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The Ultimate Cold Call Deliverability Guide with 10 Must Know Tips

The Ultimate Cold Call Deliverability Guide with 10 Must Know Tips

The Ultimate Cold Call Deliverability Guide with 10 Must Know Tips

Guide

Dec 23, 2024

Dear Salespeople,

What if I told you that the biggest obstacle between you and your next deal isn't your pitch or your product—it's your phone number?

Sounds absurd, right? But stay with me.

Every day, hundreds of ambitious SDRs like you are dialing away, only to hit voicemail after voicemail, or worse—dead air. The culprit? Poor call deliverability and the dreaded spam labels.

But here's the good news: You can turn this around. Right now.

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on Call Deliverability

In this no-fluff, actionable guide, we're diving deep into the secrets that top-performing SDRs use to bypass spam filters, optimize call deliverability, and engage more live prospects than ever before.

Whether you're a seasoned sales pro or just starting your SDR journey, these insights are your ticket to transforming your cold calling game.

So, grab your headset, and let's get started.

Why Call Deliverability Matters More Than Ever

In the cutthroat world of B2B sales, connecting with your prospects is everything. But with carriers tightening their spam filters and prospects being bombarded with calls, getting through is harder than ever.

Poor call deliverability means:

  • Lost Opportunities: Prospects don't even know you're trying to reach them.

  • Wasted Time: Efforts spent dialing numbers that go nowhere.

  • Frustration: for you and your team, leading to burnout.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

10 Actionable Must-Know Tips to Improve Your Cold Call Connect Rate.

1. Register Your Phone Numbers—Become Trustworthy in the Eyes of Carriers

Carriers are on high alert for spam calls. Unregistered numbers are often the first to be flagged.

Action Step:

  • Use the Free Caller Registry to register your numbers. This service informs carriers that you're a legitimate caller, increasing the likelihood that your calls reach the intended recipients.

2. Remediate Your Phone Numbers—Clean Slate for Better Results

Did you know that most VoIP numbers are recycled? That means your new number might have a tarnished history.

Action Step:

  • Cleanse Your Numbers: Before you start dialing, use remediation services to check and clean your numbers. This removes any negative associations from past users, ensuring you start fresh.

3. Monitor Your Caller ID Regularly—Stay Ahead of Issues

If you don't know how your number appears to prospects, you're operating blind.

Action Steps:

  • Manual Testing: Call personal numbers or colleagues to see how your caller ID appears.

  • Third-Party Monitoring: Utilize services that monitor caller ID displays across different carriers and devices, alerting you to any issues before they impact your outreach.

4. Fix "Dead Air" Issues—Ensure Every Connection Counts

"Dead air" occurs when a prospect answers the phone, but no one is there to speak to them. This is a surefire way to get flagged.

Action Steps:

  • Optimize Your Dialer Settings: If you're using a parallel dialer, reduce the number of simultaneous calls.

  • Implement Smart Dialing: Use intelligent dialing systems that connect reps to prospects immediately upon answer, eliminating delays.

5. Rotate Numbers Every 5–10 Dials—Keep Carriers Happy

Overusing a single number can raise red flags with carriers.

Action Step:

  • Strategic Rotation: Use a pool of registered numbers and rotate them every few calls. This spreads out the call volume per number, reducing the risk of being marked as spam.

6. Stick with Established Phone Lines—Build a Positive Reputation

Constantly changing numbers can harm your credibility with both carriers and prospects.

Action Steps:

  • Ditch the Number-Hopping Habit: Resist the urge to grab new numbers frequently.

  • Build History: Use established lines consistently. Over time, carriers recognize your number as stable and reputable.

7. Skip the Neighbor Dialing Trick—Authenticity Over Gimmicks

Using local area codes to mimic a "neighbor" can backfire.

Action Step:

  • Be Genuine: Use your actual number that represents your company. Prospects appreciate transparency, and carriers are wary of local presence dialing.

8. Avoid Sharing Lines with Others—Protect Your Number’s Reputation

Shared numbers can suffer from another user's bad practices.

Action Step:

  • Use Dedicated Lines: Ensure each SDR has their own numbers. This way, you have full control over your number's usage and reputation.

9. Respect Do-Not-Call Lists—Stay Compliant and Respectful

Ignoring do-not-call lists isn't just unethical; it's illegal.

Action Steps:

  • Regularly Update Lists: Sync your prospect lists with national and industry-specific do-not-call registries.

  • Train Your Team: Ensure everyone understands the importance of compliance.

10. Limit How Often You Call People—Balance Persistence with Respect

Bombarding prospects is a quick way to get blocked.

Action Steps:

  • Establish a Sensible Cadence: Space out your calls appropriately.

  • Multi-Channel Outreach: Mix in emails and social selling techniques to stay on the prospect's radar without overcalling.

Bonus Tip: Combine These Strategies for Maximum Impact

Implementing these steps in isolation will help, but the real power comes from integrating them into a cohesive strategy.

Now, Let's Talk About Tools That Can Make This Easier

Managing all these best practices manually can be a daunting task.

That's where technology comes in.

Introducing Salesfinity—Compound Prospecting Platform

While this guide empowers you to take control of your call deliverability, leveraging a platform designed to automate these processes can elevate your results even further.

What is Salesfinity?

Salesfinity is a Compound Prospecting Platform that helps B2B SaaS SDR teams book 2.7x more meetings.

Key Features:

  • Proprietary Waterfall Enrichment: Automatically enriches your prospect lists with valid mobile numbers, increasing your chances of connecting.

  • AI Parallel Dialer: Smart dialing technology minimizes dead air and connects you with live prospects efficiently.

  • Caller ID Management: Automates registration, remediation, and rotation of numbers, ensuring your calls get through.

  • Post-Call Automation: Handles logging, note-taking, and follow-up emails, freeing you to focus on conversations.

  • AI Coaching: Provides continuous feedback to help you refine your approach and improve performance.

Integrations Include:

  • CRMs: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Monday.com CRM

  • Sales Engagement Platforms: Apollo.io, Outreach.io, Salesloft, Amplemarket

  • Marketing Automation: ActiveCampaign

  • Open API: Connect with any system you use

A Holistic Approach to Modern Prospecting

By integrating these tools and best practices, you're not just improving call deliverability—you're transforming your entire prospecting strategy.

The Result?

  • Higher Connect Rates: Speak with more live prospects.

  • Reduced Spam Flags: Maintain a positive reputation with carriers.

  • Increased Efficiency: Spend less time on admin tasks and more time selling.

  • Improved Performance: Continuous coaching helps you close more deals.

Final Thoughts

Call deliverability is the cornerstone of successful cold calling. In today's competitive landscape, SDRs and B2B salespeople can't afford to ignore the factors that influence whether their calls reach prospects.

By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you're taking critical steps to enhance your outreach efforts.

Remember, the key is consistency and proactive management. Regularly monitor your performance, stay informed about carrier policies, and adapt as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Call Deliverability for SDRs

1. What is call deliverability, and why is it important for SDRs?

Call deliverability refers to the ability of your outbound calls to successfully reach your intended prospects without being blocked or labeled as spam by carriers. For SDRs, high call deliverability is crucial because it directly impacts the number of live conversations with prospects, leading to more opportunities and increased sales pipeline.

2. How do spam labels affect my cold calling efforts?

Spam labels can significantly hinder your cold calling success. When carriers or smartphones flag your number as spam, your calls may be automatically blocked or sent straight to voicemail. This reduces your chances of connecting with prospects and can harm your company's reputation.

3. What is the Free Caller Registry, and how does it help improve call deliverability?

The Free Caller Registry is a service that allows legitimate callers to register their phone numbers with major carriers. By registering, you inform carriers that you're a verified and lawful caller, which helps reduce the likelihood of your calls being mislabeled as spam and improves overall call deliverability.

4. Why should I remediate my phone numbers before using them for cold calling?

Remediating your phone numbers involves checking and cleaning them to ensure they're not associated with past spam activities. Since VoIP numbers are often recycled, they may carry a negative reputation from previous users. Remediation helps you start with a clean slate, increasing the chances your calls are delivered successfully.

5. How can I monitor my caller ID to prevent spam flags?

Regularly test your caller ID by calling personal numbers or using third-party services that simulate how your number appears on different carriers and devices. Monitoring helps you detect any issues early on so you can take corrective actions before they impact your outreach efforts.

6. What is "dead air," and how does it affect my call reputation?

"Dead air" refers to a call where the recipient answers but hears silence because no agent is available to speak. This often happens with aggressive parallel dialing. Dead air frustrates prospects and signals to carriers that your number might be associated with spam or robocalls, increasing the risk of spam labels.

7. Should I use local presence dialing to increase answer rates?

While local presence dialing (neighbor dialing) might seem beneficial by displaying a local area code to the prospect, it can backfire. Prospects are becoming wary of this tactic, and carriers may flag such calls as deceptive, harming your call deliverability. Authenticity builds trust more effectively than gimmicks.

8. How often should I rotate my phone numbers during cold calling sessions?

It's advisable to rotate your phone numbers every 5 to 10 dials. This practice distributes call volume evenly across multiple numbers, reducing the risk of any single number being flagged for high-volume activity, which carriers might associate with spam-like behavior.

9. Can sharing phone lines with other SDRs affect my call deliverability?

Yes, sharing phone lines can negatively impact your call deliverability. If others using the same number engage in practices that lead to spam flags, your calls will be affected as well. Using dedicated lines ensures you have full control over your number's reputation.

10. How does Salesfinity help improve call deliverability and support SDRs?

Salesfinity automates best practices for call deliverability. It handles caller ID registration, number remediation, and intelligent rotation. Its AI parallel dialer minimizes dead air, connecting you with live prospects efficiently. Post-call tasks are automated, and continuous AI coaching helps SDRs improve their skills. By integrating with popular platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach.io, and more, Salesfinity streamlines your prospecting workflow for maximum effectiveness.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

The world of sales is ever-evolving. Those who embrace change and equip themselves with the right knowledge and tools will lead the pack.

Now, armed with these insights, it's time to take action.

Optimize your call deliverability, connect with more prospects, and watch your success soar.

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