them what's in it for them. I don't always sound upbeat and enthusiastic, and I don't always give clear instructions.
Laura, Great awareness! Meeting the students where they are is very important. Leaving a message with urgency, but that is honest )meaning you have something to tell them, it's not just a hook), is a best practice. Thank you for posting!
Elizabeth Wheeler
I tend to put others peoples feelings over mine, I worry a lot about pushing people to do something they really arent interested in. So the voicemails I leave are (from what i just learned) not good. I say they can "call me when they get a chance" i ask "if they are still interested to call" Now I know its better to state facts and leave a reason for them to call back.
JIM, It does take a lot of energy to be in admissions and maintain that positive attitude. What are some things you can do to help keep that energy up?
Dr. Jean Norris
for me after making so many calls, is to continue to be excited on EVERY vm....
Asmir, Mentioning the registration deadline can definitely add urgency. What is another point of urgency you can mention?
Dr. Jean Norris
What is currently missing is that seance of urgency.
I can add to the message when registration deadline for that particular program is.
