The Complete Sales Voicemail Strategy Guide

Voicemails are one of the most underutilized tools in sales today. While email and social selling often take the spotlight, voicemails offer a unique opportunity to create a personal connection, capture attention, and drive meaningful engagement.

In fact, voicemail can be a game-changer when used as part of a multi-channel approach. Pairing voicemail with email outreach, for instance, can yield a 40% higher response rate than standalone emails. And persistence pays off: while only 2% of cold calls result in an appointment, 80% of sales require at least five follow-up calls to close.

This guide will walk you through how to leave a perfect sales voicemail by:

• Unveiling the top sales voicemail strategies to boost success rates.
• Providing actionable voicemail scripts for sales calls across various scenarios.
• Highlighting the top tools for sales voicemail automation in 2024.
• Sharing proven sales voicemail techniques that improve response rates and drive engagement.

By the end, you’ll have everything you need to take your voicemail game to the next level and close more deals.

Why Voicemails Are Critical to Sales Success

A Key Component of Multi-Channel Strategies

We’re seeing that cutting through the noise is harder than ever. Prospects receive hundreds of emails and LinkedIn messages daily, but very few voicemails. A well-crafted voicemail stands out, adds a personal touch, and builds trust faster than text-based outreach.

When combined with other outreach channels like email and social, voicemails amplify your overall engagement. Sales voicemails paired with email outreach have a 40% higher response rate than standalone emails.

Persistence Pays Off

Voicemail is also a key tool for persistence, which is essential for success in sales. Here’s why:

• Only 2% of cold calls lead to an appointment.
• 80% of sales require five or more follow-ups to close.

Incorporating voicemails into your follow-up strategy ensures you stay top-of-mind with prospects, increasing the chances of a successful outcome.

The Purpose of a Perfect Voicemail

Many sales reps believe that the goal of leaving a voicemail is to get a callback. But is that really the best measure of success? Not necessarily.

The true purpose of a voicemail is to:

1. Capture attention and spark curiosity about your product or service.
2. Establish credibility and build trust with your prospect.
3. Drive engagement across other channels, like email or LinkedIn.

For example, a great voicemail might inspire a prospect to:

• Respond to an email you sent earlier.
• Visit your website to learn more.
• Call you back—or forward your message to a decision-maker.

By focusing on overall engagement rather than just callbacks, you can maximize the impact of your voicemail strategy.

Top Sales Voicemail Strategies to Boost Success Rates

1. Keep It Short and Focused

The optimal length for a voicemail is between 8 and 14 seconds, ensuring it’s concise while capturing the prospect’s attention. Long-winded messages often lose interest before the prospect even considers calling back.

Example Script:
“Hi , this is from . I wanted to share a quick tip on how companies like yours are . I’ll follow up with an email—feel free to reply or call me at .”

2. Always Provide Context

Context is king. Reference something relevant to the prospect, such as a LinkedIn connection request, an eBook they downloaded, or a recent news update about their company.

Example Script:
“Hi , this is from . I noticed you recently and wanted to share how we’ve helped companies like yours . I’ll send you more details via email. My number is .”

3. Sell the Dream, Not the Features

Focus on outcomes, not product features. Describe how your solution will improve the prospect’s life or business.

Example Script:
“Hi , this is from . Imagine doubling your team’s daily sales conversations without increasing headcount—that’s what we help companies achieve. I’ll send you an email with more details, or you can reach me at .”

4. Be Warm and Likable

Your tone matters just as much as your message. Be approachable, enthusiastic, and genuine. Humor can also work in some cases, but sounding fun and personable is always a win.

5. Ask for What You Want

Be clear and direct about what action you want the prospect to take.

Example Script:
“I’d love to schedule 10 minutes to show you how we’re helping companies like yours improve sales efficiency. Let me know if Tuesday or Thursday works for you.”

6. Give Your Contact Information Twice

Make it easy for prospects to respond by repeating your name, company, and phone number twice—once at the beginning and again at the end of the voicemail.

7. Be Persistent

Don’t give up after one voicemail. Data shows:

• 11% of calls get a response on the first attempt.
• 22% on the second attempt.
• 33% on the third attempt.

Keep following up with a combination of voicemails, emails, and other touchpoints.

8. Mention a Relevant Observation

Ground your voicemail in something specific to the prospect.

Example Script:
“I noticed your company recently . We’ve worked with similar companies to , and I’d love to share some insights.”

9. Leverage Voicemail Automation

Voicemail automation tools like Revenue.io’s Voicemail Drop allow you to leave pre-recorded messages with a single click. This ensures every voicemail is perfectly crafted, saves time, and allows reps to focus on live conversations.

10. Record and Review Your Voicemails

Recording your voicemails allows you to identify what works and improve your delivery. Host team review sessions to share feedback and best practices.

11. Project Energy and Enthusiasm

Your excitement is contagious. Sound confident and passionate about what you’re offering to inspire interest from the prospect.

Expanded Voicemail Scripts for Every Sales Scenario

For Prospecting

“Hi , this is from . I work with to . I’d love to share how we helped achieve . I’ll send an email with more details—feel free to reply or call me back at .”

For Follow-Ups

“Hi , this is from . I’m following up on the email I sent yesterday about . Let me know if you’re free to chat this week—I’d love to explore how we can help you . My number is .”

For Closing Stages

“Hi , this is from . Based on our previous conversations, I wanted to share one final tip on how we can . I’ll send over a quick email recap as well. My number is .”

Top Tools for Sales Voicemail Automation in 2024

Using the right tools can transform your voicemail strategy:

• Revenue.io Voicemail Drop: Easily leave pre-recorded voicemails with a single click, ensuring consistency and saving time.
• Call Tracking Tools: Record and analyze voicemail performance to refine your approach.
• CRM Integrations: Automate follow-ups by linking voicemails with email and call sequences.

Snippet-Friendly Takeaways

Here are the key strategies for sales voicemail success:

• Keep it Short: Stick to 8–14 seconds to hold attention.
• Be Persistent: 80% of sales require five follow-ups, so don’t give up.
• Leverage Automation: Use tools like Revenue.io to streamline voicemails.
• Provide Context: Reference something specific to the prospect for relevance.
• Sell the Dream: Focus on outcomes, not features.

Level Up Your Voicemail Strategy

Voicemails are a powerful, often underutilized tool in modern sales. By incorporating these strategies, leveraging the right tools, and perfecting your scripts, you can stand out from the competition, drive engagement, and ultimately close more deals.

For more tips on how to leave voicemails that get responses, check out our free eBook How to Maximize Response Rates from Sales Voicemails.