How to Protect Your Reputation From Telephony Scams

Ah, celebrity scams—a topic as rich and strangely alluring as a celebrity’s own Instagram feed. With the rise of deepfakes and other AI-generated trickery, it seems Scarlett Johansson isn't just outperforming co-stars at the box office; she's also the unfortunate headliner of the "Most Impersonated Celebrity in Scams" list. Meanwhile, Tom Hanks, America's beloved fictional castaway and WWII army captain, is being drafted to promote dubious miracle cures. If only these A-listers could earn royalties from their viral AI-generated doppelgängers, right?

In a world where it's becoming harder to separate fact from fiction—whether it's a fake celebrity endorsement or a genuine one—this might sound a little close to home if you're involved in the outbound calling scene. Let's face it, folks: in the realm of telecommunication, you're often only as good as your reputation. And no, "reputation" isn't some mythological creature you read about in marketing textbooks—it’s a living, breathing asset or liability, depending on how your numbers are doing.

In case you haven't noticed, the art of reaching out via phone isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days when only a few entities had the power to dial a customer’s sacred phone number. Now that we have technology like auto dialers and power dial software to thank—or blame—for high-volume calling, ensuring those systems are dialed in (pun intended) towards effectiveness is crucial. And that brings us to the plight of low pick-up rates and the ominous threat of spam flagging.

Does it ever feel like your SDR teams are reenacting a rendition of "Waiting for Godot," waiting for someone—anyone—to pick up the phone? Before you question whether you hired the right team, let’s point the magnifying glass at your dialing software. No matter how skilled your team is, they are limited by the power of their tools. If your contact rate is not what you'd expect, shifting your gaze to your predictive dialer might be worth the effort. After all, a tech glitch can have more devastating effects than a poorly rehearsed Tom Hanks deepfake video.

Then there’s the specter of spam flagging, a bed bug you desperately want to exterminate before it starts itching into your revenue. You may have once thought that TCPA regulations were the worst thorn in your side. Oh, those simpler times. Spam flags are now the telephonic Scarlet Letter, effectively dooming your numbers to the spam folder of doom, limiting your ability to reach potential customers just when your products could use some celebrity-level buzz.

But how do we fix this? Ah, here is where the plot thickens, or untangles, depending on who you're asking. Boosting your pick-up rate doesn’t require channeling your inner celebrity to woo customers—not quite, anyway. Instead, start by reevaluating the software in your contact center. Consider options that integrate smart algorithms to ensure only eligible numbers are dialed, keeping you within compliance and away from the scary spam list. Don’t underestimate the utility of a good power dial software that places intelligent dialing at its core.

Moreover, employing techniques for phone number remediation can also prove effective. Imagine getting a second act at telephonic reputation, free from the haunting spam flag. Time and again, businesses overlook the power of maintaining stellar phone number health—until they realize it’s akin to a celebrity regaining public favor after a scandal.

If not picking up the phone feels like the reigning trend, just remember that technology—even that as maliciously creative as deepfakes—can be an ally when applied correctly. The systems you deploy determine if you're a welcome party beneath a crystal chandelier or an uninvited guest.

Let's give credit to where it's due—deepfakes may win internet notoriety, but it's savvy dialing systems that can help turn those low contact rates into success stories. It's only when humans collaborate effectively with technology that we unblur the lines between what's real and what isn't. Because, let's face it, not every dial can be a call with Scarlett Johansson, unless of course, you're dialing faux-lebrity levels of trickery.

In short, rebellious AI doing impersonations should prompt you to equally scrutinize the impersonation capabilities of your dialing systems. Don’t let low pickup rates or spam flagging have the last laugh—unless, of course, it's a poorly rendered, creepy celebrity voice, which can't quite land a punchline anyway.