By: Nancy Friedman, Customer Service Expert, Keynote Speaker, President, Telephone Doctor Customer Service

Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Or I’ll be out till June 3? 

Hey, Nancy, what’s going on? Well, what’s going on is outdated voice mail messages!

In the past few weeks I’ve BUSTED a few of my clients and friends, as well as folks I don’t know, with outdated greetings. It’s done more often that you know.

Come on folks, that’s a NO NO. If you’re going to ‘customize’ your voice mail message, that’s great; however, it’s your JOB to double check it at the ‘bewitching’ hour so to speak. Example: If you’re going on vacation and your voice mail says:

“Hi, I’m on vacation through June 15. Call Susie at 555-1212 for assistance.” Then make a note on your CALENDAR to DOUBLE CHECK the message on JUNE 16. Make sense? Sure, it’s just common sense. But then we all know, common sense isn’t so common.

And, frankly, best you do it yourself rather than giving the job to someone else to do. (One client told me, “Darn it, I told my secretary to change it.” Well guess what? The secretary didn’t do it.

There is no good reason to have outdated messages on your voice mail or cell phone. Sure it’s nice to change it up everyone once in a while and even keep folks notified how long you’ll be out. But it’s not so nice to hear: “I’ll return on June 15” and it’s June 20^th. Or “Have a nice holiday weekend” and the holiday has long past. Someone dropped the ball. That would be YOU.

And while you’re at it, call your own cell phone now and hear how your voice mail message sounds. How do YOU sound? Bet a few of you will be changing your message. Worse offense? You’re not smiling while you deliver the message! Go on now, call your cell and hear it.

Have a great week.

* Get your copy of Voice Mail Frustrations  by Nancy Friedman