Even the best list decays. Local businesses close, move, rebrand and change phone numbers all the time. A list that was 95% accurate in January is noticeably worse by summer if nobody looks after it. Here's a simple routine that keeps it healthy.
1. De-duplicate by phone number
The same business often shows up several times — once as "ABC Plumbing," once as "ABC Plumbing & Heating Ltd.," once under the owner's name. The phone number is the most reliable key. JAYISAAC de-duplicates by phone before anything reaches you, but if you merge lists from several sources, de-duplicate again.
2. Mark outcomes on every dial
Every call should end with one of a few outcomes: connected, voicemail, no answer, wrong business, disconnected, or do not call. Two of those — disconnected and wrong business — mean the record is bad. Remove it from future campaigns straight away. If you got it from us, report it in the app: bad numbers are reviewed and credited back after review.
3. Respect opt-outs everywhere
When someone says "don't call me again" or replies "unsubscribe," that has to apply across every tool and every rep. Keep one master suppression list (phone numbers and email addresses) and check every new list against it before you start. It's good manners and it's the law in both Canada and the US.
4. Re-check before you re-work
Going back to a list after three months or more? Spot-check a sample of 20 numbers first. If more than two or three are dead, refresh the list before handing it to a rep.
5. Keep the useful context
Don't strip a list down to name and phone. Category, website, rating and city all help a rep open the call well and prioritize the list. They're also how you'll spot patterns later, such as which sub-niche books the most meetings.