Guides · Updated 2026-10-17

How to make a voicemail greeting with AI (UK trades)

If you can't answer while you're up a ladder or under a sink, your voicemail greeting does the selling. A good one tells callers what to leave so you can ring back with an answer, not a question. This guide shows how to write one with free AI, then either record it yourself or turn it into audio with an AI voice.

What a good greeting says

Keep it under 30 seconds and cover:

1. Who they've reached: your business name and trade.
2. Why you didn't answer: "I'm on a job at the moment."
3. What to leave: name, number, postcode and a line about the job.
4. When you'll ring back: be specific and realistic, for example "by 6pm today".
5. A faster option if you have one: "or text this number with a photo of the problem".

For heating and gas work, add safety advice. National Gas lists 0800 111 999 (24 hours, free) for anyone who smells gas or suspects a leak (National Gas emergency contacts).

Step 1: write it with free AI

Paste this into the free version of ChatGPT or Claude:

Write three versions of a voicemail greeting for [business name], a [trade] in [town]. Each must be under 70 words and in British English. Say I'm on a job, ask for their name, number, postcode and a short description of the job, and say I'll ring back by [time]. Offer texting a photo to this number as an option. Friendly and plain; no slogans.

Read them out loud and pick the one that sounds like you. Trim anything you wouldn't say.

Step 2: record it

Option A: your own voice (free). It's free, and callers hear the person who'll actually turn up. Record in a quiet room or a parked van, phone close to your mouth, and do a couple of takes.

Option B: an AI voice. Useful if you hate the sound of your own recording, or want the same voice across your phone line and videos. ElevenLabs is one text-to-speech tool we list. On its pricing page, checked 17 October 2026:

Text to speech uses about 1 credit per character on ElevenLabs' standard multilingual model, so a 400-character greeting uses roughly 400 credits (ElevenLabs pricing). The free plan's credits would cover it, but a greeting for your business is commercial use, and ElevenLabs puts its commercial licence on Starter. One month of Starter is enough to make a greeting; check how to cancel before you subscribe.

If you'd rather edit voice and video together, Descript has a free plan for trying its editing tools (paid plans from $24 a person a month paying monthly, or $16 billed annually, checked 17 October 2026).

Step 3: put it on your phone

How you load a greeting depends on your provider. Business phone apps and VoIP systems often accept an uploaded audio file; standard mobile voicemail usually expects you to record through the phone. Check your provider's help pages. Then ring your own number from another phone and listen to it as a customer would.

When a greeting isn't enough

If you're missing lots of calls, voicemail alone loses the callers who won't leave a message. Work out what that costs with the missed call cost calculator, then compare missed-call text-back tools and AI receptionists for trades. Our guide on how to answer calls while on a job covers the habits that help too.

FAQ

How long should a business voicemail greeting be?

Short: under 30 seconds. Callers want to know they've got the right business and what to leave.

Can I use the ElevenLabs free plan for my business greeting?

ElevenLabs' pricing page lists the commercial licence from the Starter plan ($6 a month paying monthly when checked), not the free plan.

Is an AI voice better than my own?

Not necessarily. A clear recording in your own voice is free and personal. An AI voice helps if you want a consistent, polished sound, or can't get a clean recording.

What should I ask callers to leave?

Name, number, postcode and a short description of the job. That lets you ring back with a time or a rough price rather than a list of questions.