How to Leave a Good Voicemail That People Actually Listen To

Let's be real: most people don't listen to voicemails. They see the notification, ignore it, and just text you "what's up?" instead. But sometimes you need to leave one. Here's how to do it without making people want to throw their phone out the window.

Why Most Voicemails Suck

Before we get into the good stuff, let's talk about why most voicemails are terrible:

• They're too long. Nobody wants to listen to a 2-minute rambling message. Get to the point.
• They're vague. "Hey, call me back" tells me nothing. Why are you calling? What do you want?
• The callback info is buried. You leave your number at the very end, speaking at light speed, and I have to replay it 3 times.
• They're unprepared. People just start talking with no plan, lots of "um" and "uh," and forget half of what they wanted to say.

Your goal: don't be that person.

The Good Voicemail Formula

A good voicemail has four parts. That's it. Keep it under 30 seconds if possible, definitely under a minute.

1. Who You Are

Start with your name. Even if they have your number saved, say your name. Maybe they deleted your contact, maybe you're calling from a different number, maybe they just don't recognize your voice immediately.

"Hey, this is Sarah."

If it's a professional call and they might not know you, add context:

"Hi, this is Mike Chen from ABC Marketing."

2. Why You're Calling

Get to the point immediately. Don't waste time with small talk or preamble.

"I'm calling about the project deadline."

"Just wanted to follow up on our meeting yesterday."

"Calling to see if you're free for dinner this weekend."

3. What You Need (If Anything)

Do you need them to call you back? Do you need information? Are you just giving them a heads up?

"Could you call me back when you get a chance?"

"Let me know if Friday works for you."

"No need to call back—just wanted to give you a heads up."

If you don't need a callback, say so. People appreciate knowing they don't have to add another task to their list.

4. Your Callback Info

If you need them to call you back, leave your number. Even if you think they have it. Say it slowly and clearly. Repeat it if necessary.

"My number is 555-123-4567. Again, that's 555-123-4567."

If you're calling from your usual number, you can skip this or just say:

"You can reach me at this number."

Real Examples

Personal/casual call:

"Hey, it's Alex. Just calling to see if you want to grab lunch this week. Let me know what day works for you. Talk soon!"

Professional/business call:

"Hi, this is Jennifer Torres from Acme Corp. I'm following up on the invoice we sent last week. Could you give me a call back at 555-789-1234? Again, that's 555-789-1234. Thanks."

Informational (no callback needed):

"Hey, it's Mark. Just wanted to let you know I sent the files to your email. No need to call back—everything should be there. Let me know if you have any issues."

See? Short, clear, to the point. Nobody's time is wasted.

What Not to Do

• Don't ramble. Plan what you're going to say before you call. If you find yourself saying "um" every other word, hang up and try again.
• Don't leave your number at warp speed. Slow down. People need time to write it down.
• Don't be vague. "Call me back" is not enough. Tell them why.
• Don't leave super long messages. If your voicemail is over a minute, you're doing it wrong. Just send an email at that point.
• Don't assume they know who you are. Even if you're calling your best friend, say your name. Background noise, bad connection, or they just might not recognize your voice.
• Don't leave critical information only in a voicemail. If it's super important, follow up with a text or email. Voicemails get missed or accidentally deleted.

Pro tip: If you're leaving a voicemail for a business or professional contact, smile while you talk. It sounds dumb, but people can hear it in your voice. You'll sound friendlier and more approachable.

Another pro tip: If you mess up while leaving a voicemail, most systems let you re-record. On most phones, you can press # or * to access options like re-recording or listening to what you just said before sending it.

Bottom line: A good voicemail is short, clear, and respectful of the other person's time. Say who you are, why you're calling, what you need, and how to reach you. That's it. You're not recording a podcast—just leave a message.