Connect Rate

Connect rate is the share of outbound dials that become connected calls.

Connect rate equals connected calls divided by total dials, shown as a percentage. If you make 200 dials and 30 are answered, your connect rate is 15 percent.

It is one of the first numbers a sales manager looks at, because it sits at the top of the funnel. A small change in connect rate changes how many conversations reps get each day.

Things that affect connect rate:

• List quality: wrong numbers, disconnected lines, and old data lower it.
• Consent and expectation: people who asked for a call are more likely to answer.
• Timing: the hour of day and day of week in the lead's time zone.
• Caller ID reputation: spam labels lower answer rates.
• Speed to lead: fresh leads tend to pick up more often.
• Retry schedule: a second or third attempt at a different time can reach people the first try missed.

Be careful comparing connect rates across tools or teams. Some count voicemail pickups as connections, others count only live humans. Track the rate by lead source and by phone number so you can tell whether a drop comes from the list or from caller ID problems. Avoid chasing a higher connect rate by calling people who did not agree to be called.