Can Sending Voicemails Without Calling Phones Improve Business Sales?

Being realistic, cold calling is a problem. You dial fifty numbers, maybe three pick up, two of them hang up as soon as they hear your name. Decision-makers are screening everything at the moment. They have all the tools at their disposal to stop an unsolicited call - caller ID, spam filters, screening secretaries, and little patience for what they know is going to be a disruption to their Tuesday.

This is where B2B ringless voicemail comes in. The idea behind this method is that instead of calling and attempting to interrupt someone's day when they are on the phone, you simply record and deliver a message into their voicemail inbox, eliminating the ring altogether. They will listen and decide what to do with your message at their leisure.

Does it eliminate cold calling? No but it can drastically improve your outreach numbers in a way that emails aren't doing right now.

What is it and how does the technology work

For the uninitiated, a ringless voicemail service works by inserting an audio file via a third-party into an existing voicemail box. The recipient's phone doesn't ring, but they receive a notification that a voicemail is waiting for them, which they can listen to at their convenience, just the same as any other voicemail message they receive.

To use the service, you record, upload your contact database, and send. Some platforms send thousands of messages every day, while others allow you to schedule your drop at a particular time to increase response rates. Most allow you to personalize the message with merge tags or record a specific message for each contact, giving it a more tailored feel.

While consumer outreach programs use the same type of ringless voicemail services as businesses, they target completely different audiences with specific products and services that the general public might be interested in purchasing.

Why are Sales Teams Embracing this Channel

Speed is of the essence for many sales teams. A representative can spend an entire morning doing voicemails one after another, when a drop campaign can include thousands of messages in that same timeframe. A sales representative's time is the one resource that is wasted the most and should be preserved the most.

Open rates are high compared to other channels in the same way that voicemail is being used. Business owners are constantly on the go and may not have the luxury of stopping what they are doing in order to take a call, but they will listen to a voicemail message if it is short and to the point, and answers what they hope it will answer. Email is skipped, marked as spam, or seen without being opened.

A voicemail message feels more personal because people hear a real voice, not a text on a computer screen. The tone and inflection of the person delivering the message matters, as well as the fact that they sound like a real person and not a computer-generated robotic voice.

Compliance is Critical so Read this Section Carefully

In the United States, the legality of ringless voicemail drops is a grey area, with the Federal Communications Commission weighing in on whether or not it violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, with various courts coming to different conclusions.

In order to stay on the right side of the law, it's important that representatives do their due diligence when using this outreach method, no matter how effective it may be. This includes getting consent where and when possible, removing contacts that have opted out immediately, noting and respecting the opt-out requests of businesses, and including a company name and a way to contact you in every message.

Consulting with an attorney that understands telecom law is always a good idea before launching any kind of marketing campaign or initiative that could put your company at risk. Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be taken lightly, and a blog post isn't a substitute for legal advice.

How to write a message that won't get deleted in four seconds

The number one reason drop campaigns fail is due to the script that is used or recorded for the message. Many people make the mistake of recording an introductory message that says things like "I'm calling because we're a leading provider of..." and the recipient deletes the message within a few seconds.

It's important that the message is personalized and starts with something that would grab the attention of the recipient. Mention an industry they are in, a problem they may be facing, and what you're hoping to accomplish by contacting them. Try keeping it under thirty seconds, ideally around twenty, and include a simple call to action and a way to contact you, not multiple ways.

It should also sound like it's coming from a person, not a robot. Record it, read it out loud, and listen for any unnatural pauses or stutters. A few seconds of hesitation can actually be a good thing.

What questions to ask when choosing a ringless voicemail service

There are a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a ringless voicemail service. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know what to look for. Here are some of the most important questions to ask when shopping around:

• How does the process handle opt-outs?
• Where is the audio file delivered, and what is the reported delivery rate?
• Are analytics provided, or simply how many were delivered?
• The price per drop can vary, but look out for companies that hide additional costs, use poor routing, or have poor customer service.
• Ask about support, and what recourse the company takes if a drop campaign fails or a number is flagged.
• Test a sample batch before committing to a full campaign if possible.

How well does the platform integrate with your systems? If it does, the process is much easier, and if it doesn't, someone will be spending time at five o'clock on a Friday night that they didn't intend to spend copying and pasting information.

How to incorporate voicemail drops into a larger outreach campaign

I believe strongly in using multiple channels when engaging prospects and customers in order to increase response rates. The beauty of a voicemail drop campaign is that it can be scheduled to arrive either prior to an email outreach, or in conjunction with or right after a call, helping the recipient realize that your name is familiar to them.

The other benefit to using this type of campaign is that it can be timed to a day and time that works best for the recipient. Monday mornings and Friday afternoons see lower response rates than midweek and midday.

There are other ways to use this channel as well. If a representative receives a call back from a voicemail message, they can follow up again, this time in person or via email to schedule a meeting. It's always a good idea to follow up with anyone that you've sent a message to, regardless of whether they listen to it or not, and adjust your strategy depending on what is and isn't working.

Common mistakes when starting a voicemail drop campaign

Poor data leads to poor results. If the information being used is out-of-date, the results will reflect that. Clean data, verify information, and refresh your database on a regular basis.

Calling the same person three times in a row is a surefire way to annoy prospects and customers, especially when there is no follow-up action. It's better to space them out and leave it at that.

A voicemail message is not the place to describe the entire product or service, or explain exactly what it is you hope to accomplish with your outreach. It should act as an introduction and pique interest, not dictate the conversation. A common mistake is to create urgency where there isn't any, or try to follow up where there hasn't been any engagement.

How to measure the success of a voicemail drop campaign

It's important to measure the results of any campaign, including voicemail drops. It's a good idea to track delivery rates first, then callbacks, replies, meetings, and eventually revenue generated. Callbacks can be a good metric on their own, but they don't necessarily reflect revenue if they aren't followed through.

Compare the cost of leads to your other channels as a way to decide whether or not this type of outreach campaign is right for your team. It's rarely one or the other, and it's more often a combination of tactics with small adjustments that are made in between. Give it a few campaigns before evaluating it based on just one.

Summary

B2B ringless voicemail isn't a magic bullet and it won't solve all of your problems, but if you're looking for a new way to reach people that aren't responding to your emails and cold calls, a ringless voicemail service is a great opportunity to engage prospects the way you hope they will see it. Give it a try with quality data and a good script, and you may find more success than you anticipated.

FAQs

What is B2B ringless voicemail and how does it work?

B2B ringless voicemail is a way for businesses to send pre-recorded voicemail messages to other businesses without ringing their phone. You simply upload your message and contact database and the platform will deliver the message right to their voicemail box.

Is ringless voicemail legal for business outreach?

In the United States, the legality of ringless voicemails is a grey area, and the Federal Communications Commission has weighed in on whether or not it violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, with various courts coming to different conclusions.

How much does a ringless voicemail service cost?

The cost varies, but many companies charge a price per drop, with others offering plans and budgets that make sense for your business.

How long should a ringless voicemail message be?

Fifteen to thirty seconds is a good benchmark. You should say who you are, why you're calling, and include one clear call to action.

Does ringless voicemail work better than cold calling?

It doesn't work better, it simply works differently. It allows a sales representative to spend less time on cold calling, and more on reaching out to customers that are already engaging.

What's the best time to send a business voicemail drop?

Midweek and midday are both good benchmarks when it comes to voicemail. However, it's important to test with your specific audience since different industries and roles may engage at different times of the day.