How Local Presence Dialing Boosts Answer Rates by 400%

I can’t count the times that I’ve heard our customers raving about Local Presence. Local Presence dialing, a feature of our Intelligent Dialer for Salesforce, makes it seem as though calls are coming from local numbers even when they aren’t. Prospects automatically see a local area number in their Caller ID by turning on Local Presence. From speaking to our customers, we know that far more prospects will answer calls from local area numbers. This can have a dramatic effect on sales ROI, since it enables sales reps to have more conversations each day.

How Effective is Local Presence?

So how many more conversations can sales reps expect to have by using Local Presence dialing? Well according to a 2014 independent study by technology researcher Software Advice, prospects are nearly four times more likely to answer calls from local numbers. According to the study, which surveyed 2,310 randomly selected Internet users within the United States, only 7% of the people surveyed said that they are likely to answer a toll-free or unknown number. But that number catapults to 27.5% when the unknown caller dials from a number with a local area code!

From Software Advice

Accelerate Sales and Gain a Powerful Competitive Advantage

Software Advice’s numbers definitely echo what we’ve been hearing from our customers, several of whom have described the effect of Local Presence Dialing as working “like magic.” Local Presence is just one fantastic example of a sales acceleration tool that can give inside sales reps a competitive edge. Think about it—if your competitors are using Local Presence Dialing and your outbound sales team isn’t, they may be connecting with 400% more key decision-makers than your reps.

What Is Local Presence Dialing and Why Does It Work?

Local Presence Dialing enables sales reps to automatically display a local area code on a prospect’s caller ID. For example, if you’re calling a lead in San Francisco, your dialer will automatically use a 415 area code, even if your rep is based in New York. This strategy leverages the psychological principle of familiarity—people are far more likely to answer calls from numbers they recognize as local.

The numbers back this up: Businesses using Local Presence Dialing see a significant increase in call answer rates, which leads to more conversations with decision-makers, more opportunities in the pipeline, and ultimately, more closed deals.

Why Timing Is Everything in Sales

There’s a saying in sales that goes, “The first one in wins.” The ability to connect with a prospect quickly—and before your competitors—can mean the difference between closing the deal and missing out altogether. Local Presence Dialing ensures your reps can reach prospects faster and initiate those pivotal sales conversations. It eliminates the hurdle of being ignored simply because your number looks unfamiliar or irrelevant to the prospect.

If your competitors are using Local Presence Dialing and your team isn’t, you’re at a distinct disadvantage. They could be outpacing you in sales ROI by connecting with far more decision-makers and filling their pipeline faster. As Borowsky sums it up: “As a strategy for getting people to answer the phone, Local Presence Dialing is clearly extremely effective.”

Increase Call Answer Rates with the Right Tools

Pairing Local Presence Dialing with an Intelligent Dialer for Salesforce can take your outbound sales efforts to the next level. With the right tools, your reps can:

• Automatically adjust to local area codes, boosting answer rates.
• Log all call activity seamlessly into Salesforce for full visibility into performance.
• Prioritize high-value leads by using intelligent call lists and real-time data.

By combining outbound sales tools like Local Presence Dialing with Salesforce integration, your team can work smarter, not harder. The result? More calls answered, more conversations started, and more revenue generated.

The Benefits of Using Local Numbers for Outbound Calls

The benefits of Local Presence Dialing extend far beyond increasing call answer rates. Here’s what sales teams gain:

1. Improved First Impressions: A local number makes your call feel relevant and personal, increasing the likelihood that the prospect picks up and listens.
2. Higher Engagement Rates: With more answered calls, reps can engage in more meaningful conversations that drive results.
3. Streamlined Workflow: An Intelligent Dialer automatically applies local numbers and logs calls, allowing reps to focus on selling instead of manual tasks.
4. Better Sales ROI: By connecting with more prospects, your team generates more opportunities, shortens the sales cycle, and increases revenue.

Real Results with Local Presence Dialing

Our customers consistently report remarkable outcomes after adopting Local Presence Dialing. Many describe it as the single most effective way to accelerate sales and gain an edge in competitive markets.

For example:

• One customer reported a 300% increase in answer rates within the first month of using Local Presence Dialing.
• Another saw a dramatic improvement in rep productivity by eliminating the time wasted on unanswered calls.

These results show that the benefits of using local numbers for outbound calls go beyond theory—they translate directly to measurable success in the field.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Local Presence dialing can revolutionize your outbound sales efforts, contact our sales team. We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have.