Does anyone leave voicemail anymore? What callers actually do

Short answer: some callers do, but many don't, and new customers are the least likely to.

Ask around and you'll hear the same thing from people of every age: they haven't left a voicemail in years, and they don't check their own. Someone who already knows you will often leave a message, because they trust you'll call back. Someone who found you on Google five minutes ago has no reason to wait.

So a quiet voicemail inbox doesn't mean nobody called. Check your missed-call list instead. If you want the wider picture of what happens to those callers, our guide to why customers call the next contractor covers it.

Short answer: 2 groups. People who'd rather text, and people who don't know you yet. To both, a message feels like a dead end.

Plenty of homeowners would rather text a contractor than call at all. A text feels less pushy, they assume you're busy, and they get a written record of when they reached out. When they do call and get voicemail, many hang up and send a text instead, or don't follow up at all.

At the other end, some of your callers will be older customers calling from a landline. That matters later, because a text reply won't reach a landline.

The biggest group is new customers. They're comparing businesses, often with several tabs open. Leaving a message and waiting is the slowest option they have.

Short answer: 1 of 4 things. They call again, send a text, call the next business, or give up.

So a missed call with no message doesn't always mean no interest. It can mean the caller will try again in ten minutes, or that they've already called someone else. The missed-call list on your phone is often more useful than your voicemail inbox. Call back new numbers even when they didn't leave a message, and do it fast.

Short answer: because listening, writing it down and calling back is 3 steps of admin, and it lands at the end of a long day.

It cuts both ways. Voicemail asks the caller to explain, then asks you to listen and write it down. If either side skips their part, the inquiry is lost, and usually nobody notices. Messages pile up on busy days, and the ones from Monday morning get returned on Thursday.

Short answer: when most of your callers already know you and are happy to wait.

Not every business has a voicemail problem. If your work comes mostly from referrals and repeat customers, and you're booked weeks ahead, voicemail and a good callback habit may be all you need.

It's worth checking rather than assuming, though. Look at 2 normal weeks of missed calls and count the numbers you don't recognize, and how many of those left a message. Then put the missed calls into our missed call calculator to see what they might be worth.

Short answer: 4 things. Who you are, what you need from the caller, when you'll call back, and what to do if it's urgent. And nothing you can't keep.

Two ideas are worth borrowing. Point callers to the channel you actually check, such as a text to the same number. And be honest when you're full, instead of promising a callback that won't come for a week.

Three voicemail greeting examples you can adapt. The same wording works as an answering machine message on a landline:

• On a job, prefers texts: "You've reached [business name]. I'm on a job right now. The fastest way to reach me is a text to this number with your name, ZIP code and what you need. Or leave a message and I'll call back after [time]."
• Fully booked: "Thanks for calling [business name]. We're booked until [month] and not taking new work before then. If you're happy to wait, leave your name, number and the job and we'll be in touch."
• After hours: "You've reached [business name]. We're closed until [time] on [day]. Leave your name, number and the problem and we'll call you back then. If anyone is in danger, hang up and call 911."

Keep it short, say your business name first, and update it when things change. Promising "I'll get back to you today" when you won't is worse than no promise. Our guide on how to stop missing business calls has a simple callback routine.

Short answer: for callers on cell phones it often does. It doesn't reach landlines, and it doesn't capture the job details.

A quick text that says "Sorry I missed you, what can I help with?" shows the caller you saw the call, and many will reply because texting is easier than leaving a message. Most phones let you send a preset reply to a call you decline, which costs nothing.

The limits: you have to tap the button, landline callers won't see the text, and someone with a burst pipe may not want a text conversation. Automatic missed call text back tools remove the tap, but the caller still has to wait for you, and you still have to get the details.

Short answer: if you want missed callers to reach something that can take the details, yes. Forward only the calls you don't answer, not every call.

US carriers let you forward calls only when you don't answer, so your phone still rings first and only the calls you miss move on. On Verizon, for example, you dial *71 plus the 10-digit number to forward only the calls you don't answer, *72 to forward all calls and *73 to turn forwarding off. There's no monthly fee for call forwarding on most Verizon plans, but if your plan doesn't include unlimited minutes, forwarded calls use your minutes.

On an iPhone, the Call Forwarding setting sends all calls. For forwarding only when the line is busy or not in service, Apple says to contact your carrier for setup. Other carriers use different codes, so check yours. Our guide to forwarding business calls goes through the options.

Where you forward to is the real decision: a colleague, a partner, an answering service or an automated receptionist. An AI voicemail assistant is the automated option: it picks up instead of voicemail and talks to the caller.

Short answer: it replaces voicemail for the calls you forward, so callers get questions instead of a beep, 24/7. It isn't the right answer for every business.

With Ringzel you keep your number and forward the calls you can't take. Your receptionist answers in your business name, tells callers it's automated and asks the questions you've set, such as name, number, ZIP code, what the job is and how urgent it is. The caller doesn't have to work out what to leave in a message. You get a summary as soon as the call ends, plus the recording, transcript and a check report.

It also follows your rules on urgent calls and texts you right away in an emergency. It only tells a caller to call 911 if they say someone is in immediate danger. See how it works for plumbers, electricians, contractors and HVAC companies.

To be straight about it: some callers don't want to speak to an automated receptionist, and our guide to whether customers will hang up on an AI receptionist goes through why. If your callers already leave messages, you may not need one. Ringzel costs $99, $179 or $299 a month, with unlimited calls and no per-call charges. Our pricing page has the detail. You can hear how it would answer for your business now: type in your business name and talk to it in your browser in about two minutes.