Outbound calling is brutal. Between voicemails, wrong numbers, and endless dialing, it’s no wonder reps burn out or just give up. If you’re running a sales team, or you’re the one still grinding through cold calls, you know the pain: manual dialing wastes hours, and most “productivity hacks” are just smoke and mirrors.
If you’re looking for a real tool to make outbound calling less soul-crushing—and maybe even effective—it’s worth taking a hard look at Kixie and its power dialer. This guide cuts through the fluff and shows you how to use Kixie to actually get more calls done, without turning your day into a tech support nightmare.
Who Should Care About Power Dialers?
Let’s get this straight: Power dialers aren’t for everyone. If you make a few calls a week, don’t bother. But if you or your team make 50, 100, or 200+ outbound calls a day, and you’re tired of copy-pasting numbers, leaving voicemails, and tracking notes by hand, then a power dialer is absolutely worth your attention.
Kixie is aimed at small-to-mid sales teams, SDRs, and anyone whose job depends on sheer call volume. It’s not magic, but it can take the grind out of calling—if you use it right.
What Is Kixie’s Power Dialer—And What Does It Actually Do?
Kixie’s power dialer is a tool that automates the worst parts of outbound calling. Here’s the basic idea:
- Auto-dials numbers from your call list, one after another (no more typing or copy-pasting)
- Skips busy signals, unanswered calls, and bad numbers automatically
- Logs calls and notes to your CRM (if you set it up right)
- Lets you drop pre-recorded voicemails when you hit voicemail, so you don’t have to repeat yourself
- Click-to-call in your browser and integrates with most major CRMs
That’s the promise. The reality depends on your setup, your processes, and how much you’re willing to tweak things to fit your workflow.
Step 1: Get Kixie Set Up—Without Losing Your Mind
Most sales tech claims “easy setup,” but let’s be honest—it’s usually a hassle. Here’s what you actually need to do to get Kixie running:
- Sign up for a trial or plan. Kixie isn’t free (expect to pay per user, per month). Trials are available, and you should take advantage.
- Install the Kixie browser extension or desktop app. Chrome’s the main browser supported, and it works best there.
- Integrate with your CRM. Kixie works with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and a handful of others. The integration is pretty solid, but double-check that your CRM is supported before you buy.
- Import your call lists. You can usually pull lists right from your CRM, but you can also upload CSVs if you’re old-school.
- Set up your caller ID and local presence. Kixie lets you spoof local area codes to look less spammy. Use this with care—it improves pickup rates, but don’t get greedy or you’ll look like a robocaller.
Pro Tip: Do a test call to your own phone. Make sure caller ID is working, audio is clear, and CRM logging is happening. Fix issues now—don’t wait until you’re ten calls deep.
Step 2: Building Call Lists That Don’t Suck
Even the fanciest dialer is useless if you’re calling garbage lists. Before you start blasting out calls, make sure your list is:
- Relevant: Filter your prospects so you’re not wasting time on tire-kickers.
- Clean: Double-check for duplicates, wrong numbers, or folks who’ve already said “take me off your list.”
- Segmented: Break lists into logical batches (by industry, region, deal stage, etc.), so you can focus and adjust your pitch.
Ignore: The urge to just “call everyone.” Quality beats quantity, even with automation.
Pro Tip: Set aside time each week to clean up your lists. It’s boring but pays off.
Step 3: Dialing—The Right Way
Here’s where Kixie’s power dialer pays off. Once you’ve loaded your list:
- Start the power dialer session. Kixie will automatically start calling numbers in order.
- Handle calls as they come in:
- If someone picks up, do your thing.
- If it’s voicemail, you can drop a pre-recorded message and move on instantly.
- If it’s a busy signal or no answer, Kixie skips ahead.
- Take notes in real time. You can jot down notes in the Kixie window, which will sync with your CRM if it’s set up right.
- Pause or skip as needed. You’re not chained to the dialer—pause for a break, skip a bad lead, or stop the session anytime.
What Works: - Auto-skipping dead numbers saves a ton of time. - Voicemail drop is a lifesaver if you’re leaving the same message over and over. - Call logging is reliable if the CRM integration is working (test this!).
What Doesn’t: - Don’t expect AI to “write your notes” for you. Keep it short and manual. - If your CRM isn’t supported, the whole workflow falls apart. Don’t try to hack it—switch tools or CRMs.
Step 4: Tracking Performance—And Actually Using the Data
Kixie gives you basic analytics: number of dials, connects, talk time, voicemails, and more. Here’s how to use it without drowning in charts:
- Track your daily call volume and set targets, but don’t obsess over vanity metrics.
- Watch connect rates (calls that actually reach a human). If these are low, your list might suck or you’re calling at the wrong times.
- Review your call outcomes. Are you booking meetings, or just burning time? Adjust your scripts or lists accordingly.
Ignore: Fancy dashboards that don’t tie back to real results. Focus on booked meetings, pipeline, or whatever metric actually matters for your team.
Step 5: Avoiding the Common Pitfalls
Let’s be real—most sales teams mess up power dialer rollouts. Here’s how to avoid the usual traps:
- Don’t blast through lists without context. Take a few seconds to review each contact before calling.
- Don’t rely on scripts alone. The best reps adjust on the fly, even if it’s just a small tweak.
- Watch your call pacing. Going too fast can make you sound robotic or stressed out. Kixie lets you control the speed—slow it down if you’re burning out.
- Respect opt-outs and do-not-call lists. This isn’t just ethical; it’ll save you headaches down the line.
Pro Tip: Power dialers can be exhausting. Set realistic daily call goals, and take regular breaks. Burnout is real.
Step 6: Tweaking Kixie to Fit Your Workflow
Kixie comes with lots of optional features—some useful, some not so much. Here’s what to pay attention to (and what to skip):
Worth Trying: - Local presence dialing (but don’t abuse it). - CRM workflow automations (like auto-creating tasks or follow-ups). - Click-to-call from CRM records.
Can Probably Ignore: - “AI” call scoring or sentiment analysis. It’s not magic—trust your gut and team feedback. - Overly complex call dispositions. Keep it simple: connected, not connected, follow-up, etc.
Pro Tip: Start with the basics, and add features only when you hit clear bottlenecks. Don’t let shiny features distract you.
Keeping It Simple: Iterate and Improve
Kixie’s not going to turn bad lists or terrible scripts into gold. But if you’re making lots of outbound calls, and you’re tired of the manual grind, it will save you time and headaches—if you use it right.
Get it set up, test everything, and start small. Tweak as you go. The teams that get the most out of tools like Kixie are the ones who keep things simple, pay attention to what’s actually working, and aren’t afraid to ditch what’s not.
Outbound calling is never easy. But with the right workflow, you can spend more time talking to real prospects—and less time cursing at your phone.