Is your answer rate collapsing and you immediately blame spam? Classic mistake. In 2026, it takes an average of 18 calls to reach a decision-maker prospect, according to data from Plezi. But this growing difficulty isn't solely explained by spam reports. Here's a comprehensive analysis of factors that actually impact your reachability.
The "all spam" myth
When answer rates drop, the reflex is to blame spam. However, according to Captain Prospect's 2025 National Barometer, the average B2B contact rate sits between 15% and 25% depending on sectors, with a national average of 17%. These figures have been relatively stable for years — well before the spam report explosion.
Spam is one factor among others. In reality, 7 main causes explain why your prospects don't answer.
The 7 factors impacting your answer rate
1. Call timing
When you call is decisive. Internal call center data shows that:
- Late afternoon (4-5 PM): best answer rates
- Thursday: most performant day of the week
- Monday morning and Friday afternoon: avoid absolutely
With widespread remote work (over 1 in 5 employees work remotely regularly), rhythms have changed. Prospects are less reachable during "classic" office hours.
2. Attempt frequency
According to Cognism's 2025 Report, 93% of conversations occur during the first 3 calls. Beyond that:
- From 1st to 2nd call: response rate drops by 73%
- From 2nd to 3rd call: another 60% drop
- After the 7th call: chances become minimal
Conclusion? Calling the same prospect 10 times doesn't increase your chances — it destroys them because you generate reports. Discover how many calls per day before being marked as spam.
3. Phone prefix choice
A mobile number will be perceived differently than a landline or VoIP number:
- Landlines: "local" perception, higher answer rates in some regions
- Mobile: more personal but also more reported
- VoIP: often associated with call centers
Prefix choice must be strategic. A high reputation score is useless if the prefix itself puts off your prospects.
4. Target market saturation
Some sectors are literally bombarded with calls:
| Sector | Average answer rate | Context |
|---|---|---|
| IT / Digital | 22-25% | Experienced decision-makers, receptive if targeted |
| B2B Services | 18-22% | Good potential with optimized CRM |
| Industry / Construction | 12-15% | Decision-makers in the field, hard to reach |
| Telecom / Energy | 10-15% | Extreme saturation, immediate distrust |
If you prospect in a saturated sector, the problem might not be your number but your prospects' fatigue.
5. Targeting quality
Imprecise targeting multiplies "empty" calls:
- Wrong contact (not the decision-maker)
- Company out of scope (size, sector, maturity)
- Outdated data (position change, departure)
Targeting quality sometimes explains 50% of performance gaps between two identical campaigns.
6. Dialing mode (dialer)
The choice between predictive and progressive dialer directly impacts your answer rate:
- Predictive: high volume but "ghost" calls (prospect answers, nobody there) → reports
- Progressive: less volume but better contact quality
7. Regulatory environment
Since the June 30, 2025 law, telephone canvassing to individuals will require prior mandatory consent from August 11, 2026. This regulatory change pushes companies to intensify their B2C campaigns before the deadline, which saturates the market and lowers answer rates for everyone.
How to diagnose your answer rate problems
Step 1: Check your reputation
Before blaming spam, measure it. Use our instant verification to know the exact status of your numbers on major anti-spam databases.
Step 2: Analyze your KPIs
Compare your results to sector benchmarks:
- Answer rate < 10%: probable reputation problem
- Answer rate 10-17%: in the average, optimize targeting
- Answer rate > 20%: good performance, stay the course
Step 3: Test variables
Isolate each factor to identify the cause:
- Test different time slots over a week
- Compare performance by phone prefix
- Measure the impact of follow-up frequency
- Analyze gaps by market segment
Step 4: Cross-reference with reports
Low answer rate + high reports = confirmed spam problem.
Low answer rate + normal reports = targeting or timing problem.
Solutions based on diagnosis
| Diagnosis | Priority solution |
|---|---|
| Degraded reputation | Number rotation, progressive warming |
| Bad timing | Reorganize call slots |
| Saturated sector | Multichannel approach (email + LinkedIn + phone) |
| Imprecise targeting | Data enrichment, prior qualification |
| Misconfigured dialer | Switch to progressive mode |
💡 Key takeaway: Precise diagnosis is key. Systematically blaming spam without data makes you waste time and money on unsuitable solutions.
