How's your small business outgoing voice-mail message?

Have you listened to your outgoing telephone message lately?
Was it very easy to understand, even for someone who is calling you for the first time?

I recently called a small business, and was appalled at the gruff, very deep tone of the message. It was almost impossible to understand, for a person who has normal hearing. For many customers who have hearing losses,it would not have been understandable. Prospective customers may easily have hung up. The culprit could well have been the recording equipment, or the person who recorded the message.

If you are recording an outgoing voice-mail message, say it slowly. This subconsciously cues those leaving a message to speak slowly themselves, which means you may understand them better. Speak enthusiastically, though, so people hear your enthusiasm!


Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training and e-books on many aspects of verbal communication, including diction and sales.