If your outbound sales team is tired of wasting time dialing numbers and waiting for people to pick up, you're not alone. Manual calling is slow, error-prone, and honestly, a grind. This guide is for anyone looking to get real work done with a power dialer—specifically, how to set up and use Aloware to make more calls, have better conversations, and stop burning hours on busywork. If you’re a sales manager, SDR, or anyone with a quota, this is for you.
Let’s get into how to actually use Aloware’s power dialer, what works, what’s fluff, and how to skip the headaches.
1. Understand What a Power Dialer Actually Does (and Doesn’t)
Before you even log in, make sure you know what you’re getting. A power dialer isn’t magic. It just calls one number after another, automatically, from a list you provide. If someone answers, you talk. If not, it moves on or leaves a voicemail (depending on your settings).
What it does well: - Cuts down wasted time between calls - Helps reps focus on talking, not clicking - Keeps track of who got called and what happened
What it doesn’t do: - It won’t write your scripts or do your research - It won’t make uninterested people suddenly want to talk - It can’t (and shouldn’t) call hundreds of numbers at once—that’s a predictive dialer, and it’s a different beast
If you expect it to magically triple your connect rate, you’ll be disappointed. If you want to make more calls with less fuss, you’re in the right spot.
2. Get Your List Ready (Don’t Skip This)
Nothing slows down a power dialer faster than a messy list. Aloware works best when you give it clean, well-organized data. Here’s what to do:
- Use a CSV or connect your CRM. Aloware lets you import lists directly or sync with CRMs like HubSpot, Zoho, or Pipedrive. Check your integration in advance.
- Make sure you have phone numbers. Obvious, yes, but you’d be surprised.
- Double-check time zones. Calling someone at 6 AM because you forgot to check their area code is a rookie move.
- Segment your lists. Break big lists into bite-sized chunks—by industry, region, or lead status. You’ll get better conversations and less fatigue.
Pro tip: Don’t just dump every lead you’ve got into one giant list. Start with a focused segment. You can always add more later.
3. Set Up Aloware’s Power Dialer
Once your list is ready, it’s time to get Aloware’s power dialer going. Here’s how:
a. Log in and Find the Power Dialer
- Open Aloware and go to the “Dialer” tab.
- Choose “Power Dialer.” (Don’t confuse this with predictive or preview modes.)
b. Import or Select Your List
- Click “Import” to upload a new CSV or “Select” to pick an existing list.
- If you’re syncing a CRM, make sure the integration is connected and updated.
c. Configure Call Settings
- Caller ID: Pick a number that makes sense for your region or campaign. Rotating or local presence numbers can increase pickup rates, but be careful—overuse can get your number flagged.
- Call pacing: Set how quickly calls are placed. Start slow (1 at a time) and adjust based on your team’s comfort.
- Voicemail drop: Record a voicemail you can “drop” if you hit someone’s inbox. Don’t overuse this—people can tell when it’s a recording.
d. Set Up Call Dispositions
- Create custom call outcomes (“Not interested,” “Call back later,” etc.) so reps can log what happened with a click. This keeps your data clean and reporting useful.
Pitfall to avoid: Don’t get bogged down in a million settings right off the bat. Get the basics working, then tweak as you go.
4. Train Your Team (and Yourself) on the Workflow
Even the best dialer is useless if people don’t know how to use it. Here’s how to roll it out without chaos:
- Show, don’t just tell. Do a live demo with the actual tool. Run through a mock call.
- Have scripts ready, but keep them flexible. Reading word-for-word sounds robotic. Use bullets, not paragraphs.
- Explain what to do when the unexpected happens. (Gatekeepers, wrong numbers, angry folks. It happens.)
- Encourage short, focused sessions. Power dialers are intense—set 30-60 minute calling blocks, not marathon sessions.
Pro tip: Make sure reps know how to pause or stop the dialer if they need a breather, or if a call drags on. Nothing’s worse than being caught off guard when the next call auto-starts.
5. Start Dialing—But Don’t Fall Into the Robot Trap
Once you hit “Start,” calls will begin. Remember, the goal isn’t to blast through as many numbers as possible. It’s to have real conversations.
- Take notes during or right after each call. Don’t rely on memory.
- Use call dispositions religiously. This makes reporting and follow-up a breeze.
- Be human. If you sound like you’re reading a script and just want to get to the next call, prospects will pick up on it.
What works: Focus on quality over sheer volume. Even with a power dialer, the best reps balance speed with genuine conversations.
What doesn’t: Don’t let reps treat this like a telemarketing sweatshop. Burnout is real, and so is the temptation to cut corners.
6. Review Results and Adjust
After a calling session or campaign, dig into what actually happened.
- Check your call outcomes. Are you getting connects? Voicemails? No answers?
- Look for patterns. Are certain times of day or list segments working better?
- Tweak your approach. Adjust your scripts, list segments, or call pacing based on what you see.
Ignore: Vanity metrics like “calls made” if you’re not getting real conversations. Focus on connects, meetings booked, or whatever actually moves your business forward.
7. Avoid These Common Mistakes
A few things trip up teams new to power dialers:
- Calling too fast: If reps can’t keep up, they’ll get flustered and calls will suffer.
- Using spammy caller IDs: Switch numbers too much and you’ll get flagged as spam. Keep it consistent.
- Neglecting follow-up: If you’re not logging outcomes and setting callbacks, you’re just burning leads.
- Not respecting opt-outs: Make sure you’re scrubbing your lists. Nothing nukes your reputation faster than ignoring Do Not Call requests.
8. Scale Up—But Keep It Simple
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can add more reps, bigger lists, and tighter integrations. But don’t rush.
- Add features slowly. Aloware has extras like SMS follow-ups, call recording, and reporting. Use them only when you’re ready.
- Automate carefully. Too much automation too fast leads to mistakes.
- Keep your data clean. Garbage in, garbage out.
Pro tip: The best teams run regular, short check-ins to see what’s working and what’s not. Don’t wait until the end of the quarter to fix problems.
Wrapping Up: Don’t Overthink It
Power dialers like Aloware can make outbound calling less painful—but only if you keep your lists clean, your process simple, and your focus on real conversations. Start small, iron out the kinks, and don’t let fancy features distract you from the basics. Make improvements one tweak at a time. That’s how teams actually get faster and better—not with hype, but with steady progress.