How do you get people to actually leave a message on your cell phone?

Question

For the life of me it makes me so mad how people hardly ever leave messages on my cell phone anymore. I just don't get why they can't take 2 seconds to say something. This occurs all the time... I don't pick up a lot of calls because they are numbers(honestly a great amount) that are not in my phone (I cannot store anymore on my phone.. out of memory ;( ). It is not like they have the wrong number because they have called random times over the past year or so, so obviously if it was the wrong number they would know right away from my name on the machine... Plus I have had this number for 7 years... highly unlikey to ever receive any.
Why don't I pick up the calls?... Well since I have had the same number for such a long time I have a number of individuals that I no longer wish to speak with. I simply like to know who is calling if I don't recognize the number.
Any suggestions as to what I should say on my machine to get people to leave messages? Silly question, butthisreallybugsmelol

Answer 1

My dad's trick is: [on the recording] first thing you hear is him shouting "DON'T HANG UP!! If you give a damn abt me getting back to you, leave a message. THAT'S LEAVE A MESSAGE."
So far nobody's been offended by being shouted at by him, but there you go.

Answer 2

Leave a short message.I hate listening to long messages...so if I have called ya in the past and know it is going into the message, I'd just hang up to avoid the hassle.How's about: "Leave your name & # or I am reporting you for harrassment."

Answer 3

Talking to a machine is not something that I do. If what I have to say is important, I will call back. Get caller i.d. and call them back, that is what I do. Why not?

Answer 4

make your message sound like you answered, my friend did that and obviously people say something.You can says something like "hello?.......(pause for a sec) oh hey whats up?"...(pause again) then say, "im not here right now so leave a message!"