Do’s and Don’ts with Voicemail

A voice message can be a good means of communication, but it must be done well and get used to it. Here’s what to do or not to do.

The popularity of voice messages and other audio notes – a cross between a standard text message and a personal podcast – is steadily growing. And Apple is making them extremely easy to manage on a daily basis instead of traditional iMessages. On an iPhone, simply press and hold the little microphone button that appears next to the text box; speak and you will send a voice message to the recipient. Some people like it. Others hate. Some have been there for some time. But no matter which camp you belong to, there is a certain etiquette to follow.

Have a good relationship with the recipient

First, don’t send voicemail to someone you don’t have an established relationship with. Remember how text messages felt very personal compared to calls and other emails. This is pretty much where voicemail is today. There is something very intimate about hearing someone else’s voice. Don’t send a voice memo to a new friend, teacher, boss, or other person.

Then use what you know about the other person to determine if they really would like to receive voicemail. Some people don’t want to pause their music or stop playing a podcast to listen to your monologue. Thus, iMessage voice notes are quite complex: they cannot be paused at any time. It is also impossible to navigate through the content to listen to only one segment or another. Once the play button is pressed, you should listen to everything. Depending on your settings, voicemail messages may also disappear after a few minutes of being read. Then there is the reading speed component of such content, and you should be aware of this before you submit it.

Our colleagues at Lifehacker turned to Rami Zabara, a New York-based media specialist, for advice on this matter: “I always prefer text messages to phone calls,” he explains, highlighting the similarities between calls and voice messages: uneven service, distracting noise., lack of time to listen and concentrate. On the other hand, text messages are easier to read at any time. In addition, such a format “does not allow you to direct or respond to the conversation.”Finally, he shares his annoyance at having to listen to an entire voicemail message over and over every time something is missing.

Someone like Rami Zabara, for example, is not a good candidate for getting voice mail. Ask your loved ones if they value this means of communication. If you’re going to send a long voicemail message to someone who isn’t used to it, it’s best to text and ask first.

Make it easy for the recipient

Voice messages should be beautiful! Once you’ve found the “trick”, you can easily tell anything and everything, whether in a tone, singing, or letting the recipient hear your surroundings. It’s intimate and cool, and when done right, it’s a great way to connect. In this case, the recipient should not have problems understanding what you are saying.

“Voice messages should be less than a minute and a half,” says Emily Rella, a 20-year-old writer who actively uses voice messages. “If you go beyond that, split into two posts. And don’t do it when you go out, your voice might be hard to hear.”

Keep in mind that iPhone users cannot only fast forward to certain sections of a message. Splitting a long voice message makes it easier to listen to a specific part again. Also pay attention to your surroundings. For example, if you are in a noisy bar or public restroom, be aware that there are background noises. Also try to remember their location. If the recipient is in a noisy bar or public restroom, they may not want to pull out their AirPods to listen to you speak, even for a few seconds. Sometimes a text message is the best option.