Why Are Some Voicemail Campaigns Getting Callbacks While Others Are Getting Ignored?

Some campaigns do better than others, and while it could be due to technology, it's often the message, time, list, or a combination that affects callbacks. I've seen plenty of people blame their platform when the issue was a ninety second message that nobody had time to listen to.

This post talks about how ringless voicemail drops work, the difference between a good and bad investment in the space, and how to get callbacks instead of ignored messages. Take what you need and leave the rest.

What is a ringless voicemail drops service?

A ringless voicemail drops service is as simple as it sounds. It's a means of delivering a pre-recorded audio message to a recipient's voicemail inbox without their phone ringing. Unlike traditional cold calling, the recipient hears the message on their own time and in their own way.

On the surface it's pretty simple, but the implications of such a delivery method on cold outreach are profound. A standard call gets rejected or cut off within two seconds, but a voicemail is far more passive and can be listened to at a convenient time for the recipient.

That being said, it's important to remember that it's still the message that gets results. Even with this delivery method, an uninteresting message won't yield interesting results.

How does the technology work?

For brevity's sake, let's keep this simple. Voicemail drop services work by connecting to carrier resources and essentially delivering your message as a voicemail without ringing the recipient's phone. The process involves uploading your recording, contact list, and desired delivery time and letting the software do the heavy lifting.

Good ringless voicemail software will handle the boring stuff as well. List scrubbing, delivery tracking, and scheduling are all part of a good service. Cheap services tend to miss some of these elements and you don't find out until after you've invested time and money into a list that didn't work.

Another important thing to note is that no system has a 100% delivery rate. Some carriers reject messages or the recipient's phone is incapable of receiving voicemail drops. If a vendor promises 100% delivery rates, I'd steer clear. Nobody has those numbers.

Why are businesses using this communication channel?

The short answer is efficiency. Making a thousand phone calls takes time and resources when that same volume of outreach can be made in a much shorter time with a voicemail drop. Your sales team then only follows up with those who've called back, a much smaller investment of time and resources.

In addition to cold outreach, businesses use voicemail drops for appointment reminders, payment reminders, event notifications, follow up after a quote, and even win-back campaigns. This type of outreach works for real estate agents, insurance agencies, political campaigns, home services, gyms, and just about anyone else that needs to reach out to many people at once without being intrusive.

Finally, voicemail drops offer a personal touch that's lacking elsewhere. As much as texting is great, it lacks the personal touch of a human voice and can come off as pushy or unfeeling. A pre-recorded message, if done right, can establish a sense of trust before saying anything important.

What should I look out for in a ringless voicemail software?

Price is always important, but it shouldn't be the sole determining factor in your decision. Look towards the ease of use of the platform. Are lists easy to upload? Does the platform handle time zone differences? Can you track delivery and responses with ease? If a feature is missing, it's probably by design.

More importantly, look into the support channels offered. When something goes wrong and you need an answer immediately (and you always need an immediate answer), how will you get one? Chatbots and automated support go a long way, but it's the ability to talk to a person that really sets businesses apart. Try this out before purchasing to be sure you're satisfied.

Finally, I'd ask about compliance features. That will be covered in more detail in the next section, but it's always a good idea to know how a potential vendor plans to keep you out of legal hot water. If a vendor has no compliance features, that's a great reason to look elsewhere. It may also be the single most important factor in choosing a vendor.

What about compliance?

I know this is a sensitive topic, but it's also crucial. Voicemail drops and similar outbound services fall into a legal grey area in the United States that's subject to frequent change. Do not underestimate the risks that non-compliance with federal and state regulations can pose, especially when the punishments can be steep.

When it comes to compliance, I'd advise any business to operate using only consent-based lists and to make sure they're not communicating with anyone on a national do not call registry. In addition, make sure there is always an option for opt-out for anyone who receives a message. Finally, be forthcoming about your intentions and make sure you're not misleading anyone.

I also advise consulting with a legal expert before launching any large campaigns, because that's not something I can do as a vendor. Reputable platforms will have built many of these compliance features into their products, so it's wise to look out for that. If a vendor cannot answer your questions on compliance, they may not have many answers at all.

What should messages sound like?

Always keep them short, preferably within fifteen to thirty seconds. The message should clearly state who you are, why you're calling, and what should be done next. That's it. Don't try to describe your entire business in the message itself, the recipient will tune out anyway.

Make sure to open with something that makes the recipient interested in hearing more. Address the recipient by name, if possible, and say something specific about their inquiry, area, and anything else that's relevant. Avoid generic statements, as much as possible.

Recordings should always sound natural and human. Read the script out loud and make edits until it sounds natural to you. Add pauses, stumble over your words, speak with life in your voice. Perfectly written and recorded messages are instantly suspect. End each message with a single, clear call to action.

Time, frequency, and list hygiene

Time is very important and, while it varies from industry to industry, there are some general rules of thumb. Calls and voicemails made in the morning or at night seem to have better engagement rates than those in the afternoon. That being said, it's always a good idea to A/B test time to find out what works. Always test frequency as well, as one message per recipient is sometimes enough.

It's easy to fall into the trap of increasing the frequency blindly in an effort to boost results, but it will turn results from a helpful reminder to an annoyance before long. The same goes for sending messages to dead numbers or landlines without asking.

When it comes to lists, quality always outweighs quantity. If you have a list of one thousand contacts and only five hundred of them will receive your message, it's better to send the message to the five hundred that will hear it. There's no point in sending your voicemail to ten thousand contacts if only one in a hundred will hear it. I always recommend sending messages to smaller, more relevant lists when possible.

What should I track and what should I change?

When starting out, it's always a good idea to track delivery rates and how many recipients contacted you back. That's where the real value is, after all. If you're seeing low delivery rates or callbacks, go through your messages and make sure they're interesting and get to the point quickly. Then, take a look at your timing and list to see if any changes there are needed.

Always keep track of what changes you make and what their effects are. Even something as simple as a spreadsheet can be enough to track scripts, audiences, time, and more. It's surprising what you can learn from the changes you make, even if it's just a small change. This is one of the less glamorous responsibilities of the job, but it's the most important one.

Conclusion

The truth is that a ringless voicemail drops service is only a tool, and no amount of software can replace a good message, timing, and list. With this in mind, businesses and professionals should always look for ease of use and features from any platform they're considering when choosing ringless voicemail software.It's also crucial to remember that the recipients are human and will react to your message like humans do. Keep messages short, human, interesting, and always include a single call to action. Always follow legal guidelines and keep lists clean. Then, measure and experiment to see just what kind of results you can get with voicemail drops. By avoiding these pitfalls, any business can see the benefits of this cost-effective and effective communication channel. Skipping these steps will see you right where you are now, with an ignored message and no results.

FAQs

What is a ringless voicemail drops service?

A ringless voicemail drops service is exactly what it sounds like. It's a platform that allows the sender to deliver a pre-recorded message to a recipient's voicemail inbox without ringing the recipient's phone.

How does ringless voicemail software work?

The software works by delivering the message, recorded by the sender, to the recipient's voicemail. The process is much simpler than a phone call and can be scheduled to be sent at any time. A good ringless voicemail service will have delivery tracking as well.

Are ringless voicemail drops legal?

It depends on your audience, location, and a few other factors. Always follow federal and state laws regarding robocalls and automated messages. Consult with legal counsel to make sure you're operating legally before launching any campaign.

How long should a ringless voicemail message be?

Keep it short and to the point, ideally between fifteen and thirty seconds. State who you are, why you're contacting them, and what you want them to do next.

Can small businesses use ringless voicemail drops?

Yes, absolutely. Many agencies, local businesses, and various others operate in much the same way and use ringless voicemails. It's a great tool for small businesses that need to reach out to many people without a massive budget.

What should I look for in a voicemail drop platform?

Look to features, support, compliance tools, and price. It's important to get a service that's easy to use, easy to track and schedule, and always has your back.