Voicemail Drop Best Practices

Voicemail drops are a great way to re-engage donors and follow up on your calltime efforts. Here’s how to make the most of them—from testing to tracking results.

✅ 1. Test Your Voicemail Drop Before Sending

Testing helps you avoid surprises and ensure your message is clear and deliverable. This is especially important if it’s your first time using voicemail drops or you’ve recorded a new message.

We recommend:

• Uploading a small test list of 15–20 numbers
• Using numbers you or your team have access to (send to all campaign members, send to close friends and family of the campaign willing to help you test)
• Checking:
  • Does the message sound clear and natural?
  • Does it land in voicemail?
  • Is the call duration what you expect?

📦 2. Set Realistic Delivery Expectations

Not every voicemail will land—and that’s normal. Clean mobile numbers work best. If you’re using an older list, expect some drop-off in delivery.

What to expect:

• 60–80% delivery rate on clean lists
• Lower rates if your list includes VoIP, landline, or inactive numbers

We cannot deliver to:

• VoIP numbers (like Google Voice or broadband phone services)
• Landlines
• Numbers with spam-blocking apps or aggressive screening
• Carriers or numbers that reject voicemail drops entirely
• Full or unconfigured voicemail inboxes

🎯 3. Create Strong, Effective Voicemail Messages

Your goal is to sound human, be concise, and include a clear call to action.

Best practices:

• Keep it under 45 seconds
• Introduce yourself and your campaign right away
• Mention past support or shared values if possible
• Give a clear ask or next step (e.g., visit a link, call back, check their email)
• Use a natural, friendly tone—not overly scripted
• Example Message: “Hi, this is Jamie from the Elect Moore campaign. I just wanted to say thank you for your past support—we’re getting close to a key deadline and could really use your help again. If you’re able, please check your email or visit ElectMoore.com to chip in. Thanks again!”

📊 4. Know If It’s Working: Tracking ROI

Voicemail drops work best when paired with emails, texts, or a call follow-up. Here are a few ways to tell if your voicemail drop is paying off:

How to measure:

• Track donations within 24–48 hours after the drop
• Compare performance from lists with and without voicemail drops
• Use unique donation links in your message
• Look for spikes in:
  • Click-through rates on your donation pages
  • Phone calls or call backs
  • Total donation volume or average gift size