Ideas for Voice Mail Messages

Some people may prefer to use the standard computerized greeting that simply announces the telephone number the caller has reached and requests that she leave a message. While this is not the most original voice mail greeting, it provides you with more privacy since the caller will not hear your voice or your name. If you prefer that callers know nothing more than your telephone number, this is the voice mail message option to use.

If you want to add a personal touch to your message, you can record the greeting in your own voice. Announce your name, number and invite them to leave a message. For instance, "Hello, you've reached Jane Doe at 937-555-1212. I'm not able to take your call right now, but if you leave your name and number, I'll get back to you as soon as possible." By stating your name, this type of message will let the caller know she has definitely reached the right person; it is also more personal, and is generally more friendly than the standard computerized greeting. You can record anything you want in a personal voice mail message greeting to let the call know as much or as little about you as you desire.

When it comes to your business life, your voice mail message should be polished and professional. Practice makes perfect in this case. Compose a script to follow, word for word, when you record this message. A professional greeting should include your name, the company name, an invitation to leave a detailed message and an alternate way to receive immediate assistance in the event of an emergency; this could be your assistant's telephone number or your supervisor's number.

A lot of people choose to create humorous voice mail messages designed to get a laugh from their callers. There are many scripts for humorous ideas for voice mail greetings on the Internet or you can create one of your own. These are best used on phones where you do not receive professional calls. Since this is your personal humorous greeting, you can choose to record any type of joke you want, ranging from good-natured and clean to those a little more racy or controversial.

If you have a hard time coming up with your own voice mail message and want something different, choose from many of the pre-recorded greetings available. Some of them are downright hilarious and your callers will get a kick out of them. Most of these greetings are .mp3 or .wav files which you can download to your computer and play back to record them on your phone.