The Death of Voicemail: Why More People are Hanging Up Before the Beep

Posted August 7, 2015 in after hours answering service by admin

We’ve all heard that automated voice mail lady, telling us what to do after the beep, but fewer people than ever are actually leaving messages. Voicemails among the general population shot down by 8 percent from just October 2013 to April 2014, and they’re still decreasing. If you’re expecting potential customers who call after hours to leave a message, you could be severely disappointed. People are reporting their anti-voicemail sentiments for several reasons, all of which matter to you if your phone calls are going unanswered:

It’s Time Consuming

In today’s world of instant access, leaving a voicemail is just too long of an ordeal for a growing number of people. After your phone rings too many times, your answering machine slowly starts “your call has been forwarded to an automated voice-messaging system.” Then they must wait for either the robotic reading of the phone number or your personalized greeting before they can even start their message to explain who they are, what they want, and their contact number. Typically, they will just call back another time, but not always. It’s very possible that if their call is not answered right away, they could call your competitor instead. Don’t assume they will wait for your call back, or even leave you a message so you can do so.

It Makes People Nervous

According to the New York Times many people view leaving a voice mail as a form of public speaking. To many, the thought of figuring out what information to leave after the beep and how to accurately communicate their need on a recording is overwhelming. These people often opt to call later, which they may not do, or to call someone else to see if they get a live person.

They Think No One Will Listen

The death of voicemail is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Many people don’t leave or listen to voicemails because they feel that no one else does. And since it’s time-consuming, it’s looked at as a waste of time. Why spend even a minute leaving a nerve-wracking message that no one will actually ever hear?

If your target customers include young people, and they probably do, the chances of them leaving a voicemail are even slimmer. Are you risking losing a customer because their only option after hours is to leave you a message? Don’t let this happen to you! An after-hours answering service could be a very viable option to ensure no after hours calls are missed. To learn more about whether an answering service is right for your business, download our free guide to choosing a telephone service: