Voicemail Drops Explained

A voicemail drop (also called ringless voicemail or RVM) is a technology that delivers voice messages directly to a recipient's voicemail box. The message appears as a new voicemail notification.

How voicemail drops work:

Voicemail drop technology connects directly to the carrier's voicemail server to deposit messages. This direct connection delivers messages to voicemail without initiating a traditional phone call to the recipient's device.

Key characteristics:

• Messages appear as new voicemail notifications
• Recipients listen at their convenience
• Scalable for business campaigns
• Higher engagement than cold calls or email

1. Get Proper Consent

Always obtain prior express consent before sending voicemail drops. This protects you legally and ensures recipients want to hear from you. Consent can come from web forms, verbal agreements, or written contracts.

2. Keep Messages Concise

The most effective voicemail drops are 20-40 seconds. State who you are, why you're calling, and what action you want them to take. Respect the recipient's time.

3. Personalize Your Messages

Use the recipient's name and relevant details. With tools like Mimic AI voice cloning, you can insert custom fields while maintaining a natural, personally-recorded sound.

4. Include Clear Next Steps

Tell recipients exactly what to do: call back, visit a website, or reply to an SMS. Make it easy to take action.

5. Respect Timing

Send during appropriate hours. TCPA regulations specify calling windows, and different states have different rules. Use a platform with built-in quiet hours enforcement.

6. Track and Optimize

Monitor delivery rates, callback rates, and conversions. Test different messages, timing, and audiences to improve results over time.

Voicemail drops work best as part of a multi-channel strategy. Send a voicemail drop, follow up with SMS, and have your team ready to handle callbacks.

Voicemail drops are regulated under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and state-specific laws. Key requirements include:

Prior Express Consent: You must have consent from recipients before sending voicemail drops for marketing purposes.

Do Not Call Compliance: Maintain internal suppression lists and honor opt-out requests. Consult your legal counsel about DNC requirements for your use case.

Opt-Out Mechanism: Provide a clear way for recipients to opt out of future messages.

Time-of-Day Restrictions: Federal and state laws restrict calling hours, with many states having their own specific windows.

Identification: Messages must identify your business and provide contact information.

Drop Cowboy® includes built-in compliance tools: suppression list management, state-specific quiet hours enforcement, opt-out processing, and time zone detection. These tools assist your compliance efforts, but always consult your legal counsel for requirements specific to your use case.