AI voicemail greeting generator: Templates and how-to guide

When you don't get to the phone in time, voicemail greetings are the first impression that callers have of you and your brand. A poor-quality voicemail, whether it’s rushed or muffled, instantly shapes how callers perceive you for the worse. By contrast, a high-quality voicemail that is succinct and clear shows you in the best possible light, starting every call on the right foot.

But benefits aside, the actual process of recording a new voicemail greeting can be time-consuming. From writing your script to finding a quiet room to actually recording your voice, there are a lot of steps to go through. Especially if you don’t have access to quality recording equipment, the final product might be sub-par, even if you’ve gone to all that effort.

An AI voicemail greeting generator solves these issues. With ElevenLabs, you can generate a voicemail greeting in seconds, using our Text to Speech software to create a professional voicemail with ease. Whether you want to enhance your personal image or create a smooth touchpoint for customer callers, your AI voicemail lets you get started with just a few clicks.

In this article, we’ll explore exactly how you can produce your own AI voicemail greeting. We’ll cover what to include in your message, how ElevenLabs helps expedite the process, and provide different templates to get started with.

Summary

• An AI voicemail greeting generator quickly converts a text script into a professional-grade audio recording, without the need for microphones or recording studios. 
• ElevenLabs Text to Speech lets you create a voicemail greeting for free with thousands of voices and support for 32+ languages. 
• Browse through ready-to-use voicemail script templates for different types of businesses.
• Keep your voicemail greetings under 30 seconds. Include your name and callback information, while keeping them updated with new information.
• It only takes under two minutes to upload your audio file to iPhone, Android, or a business phone system.

What is an AI voicemail greeting generator?

An AI voicemail greeting generator automatically converts written text into a spoken audio recording. Instead of having to record your own voice, you simply select a voice that matches your tone or has the right style for your business. 

While traditional AI voices may sound robotic, ElevenLabs uses deep learning and neural TTS to produce speech with human-like intonation, pacing, pitch, and emotional range. Your AI voicemail will sound virtually indistinguishable from human recordings. Once set up, you’ll also be able to change your voicemail using the same voice, downloading the file and uploading it to your device for your callers in minutes.

If you don’t want to use one of the thousands of sample voices, you can use the ElevenLabs Instant Voice Clone to produce a high-quality clone of your own voice. That will allow you to produce audio clips in your own voice, letting you record once and generate as many clips as you'd like.

How to create a professional voicemail greeting with ElevenLabs

Absolutely anyone can get started with ElevenLabs to create their personalized AI voicemail greeting. You won’t need any technical experience or expensive recording equipment to get started. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to create a professional voicemail greeting.

Step 1: Write your voicemail script

Before opening ElevenLabs and generating your audio sample, you’ll need to have a script to work from. A strong voicemail greeting has four main components that you should include:

• A greeting: A short greeting to thank the person for their call.
• Your name: A quick mention of your name (first and last for professional voicemails) to ensure the person has called the right number.
• Why you're unavailable: A brief explanation of why you can’t get to the phone right now, whether you’re out of office (OOO) or only receive calls between certain hours.
• Next steps: How the caller can get back in touch with you or an alternative route to contact you.

As a general rule, try to keep your script at around 60 words or fewer. Any longer and your caller might feel frustrated to have to wait through your text. Keep it clear, concise, and avoid any generalisms that don’t add anything to your voicemail.

Step 2: Open ElevenLabs Text to Speech

Navigate to Text to Speech and create an account if you haven’t already. You’ll be able to generate an AI voicemail greeting on the Free tier, with no payment method attached. Once you’re into the TTS engine, paste in your script from the previous step.

Step 3: Choose a voice

ElevenLabs offers thousands of voices to select from, ranging across different accents, styles, tones, and languages. You’ll be able to scroll through all of the available voices and select one that best fits your business. 

For a professional business voicemail, look for voices described as clear and authoritative. Alternatively, you can match the voice to your brand. If your company is down-to-earth and creative, look for voices marked as warm and expressive.

When you see a voice you think you might like, click the preview button to listen to it in action.

Step 4: Adjust voice settings

Fine-tune the characteristics of your generated voice by adjusting the parameters within the window to the right. You’ll be able to adjust:

• Speed: How quickly your voice reads your script. Going too extreme (either fast or slow) may create a strange-sounding final product.
• Stability: High stability will make the voice more consistent across multiple different generations.
• Similarity: Defines how similar to the voice sample your output will be.
• Style exaggeration: Adds expressiveness to your final recording, with high values being an exaggerated version of the original.

If you’re looking to clone your voice and use it for your recordings, you can navigate to the Voice Clone section to get started.

Step 5: Preview your voice recording

After you’ve adjusted the characteristics of your voicemail generator AI voice, it’s time to preview your own voicemail. Click Generate toward the bottom of the screen and listen to the full output. If anything sounds off, you can manually adjust your script or tinker with the settings to make sure it feels correct.

Once you’re ready, you can then download the file as an MP3 file.

Step 6: Upload to your phone

The final step after recording your AI voicemail generator is to upload it to your device. To help you out, we’ve included a section below that helps you do so across iPhone, Android, and desk phone systems.

Voicemail greeting examples: Voicemail templates to use [10 examples]

The best voicemail greetings are direct and succinct. Aim to touch on all the important information as quickly as possible to make sure customers can either leave their message or understand when to call back.

Below are a range of voicemail templates that you can use for your business. Feel free to directly copy these templates or add your details to make it truly your own. 

Personal voicemail

"Hey, you've reached [Your Name]. I can't get to the phone right now, but leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Thanks."

Tone: friendly and approachable. Length: approximately 10 seconds.

Standard business voicemail

"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. You've reached [Your Name]. I'm away from my desk or helping another client at the moment. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, and I'll get back to you within one business day. Thank you."

Tone: professional and assuring. Length: approximately 20 seconds.

Out-of-office voicemail

"Hello, you've reached [Your Name] at [Business Name]. I'm currently out of the office until [Return Date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Colleague Name] at [Colleague Phone or Email]. Otherwise, leave a message and I'll respond when I return. Thank you for your patience."

Tone: informative and courteous. Length: approximately 20 seconds.

After-hours voicemail

"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office hours are [Hours], [Days]. We're currently closed, but your call matters to us. Please leave your name and number and we'll return your call during our next business day. For urgent matters, email us at [Email Address]."

Tone: professional. Includes alternative contact. Length: approximately 22 seconds.

Holiday voicemail

"Happy holidays from [Your Name] and the team at [Business Name]. We're out of the office enjoying the break and will return on [Return Date]. Please leave your name and number and we'll be in touch as soon as we're back. We appreciate your patience and wish you a wonderful holiday season."

Tone: warm and seasonal. Length: approximately 22 seconds.

Real estate agent voicemail

"Hi, you've reached [Agent Name] with [Agency Name]. I'm likely with clients or at a showing right now. If you're calling about a listing or have questions about buying or selling in [Area], leave your name, number, and a good time to reach you. I return all calls within a few hours. Thanks for calling."

Tone: responsive and trustworthy. Length: approximately 22 seconds.

Medical office voicemail (HIPAA-aware) template

This template is provided as a general guide. Consult your compliance officer to ensure it meets your organization’s HIPAA requirements.

"Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our office is currently closed or all staff members are assisting other patients. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 911. To leave a message, please state your name and a brief description of your reason for calling. Do not leave your date of birth, insurance information, or detailed medical information in this message. A member of our team will return your call within one business day during office hours, [Hours]."

Tone: professional and HIPAA-aware. Instructs callers not to leave sensitive information in line with safe harbor guidelines. Length: approximately 28 seconds.

Dental office voicemail greeting

"Thank you for calling [Dental Practice Name]. Our office hours are [Hours], [Days]. We are currently unable to take your call. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call [Emergency Number] or go to your nearest urgent care clinic. Otherwise, please leave your name and phone number and a member of our team will call you back during our next business day."

Tone: helpful and clear. Includes emergency direction. Length: approximately 22 seconds.

Insurance agent voicemail script

"Hi, you've reached [Agent Name] at [Agency Name], your [State] licensed insurance specialist. I'm with a client or away from my desk right now. Please leave your name, number, and a good time to reach you and I'll get back to you within one business day. If you have a policy emergency or need to file a claim, please call [Insurance Company Name] directly at [Claims Number]. Thanks for calling."

Tone: professional and action-oriented. Separates routine inquiries from emergencies. Length: approximately 25 seconds.

Law firm and attorney voicemail

"You have reached the office of [Attorney Name] at [Firm Name]. I am currently unavailable. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief description of your matter and I will return your call within one business day. Please note that leaving a voicemail does not establish an attorney-client relationship. If this is an urgent legal matter, please contact [Colleague Name or Firm Main Line] at [Number]. Thank you."

Business voicemail greeting: Best practices and tips

A business voicemail greeting is the first thing a caller hears when you miss their call. If you want to represent your business in the best possible light, that means you need to have a succinct and professional voicemail.

Here are a few best practices for business voicemails:

• Keep it short: Callers will need to sit through your audio before they can leave a message. Every extra second your voicemail lasts is another second of waiting for your customers. Keep things short and sweet to streamline the process.
• State your name and company early: You should confirm a caller has reached the right person from the beginning of your voicemail. If they’ve contacted the wrong person, they’ll realize and hang up, saving you both time.
• Be realistic: If you include a timeframe to respond, make sure it’s one you intend to keep. If your workload changes, share a new voicemail that has a new response time written in.
• Include an emergency contact pathway: For businesses that may have critical calls incoming, be sure to outline an alternative emergency contact number or pathway that customers can use. 
• Update your voicemail frequently: Considering how easy it is to generate an AI voicemail greeting, be sure to constantly keep it updated with new information. 
• Use a high-quality AI voicemail generator: Avoid any voicemail greeting that sounds robotic or lacks expression. Only use natural-sounding voicemail generators like ElevenLabs to make the customer experience as pleasant as possible. 

By incorporating these tips while making a business voicemail, the final product will be high-quality and meet all customer expectations.

How to set up your voicemail greeting on iPhone, Android, and desk phones

After downloading your AI voicemail recording from ElevenLabs, you’ll have an MP3 file ready to upload to your phone system.

The exact process for each phone system varies, so be sure to follow the guide for your specific type of device. We’ll cover how to set up your voicemail for iPhone, Android, and desk business phone systems below.

iPhone (iOS)

You can’t directly upload an MP3 file to your iPhone. However, you can always play the recording of your AI-generated greeting when prompted to record your own voice. While this does add about 20 seconds to the process, it’s the easiest workaround. Other options involve using third-party apps, which may bring unnecessary complexity.

Here’s a guide on how to add your voicemail file to an iPhone system:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap Voicemail in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap Greeting in the top left corner.
4. Select Custom.
5. Tap ‘Record your audio’.
6. Play your recording and click Save once it finishes.
7. Check to see if it worked and then hit Done once you’re happy with how it sounds.

The next time someone calls your iPhone and you don’t pick up, they’ll hear your AI-generated voicemail greeting.

Android

Android support for MP3 voicemail uploads varies by device, so be sure to check for your specific model before diving into any guides. For example, Google Pixel phones support a direct upload through Google Voice, meaning you could use that pathway and skip this guide. Other devices may offer a web portal where you can upload files to your account.

In general, you can use the speaker method (same as above) to play your recording out loud when asked to record a new voicemail. For most Android devices, you can:

1. Navigate to the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Tap Voicemail and Voicemail Greeting (you may need to navigate to Advanced Settings) on some models.
4. Choose Custom greeting and follow the prompts to enable recording.
5. Play your recording and click Save.
6. Listen to it back to ensure you captured it correctly, then hit Done.

These steps should act as a catch-all if you can’t find a device-specific way to update your files. 

Business phone systems

While the exact process here will vary depending on the specific call handling provider you use, most of the time you’ll be able to upload an MP3 to your administrator dashboard. Systems like RingCentral, Microsoft Teams Phone, and Zoom Phone all accept MP3 files.

Here’s a general guide you can follow (provider dependent):

1. Log in to your phone system’s admin portal.
2. Navigate to Voicemail and then Voicemail Settings, select Greetings.
3. Select Upload Custom Greeting or similar.
4. Upload your ElevenLabs MP3 file and hit Save.

Your provider will likely offer a tutorial for their system online, but these steps are largely consistent across different platforms.

How to select an AI voicemail greeting generator

For the best quality voicemail, you need to work with a provider that offers high-quality models and customizable controls. A flat or monotone voice may feel off-putting for your customers, meaning the quality and depth of a voice model is imperative here.

Typically, the following factors are what set AI voicemail greeting generators apart:

• Voice quality: A voicemail greeting represents your business, meaning the voice quality needs to be impressive. Listen to audio samples across a few different providers to find the one that you think sounds most natural.
• Voice selection: A great voicemail greeting generator will have a wide range of voices that you can choose from. Don’t settle for one or two sample voices. Look for a provider that has a range of ages, genders, tones, and regional accents.
• Customization: If a TTS platform offers customization options, you’ll be able to build out nuance into your voicemail greeting. Providers should allow you to tweak small things about the final output, like the speed and expressiveness, at the very minimum.
• Usage limits: ElevenLabs TTS offers enough tokens to generate several voicemail greetings without moving beyond the Free plan. 

ElevenLabs meets these four criteria and more. Whether you need a quick personal voicemail or are looking for a unique voice for your business telephone systems, we have an option for you.

Create your voicemail greeting with ElevenLabs Text to Speech

A voicemail greeting represents your business and becomes a common touchpoint across the entire customer journey. Creating a high-quality AI voicemail greeting displays your business in the best possible light, helping you come across as refined and professional.

ElevenLabs Text to Speech helps you create natural-sounding voicemail greetings in minutes. Learn more about our platform or get started by signing up for a Free account today.

AI voicemail greeting generator FAQ