SALES QUESTION:
"My decision makers let everything go to voicemail. I posted my dilemma on a LinkedIn sales group asking for advice and one person said I should simply call, give my number, leave my first name and say "I have a question for you" and then hang up. What are your thoughts on this type of strategy?"
SalesBuzz Answer:
This is called the Vague Voicemail Strategy and it's very damaging to your reputation and wallet.
Leaving a vague voicemail message isn't going to help you win new business.
When a prospect gets a vague voicemail message, they think it's one of three things:
A client needing help;
A potential new customer;
It's a sales call.
So if they take a chance and make a call back only to find out it's a sales call after all, what do you think happens to your prospects mood? How would YOU feel? Probably pissed, right?
First impressions are everything. Is that how you want your first impression to go down with your new prospect? Me neither.
When I'm making sales calls and get voicemail, it's important to realize that I don't want every prospect to call me back. I only want the prospects that desire a change to call me back. Those are the leads I want to invest my time in.
If you want prospects that desire a change to call YOU back, you'll have to hit their hot buttons.
You should know the top hot buttons your targeted audience has before you call them.
This is knowing how to pick your zebra out of the herd. Know the WHY your best clients are your best clients (the problems they had that your solution solved) and make sure you hit that message when calling a fresh prospect and leaving them a voicemail.
Example:
Hi (Prospects Name), Michael Pedone with SalesBuzz.com. Reason for my call is we help inside sales reps increase voicemail callbacks by an average of 20% by providing them with word-for-word scripts customized to their audience. I'd like to see if what we do would work for you as well. You can reach me at 888-264-0562 Ext. 400 until 3 pm today. Again, its Michael Pedone, SalesBuzz.com at 888-264-0562 Ext. 400. 
And now send an email saying the same thing.

SALES QUESTION:
"My decision makers let everything go to voicemail. I posted my dilemma on a LinkedIn sales group asking for advice and one person said I should simply call, give my number, leave my first name and say "I have a question for you" and then hang up. What are your thoughts on this type of strategy?"
SalesBuzz Answer:
This is called the Vague Voicemail Strategy and it's very damaging to your reputation and wallet.
Leaving a vague voicemail message isn't going to help you win new business.
When a prospect gets a vague voicemail message, they think it's one of three things:
A client needing help;
A potential new customer;
It's a sales call.
So if they take a chance and make a call back only to find out it's a sales call after all, what do you think happens to your prospects mood? How would YOU feel? Probably pissed, right?
First impressions are everything. Is that how you want your first impression to go down with your new prospect? Me neither.
When I'm making sales calls and get voicemail, it's important to realize that I don't want every prospect to call me back. I only want the prospects that desire a change to call me back. Those are the leads I want to invest my time in.
If you want prospects that desire a change to call YOU back, you'll have to hit their hot buttons.
You should know the top hot buttons your targeted audience has before you call them.
This is knowing how to pick your zebra out of the herd. Know the WHY your best clients are your best clients (the problems they had that your solution solved) and make sure you hit that message when calling a fresh prospect and leaving them a voicemail.
Example:
Hi (Prospects Name), Michael Pedone with SalesBuzz.com. Reason for my call is we help inside sales reps increase voicemail callbacks by an average of 20% by providing them with word-for-word scripts customized to their audience. I'd like to see if what we do would work for you as well. You can reach me at 888-264-0562 Ext. 400 until 3 pm today. Again, its Michael Pedone, SalesBuzz.com at 888-264-0562 Ext. 400. 
And now send an email saying the same thing.