I always keep my voicemails full at work, here’s why.

How many times have you heard “I’ve left you several messages”? Countless right? Just hearing that phrase frustrates you right? You see, when I’m at work, I answer my phone. If I am not, the office assistant always gives my email address to the person and insists on following up with a phone call. You will never get a voicemail from me because they are ineffective.

Think about when you see a missed call. Unless it’s an unknown number from your personal phone, you call back before ever checking your voicemails right? Most folks will say yes. If you are available to answer, you answer. If not, you expect that person to try again later right? I certainly do.

If you are seeking someone’s business, you are going to give it every opportunity to do so as opposed to giving it one attempt and saying “I tried”. This should apply to all aspects of business; unfortunately, many fall short. In my position, I have clients and I also get to be the client. If I want someone’s business, I will make sure I communicate with them. Leaving emails and voicemails should only come secondary to the attempts at reaching them. If you tried to call 3 times, they will see the missed calls but if you feel the need to leave a voicemail at each attempt, you’re overbearing. Now, if you call 3 times and leave nothing or no follow up email, that’s laziness. What if I had no reception? What if I was on the other line and forget to call you back? What if you had the wrong number?

I personally strongly advise against voicemails at all. They serve no purpose other than make you feel that you’ve completed the task of reaching out but you have not been successful. It is not a successful call until the person has answered or responded via email.

And remember, when seeking clients, even if the client says that they would like to speak at a later date and will get back to you, they are likely expecting you to initiate that follow up call, don’t expect to hear from them again and wonder why your business with them has not been successful. You get what you put out into the universe, always remember that.