Your greeting is the first thing every caller hears. It sets the tone for the whole call, and it affects how many calls Seth resolves more than almost anything else you can adjust. The rule is simple: keep it short.

If you are just getting started, see Set up Seth, the AI phone support rep.

Why a short greeting works better

A short greeting sounds like a real person picking up the phone. A long one sounds like a recording, and that is the moment a caller decides to ask for a human.

We have seen stores go from around 40% resolution to 60% just by shortening the greeting, cutting a 26 word greeting down to under 8 words with nothing else changed. Long greetings make the caller wait before they can talk, and the longer it runs, the more it sounds automated.

The simple formula

Real receptionists say three things when they pick up: a quick hello, your brand name, and their own name. Then they stop talking.

That pause is the important part. It hands the call to the caller, so they explain why they are calling. You do not need to ask "how can I help you today." That question is the strongest sign to a caller that they are talking to a bot, and it adds time without adding anything useful.

Three greetings that work

All three are under 8 words. Pick the tone that fits your brand:

"Thanks for calling [brand], this is Seth." (professional)
"Hi, this is Seth at [brand]." (friendly)
"Hey, Seth here from [brand]." (casual)

Seth uses whatever name and brand you have set, so these fill in automatically.

The length guide

When you edit your greeting, you will see a color signal and a rough time estimate:

Green: good length, under 8 words. This is the sweet spot.
Yellow: getting long. Worth trimming.
Red: too long. Callers wait, and Seth sounds more like a bot.

It is a guide, not a limit. You can still save a longer greeting if you need to, but shorter almost always performs better.

What to avoid

Listing everything Seth can do ("I can help with orders, returns, products..."). Let the caller tell you what they need.
"How can I help you today." It is the clearest bot tell.
Voicemail phrasing like "you have reached..." A live person does not say that.
Anything longer than a single breath.

Greetings and the law

You are responsible for making sure your greeting follows the recording and AI disclosure laws where you and your callers are. Rules differ by country and by US state, and they change over time, so check the most recent requirements for your region.

Most US stores do not need to announce recording on an inbound call, but some states and the EU have specific rules, and some places require you to disclose that callers are speaking with an AI. If you need to add a notice, put it in your greeting and keep it as short as the rules allow. A required disclosure is one of the few good reasons to run a little longer.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with a professional if you are unsure.