Want to reduce the number of “hang-ups” in your voice
messaging while increasing the number of orders, and the number of complete
orders that don’t require a follow-up phone call for missing information? Then
hire a professional voice-over speaker to be the “operator” that callers hear
when your voice mail kicks in if all your order lines are tied up, or in the
case of my one-person show, when I’m busy with something else.

My new “operator” has paid for herself many times over.
I noticed an immediate reduction in hang-ups as soon as I upgraded to her golden
voice. I’ve even noticed a marked increase in people willing to leave their
credit card information when placing an order with my friendly “operator.” That
was a rarity when it was my voice on the message. People are still reluctant,
but not as much. These “recorded” orders also save me time. It’s “just the
facts, Jack,” when people leave a recorded order. When I personally take an
order, I often have to deal with the “how cold is it up there in Minnesota”
chit-chat. I wouldn’t mind if it was their dime.

The phone “system” I use is very basic-standard voice
messaging consisting of a main message with two additional mailboxes, one for
catalog requests and one for orders.  After her brief introduction, my
“operator” asks callers to press “1” to request a catalog, to select “2” to
place an order, or to just wait and leave a message for “one of our staff.” Once
into the selected mailbox, my friendly “operator” tells the caller what
information to leave. Very simple, but her voice makes Blue Sky sound like a
big, established, and trustworthy company.

My voice isn’t bad (don’t we all say that?), but the
results are indisputable, as I found out when our area code was changed. During
the process, the phone company here zapped voice mail for 200,000 people, and I
had to record temporary messages myself.

The recorded voice my callers now hear belongs to Joyce
Kreger of Michigan. The fact that she is in another state doesn’t matter as she
can dial in to my voice mail from her own phone and record whatever messages I
give her. Kreger does voice work for General Motors, and you may have heard her
voice-overs on commercials. I cannot speak for what others charge, but she is
very reasonable (because it doesn’t take her long). I still think “Wow!” when I
call my own number!

Vic Spadaccini is President of Blue Sky Marketing Inc.,
a publisher of an eclectic mix of books in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can e-mail
Spadaccini at blueskym@ix.netcom.com. Contact professional voice-over speaker
Joyce Kreger at 248/586-1456.