Sales and marketing teams know the importance of the phone call to reach new and existing customers, and the first step is to get the customer to answer the phone. One way some teams have found a way to do this is to use calling solutions that change out-of-state or out-of-country phone numbers to numbers with local area codes that customers recognize.
The only problem with this is that phone scammers also use this tactic. It’s known as neighbor spoofing. And while neighbor spoofing is more commonly used to describe the practice of illegally changing area codes to deceive the recipient, the practice has become so common that consumers are now suspicious whenever they see a nearby area code. And that could be hurting your contact rates.
In fact, Hiya’s most recent State of the Call report reveals that 92% of consumers believe unidentified calls are or may be fraudulent, and 45% have received a call from someone impersonating a legitimate business. The report also shows that 77% of consumers are more likely to answer a call when they know who is calling.
How to get customers to pick up the phone
So, how can you get potential customers to answer the phone? Simple: identify yourself. And the best way to do that is by displaying branded caller ID on your outbound calls. With branded caller ID solutions (such as Hiya Connect) companies can add their business name, location, and even logo and call reason on outbound calls.
Branded caller ID lets customers and prospects know exactly who is calling and why, so they can decide if they want to pick up the call. For sales teams, this helps build trust with prospective buyers.
On the left is an incoming call without branded caller ID. The center and right screens show Hiya’s branded caller ID, with and without a company logo.
Want to learn more about branded caller ID?
Hiya has created an online tour of branded caller ID, where you can learn how it works, read success stories, and even get a free call inspection that shows you exactly how your calls appear when they reach your customers and prospects.
