Webinar recap: How to increase call answer rates with Local Presence & NumberGuard

Webinars
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Outbound calling is harder than ever. Between robocall fatigue, iOS call-blocking, and spam labeling, even the best sales teams struggle to connect with prospects.

In our recent webinar, Jennifer Rizzi (Head of Content & Product Marketing at Aloware), Ashley Meyer (Customer Success Manager at Aloware), and Kaitlyn Filippi (Director of Product at Arbeit Software) unpacked why reps aren’t getting through. 

Fortunately, you can mitigate this with Local Presence and NumberGuard —two solutions that help your team increase pickup rates and protect your outbound numbers.

Here’s the full webinar recap with key insights.

Why caller ID is your brand’s first impression

Before reps even say “hello,” prospects are making judgments based on what shows up on their caller ID.

  • Unfamiliar area codes look suspicious and often go unanswered.
  • Shared number pools increase the risk of showing up as another brand—or worse, flagged as spam.
  • Spam labeling can drop answer rates by up to 80%, even with qualified, demo-ready leads.

This means sales performance issues aren’t always about rep effort—they’re about caller trust.

Solution #1: Local Presence for 4x higher pickup rates

What it is: Local Presence automatically matches your outbound caller ID to your lead’s local area code (e.g., calling New York from a 212 number, regardless of where you’re based).

Why it works: Prospects are more likely to answer a familiar-looking call. Teams using Local Presence report up to 4x higher connection rates.

Key advantages:

  • Private number pools: Unlike other providers, Aloware never uses shared numbers. Your caller IDs remain exclusive to your business.
  • Easy setup: Purchase a Local Presence package, assign to a user or ring group, and automatically match reps’ numbers to prospects’ local area codes.
  • Versatile campaigns: Use for cold outreach, regional promotions, event follow-ups, or re-engaging stale leads.
  • Professional presence: Ensure consistency so prospects see the same local number each time you call or text.
Private number pools: Unlike other providers, Aloware never uses shared numbers. Your caller IDs remain exclusive to your business.
Easy setup: Purchase a Local Presence package, assign to a user or ring group, and automatically match reps’ numbers to prospects’ local area codes.
Versatile campaigns: Use for cold outreach, regional promotions, event follow-ups, or re-engaging stale leads.
Professional presence: Ensure consistency so prospects see the same local number each time you call or text.

Pro tip: Pair Local Presence with pre-call SMS to introduce yourself before dialing. This increases trust and helps bypass iOS call filtering.

Solution # 2: NumberGuard—your defense against spam labels

Even with Local Presence, spam labels can stunt your team’s outreach efforts. Carriers and devices flag high-volume numbers incorrectly, marking legitimate businesses as “Scam Likely.”

Enter NumberGuard: Your always-on spam monitoring and remediation service.

How it works:

  1. Daily or weekly checks: Numbers are tested across real devices and major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile).
  2. Clear reporting: Get visibility into how your numbers display (clean, business CNAM, or flagged).
  3. Automatic remediation: If a number is mislabeled, NumberGuard works directly with carriers to clean it—no manual effort required on your part.
  4. Best practices guidance: Beyond NumberGuard cleanup, Arbeit and Aloware partner with you to advise on dialing strategies that reduce future labeling risks.

Why it matters:

  • Protects sales reps’ morale (they actually get calls answered).
  • Keeps support and collections teams efficient.
  • Scales across all outbound functions—sales, support, collections, customer success.

Business impact

Companies using Local Presence + NumberGuard see measurable gains:

4x higher answer rates with Local Presence
80% fewer missed opportunities from spam labels
Shorter sales cycles with faster follow-up
Higher rep efficiency by reducing wasted dials

And because Aloware keeps Local Presence numbers exclusive (no shared pools), brands protect their reputation while scaling outreach.

Best practices shared in the webinar

  • Segment numbers by campaign type: Separate high-volume cold outreach from warm, branded traffic.
  • Use 10DLC for SMS: Send personalized, compliant texts alongside local calls.
  • Pre-call SMS: Warm up prospects with a text so they expect your call.
  • Monitor weekly: Don’t wait for reps to complain about low pickup rates—use NumberGuard reports to stay proactive.

FAQs

How much can Local Presence improve my pickup rates?
Teams report up to 4x more answered calls when using Local Presence compared to standard outbound dialing.
Are Local Presence numbers shared with other businesses?
No. Unlike competitors, Aloware provides exclusive number pools—never shared.
What happens if my number gets flagged as spam?
NumberGuard automatically detects and remediates spam labels directly with carriers.
Does NumberGuard work internationally?
Currently, NumberGuard covers U.S. numbers, with plans to expand to other regions.
How does this help with iOS call filtering?
Using Local Presence with a pre-call SMS increases trust and reduces call rejection under iOS call-blocking.

Conclusion: Outbound calling, reinvented

In a challenging outbound environment, caller trust = more pickups.

  • Local Presence helps your calls get answered by appearing relevant and familiar.
  • NumberGuard keeps your numbers clean, visible, and credible.

Together, they protect your reps, shorten sales cycles, and maximize every lead.

Ready to start connecting with more prospects? Schedule a meeting to give it a try.