I love Google Voice. I feel that Google Voice is THE thing that will release us from the clutches of the “cell phone company contract”. With that being said here is a little tutorial showing you how to create custom voicemail messages with groups and Google Voice. Of course this tutorial assumes that you have Google Voice and that it is able to be used with your phone.

1. After logging in to Google Voice, click on Settings on the top right

2. In the Setting menu click on the Groups tab and on this tab at the bottom click on Manage Groups. This will take you to your Groups and Contacts list.

3. Click on the New Group button and name your new group. Then click OK. You can also use this group to handle only one contact as well, making the voicemail a personal one.

4. Next, click on your contact list and select as many contact as you want to receive the custom VM you are going to record. Remember, you can also set up just one contact in the group. After you have selected your contact go to the Groups button and under Add to… click the group you just set up.

5. Click on Settings in the top right, click on the Groups tab again and then click on the Edit button under your group.

6. This is where the magic happens (I know, lame, right?). Anyways under the heading, When people in this group go to voicemail click on the Record New link. You will be welcomed by a input box where you can put the name of your voicemail, I just put the name of the group that the voicemail is for.

7. After this you will be brought to yet another message box where you choose what phone Google Voice will call you at to record your message. So, choose your phone, click the Connect button, wait for Google Voice to call, answer, and follow the instructions given by the kind woman on the end of the line.

8. After you are done recording your special, custom message and are off the phone under the heading, When people in this group go to voicemail click on the drop down and select the VM that you just created. Finally hit the Save button at the bottom.

Now, any time the contacts in the group you set up call you and go to voicemail they will get the custom VM that you set up for them. Pretty nice! Works very well for special occasions and to just add some personality to your unanswered calls. Enjoy!