Voice Mail Tips From America's #1 Publicist

Book Marketing, Publicity & Promotion Strategies
To Help You Achieve The Media Placements Of Your Dreams.

Lead With Your Strength!  Never Ramble---30 Second Voice Mails Or Less

—Great voice mail messages get lots of call backs
—Leave a voice mail that is fast and friendly, packed with great info! 
—Land major media placements with great voice mail techniques on major networks, magazines and newspapers.

1.  Your voice mail message should always include your phone number twice--once at the beginning and again at the end of the voice mail. Speak at a fast pace when leaving a voice mail BUT slow down and speak clearly when leaving the contact information. It is very frustrating for the producer to miss the phone number and have to replay the voice mail message.

2. The “30 Second Voice Mail Pitch”!  Never ramble.   Lead with your strengths and focus on the benefit to the listener. Pick one or two benefits that the listener can use immediately to make their life better. This will not be your only chance to pitch to that media contact. Believe me, there will be more voice mails to follow!  Practice your “30 Second Pitch” until you can say it naturally and conversationally with enthusiasm and joy.

3. Never leave more than one message per day EVER. I usually like to keep the follow-up process to leaving a message once every two to three days for radio, four to five days for TV and weekly for Print.

4. Keep calling and try to actually speak to the person. Try to find out when they will be available from the receptionist. Email the contact letting him/her know you would like to call at a specified time. Then set your clock and CALL. But be ready with your “30 Second Pitch”.

5. It is always better to speak personally to your contact. I like to say in my office "voice mail is pretend work"! But with these tips you can make voice mail work for you.

6. Always fax or email information pertaining to your subject matter. This way, the media contact will have something in their hands with your phone number on it that makes it easier for them to contact you.

7. When following up on your fax or email, never simply say did you get my fax or my email? Always say "I am just following up on my email about . . . (and go into a few exciting points about your topic). This refreshes their memory plus allows you to get another "pitch" in.

8. Never leave the same message twice. Always change your "message" to include another great point about why they would want to have you on.  Keep changing the content until you get the results you desire.

9. Practice leaving yourself a message and if you get bored listening to yourself then you know you are in trouble!   Your voice mail is an audition.  Preparation is the key--know what you are going to say and then say it with high energy and confidence!

10. Speak on the loud side and prepare your pitch. Practice your pitch on some smaller stations FIRST to work out the glitches. Never wing your pitch and cut out all of the "umms".

EXTRA TIP: You must capture the attention of the producer within the first 10 seconds--or else your phone call will be wasted. Your message will be deleted. Your voice and tonality is the key. Do NOT be monotone and boring because no matter what you are saying you will NOT be heard. Only practice and becoming comfortable with your script will let you sound natural and flexible. Be excited and raise and lower your tonality, essentially mesmerizing the listener with a high-quality, easy to listen to, flow of information.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Your voice mail is an audition for the interview--if your message is filled with verbal talent, enthusiasm, credentials and knowledge--they will like you!

FREE Special Report:  How To Become A Breaking News Expert
FREE Special Report:  Pitching Tips To Land Major Media Placements

ABOUT ANNIE JENNINGS PR :  Annie Jennings of the National PR firm, Annie Jennings PR is a National Publicist specializing in promoting authors and experts to the media.  Annie’s vision and insight has revolutionized the publicity industry as many of the publicity techniques, tools and strategies in widespread use throughout the industry today have been developed by Annie Jennings PR.   Annie freely shares her publicity strategies with authors and experts so everyone can have access to PR strategies, both the basics and advanced PR thought, so they can share their messages with millions for the betterment of all. 

CREATED OUTSTANDING PUBLICITY STRATEGY INCLUDING THE PLATFORM STRATEGY: Annie created the concepts of media websites and online press kits, defined how to create a powerful platform, developed the most advanced branding concepts known to the industry, created the HOT 35! & HOT 50! Radio campaigns where you are only booked on TOP SHOWS in major BIG CITY markets and on regional and nationally syndicated shows and crafted the revolutionary Pay For Placement Publicity Program that has helped thousands of authors and experts build powerful platforms. 

20,000 Authors Say Yes: Annie Jennings PR has over 20,000 authors experts signed up with her company and every morning Annie and her staff have but one thing to say:   “Let’s Kick It Up A Notch Today!” 

BOOK PROMOTION TESTIMONIAL: " In this age of "too bad for you" customer service, the staff of Annie Jennings PR is an absolute treasure. These folks do what they say they will do, on time and with great results. I went to Annie Jennings PR after a frustrating year of little action on the part of a previous publicist. Annie Jennings PR had confidence in my book and the expertise to ignite a "buzz". And they did it inside of three weeks! I wrote take Two Apples And Call Me In The Morning because I had a message I wanted to get out and. I am so grateful to Annie Jennings PR for helping me accomplish my goal. In my book, they are an investment well worth making!"

--Judy Stone, MSW, CN

RADIO PUBLICITY TESTIMIONIAL: "I had a very short time span to get my message out on radio. Annie made a promise to me. She delivered on that promise and, she did it on time! I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. . . . I would recommend Annie Jennings PR to anyone who is serious about getting a job done and getting it done on time."

-- CNN Investigative Journalist & Author Of The New Book, God Stories, Jennifer Skiff

PUBLICITY TELESEMINAR TESTIMONIAL: Thanks so much for conducting such a wonderful teleseminar on creating media-friendly websites!  With my permission, you and Maria critiqued my website during the call and I’ve already implemented several of your suggestions.  Please let me know when the next one comes along, as I’ve got colleagues and clients who’d love to participate.

-- Liz Bywater, PhD, President. Bywater Consulting Group, LLC

BUILDING A POWERFUL PLATFORM TESTIMONIAL: "Annie Jennings and her team are the best! I highly recommend her 100% I have worked with a few publicists and none compare. What she did for me has created a ripple effect over the years...the rewards for each placement she got me continue longingly.

-- Dr. Laurie Moore, Animal Intuitive

PUBLICITY TELSEMINAR TESTIMONIAL: The Annie Jennings PR teleseminars are fun and innovative--but more importantly, the techniques work. I consistently get calls from producers and journalists who find my media site. This month's results included a segment on National Public Radio (NPR) and an appearance on the Today Show. When fires threatened the area, believe it or not, among the first items packed up for evacuation were the notes and CD'S from Annie Jennings PR! Annie, as you know I am an avid fan of your teleseminar series. Implementing your suggestions have really paid off. My media site consistently attracts the calls of producers, journalists, and meeting planners--and the media training you suggested has been invaluable. This month alone resulted in a segment on National Public Radio and an appearance on the Today Show and both invited me back!"

-- Diana L. Guerrero, Author, Speaker, Animal Expert

BOOK PROMOTION TESTIMONIAL: " In this age of "too bad for you" customer service, the staff of Annie Jennings PR is an absolute treasure. These folks do what they say they will do, on time and with great results. I went to Annie Jennings PR after a frustrating year of little action on the part of a previous publicist. Annie Jennings PR had confidence in my book and the expertise to ignite a "buzz". And they did it inside of three weeks! I wrote take Two Apples And Call Me In The Morning because I had a message I wanted to get out and. I am so grateful to Annie Jennings PR for helping me accomplish my goal. In my book, they are an investment well worth making!"

--Judy Stone, MSW, CN

Book Author Testimonial:

"As a seasoned veteran of television and radio, I didn't think there was much that any PR firm could do for me that I haven't been able to do with my own contacts. Boy was I wrong! Not only did Annie Jennings PR book me a national appearance on The CBS Early Show, but the same appearance was broadcast on CBS news radio! Talk about killing two birds with one stone!"

-- Dr. Jeff Gardere, Media Psychologist

"Annie Jennings PR helped launch my television career as a money expert four years ago. If it hadn't been for Annie, I may never have gotten booked on CNBC, MSNBC, the Other Half, and other national television shows. Miss Jennings is a powerhouse PR lady that can make your television career go-go-go!"

-- Juliette Fairley, Author of Cash in the City

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