Creating Your First Agent
When you sign up for OnCallClerk, a default agent is automatically created for your account. You don't need to create one from scratch, just configure the existing agent to match your business.
Open Agent Setup in the sidebar to get started. Your default agent's setup form appears automatically.
If you're using the API or SDK, call GET /agents (or client.agents.list()) first to see your existing agent. Check your plan limits with GET /usage (or client.usage.get()) before creating additional agents.
1. Name your agent
Give the agent an internal label, something like "Reception Assistant" or "After Hours Service." Callers never hear this name; it's purely for your reference in the dashboard.
2. Choose a voice
OnCallClerk offers nine voices. Click the play button next to any voice to hear a sample before committing.
| Voice | Accent | Gender | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin | American | Male | Professional, warm |
| Sarah | American | Female | Confident, friendly |
| Lucy | British | Female | Energetic, clear |
| Jake | Australian | Male | Young, reliable |
| Dominic | American | Male | Elegant, sophisticated |
| Ava | American | Female | Warm, natural |
| Elise | American | Female | Calm, reassuring |
| Ryan | American | Male | Casual, approachable |
| Jon | American | Male | Authoritative, clear |
3. Write a greeting
The greeting plays the moment your agent picks up. Keep it under 15 seconds, mention your business name, and end with an open question so the caller knows they can start talking.
Hello! Thank you for calling Sunshine Realty. This is Lucy. How can I help you today?
Hi! Thanks for calling Tony's Pizza. This is Sarah. Are you calling to place an order or make a reservation?
Thanks for calling Riverside HVAC & Plumbing. This is Kevin. What can I help you with today?
Avoid long disclaimers or menu trees in the greeting. Callers are already speaking to an intelligent agent, let the conversation flow naturally.
4. Enter your business name
Type the name exactly as you want the agent to reference it on calls. This ensures accurate answers when callers ask "Who am I speaking with?" or "What company is this?"
5. Write the system prompt
The system prompt is the most important field, it tells the agent who it is, what it knows, and how it should behave. Think of it as a detailed briefing you'd give a new receptionist on their first day.
A good system prompt covers four things:
| Area | What to include |
|---|---|
| Role | Job title, company name, what they represent |
| Capabilities | Answer questions, capture leads, book appointments, forward calls |
| Knowledge | Hours, services, pricing, location, policies |
| Tone & rules | Friendliness level, when to forward, what to never say |
Example system prompts
You are a friendly and professional receptionist for Sunshine Realty, a residential
real estate agency in Miami, Florida.
Your primary responsibilities:
- Greet callers warmly
- Answer questions about available properties
- Schedule property showings
- Capture lead information (name, phone, email, property interest)
- Forward urgent calls to agents when requested
Business hours: Monday–Saturday 9 AM – 7 PM, closed Sundays.
Always capture contact information before ending a call. If someone wants to speak with
a specific agent immediately, offer to forward the call or have the agent call back
within an hour.
You are a friendly receptionist for Tony's Pizza, a family-owned Italian restaurant
in downtown Chicago.
Handle reservations (date, time, party size, name, phone), answer menu and hours
questions, and explain our specialties: wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta, and tiramisu.
For takeout orders, let callers know they can order on the website or you can forward
them to the kitchen.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11:30 AM – 10 PM, closed Mondays.
Location: 123 Main Street, Chicago, IL.
Be warm and enthusiastic. Always thank callers and say you look forward to serving them.
6. Add FAQs
FAQs let you pin down exact answers for common questions so the agent stays consistent. Click Add FAQ, type the question a caller might ask, then type the precise answer.
Q: What are your hours?
A: We're open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM, and closed on Sundays.
Write questions the way callers actually phrase them, and give complete answers, not "see website." Review call transcripts periodically to spot new questions worth adding.
7. Save
Click Save at the bottom. Your agent is now created but still needs a phone number to start taking calls.
Next: Assign a Phone Number → Test Your Agent → Configure Advanced Settings
Save button not working?
- Make sure all required fields are filled
- Check that your greeting isn't too long (under 500 characters)
- Verify your system prompt is complete
Agent not answering correctly?
- Review and improve your system prompt
- Add more specific FAQs
- Test with different questions
Need help?
- Visit Support to create a ticket
- Email support@oncallclerk.com