I've seen articles that boast “Top 10 Ways to Improve Traffic to Your Website in 2010” or “Top Trends and Forecasting for 2010”. I've read the articles, and they no doubt include valuable information. But before you start implementing new plans for the future, I recommend we revisit a few old rules, specifically voice mail etiquette. While it's an old, forgotten topic, I think it's an important subject.

I know we are riding the tails of a recession and some of us are overworked performing double duty while our co-workers were recently laid off. But I've got to say...I've heard quite a few rather tired, blasé voice mails. I can here the despair in your voice. Did I mention this is not my voice mail I'm referring to, but the mailboxes of my equally overworked clients whose voice mails I check daily. Luckily, my clients are spared the mundane, monotonous messages that I hear; however, not everyone has a virtual assistant checking their messages.

I assume people leave voice mails for a good reason, and they expect their messages to be heard with some sort of follow-up action. May I give a few recommendations:

1. Articulate – seriously. Slow down, speak up and speak clearly. I know you know this, people! This is nothing new.

2. Limit your words. Keep your messages brief. Include your name, company, brief purpose of the call and your phone and/or email address. Please, please, please do not ramble. Kate Zabriskie of Business Training Works, Inc. took the words out of my mouth when she wrote, “If you are rambling, for the sake of others and your reputation, stop yourself and rerecord“.

3. Duplicate. Reiterate your phone number twice. The less time I spend rewinding the message to go back and find your number, the more likely you will be at the top of the list for a call back.

4. Never leave a business voice mail that says, “Call Me”. I can not stress enough, how frustrating that is. So, now I have no idea why you called, and I can't adequately prepare for the returned call. This is not the best use of my time.

5. Stop saying, “Um”. You sound informal and unprofessional. Don't do it.

6. Smile. My husband who used to work in sales advised me to do this. Before you get on the phone, smile. It loosens your facial muscles, and you sound much more pleasant in your message. In all honestly, I am more inclined to return a call right away when the voice message is positive, and the person on the other end sounds like they are having a good time.

I realize that these tips are common sense. But I hear more and more voice mails that are sub par. Here is a sample voice mail that is appropriate:

(Smiling)“Hi, this is Andrea Dwyer with Staff Advantage at 404-556-0156. I had a couple questions about the revisions you requested for the marketing newsletter. Can you please call me? Again, it's Andrea Dwyer with Staff Advantage at 404-556-0156.”

So, by all means, read the “Social Media Trends and Report for 2010”or implement “The Top 10 Tips for an Online Marketing Strategy in the New Year”, but don't abandon your core competent practices. If you don't put effort into the little things, how can you conquer the big things?