Leo, well I know I don't like people not leaving messages as you can't tell what they needed. I pretty much always leave some kind of message such as " this is Mary with blar blar blar and I am so sorry I missed you. Please return my call so I can visit with you about buying or selling real estate. Again, sorry I missed you."

I can't see ring ring ring click working......:)

Leo, it makes sense to me that leaving a message is a bit more professional.  It also makes sense to me that a very HIGH percentage of the time, you are going to get a voicemail.  SO, with that said, preparing a message that stimulates a call back is critical.

Most of us say something like this:

Hi, this is Ron Tarvin with Keller Williams Realty and I was just calling because you registered to see houses on my site yesterday (today, whatever) and I wanted to make sure that you were able to find everything you need.  If you have any questions, you can call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX.  Thank you and have a great day.

However, that is a totally bad message to leave if we expect a call back. WE have to ask questions that generate a response!

So my guess, and I'm not an expert by any means, but when you call and let them know why you are calling, you should try to get them interested.

What if someone left you a message like:

Hi this is Ron Tarvin and I noticed that you were on my website yesterday so I was just following up to make sure that you were able to find you way around the site. We've got a lot of information on the site, but I also wanted to see if you wanted me to send you a copy of our report that I just finished that will show you the top 5 mistakes that most people looking for a home on the internet make and how that can cost them thousands of dollars in the long run.  We haven't got this report up on the site yet, so I can drop a copy off to you in the next day or two or two if that would be all right.  Thanks again for dropping by the site and please let me know when I can drop that report off for you that could save you thousands on your home search!

Now I may be barking up the wrong tree with that, but I'm still working out some things on how to stimulate call backs...

Ron,

        As always - Excellent response to what looked like a simple question with a much more complex answer.

This is a great post.  I was actually thinking of the same situation.  When I call and I get the voice mail, I leave a message thanking them for visiting my website and creating an account to the entire MLS system.  I also thell them I'd like to speak with them for a few minutes and perhaps help them with their future real estate goals.

Some call, but majority do not.  And that's ok.  Leaving a message only takes 30 seconds, but I would rather spend my "quality" time with people who actually do call back and are serious clients.

I was actually thinking of calling for the first time and if I get a voice mail, hang up.  Couple of hours later, call again and if I get the voice mail, I leave a message.  Haven't tried it yet, but maybe in the future, just as a test.

I never leave a message until my 3rd or 4th attempt.

Usually my first response is via email, and usually within minutes of them visiting my website. I do my best to make it appear as a live response and not something canned. So if I can tell them more about a property they just looked at, or that I work in the exact area they are looking within, it helps.

If I am on the road and away from my computer, I have a text message telling me their registered phone number, so I try to contact them immediately, letting them know I am on the road, but just got their information, but only if I am speaking to someone. This way they know they have an attentive agent willing to help them in any way that I can.

If they register without a phone number usually within the hour I pull over and fire up the wireless and send them a response.

The key here is QUICK RESPONSE! Its still the same numbers game,

Great topic. I have tried it both ways....I have quickly hung up and I have left a sweet little message.mNeither of the above seems to work for me!