26 of the Best Business Voicemail Greetings: Sample Scripts and Tips

For those with voicemail greetings that get changed about as often as a new president is elected, know that this is doing a serious disservice to the caller-recipient relationship. It signals to callers that the business is anything but an authority, most likely not very detail oriented, and has questionable overall credibility and competency. Those aren’t traits that any business wants to associate itself.

On the other hand, a stellar professional voicemail is more than just a way to ensure callers are heard. It’s actually a gateway to encourage recruiters, clients, connections, venders, and other callers to continue forward with the first step in developing a business relationship, which is them making contact. The power of the right voicemail greeting is the caller actually staying on the line to leave that contact information or gain access to an alternative contact point.

The bottom line is that a business’s situation is likely to change often and rapidly, each of which need a unique and applicable voicemail greeting to cover the circumstances and timeline. For example, callers shouldn’t reach a business-as-usual voicemail, and therefore expect a return call within the business day, if the subject they’re calling is out on vacation for two weeks. Such a lack of communication is a recipe to lose that caller’s trust and tarnish the brand’s reputation.

Related: Business VoIP Providers

Now that the importance of having current and applicable voicemail greetings has been established, the big question of how remains, right? How does one create this stellar voicemail selection and improve their business voicemail greeting?

Voicemails need to maintain a professional consistency that’s aligned with the entity it’s representing. That said, the structure can vary depending on the situation. There’s no template set in stone. In fact, trite and generic should be off the table. The goal should be a balance of uniqueness and practicality.

How To Record A Great Business Voicemail Greeting

To improve a a business voicemail greeting, keep these eight rules at the forefront of the creative process:

1. Avoid turning customers off with overused and impersonal phrases like “your call is very important to us..."
2. Avoid leaving customers unsure by not immediately telling them the business, department, and/or person they’ve reached.
3. Avoid leaving customers confused with too many details and complications; just keep it simple.
4. Avoid messages longer than 25 seconds.
5. Do apologize for being unavailable at the moment.
6. Do invite the caller to leave a message.
7. Do tell the caller when they can expect a return call and actually follow through within that timeframe.
8. Do tell the caller about any applicable alternative options of contact and information- website, live chat, email, social media, or emergency numbers.

Voicemail Greetings 101

The above eight rules of engagement for voicemail greetings may sound easy enough, but they’ll require some practice to get just right. Let’s look at some examples to provide some context in how to apply the rules to various types of greetings and situations.

Personal Business Voicemail Greetings

• Hello! You’ve reached (insert company name.) This is (insert name) in the (insert department.) My apologizes for not being available to take your call, but I’m on the line helping another customer (insert business’s most attractive result or purpose point.) But, if you’ll kindly leave your name and number, I’ll get back with you to discuss how you can take advantage of (insert x opportunity.)
• Hi, this is (insert name) at (insert company.) You can leave me a message now with your name and number, and I’ll return your call by (insert timeframe.) If your call is urgent or you need a quicker response, feel free to contact me at (insert alternative contact.) Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day.
• You’ve reached (insert name) with (insert company.) I’m sorry I’m not available at the moment to take your call. If you’re calling for (insert reason{s},) then please use (insert alternative communication{s}.) Otherwise, leave your name and number for me to return your call within (insert timeframe.)
• Hi! This is (insert name and title.) My apologies, but I’m away from my phone until (insert date.) While I’m (insert reason - off having a baby, making memories in Rome, etc) please feel free to contact (insert name, title, department) at (insert contact method.) They’ll be happy to help you until I return. Thank you.
• Hello, it’s our loss, too, but (insert name) isn’t on (insert company name’s) staff any longer. But, (insert alternative contact name and information) is here for all your future needs and questions. Let the new adventure begin. Thank you for your understanding during this transition period.

Straight To The Point Voicemail Greetings

• (Insert name) is either away from their desk or on another call. Leave your name, number, and a brief message and (insert name) will return your call within (insert timeframe.) Thank you.
• You’ve reached (insert name) at (insert company.) Hello, and thank you for calling today. I’ll get back to you ASAP with the name and number you leave at the tone.
• Hi! This is (insert name.) Sorry that I’m unavailable at the moment, but if you’ll leave your name and number, then I’ll be sure to return your call within (insert timeframe.)
• Thank you for calling (insert department and company name.) This is (insert name.) Leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I’ll call you back immediately.

Voicemail Greetings For Business

• You’ve reached (insert company name.) All of our team members are busy at the moment, but someone will return your call within (insert timeframe) if you’ll be so kind as to leave your name, number, and a brief message.
• Hello! This is (insert company.) While we want to answer every single call in person, we are currently assisting other customers. If you’ll leave your name, number, and nature of business, someone will call you back ASAP.
• You’ve reached (insert company name.) Our business hours are from (insert data.) For emergencies contact (insert data.) For information after-hours, (insert data.) Otherwise, please leave your name, number, and a brief message for us to return your call by (insert timeframe.)
• Hello! We appreciate you calling us at (insert company.) Please visit (insert Facebook page or website) if you need info on (insert x.) Get more info on (insert x) by doing (insert x.) Need to speak to a human? No problem. Just leave your name, number, and reason for calling, and one of our agents will give you a call by (insert timeframe.)
• Thank you for calling the (insert department) at (insert company name.) We apologize, but all of our staff are helping people just like you (insert achievement) and are unable to take your call at the moment. We know your time and call minute usage is valuable. So, instead of placing you on a long hold, we ask that you leave a name and number for us to give you a call back. If you have a preferred callback time, please provide that information. Otherwise, we will return your call as soon as possible.
• Hello. This is (insert name.) I apologize that I wasn’t available to answer your call, but if you’ll leave me a quick message with your details, I’ll be happy to forward your message to the appropriate department for a speedy return call.
• You’ve reached (insert name and title) at (insert company.) I’m unable to take your call at this moment. If you’ll leave you me contact information and a brief message, I’ll be happy to return your call and assist you with (insert call to action.)
• You’ve reached (insert company.) Our sales associates are serving other customers at the present moment, but they’re eager to return your call as soon as possible. To return to the main menu, press (insert data.) Visit (insert x) for pricing details or to check the status of an order. FAQ can be found on our website at (insert data.) Otherwise, leave a detailed message and the appropriate team member will reach out to you immediately.
• This is the desk of (insert name.) We are currently closed. Our normal business hours at (insert company) are (insert data.) Please leave a message with your name, contact information, and reason for calling if you’d like me to return your call once the office reopens. In the meantime, have a great evening and thank you for calling.

Humorous Voicemail Greetings

While straightforward is always the safe bet, certain entities can go to the humorous side of voicemail greetings. Before taking this route, consider the type of callers and the persona the recipient is trying to convey.

• Since (insert name) isn’t available at the moment to take your call, but will promptly return it should you decide to accept your mission and leave your name and number, we have a very important question to occupy you in the meantime. Why did the chicken cross the road?

Voicemail Greetings For Vacation

As mentioned above, alerting callers that they won’t be getting an immediate call back is of upmost importance for an entity’s reputation and a caller’s satisfaction.

• Hi! You’ve reached (insert name,) and I’ll be out of the office until (insert date.) If you’re calling for (insert important call data,) then contact (insert alternative name and number.) Otherwise, please leave a detailed message for a return call after I return. Thank you for your patience, and I hope you have a great day.
• Hello, this is (insert name) at (insert company.) While I’m off until (insert date) doing (insert x,) you can contact (insert name) for any immediate needs, or you can leave your name and number for me to call when I’m back in the office. Have a lovely day, and thank you for your call.
• Greetings to all you non-vacationers. This is (insert name,) and I’m happily out of the office until (insert date) on vacation, but you can direct all inquires to my non-vacationer associate (insert name) at (insert contact info.) Many thanks, and, despite vacation bliss, I am truly sorry that I missed your call. 

Voicemail Greetings For The Holidays

• Hi, you’ve reached (insert name and title) at (insert company.) We’ve taken this time to be with our family’s and stuff our bellies. But, have no fear! We will return to normal business hours on (insert date) and be all the more eager to speak with you. Please leave your name, number, and reason for calling... throw in your favorite (insert holiday) dish to be bumped up the callback list.
• Happy (insert holiday.) You’ve reached (insert business name.) We will be closed until (insert date.) If you leave your name and number, we will be happy to return your call as soon as we return. For urgent calls, please contact (insert method.) Thank you and do enjoy this (insert holiday.)
• Thank you for calling us at (insert company.) We are closed for the holidays and hope you have a fantastic (insert holiday.) Please leave your information after the beep if you wish for us to return your call when we return on (insert date.) Thank you.
• While we certainly appreciate you calling us at (insert company,) we have taken this time to be with our families for (insert holiday.) We will reopen on (insert date) and begin returning calls as quickly as possible. Leave your name, number, and a brief message so that we can assist you when we’re back in the office and five pounds heavier. Thank you and enjoy your holiday.

In closing, this guide should highlight that the options for professional, friendly, interesting, impressive, and concise voicemail greetings are as broad as the imagination. Remember, the best business voicemail greetings are those that are equal parts useful to both the caller wanting a service and the recipient wanting to offer a service. So, ensure the content represents the brand and is engaging to the audience. Now, pick some favorites and give them a practice run.