Using the Predictive Dialer
What is a predictive dialer?
If you're not sure what a predictive dialer is and whether you should use it, check out our in-depth post here. You'll get a clear understanding of the pros and cons of predictive dialing and decide whether it fits in with parts of your sales process. If you're still unsure - just reach out to success@close.com and we'll be happy to hop on a call with you!
Setting up predictive calling
Once you've made the decision to turn on predictive dialing, here's how you enable it for your organization.
First-time setup
On any Smart View, click on the Call dropdown and select Manage.
Under Dialer Options, you'll see an option to complete the predictive calling setup.
The first time you enable predictive calling, you'll have to complete a quick setup. This includes:
Setting a Group Caller ID
Because predictive calling dials out from the system and not a specific user, you'll need to specify a group number to appear as the Caller ID on these calls. If you have yet to set up a group number, the setup will guide you through the process or you can refer to this guide here.
Setting a Group Caller ID
Pro tip: Use different numbers for different teams
Smart Views are able to have different group numbers assigned as the Caller ID. So if you currently have multiple group numbers set up for your calling teams, you can assign their group number to their predictive calling Smart Views.
Recording an abandonment message
When a call is answered by a lead but there are no users available, the lead will hear an abandonment message. The abandonment message must contain the following information:
- The name of your organization
- A contact telephone number
Recording your abandonment message.
There is one abandonment message per organization, and you can change it at any time within Settings > Communication > Dialer.
Toggling predictive mode on
Once the initial setup has been completed, you can easily toggle predictive dialing on for any Smart View.
Turning on predictive calling
Once a Smart View is set up for predictive, you'll notice that your calling icon on that particular Smart View will change.
Predictive calling icon
Calling in predictive mode
The calling queue
When dialing in predictive mode and not currently connected to a call, your users will see the screen below containing the following information:
- Current list being called and how many leads within that list have been dialed
- Total number of calls made using the predictive dialer today to that specific Smart View
- Users currently dialing the same Smart View and their status.
- Leads currently being dialed
Predictive dialing interface
Connecting to a call
When a call is answered, you will see the leads individual lead page as you are connected to a call, and a call note will be automatically populated.
Once the call is ended, you can take notes as you normally would and update the lead. The dialer will not attempt to place you back into the calling queue while you are editing the lead.
Connecting to a call while predictive dialing.
You can also pause the dialer, or jump right back into the queue using the Pause or Call Next Lead buttons in your call bar.
Finding abandoned calls
As mentioned above, if someone answers a call but there’s no sales person available, the Predictive Dialer will automatically play a recorded Predictive Calling Abandonment Message letting them know who called and how to get in touch with you.
You can easily search for any lead that has received the abandonment message by using the following query:
Leads with abandoned calls
Abandon calls will appear in the activity history as outgoing attempts in the timeline. When expanded you'll see the abandoned icon as shown below.
