Holiday Voicemail Greetings

s With the holidays in full swing, your holiday voicemail greeting message might be something that you need to create for the days your business is closed or hours are shortened. Whether it is for your company’s main voicemail greeting, or for your employees’ individual voicemail greetings—where employees can contribute by creating or recording festive messages—here are some tips to get you started. Vacation scripts are also useful for employees who are out of the office during the holidays, helping maintain professionalism and keep callers informed.

Professional Voicemail Greetings

Are your callers greeted with a standard voicemail greeting message?

“Press 1 for sales, Press 2 for billing.”

With modern cloud phone systems, you can easily route callers to the appropriate department or employee, improving call management and customer experience.

The old saying is true: there is never a second chance to make a good first impression. That is particularly true when it comes to your company’s outgoing message. Your voicemail greeting should reflect your company’s tone to reinforce your brand identity and create a positive impression with every caller.

Why It’s Important

Many companies don’t have a live person answering the phone anymore. Most rely on automation to get a small amount of data from the caller to get them to the right person. Business voicemail systems play a key role in this process by ensuring callers are greeted promptly and routed efficiently.

The voicemail message greeting is the first communication that prospects and clients hear if no one is available to answer their call. So the message must sound strong, professional, and trustworthy. A well-crafted business voicemail can reinforce your brand and improve customer service, especially during busy periods like the holidays.

It’s also important that even if your company does answer the phone with a live person. A message is just as important if the person can’t answer the phone. From a busy overflow to an out-of-office message, voicemail greetings frequently give callers the first impression of your company. Customizing your business phone greeting for the holiday season can enhance the customer experience and ensure important information is communicated clearly.

Much like your website and social media engagement, voicemail greetings show the caller how professional your company is. Even though most people prefer to talk to a live person, holiday voicemail greetings can introduce your company to the person and give them a better calling experience. Many businesses update their greetings to reflect changes in hours or service during the holiday season, helping manage expectations and maintain a high level of service.

What Should Your Company Voicemail Message Say?

The short answer is that your message should get right to the point. Explain why your company is not answering the phone and invite them to leave a message. Be sure to include a holiday greeting to express appreciation and well-wishes to your callers during the holiday period.

“Hello, you’ve reached Press8 telecom. We’re currently unavailable, but we would like to speak with you. So please leave your name and phone number and your reason for calling. Someone will call back as soon as possible. Thank you.”

You should also let them know when they can expect a callback. For calls after hours, let them know when your team will be back in the office and specify the date of your return:

“Hello, you’ve reached Press8 telecom. We’re available by phone from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central time Monday through Friday. Our office will reopen on [date]. You can also contact us by visiting our website, Press8.com, or emailing us at info@press8.com. If you prefer that we return your call, please leave your name and phone number after the tone. Thank you.”

Humor or not?

Some companies like to use humor in their voicemail greetings. Be cautious with humor. For a business in a conservative industry, adding humor is more likely to be a turn-off. You may end up with more hang-ups than voicemails if the caller isn’t aware of the company’s humorous streak. Humor may work for a digital marketing agency, but a financial services firm is probably not the place. However, some businesses use fun or funny voicemail greetings to spread holiday cheer and make their messages more memorable during the holiday season.

Providing an alternate contact

If you want to provide an alternative contact for urgent matters, you can include a message like:

“For urgent matters requiring immediate assistance, please contact John, our alternative contact, at the following number: 555-555-1212.”

When you have an on-call emergency teammate, include their emergency contact information for emergency cases. This ensures that customers know how to reach someone if they require immediate assistance during the holiday period.

When asking callers to leave a message, let them know you may have limited access to voicemail and email during the holiday period, and manage their expectations regarding wait times for a response.

Stumped for a script? Hubspot offers examples of professional voicemail greetings on its website.

Make sure after the holidays that your system returns to the normal voicemail greeting. Nobody wants to hear that end-of-year message in March! We hope you have a happy holiday season!

A virtual phone system can help your business manage calls, provide customizable greetings, and maintain professional communication during the holiday period.

Desk Phone Voicemail

Anyone with an office line should also have a personalized outgoing voicemail message. Teammates can take advantage of their voicemail messages to notify callers when they are unavailable. Use it for working from home, going on vacation, or when you are planning to be out of the office for an extended period, such as maternity leave.

Again, keep it short, simple, and get the message across quickly:

“Hello, this is Tamara with Press8 Telecom. I’m either away from my desk or on another call. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I’ll return your call as soon as I can. Thank you.”

Is email a better way to communicate? Let them know that in the voicemail:

“Hello, you’ve reached Tamara at Press8 Telecom. If you need a quick response, please send an email to info@Press8.com. I’ll be in touch by the end of the day. If it’s not urgent, leave me a message with your name and number. Thanks for calling.”

For a teammate who will be out of the office for vacation, or other reasons, the same rule applies:

“Hello, This is Tamara. Thanks for calling. I’m out of the office from June 1st through June 15th. If you need help with your VoIP system before then, please call John at 555-555-1212. Thank you.

You can also use outgoing voicemail for other messages to your callers:

“Hello. Tamara is no longer with Press8 Telecom. Please forward all future calls and requests to John Smith at 555-555-1212. Thank you.”

How to wish your caller a happy holidays

Just like your everyday voicemail message, the holiday voicemail greetings should also sound professional and trustworthy. But it’s also important to make sure that it is short and not lengthy.

Start By wishing your callers happy holidays. Will your office be open, closed, have limited hours or extended hours? Let your callers and customers know right up front:

Happy Holidays from Press8 Telecom. We are open during regular business hours throughout the holidays. Our offices will be closed on December 23rd and re-opening on December 27th so that our teammates enjoy the holiday with their loved ones. We will also close on December 30th for New Year’s and re-open on January 3rd for business as usual. Thank you for calling.

While the office is closed, use a different message that explains the absence:

Thanks for calling Press8 Telecom. Our office is closed for the Christmas holiday, but we’ll be back in the office on December 27th. You can leave us a message. We will respond when we return to the office. Happy Holidays!

Include contact information of an on-call emergency teammate if there is one.

VoIP makes and office communication easy and less expensive all year round. A VoIP system accommodates all your needs easily whether your year-end is a busy or a quiet one.

Contact Press8 Telecom today to talk about upgrading your phone system to a new, flexible VoIP system that is just what your business needs for less money than a traditional hosted PBX system. We’ll give you a free quote on the system that’s just right for your company.

Music and Sound Effects

Adding holiday music and sound effects to your voicemail greetings is a simple yet effective way to spread festive cheer and enhance the overall customer experience. A cheerful instrumental like “Jingle Bells” or a gentle rendition of “Silent Night” can set a warm, inviting tone for your holiday voicemail, making callers feel welcome from the moment they hear your greeting. Subtle sound effects, such as sleigh bells or the soft crackle of a fireplace, can further create a cozy, memorable atmosphere.

When selecting holiday music or sound effects, it’s important to consider your brand’s personality and the image you want to project. For example, a tech-forward business might opt for modern, upbeat holiday music, while a more traditional company could choose classic carols. The key is to ensure that your voicemail greeting remains consistent with your company’s tone and values.

A well-crafted holiday voicemail with festive music and sound effects not only delights callers but also leaves a lasting impression, reinforcing your brand’s commitment to a positive customer experience. By infusing your voicemail greetings with a touch of holiday magic, you show your customers that you care about their experience—even when you can’t answer the phone in person.

Personalizing Your Greeting

Personalizing your holiday voicemail greeting is a powerful way to connect with your customers and make them feel appreciated during the festive season. Start by wishing your callers happy holidays on behalf of your entire team, and be sure to mention your business name to reinforce your brand. Expressing gratitude for your customers’ support throughout the year adds a heartfelt touch that can make your message stand out.

For example, you might say, “Happy Holidays from the entire team at Press8 Telecom! We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the new year.” Including a personal touch—such as a brief holiday joke, a warm message from your CEO, or a mention of your team’s excitement for the coming year—can further enhance the positive impression your greeting leaves.

A personalized holiday voicemail greeting not only delivers important information but also shows your customers that you value their relationship with your business. By taking the time to customize your message, you create a positive customer experience that encourages loyalty and makes your business memorable long after the holidays have passed.

Global Inspirations

Embracing global inspirations in your holiday voicemail greetings is a thoughtful way to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate your business’s appreciation for cultural variety. Consider incorporating a holiday message in multiple languages, especially if your business serves international customers. For example, you might greet callers with “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” in English, Spanish, and French, ensuring everyone feels included.

You can also infuse your holiday voicemail with traditional holiday music from around the world. Imagine welcoming callers with a Japanese instrumental version of “Jingle Bells” or a lively Brazilian samba Christmas tune—these unique touches can make your greeting truly memorable and set your business apart.

When crafting a global-inspired holiday voicemail, think about your company’s international presence and the cultural diversity of your clients. By acknowledging and celebrating different traditions, you create a positive customer experience that resonates on a personal level. Incorporating global inspirations into your voicemail greetings not only enhances your brand’s image but also shows your customers that you value and respect their heritage, making your business a standout choice during the holiday season.