Add some sass to your messages

Team members at Hoschton Animal Hospital in Hoschton, Ga., make daily confirmation calls to the next day's appointments. And they reach their fair share of answering machines. But they're almost glad when they do because they have a little fun with their messages.

"When we get an answering machine, we leave a message for the pet, not the owner," says Brittany Dozier, client care representative. Here's an example: Hi, this is Jane Doe with Hoschton Animal Clinic, and this message is for Magik. Magik, we're calling to confirm your wellness appointment tomorrow at 2 p.m. with Dr. Friendly. Please tell your mom and dad, and let them know they can call us with any questions they might have.

Dozier says they've enjoyed great results. "Clients say that their human children love hearing their pet's message, so much that they beg their parents to replay it again and again," Dozier says. But even more exciting is that since using the message, the number of no-shows has decreased, she says.