The best voicemail scripts for sales run 20 to 30 seconds, give one specific reason to call back, and say your name and number twice. Below are word-for-word scripts for cold calls, warm leads and no-shows, plus the follow-up text to send when the lead has agreed to receive texts.
Most sales voicemails fail because they sound like a pitch, not because they are too short. A prospect who hears "I'd love to tell you about our solution" deletes the message before you finish the sentence. A prospect who hears a specific, low-effort reason to call ("you asked for a quote on Tuesday and I have a question about the square footage") has something to answer. Every script below follows that rule.
The anatomy of a voicemail that gets returned
Each script uses the same five parts, in this order:
- Name and company in the first five seconds. The listener decides whether to keep listening almost immediately.
- The reason, tied to them. A referral, something they did (filled out a form, downloaded a guide, opened a location), or a trigger event. Not your product.
- One ask. Call back, reply to an email, or expect a call at a set time. Pick one.
- Your number, said slowly, twice. Once early, once at the end. Many people listen on speaker in a car and can't rewind.
- A clean exit. No "looking forward to hearing from you, have a great day, talk soon." End after the number.
How long it should be
Aim for 20 to 30 seconds. That is roughly 50 to 75 spoken words at a normal pace. Under 15 seconds usually means you left out the reason. Over 45 seconds and you are pitching, and the number at the end gets lost.
Read your script aloud with a timer before you use it. If you go past 30 seconds, cut adjectives first and the second sentence about your company second.
Cold call voicemail scripts
Cold voicemails get returned less often than warm ones, and no script fixes that. Treat the cold voicemail as name recognition for the next touch (an email or a second call), not as the touch that closes. Set your expectations that way and the scripts get shorter and less desperate.
Before any cold dialing, scrub the list against the National Do Not Call Registry and litigator lists, and call only within permitted hours (TCPA calling hours are 8 AM to 9 PM in the recipient's local time).
Script 1: Referral
"Hi Jordan, it's Sam Patel at Northline Roofing, 555-0142. Priya Shah at Lakeside Property suggested I reach out. She mentioned you're bidding out the roof on the Elm Street building this spring. I have one question about timing that'll take two minutes. Again, Sam at 555-0142."
About 22 seconds. The referral name does the work, so the script doesn't need anything else.
Script 2: Trigger event
"Hi Jordan, Sam Patel with Northline, 555-0142. I saw you just opened the second clinic on Route 9. Congrats. Most practices we work with hit a scheduling crunch around month two, and I've got a short checklist for it. I'll send it by email today. If it's useful, call me at 555-0142."
This one gives value whether or not they call back, and it sets up the email that follows.
Script 3: Second voicemail (a week later)
"Jordan, Sam at Northline again, 555-0142. I sent that scheduling checklist last Tuesday. Wanted to make sure it didn't land in spam. If now's not the time, no problem, just let me know and I'll stop calling. 555-0142."
Offering to stop sounds counterintuitive, but it often gets a reply, even if that reply is "not now." A "not now" is a real answer you can work with.
Script 4: The last voicemail
"Hi Jordan, Sam at Northline. I've tried you a few times about the Route 9 scheduling setup, so this is my last call for now. If anything changes, I'm at 555-0142. Take care."
Close the loop and move the contact to a slower nurture by email or mail. Don't keep calling past three or four attempts on a cold contact. You burn the name and gain nothing.
Warm lead voicemail scripts
Warm leads asked to hear from you, so callback rates are far better, and speed matters more than wording. A lead who filled out a form ten minutes ago still remembers doing it. A lead who filled it out two days ago may not.
Script 5: Inbound form, called within minutes
"Hi Dana, it's Sam from Northline, 555-0142. You just requested a quote on our site for the kitchen remodel. I have one question about the square footage so I can get you a real number today. Call or text me back at 555-0142."
Say "text me back" only if the number you are calling from can receive texts, and only if the lead agreed to texts on the form.
Script 6: Demo or appointment no-show
"Hi Dana, Sam at Northline. We had 2 PM on the calendar and I didn't catch you, totally fine. I've got openings tomorrow at 10 and 3. Call me at 555-0142 or grab a new slot from the link in your email. 555-0142."
Give two specific times. "Let me know when works" makes them do the scheduling.
Script 7: Old lead re-engagement
"Hi Dana, Sam from Northline, 555-0142. You asked about a remodel quote back in March. We just opened up May install dates, and I wanted to check if the project's still on. Quick yes or no is plenty. 555-0142."
"Quick yes or no is plenty" lowers the effort of calling back. That matters more than any clever line.
Scripts compared at a glance
| Script | Use when | Target length | The ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral | Someone named you | ~20 sec | Call back |
| Trigger event | Public news about them | ~25 sec | Watch for email |
| Second cold voicemail | One week after first | ~20 sec | Reply or say stop |
| Last voicemail | 3rd or 4th attempt | ~15 sec | None (door open) |
| Inbound form | Lead just submitted | ~20 sec | Call or text back |
| No-show | Missed meeting | ~20 sec | Pick a time |
| Re-engagement | Lead went quiet months ago | ~20 sec | Yes or no |
The follow-up text after a voicemail
Pairing a voicemail with a text works because many people won't listen to a voicemail but will read a text. Send it only to leads who gave consent to receive texts, such as a form with a clear SMS opt-in, or someone who has already texted you. In our view, cold contacts get phone and mail. Texting a cold list is where TCPA exposure gets expensive, at $500 to $1,500 per text.
Here's a follow-up text for Script 5, 155 characters with no emoji, so it fits in one segment:
Hi Dana, it's Sam at Northline. Just left you a voicemail about the quote you requested. Easier to text? Reply here or call 555-0142. Reply STOP to opt out.
Keep it under 160 plain characters. A single emoji drops the limit to 70 characters per segment, which would turn this text into 3 segments and triple its cost. For timing and what to send if they still don't answer, see our guide on follow-up texts after no response.
What the text costs on Ready
Ready's Standard rate is $0.0075/segment plus a $0.0045 carrier fee. A worked example, assuming 200 warm leads a month each get one single-segment follow-up:
- 200 texts × 1 segment × ($0.0075 + $0.0045) = roughly five dollars at today's carrier fee
- Replies are billed like sent texts, so if 60 of those leads reply with one segment, add 60 × ($0.0075 + $0.0045)
Ready's all-in prices per segment include the carrier fee but not screening: Scrub lists and Number validation, the two switches in Settings under Compliance, each add $0.003 per segment when switched on, shown as screening on your bill, and both are off by default. Unless you turn the opt-out footer off, the first text to each contact, and one again from time to time, also gets "Reply STOP to opt out" and your business name if the message does not already have them, so a text close to the segment limit can bill one more segment.
To text business-to-consumer in the US you need A2P 10DLC registration. On Ready the first month is $25 at submit ($25/mo for registration), plus $2/mo per number, and most approvals take 2 to 7 days. Our 10DLC explainer covers why carriers filter unregistered traffic. If you're sending from code, the send call is documented at docs.tryready.com/api/messages.
Where the Ready Dialer fits, and where it doesn't
We make Ready, so here is exactly what our calling product does and doesn't do.
The Ready Dialer gives you click-to-call from a dial pad in the dashboard or inside GoHighLevel, consented call recording and transcripts, inbound calls that ring the open pad, and a Missed call card in the Inbox thread for each call you miss. The Missed call card matters here: when a prospect returns your voicemail and you miss it, the call doesn't vanish.
It does not offer voicemail drop (pre-recorded voicemails left with one click), auto-dialing, or call transfer. You leave every voicemail live, by reading the script. If voicemail drop is central to your workflow, Ready isn't the right dialer for it.
Billing is $0.025/min, with each started minute billed as a full minute, no seat plans, and every minute you use billed at that rate. That makes script length a cost question too. Assume an attempt that rings and then takes a 25-second voicemail stays under 60 seconds: 100 attempts × $0.025 = $6. Let the script ramble past the minute mark and each attempt bills as two minutes, so the same 100 attempts cost $12. A tight script costs less as well as working better.
For list hygiene before dialing, the standalone TCPA & DNC Litigator Scrub is $0.005 per contact and checks each number against litigator and DNC-complainer lists. It reduces risk. It doesn't make you lawsuit-proof, and compliance stays your responsibility. Our breakdown of TCPA lawsuit costs versus scrubbing shows the math.
The practical takeaway
Keep voicemails to 20 to 30 seconds, lead with a reason tied to the prospect, say your number twice, and stop after three or four attempts on cold contacts. For warm leads, call fast and pair the voicemail with a one-segment text, but only when they've opted in. If you want to try the voicemail-plus-text pattern on your own warm leads, you can sign up. The first 20 one-to-one texts are free, and to send any text you need a card and a number ($2 a month, the first month charged when you get it).
FAQ
How long should a sales voicemail be? Aim for 20 to 30 seconds, about 50 to 75 words. Shorter usually drops the reason to call back. Longer turns into a pitch, and the number at the end gets lost.
Should I leave a voicemail on every cold call? Not on every attempt. A common pattern is a voicemail on the first, second and final attempt, with the attempts in between left blank or paired with email. Three or four voicemails is the practical ceiling for a cold contact.
Can I send a text after leaving a voicemail? Yes, if the lead consented to receive texts or has texted you first. Don't text cold contacts. Keep the text to one plain segment (160 characters, no emoji) and include opt-out language.
Can the Ready Dialer leave pre-recorded voicemails? No. The Ready Dialer offers click-to-call, consented recording and transcripts, inbound calls to the open pad and a Missed call card in the Inbox thread for each call you miss. There's no voicemail drop, auto-dialing or transfer.
What does calling cost on Ready? The Ready Dialer is $0.025/min, with each started minute billed as a full minute. There are no seat plans, and no minutes come included. Texts are billed separately at the Standard rate of $0.0075/segment plus the carrier fee.