The Pitch Episode 35: Where Did All The Voicemails Go?

Learn:

There’s something very powerful about the human voice that cannot be ignored. Learn how the lost art of the voicemail has become a unique opportunity in pitching to make a human connection.

Read:

How often do you leave someone a voicemail? Currently, there are very few people using this communications technology tool, which could be to your advantage. On the surface, it seems to be a waste of time to take the time to leave a voicemail. It’s easier to hang up and text a person: “call me back” and besides, can’t someone just see on a smartphone that you called? Why do you need to leave a voicemail? Perhaps when you are casually calling a friend it doesn’t matter, but when you are pitching someone it matters a great deal. There’s something very powerful about the human voice that cannot be ignored. Getting in someone’s ear will get you closer to a close. Before you hang up on your pitch call, leave a succinct message on the person’s voicemail. Start out with introducing yourself by name and then in 45 seconds give your elevator pitch. Your voicemail should be short and to the point with a call to action at the end; most importantly make sure your personality shines through. This is the secret sauce to the voicemail tool. If you sound appealing, like someone they want to do business with, the voicemail gives you a huge advantage, versus sounding like you are reading off a script or too nervous to talk, the voicemail will work against you. “The Pitch” challenge today: Write out your voicemail and practice saying it out loud with your smartphone’s stopwatch feature. Set a timer for 45 seconds and work on editing your pitch until it is tight, then practice it on a friend. Sometimes what we write doesn’t translate the same when it’s spoken so you may need to tweak your voicemail pitch. You will have the upper hand in pitching if you can learn to leave a personalized voicemail that moves some to action, even if it’s just to open your email. Because very few people are doing it anymore, the lost art of the voicemail has become a unique opportunity to make a human connection with your voice so that the person you are pitching hears the passion and urgency behind your pitch.

Apply:

Back to Communications Skills ↺