PODCAST: Better Voice Mail Messages

ATLANTA, GA - Believe it or not, Atlanta is world famous for its chili dogs.  That's a fact, Jack.  Atlanta is home to The Varsity, a drive in restaurant whose walls commemorate 75 years of celebrity patronage with black and white photos of Nipsey Russell, Nanette Fabray, Morey Amsterdam, Florence Henderson, Wayland Flowers and Madame, George Gobel, Charo, Sandy Duncan, Jonathan Winters, Karen Valentine, Joan Rivers, and of course, Kyle Chandler.  The place even has its own language.  See for yourself ...

Anyway, this morning I received a friendly voice mail from a total stranger who, among other things, reminded me of the utter greatness of my home town's cuisine.  Finally!  Someone with whom I have something in common!

You can hear his voice mail below.  But before you do, here are several things I liked about his voice mail:

1. It was relaxed.  The caller took his time without being long winded.
2. It was engaging.  The caller sounded human, and he spoke to me as a fellow human.  His tone was conversational, and I appreciated that.
3. The content was clear, specific, and benefit driven.  The caller gave me a couple of applications for his product, and he had obviously done his homework on me, my city, and my industry.  That's more than I can say of most cold callers!
4. The delivery was quirky and imperfect.  This allowed me to keep my guard down and my ears (and mind) open.

BOTTOM LINE:  In life, perfect people make everyone else uncomfortable.  If your voice mails sound too perfect, too contrived, and too slick -- then your listeners are more likely to simply delete them.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS PODCAST.
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Comments

[Recruiting Animal]

I thought the reference to the chili dog restaurant in Atlanta was an obvious ploy to be your pal.

Some people don't like that. It seems insincere.
And yet, done in the right way, conversationally, without being attached to a high pressure sell, it might make the conversation more relaxed.

I used to rail against putting hobbies on a resume as being irrelevant. But then, in interviews, I found myself often starting the conversation there because it was fun and that made the rest of the conversation easier because you are no longer total strangers.

I'll think about what you said.