Voicemail scripts that get callbacks

Your SDRs are leaving 70 voicemails a day. According to InsideSales research, about 80% of outbound calls go to voicemail. That's 56 messages per rep, per day, going into a black hole if the script isn't right.

But here's what most sales teams miss. Voicemails don't need to generate direct callbacks to be valuable. Research from Gong.io shows that while voicemails rarely get returned on their own, they double your email reply rate from 2.73% to 5.87% when paired with a follow-up email. The voicemail primes the prospect. The email converts them.

So the goal isn't a perfect voicemail script that generates a flood of callbacks. The goal is a message that makes your name familiar enough that your follow-up email gets opened instead of deleted.

Why most voicemail scripts fail

The average sales voicemail sounds like this: "Hi, this is Jake from Acme Software. We help companies like yours improve their sales efficiency. I'd love to schedule 15 minutes to show you how we can help. Call me back at..."

Nobody is calling Jake back.

That script fails because it does three things wrong. It leads with the company name (which the prospect doesn't care about). It uses generic language that could apply to literally any business. And it asks for time before providing any reason to give it.

Studies on voicemail effectiveness consistently show that the sweet spot is 18-30 seconds. Anything over 30 seconds gets deleted before completion. You've got about 20-25 seconds to create enough curiosity or relevance that the prospect either calls back or reads your follow-up email.

That's roughly 60-75 words. Every word has to earn its place.

Six voicemail scripts that work

1. The social proof script

This works because it replaces generic claims with specific results from a company the prospect would recognize.

"Hey [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Company]. We helped [Similar Company] cut their prospecting time by 40% last quarter using [specific approach]. I noticed your team is scaling outbound right now and figured the same approach might save your reps a few hours a week. I'll send over a quick email with the details. My number is [number]."

Why it works: you're not asking for anything. You're offering specific, relevant value and directing them to an email where they can engage on their own terms.

2. The curiosity hook

Sometimes the best script is the one that leaves the prospect wondering.

"Hi [Name], [Your Name] here. I came across something about [their company] that I think could change how your team handles [specific function]. Too much to explain in a voicemail, but I'll drop you a note. Feel free to call me at [number] if you want the short version."

Keep this one deliberately vague. You're selling the callback, not the product. If your prospect thinks you know something they don't, curiosity does the rest.

3. The mutual connection script

Do you have a shared connection with the prospect? Use it.

"Hey [Name], [Your Name] calling. [Mutual Connection] mentioned your team is looking at ways to improve [specific area]. We just wrapped up something similar with them and the results were solid. I'll send you a quick note, but feel free to reach out directly. My number is [number]."

According to GTMnow's analysis, referencing a mutual contact adds credibility and creates social pressure. Nobody wants to ignore a recommendation from someone they know.

4. The trigger event script

This script works when you've spotted a buying signal, like a funding round, a new hire, or an expansion.

"Hi [Name], [Your Name] from [Company]. I saw that [their company] just [trigger event]. When [Similar Company] went through the same thing, they ran into [specific challenge]. We helped them solve it in about three weeks. I'll shoot you an email with the details. [Number] if you want to chat first."

Trigger events make your message timely instead of random. The prospect knows you're paying attention, not just dialing through a list.

5. The yes/no script

This one is surprisingly effective because it asks for almost nothing.

"Hey [Name], quick question. Would it be worth a 10-minute conversation to see if we could help your team [specific outcome]? If yes, I'll send over some times. If not, no worries at all. [Your Name], [number]. I'll follow up by email either way."

CloudTalk's research on voicemail scripts found that this approach works because it makes responding feel easy. A simple yes or no requires less mental effort than evaluating a full pitch.

6. The follow-up announcement script

Use this when you're planning to call again and want to prime the prospect.

"[Name], this is [Your Name]. I'm going to try you again on [specific day and time]. If there's a better time, shoot me a text at [number] or reply to the email I'll send over. Talk soon."

This script respects the prospect's schedule while signaling persistence. It also gives them a way to engage without calling you back, which many people prefer.

Best practices for voicemails

Always pair with email. Your voicemail is the appetizer. The email is the meal. Send a follow-up email within 10 minutes of leaving the voicemail that references your message. "Just left you a quick voicemail about..." bridges the two touchpoints.

Limit to two voicemails per prospect. Research shows that one or two voicemails double email reply rates, but three or more actually drops response rates to 2.2%, which is lower than leaving no voicemail at all. Space them out over several days.

Slow down your phone number. Most reps rush through their callback number. Say it at half the speed you think is normal. Repeat it once. If they can't catch your number, the rest of the voicemail was pointless.

Sound like a person, not a script. The fastest way to get deleted is sounding like you're reading. Practice your scripts enough that they feel conversational. Add natural pauses. Let yourself stumble slightly. Perfect delivery sounds robotic.

Customize at least one element. Generic voicemails get generic results. Mention the prospect's company name, a recent announcement, their role, or something specific to their situation. Even one personalized detail separates you from the 20 other sales voicemails they'll get that week.

How many of your team's voicemails mention the prospect's name and company in the first five seconds?

Scaling your voicemail strategy

Leaving 70 personalized voicemails a day is unsustainable without the right tools. This is where your sales stack matters.

Start with verified phone numbers. If 30% of your dial attempts hit disconnected numbers, your reps are wasting a third of their calling time before they even get to leave a message. Use a contact data provider with strong phone number verification to eliminate dead numbers before they reach your call list.

Then multiply your calling capacity with a parallel dialer. Salesfinity dials multiple numbers simultaneously and connects your rep only when a real person picks up. While sequential dialers have your reps listening to ring tones and voicemail greetings all day, Salesfinity skips the dead air entirely. Your rep either gets a live conversation or moves to the next batch.

Here's why that matters for voicemails specifically. With a traditional dialer, leaving 70 voicemails takes most of a full workday. With Salesfinity's parallel approach, your reps get through the same call list in a fraction of the time because the dialer handles the waiting. When a call does go to voicemail, the rep drops a pre-recorded message or leaves a quick personalized one and immediately moves on. No more sitting through 15 seconds of "please leave your message after the tone" for every single dial.

The combination gets even stronger when you pair Salesfinity with LeadIQ's enrichment data. LeadIQ feeds verified phone numbers, job titles, company context, and recent activity directly into your calling workflow. Your reps aren't just dialing faster. They're dialing the right numbers with enough context to personalize each voicemail script on the fly. "Hey Sarah, saw Acme just opened a new office in Austin" hits differently than "Hi, this is Jake from software company."

LeadIQ and Salesfinity integrate natively, and you can get both at better bundle pricing by talking to the LeadIQ team. That's one data platform feeding one parallel dialer, no CSV exports, no manual list uploads, no toggling between tabs.

How many voicemails could your team leave if they never had to manually dial or wait through ring tones again?

Voicemails in your sales cadence

Voicemail scripts work best as part of a multi-channel sequence. Call, voicemail, email, LinkedIn touch. Each channel reinforces the others. The prospect who ignored your voicemail is more likely to open your email. The prospect who reads your email is more likely to pick up your next call.

The teams that get consistent callbacks aren't the ones with the cleverest scripts. They're the ones with the best data, the most relevant personalization, and the discipline to follow a multi-touch cadence.

Try LeadIQ free and give your reps verified phone numbers that actually connect, so every voicemail lands in the right inbox.

Voicemail scripts: FAQs

How long should a sales voicemail be? Between 18 and 30 seconds. Research consistently shows that voicemails over 30 seconds get deleted before completion. Aim for 60-75 words that include your name, one specific value point, and a clear next step (usually referencing a follow-up email).

Do voicemail scripts actually work for cold calling? Not as standalone callbacks. Direct callback rates from cold voicemails are very low. But voicemails paired with email follow-ups double your email reply rate from about 2.7% to nearly 6%. The voicemail's real job is making your follow-up email more likely to get opened.

How many voicemails should I leave before giving up? Two maximum. One or two voicemails boost email reply rates, but three or more voicemails actually decrease response rates below the baseline. Space your two voicemails several days apart and always pair them with email follow-ups.

What's the best time to leave a sales voicemail? Early morning (7-9 AM) and late afternoon (4-6 PM) tend to work best because prospects are less likely to be in meetings. Tuesdays and Wednesdays consistently outperform other weekdays for voicemail response rates.

Should I mention pricing in a voicemail? Never. The voicemail exists to create curiosity and prompt engagement, not to close a deal. Save pricing, demos, and product details for the actual conversation. Your only goal is getting a callback or a reply to your follow-up email.