Agent's Answering Machine Message

[Newby]

I know a guy who's message plays Jimmy Buffet Magaretiaville.

Man that guy is a Loooooooooser!!!

Except he sells a PILE of insurance.

Come on Tubbs! Give us some Aerosmith, Hootie, ...anything! Enough with the Buffet already!

 

[Mr. Bill]

I basically do the same thing. If they answer, of course I talk to them, but my bias is already against pursuing it, unless I get surprised.

Recently, I got a recording of "Wild Fire" yea, and a guy answered. Naturally, I told him that he had serious issues and I wouldn't be able to help.

I was probably about 8 or 9 when that corny song came out in the 70's, and it embarassed me back then.

Now I remember that song - wasn't it about a nice cream you had to put on certain body parts to stop the itching and burning?

 

[1manshow]

Couldn't bring myself to do it but I think it was Gitomer's cell phone message that had a nice touch of humor "hello, I'm helping someone else save$$ right now, you're next...please leave your credit card # and expiration date and I'll get back to you soon.

 

[Charpress]

And how about people you have to call and instead get a recording machine? My favorites are my older clients who have a bit of trouble with the technology of recording a message:

Ring, ring, ring, [long silence] "H..e..l..l..o......... Y..o..u......h..a..v..e......r..e..a..c..h..e..d.....5......5.....5.....6....6.....7.....4.....9..[etc.}

Seriously, it takes 5 minutes of torture before you get to the beep. Worse still, a lot of my clients use their machines for call screening, so you have to listen to the slow-motion rap every time you call.

 

[Dave020]

Recently, I got a recording of "Wild Fire" yea, and a guy answered. Naturally, I told him that he had serious issues and I wouldn't be able to help.

I was probably about 8 or 9 when that corny song came out in the 70's, and it embarassed me back then.

A little present for you, Bill:

 

[thespur1]

wow 2 pac
what a unprofessional and outdated message

 

[Mark]

I called an agent this week and he was not in and his answering machine turned on. Next thing I hear is 2-pac rapping. At 1st I thought I had the wrong number, so I try it again. I check the number. It was the right number. After calling him later, his song had changed the answering machine and thought it was cool. His father didn't see the problem in this. But I bet no one left him a message wanting to talk about insurance.

I can't tell you enough how important it is to have an answering machine and to have the right message on it. If I was a client calling some of you, I would either think I have the wrong number or never call you again.

Tell us your name, something about insurance, something about how you are going to get right back with us soon, maybe you are busy helping another client, is the reason why you didn't pick up the phone to start with. Try and sound happy and not down and out. Don't have some screaming kid in the back ground when recording your message. Check

Don't have a message like, you have reached 555-555-5555 leave a message. Don't have rap songs.

Also, if someone leaves you a message, call them back as soon as you can.

I've call some agents answering machine and thought to myself. This is the person I want to talk to about buying insurance.

I still find agents that need to change their answering machine message.

 

[EB34]

I know a guy who's message plays Jimmy Buffet Magaretiaville.

Man that guy is a Loooooooooser!!!

Except he sells a PILE of insurance.

Come on Tubbs! Give us some Aerosmith, Hootie, ...anything! Enough with the Buffet already!

No doubt! I haaaatttteeee Buffet music, or as I call it, drunken frat boy monkey garbage!

 

[AndreaSti]

Don't forget your "hold" music (or info, etc) as well, because darn it sometimes you just have to put people on hold, hopefully not for too long.

I called the IRS one time, got put on hold, and I swear this is true: they were playing music from the "Nutcracker" and it wasn't Christmas, it was the middle of summer! Cracked me up!

 

[somarco]

Beats calling the suicide hotline and being put on hold.