Alright so moving on in my Action 2008 plan I placed my ad to come out in a trade mag for July. I got my recorded message service and 800 signed up and now I just need to focus on my recorded inbound message.

I have up to 2 minutes to fill with my message. My goal is for them to leave me their name, address, state and zip, and phone number (not sure if I want to push that or not).

Anyway, should I just do a basic welcome and ask them for the info or should I give them a few benefits of the newsletter, then do the above, or something else totally different?

Suggestions, comments, ideas always wanted.

Not that I'm an "expert" on phone messages ... but I'd recommend that EVERY step in the process should "re-sell" to some extent.

So yes ... remind them of the benefits that encouraged them to call, in the first place. Then, make your "call to action" (the request for contact info').

I'm sure you'll get more valuable help, yet, though.

Cheers!

Here's an idea...

Pick up one of those biz opps mags and
call every 800 number offering a free recorded
message. After listening to a few of them you'll
know which ones sell you and what works.

BTW... the purpose of your message is to get
the caller to leave his contact info. Write your
script with that focus in mind.

I was going to point out what John has just done so ... the only "sale" to make on the script is to get them to leave their details.

One good tip to share: let people know at the start how long the message will go for ("in the next 90 seconds, ...") -- takes away the uncertainty of how long they need to listen.

Another one is to use the words just before the end: "to avoid disappointment, please speak slowly and spell out any difficult names."

You already know this so I'm just reminding to test, test, test.

I've done a lot of recorded messages for real estate entrepreneurs. It's basically an audio sales letter. You should consider the same format. The first line in the message is your headline, make it bold. State a problem/ask a question, let them know there's a solution, assure them you have the solution, and ask for their info. Of course be interesting, keep tickling their interest, and close hard.

When I was in retail I learned the number rule is "Never let the customer walk without getting their info." A soft close and not yanking their contact info from their wallet or purse is equivalent to letting them walk. If they called they're already light years ahead of anybody else in the world and your best chance to get a lead and only chance for this particular caller. Don't give up and don't let them walk.

Here's another tip about 800#'s. You'll get hangups, it's inevitable. Since they're calling an 800# on your dime, the feds put into law that you get to see their phone number. Your service should give you a report noting which ones hung up and sometimes their reverse lookup info like their name and city.

Call those numbers back with something like,

"Hello, my name is xxxxx yyyy. You called my 800# on xx/xx/2008 and my phone service notified me that you didn't get to hear my entire message because the line got cutoff. I know the information would be of great value to you so I'd like to get your contact information now and I'll get the package right out to you."

Or whatever it is you're doing for them.

There's a dozen ways to do this including like, "hi, you called, you got cutoff. Oh, it looks like I caught you at a bad time. Let me get your contact info and I'll get that package out today. Did you want me to snail mail it or use fedex?" Endless possibilities. Test, test, test. GL

As has been said - the only thing you want to do is get the address details.

So no long intro - just say "Hi and thank you very much for calling"

Then a emphatic "pitch" - if you can offer an incentive - something free.

Which they'll get if they leave their details.

And Deans' advice was brilliant - get them to "spell" out any difficult names.

Steve