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Advanced voicemail

Advanced Voicemail Techniques: From Pre-Recording to A/B Testing

Revenue Blog  > Advanced Voicemail Techniques: From Pre-Recording to A/B Testing
6 min readFebruary 23, 2020

Voicemail is one of a salesperson’s most powerful yet underutilized tools. With 97% of business calls going to voicemail and only 11% being returned, it’s clear that leaving impactful, optimized messages is essential for success.

The good news? Modern tools like voicemail drop software for sales teams and advanced strategies like A/B testing for sales voicemail scripts make it easier than ever to personalize voicemails at scale and improve callback rates. With time-saving voicemail strategies for sales reps, you can turn voicemail into a key driver of engagement, trust, and conversion.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • Why voicemail remains essential in modern sales strategies.
  • How to use voicemail drop software to save time and improve quality.
  • Proven techniques for sales voicemail personalization at scale.
  • Actionable steps for A/B testing voicemail scripts to boost callback rates.

Implementing these advanced voicemail techniques’ll streamline your outreach, increase response rates, and make the most of every prospect interaction.

Why Voicemail Remains Essential in Sales Strategies

Voicemail as a Critical Touchpoint

In today’s crowded sales landscape, voicemail offers a unique opportunity to stand out. Unlike email, which can feel impersonal, a voicemail allows reps to convey tone, energy, and personality—all of which are critical for building trust and engagement.

Multi-Channel Synergy

Voicemails work best when paired with other outreach channels like email and LinkedIn. In fact, sales voicemails paired with email outreach have a 40% higher response rate compared to standalone emails. By reinforcing your message across channels, voicemail helps increase the likelihood of engagement.

How to Increase Sales Voicemail Callback Rates

While leaving voicemails is essential, not all voicemails are created equal. To maximize their effectiveness, focus on these time-saving voicemail strategies for sales reps:

1. Keep It Short and Focused

The optimal length for a voicemail is 8–14 seconds. This ensures your message is concise enough to hold the prospect’s attention while delivering value.

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

2. Personalize at Scale

Personalization doesn’t have to mean one-off efforts. By categorizing voicemails into targeted groups (e.g., by persona or sales stage), you can scale personalization without sacrificing relevance.

How to Organize Voicemails:

  • By Persona: Tailor messages for specific roles like VPs of Sales, RevOps leaders, or marketers.
  • By Lead Source: Adjust messaging for demo requests, event attendees, or inbound leads.
  • By Sales Stage: Change your tone and content as prospects move from cold outreach to follow-ups.

Example Script for Demo Requests:
“Hi , this is from . Thanks for requesting a demo! I’d love to learn more about your team’s needs. Call me back at .”

3. Use Voicemail Drop Software for Sales Teams

Automating voicemail delivery with tools like Revenue.io’s Voicemail Drop not only saves time but ensures consistency. With voicemail drop, reps can:

  • Leave high-quality, pre-recorded messages with a single click.
  • Save up to 25 hours per month that would otherwise be spent manually leaving voicemails.
  • Focus their energy on live conversations where they can make the biggest impact.

4. Focus on Clear, Compelling CTAs

Your voicemail should always include a clear, actionable call-to-action (CTA). Instead of vague requests like “Give me a call back,” be specific about the next step.

Example Script:
“Hi , this is from . I’d love to schedule 10 minutes to share how we’re helping companies like yours improve . Let me know if Tuesday or Thursday works for you!”

A/B Testing Voicemail Scripts to Boost Sales Callback Rates

Why A/B Testing Matters for Voicemails

Voicemail scripts are just as important to test and optimize as email subject lines or ad copy. With A/B testing for sales voicemail scripts, reps can identify which messages resonate most with prospects and refine their approach over time.

Here’s how to run effective A/B tests for voicemails:

Revenue.io Voicemail Call Back

A standard report from Revenue.io with call back rates for pre-recorded voicemails.

1. Start with a Large Sample Size

To achieve statistically significant results, you’ll need a large sample of voicemails. For example:

  • A single rep making 50 calls per day will leave ~48 voicemails.
  • A team of five reps can leave up to 1,200 voicemails per week.

The larger your sample size, the more reliable your results will be.

2. Test One Variable at a Time

The key to effective A/B testing is to change only one factor between your two voicemail versions. Potential variables to test include:

  • Length: 8 seconds vs. 14 seconds.
  • Tone: Casual vs. formal.
  • CTA: “Call me back” vs. “Reply to my email.”
  • Keyword Usage: Including specific terms like “ROI” or “efficiency.”

3. Create and Record Scripts

Once you’ve identified the variable you want to test, create two versions of your voicemail script. Record the messages using Revenue.io Voicemail Drop and label them clearly (e.g., “Version A” and “Version B”) for tracking purposes.

4. Run the Test and Track Results

Divide your reps into two groups, ensuring each group leaves an equal number of voicemails. Use your sales platform or CRM to track callback rates, response times, and other engagement metrics for both versions.

5. Analyze and Iterate

Once the test is complete, analyze the results to identify the winning voicemail version. Implement it as your new standard, then repeat the process with a new variable to continue optimizing performance.

Pro Tip: Use Revenue.io’s voicemail callback reports within Salesforce to monitor results in real time.

Advanced Voicemail Techniques for Better Engagement

1. Humanize Your Message

Even when using pre-recorded voicemails, maintain a natural tone by:

  • Avoiding robotic or overly scripted language.
  • Adding natural pauses and emphasizing key points.

2. Collaborate Across Your Team

Encourage reps to share their most effective voicemail scripts and A/B test results. If one rep’s script generates a 10% callback rate compared to another’s 5%, make that script the new team standard.

3. Avoid Common Mistakes

  • Don’t Use Filler Words: Eliminate weak phrases like “just” or “um.”
  • Don’t Apologize: Avoid saying “Sorry to bother you”—it diminishes the value of your message.
  • Don’t Close the Conversation: Instead of ending with “Goodbye,” use phrases like “Looking forward to connecting soon.”

Why You Need Voicemail Drop Software

Voicemail drop software for sales teams is a must-have for modern sales organizations. Key benefits include:

  • Time Savings: Reps can save up to 25 hours per month by automating voicemail delivery.
  • Consistency: Ensure every prospect receives a polished, professional message.
  • Scalability: Record and categorize an unlimited number of voicemails for different personas and scenarios.

With tools like Revenue.io Voicemail Drop, sales teams can improve productivity, increase callback rates, and focus more time on high-value conversations.

Snippet-Friendly Takeaways

Here’s a quick summary of the key strategies for mastering sales voicemails:

  • Make the Most of Voicemail DropKeep It Short: Stick to 8–14 seconds for maximum engagement.
  • Leverage Automation: Use voicemail drop software to save time and ensure consistency.
  • Personalize at Scale: Categorize voicemails by persona, lead source, and sales stage.
  • A/B Test Scripts: Optimize your messaging by testing variables like tone, length, and CTAs.
  • Focus on Value: Clearly articulate how you can help the prospect achieve their goals.

Optimize Sales Outreach with Advanced Voicemail Techniques

Voicemail isn’t just a box to check—it’s a strategic tool for building trust, personalizing outreach, and driving conversions. By leveraging time-saving voicemail strategies for sales reps, incorporating voicemail drop software for sales teams, and applying A/B testing for sales voicemail scripts, you can optimize your outreach and improve callback rates.

Collaborate

Collaboration goes hand in hand with A/B voicemail testing. Competition is healthy within a sales team but mutual success and growth is invaluable. If members of your team are calling similar lead sources of prospects, ensure they work together to optimize their conversion rates and move leads down the sales funnel. They should actively share strategies and test results. For example if you find that Rep A’s Cold Call Voicemail results in 5% callbacks, but Rep B’s creates 10%, make sure that all reps start employing Rep B’s message.