What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have a professional, natural-sounding voicemail greeting recorded using AI voice technology — so when homeowners call and you don't answer, they hear something that builds trust instead of an awkward recorded message from the parking lot.
What you'll need
- A free ElevenLabs account (elevenlabs.io — free tier included)
- A script for your voicemail greeting (you'll write this first, then convert to audio)
- A way to set a custom voicemail on your business phone (most carriers support this)
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes total
- Cost: Free (ElevenLabs free tier gives 10,000 characters/month — enough for several greetings)
How-To Guide: Create a Professional Voicemail Greeting with ElevenLabs
Step 1: Write Your Voicemail Script First
Before you open ElevenLabs, write out exactly what you want your voicemail to say. Keep it under 30 seconds (about 75 words). Here's a solid template:
"You've reached [YOUR NAME] with [COMPANY NAME], your local roofing specialist. I'm out inspecting roofs right now — please leave your name, address, and the best time to reach you, and I'll call you back within [X] hours. If this is an emergency leak, text me directly at [NUMBER]. Thanks for calling [COMPANY NAME] — where [TAGLINE IF YOU HAVE ONE]."
Draft this in a notes app and read it aloud to time it. Adjust until it sounds natural and lands under 30 seconds.
What you should see: A clean, conversational script ready to paste into ElevenLabs.