Why using local numbers for telemarketing really matters
The success of your outbound telemarketing campaigns relies heavily on your ability to reach and engage with potential customers. But what happens when your calls go unanswered or, even worse, are flagged as spam and blocked by network carriers? It can be frustrating and discouraging, but there is a solution: using local area code numbers.
Let's imagine a scenario where a telemarketer is trying to reach a potential customer in a different state. They dial the number, but it goes unanswered. They try again, but this time, the call is blocked by the network carrier. Frustrated, the telemarketer moves on to the next number on their list, but the same thing happens. This cycle repeats, leading to wasted time, leads, and resources.
But what if the telemarketer had been using a local area code number instead? The potential customer would have been more likely to answer the call, and the risk of being flagged as spam would have been reduced. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of using local numbers for telemarketing campaigns and how businesses can get started.
Using local numbers can improve your telemarketing campaign performance
Using local numbers for telemarketing campaigns has been shown to increase answer rates from 20% to 45%. This is because people are more likely to answer calls from numbers that appear to be local. When a potential customer sees a familiar area code on their caller ID, they are more likely to answer the call, thinking it might be a friend, family member, or local business. If it's shown as "unknown" or "spam likely" they'll likely never pick up.
Another benefit of using local numbers is that it reduces the risk of being flagged as spam by network carriers. Network carriers monitor call volumes and dialing velocity to prevent spam and abuse. If a telemarketer is calling too many people with short, disengaged calls, their number is more likely to be blocked. By using local numbers, call volumes are spread across many different phone numbers, making it more difficult for network carriers to flag them as spam.
Using local numbers is also an inexpensive solution for businesses. Phone numbers can be very inexpensive, and the cost is well worth it when considering the increased success of telemarketing campaigns.
How to get started with using local numbers:
Using local numbers for telemarketing campaigns can be a game-changer for businesses. It's an easy and cost-effective way to increase answer rates and reduce the risk of being flagged as spam. But to get started, businesses need to find a legitimate provider of local phone numbers.
When looking for a provider, it's essential to vet them to ensure their numbers are curated and sanitized, meaning they haven't been used for a long time, so their history doesn't impact your reputation. Additionally, you'll want to make sure the provider is a shaken service provider, which means they use the STIR/SHAKEN attestation levels to protect the integrity of the telecom networks and provide a way to signal confidence levels to other carriers that the calls can be trusted.
Using a legitimate provider will also ensure that the numbers are not being used for spam or abuse. The provider will do extensive monitoring and remediation to ensure that the numbers are not being used for illegal purposes.
How to fix your number if marked as spam:
Despite using local numbers and a legitimate provider, there is still a chance that a number may be marked as spam by a network carrier. If this happens, there are steps that businesses can take to fix the issue. Each network carrier has its own system for reporting and resolving spam complaints.
For example, Verizon has a Voice Spam Feedback program that allows businesses to report spam calls and provides feedback on how to fix the issue. AT&T has a Hiyahelp support ticket system that can be used to report spam calls and resolve the issue. T-Mobile has a Call Reporting system that allows businesses to report spam calls and provides feedback on how to fix the issue.
Wrap up
Using local numbers for telemarketing campaigns is a simple and effective way for businesses to increase answer rates and reduce the risk of being flagged as spam. By finding a legitimate provider of local phone numbers and using a shaken service provider, businesses can be confident that their calls will be more likely to be answered, and the risk of being flagged as spam will be reduced. And if a number is marked as spam, there are steps that businesses can take to fix the issue and ensure that their telemarketing campaigns continue to be successful.
Angela Garfinkel currently serves as Director for Quality Voice & Data. With 30+ years of call center and business process outsourcing experience, Angela provides the QVD team with key insights to support product development, marketing and sales.