Show a number contacts trust
Use local presence
Contacts are more likely to answer a number from their own area. If you have numbers in several area codes, choose a dialing strategy in the agent’s phone number settings.Spread volume across numbers
Calling many people from one number in a short time increases the chance that carriers or call-blocking apps label it as spam. Give high-volume agents several numbers and let Rotate Numbers or Auto Optimize spread the load. Add numbers before raising Max Outgoing Calls in Parallel.Check numbers for spam flags
A number flagged as spam may be blocked or shown with a warning, which lowers answer rates. Check numbers from the phone numbers list or the agent’s phone number selector. A flagged number shows SPAM or Spam Risk Detected.- Replace flagged numbers or take them out of rotation.
- Turn on notifications so you hear when a number is flagged. See Notifications.
- Re-check numbers after large sends.
Spam checks are enabled per account. Contact support@callers.ai to turn them on.
Ask first with pre-call chat
Pre-call chat sends a short SMS or WhatsApp message before the agent dials, asking whether the contact is open to a call. Contacts who agree expect the call and are much more likely to answer. Contacts who decline aren’t called, which saves attempts and protects your numbers.
Pre-call chat needs an SMS or WhatsApp channel connected to your account. Write the first message as a person would: who you are, why you’re calling, and a simple question.
Hi {{first_name}}, it’s Sam from Acme about your quote request. Is now a good time for a quick call?
See Pre-call chat.
Call when people answer
Set calling windows
In the agent’s Availability settings, add time slots for each day. Avoid early mornings, late evenings, and times your audience is unlikely to pick up. For B2B lists, business hours usually work best; for consumers, early evening often does.Use the contact’s time zone
Turn on Use Contact’s Time Zone to apply your calling windows in each contact’s local time. Callers estimates the time zone from the phone number’s country and area code, and uses the agent’s time zone as a fallback.Retry with a sensible cadence
Most contacts don’t answer the first call. Retries catch them at a better moment, but too many calls too close together annoy contacts and can get numbers flagged.
Practical patterns:
- Vary the time of day between attempts. If the morning call fails, try the afternoon.
- Front-load attempts in the first few days, then taper off.
- Pair retries with Auto Optimize so the system learns the best hours.
Use every number you have
A contact can have more than one phone number, for example mobile and office. Callers tries the contact’s numbers in sequence, so a contact who doesn’t answer one number can still be reached on another. Include all known numbers when you upload contacts.Make voicemail work for you
A good voicemail turns a missed call into a callback or a pickup on the next attempt. In the agent’s voice settings, turn on Leave message if reaching voicemail and choose when to leave it:
Keep the message under 20 seconds: who you are, why you called, and what happens next (“I’ll try you again tomorrow” or “I’ll text you the details”).
See Voicemail and screening.
Checklist
Numbers cover your contacts’ main area codes, with a dialing strategy chosen.
Volume is spread across enough numbers, and numbers are checked for spam flags.
Pre-call chat is on where you have consent to text.
Calling windows use the contact’s time zone.
Retries vary the time of day and stop at a sensible total.
All known numbers per contact are uploaded.
Voicemail strategy is set and the message is short.
Related
Phone numbers and caller ID
Number sources, dialing strategy, and spam checks.
Scheduling and retries
Calling windows, time zones, and attempts.
Pre-call chat
Ask by text before you call.
Compliance
Consent, calling hours, and DNC.