Your voice message is an important tool for your organisation but it’s probably one which you have not thought much about.

What happens to those calls that come in when no one is there?  They probably go straight to voice mail, right?

It is possible that every missed call could be costing you donations.

Research has shown that only 11% of us will leave a message on a voice machine but don’t let that stop you.  Whether they leave a message or not, this is a chance to connect with someone who is interested in your organisation.

Your recorded message might be the only contact you ever have with a potential donor so it’s important that you create your message with care.

“Hi.  No one can take your call at the moment. Please call back during business hours which are…”

If that is the kind of message you have as your greeting, you must know that it’s not doing wonders for your organisation.  How many hang-ups do you have?  How many people actually disappear, never to call back again?

If you’re not sure how good your message is, take another listen.

Now, think about the kind of information you could share which is short but interesting and which “sells” what you do and why you do it.

For example, if yours is a tennis club you might say something like “It’s because of people like you that we have been able to replace the surface of our courts, making them safer for our kids to play on.”

If you are a charity could share some facts such as the number of families you have helped that month or the area of rainforest you have saved.

Even if the caller doesn’t leave a message or ring back you have at least passed your message on to another person.

If it’s a message worth hearing, it’s a message worth remembering.

If yours is a large organisation you might be well advised to use an answering service to take your calls.  Make sure you provide them with a script to follow so they represent you correctly.

By the way, if you’d like to see an interesting example of the way voice mail can be used to support a cause, click on the image below and take a look at the video.  Such a clever concept.