Holiday Voicemail Greeting Tips for Thanksgiving 2024

A holiday voicemail greeting should tell callers three things: that you are closed, the exact day you reopen, and what to do in the meantime. Record it now, set your holiday hours ahead of time, and it will play on the right days by itself.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 28. After that, December moves fast. Between half days, office parties and the days around Christmas and New Year's, your hours will probably change more in the next seven weeks than in the rest of the year. Customers do not mind that you are closed on a holiday. What bothers them is calling, hearing your normal greeting, and waiting for someone who is not there.

What Should You Decide Before Recording a Holiday Greeting?

Before you touch any settings, decide your hours. Sit down with your team and agree on each day:

• Wednesday, November 27: full day or early close?
• Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29: closed both days, or open Friday?
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24 and 25.
• New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 31 and January 1.
• Any days in between when you will have a skeleton crew.

Once it is on paper, setting up the phones takes minutes.

What Should a Holiday Voicemail Greeting Say?

"Thanks for calling. Our office is closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. We will be back Monday, December 2, at 9am. Please leave a message and we will return your call then. Happy Thanksgiving."

Keep it short and give the exact reopening day. "We will be back after the holiday" makes people guess.

If you are open with shorter hours, say so: "We are open today until noon." Callers appreciate knowing they still have time. For more on wording, see our phone menu script examples.

How Do You Set Holiday Hours on Your Business Phone?

In Telonium, you add holidays to each phone number ahead of time. Each one gets a name, a first and last day, and either all day or set hours, plus where calls should go, such as voicemail with your holiday greeting. On those dates the regular weekly schedule steps aside, and it comes back by itself when the holiday ends.

1. Record your holiday greeting on your phone or computer and upload it as an audio file (MP3).
2. Add each closure to your main number's holiday hours: "Thanksgiving," Thursday through Friday, all day, to the holiday greeting.
3. For an early close, add that day with set hours, such as noon to 5pm.
4. Call your number once to hear the greeting the way customers will.

Holidays do not repeat by themselves, so add next year's dates when the time comes. A number can hold up to 30 holidays, which is plenty for a full year of closings.

What About Urgent Calls Over the Holidays?

Some businesses can let every holiday call go to voicemail. Others, like property managers or home service companies, need someone on call.

If you need coverage, point the holiday at your auto attendant with an option like "If this is an emergency, press 1." Send that option to the on-call person's app, or forward it to their cell phone. Everyone else can enjoy their day.

Voicemail to email sends each message to an inbox with the recording attached. Check that the main line's voicemail goes to someone who will glance at it over the holiday. A quick look Friday afternoon can catch the one message that cannot wait until Monday.

Should You Change Your Hold Music for the Holidays?

December is a good time to check what callers hear on hold. With custom hold music, you can play something seasonal or a short message about holiday hours or a year-end offer. Just remember to change it back in January.

Many people also travel or work from home in late December. The Telonium app on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android lets them take business calls from anywhere with good internet, on the same line as at the office.

Your Holiday Phone Checklist

• Agree on your holiday hours as a team.
• Record a holiday voicemail greeting with an exact reopening date and upload it.
• Add each closure and early close to your number's holiday hours.
• Decide whether urgent calls go to someone on call.
• Check that voicemail emails reach a person who is watching.
• Update hold music, and set a reminder to change it back.
• Post the same hours on your website and social pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Record My Holiday Greeting?

A week or two ahead is ideal. Record it, upload it and add the dates to your holiday hours, then call in once to hear how it sounds.

Do I Have to Switch My Phones Back After the Holiday?

No. When the holiday's last day ends, your number goes back to its regular weekly schedule by itself.

Should I Say "Happy Holidays" or Name the Holiday?

Either is fine. What matters most is the closed days and the exact day you reopen.

You get to close the door and enjoy the holiday, knowing customers will hear a clear message. Holiday hours, schedules and custom greetings are part of every plan; see our features page, or call our support team Monday through Friday, 9 to 6 Eastern, at 404-566-8888.