How to identify ready to call leads using Phonereadyleads filters

If you’re tired of calling leads who never pick up, you’re not alone. Sales teams waste hours dialing dead numbers, chasing voicemails, or worse—hitting phone trees that go nowhere. This guide is for anyone who wants to stop wasting time and get straight to having real conversations. We’re going to dig into how to spot those “ready to call” leads using Phonereadyleads filters, so you spend less time dialing and more time actually selling.

Let’s skip the fluff. Here’s how to separate the leads worth your time from the ones that’ll just eat it up.

1. Understand What “Ready to Call” Actually Means

Before diving into filters and dashboards, get clear on your real goal: you don’t want more leads, you want reachable leads. “Ready to call” doesn’t mean someone who filled out a form last week. It means:

  • They’re likely to answer the phone
  • You have a verified, direct number
  • They haven’t opted out or made themselves unreachable

Forget about “MQLs” or “hot intent signals” for a second. The best lead is someone who’ll actually pick up when you call. That’s what Phonereadyleads tries to surface—leads with a high probability of answering, based on real call data.

2. Get to Know the Phonereadyleads Filters

Phonereadyleads gives you a set of filters to slice your lead lists by real-world call outcomes. Here’s what you’ll typically see:

  • Connect Rate: The percentage of times someone answered the phone in past attempts.
  • First Connect Date: When was the last successful connection?
  • Phone Type: Mobile, direct line, main line, or generic.
  • Do Not Call (DNC) Status: Self-explanatory, but don’t ignore it.
  • Recent Activity: How recently has this number been dialed or answered?

Pro tip: Ignore fluffy filters like “job title” or “company size” for now. You’re trying to get people on the phone, not build a perfect demographic profile.

3. Step-by-Step: How to Use Filters to Find Ready to Call Leads

Here’s a no-nonsense workflow:

Step 1: Start with Connect Rate

  • Set a baseline: Filter for leads with a connect rate above 20-30%. That means at least 1 in 3 or 4 calls gets answered.
  • Why it matters: If someone’s never answered in 10+ attempts, odds are they won’t start now.

Step 2: Filter by Recent Connects

  • Look for leads with a successful connection in the last 7-14 days.
    • These folks answer their phones and are probably still at their desk (or at least still employed).
  • Skip leads with “never connected” status unless you have no other options.

Step 3: Prioritize Direct and Mobile Lines

  • Main lines and generic switchboards waste time.
  • Focus on numbers labeled as “mobile” or “direct”—these are way more likely to reach the actual person.

Step 4: Respect DNC and Opt-Outs

  • Don’t get cute here. If someone’s marked “Do Not Call,” take it seriously. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about not burning bridges.

Step 5: Sort by Recent Activity

  • Freshly called leads are top of mind and more likely to remember you.
  • If your CRM or Phonereadyleads instance shows recent dials or connects, bump those to the top.

Quick Example Workflow

Let’s say you upload a list of 2,000 leads. Here’s how you’d narrow it down:

  1. Filter out leads with zero connects in 10+ attempts (gone).
  2. Of the remainder, show only those with a connect in the last 14 days.
  3. Prioritize direct/mobile numbers.
  4. Exclude DNC and stale numbers.
  5. You’re probably left with 100-200 “ready to call” leads—these are your A-list.

4. What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)

What Works

  • Focusing on actual connect data. Forget intent signals—nothing beats proof that someone answers their phone.
  • Calling direct and mobile lines first. Don’t waste time with main lines.
  • Keeping your list fresh. Leads go stale fast. The more recent the activity, the better.

What Doesn’t

  • Endlessly re-calling leads who never pick up. If it hasn’t happened after multiple attempts, move on.
  • Relying on email engagement as a proxy. Just because someone opened your email doesn’t mean they’ll answer your call.
  • Trusting third-party data without validation. Databases are full of outdated info. Use filters that reflect what’s actually happening.

What to Ignore

  • Vanity metrics (like “number of leads dialed”)
  • Overly complicated scoring systems
  • Chasing perfect lead profiles at the expense of reachability

5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • Mistake: Calling every lead regardless of connect history.
    • Fix: Use connect rate and recent connect filters ruthlessly.
  • Mistake: Ignoring DNC lists or opt-outs.
    • Fix: Make DNC a default filter.
  • Mistake: Not refreshing your lead list.
    • Fix: Run new filters every week. People change jobs; numbers go stale.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to let go of leads that aren’t picking up. You’re not “wasting” potential—you’re freeing up time to talk to people who will actually answer.

6. Advanced Tips and Real Talk

  • Time of day matters. If you see patterns in connect times, use that info to batch your calls.
  • Test and iterate. What works for one industry or region might not work for another. Adjust your filters over time.
  • Don’t overthink it. Calling 30 good leads is better than dialing 300 bad ones.

A Note on Automation

Automated dialers, sequencers, and CRMs all promise the moon. But no tech can make a bad number pick up. Use automation to speed up the process, not to shortcut lead quality. Filters are only as good as the data behind them.

7. Recap: Keep It Simple and Iterate

Don’t get lost in dashboards or try to chase every metric. The goal is simple: find people who answer their phone and talk to them. Use Phonereadyleads filters to zero in on those folks, ignore the rest, and keep tweaking your approach as your results come in.

You don’t need a perfect system. You need a workable one you’ll actually use. Cut out the noise, focus on what gets real connections, and you’ll find yourself spending a whole lot less time chasing ghosts.