Introduction
A "Personal Virtual Number" is a virtual number that allows you to make and receive calls/texts with Lofty and is utilized by an individual user. The Personal Number has its own allocated usage, and you will need to upgrade your call/text package in order to obtain it.
This is different from what is referred to as a "Company Number, " a virtual number that all team members share on a Lofty team.
Summary
Set up Personal Virtual Number
1. Purchase a call/text package.
If you do not already have a call/text package, please see this article: Add Call or Text Packages.
2. From your CRM, is to navigate to Settings>Call/Text >Call/Text Settings>Info & Settings:
Click on "Select A Personal Number"
Choose your country code (only the U.S. and Canada are supported):
Enter your area code and then choose from the available numbers in that area code:
Once you have selected the number, click on the blue "Save" button to continue:
You should see a notification saying that it is being configured and try again.
Once the system is done processing your Personal Virtual Number, the number you selected will appear under the Numbers block.
The Personal Numbers are pulled from a "pool" of numbers. Only numbers available from that "pool" will be displayed. If you are looking to port in a number to use as a Personal Number, please see this article:
Changing Your Personal Number
You can change the Personal Virtual Number at any time by deleting the current number and setting up a new one:
*Please note* If the number is deleted, there is a very high chance you will not get the same number back. Be positive you want to change the number before deleting it.
How it Works
The Lofty dialer does not have integrated VoIP service. Meaning Lofty is not a service provider.
The Personal Number that is purchased through Lofty is used to trigger the call and connect to your "Bridge Number" which should be your mobile phone number or a VoIP number.
Calling from Lofty via Desktop- Outbound
When calling via Desktop, select the lead you want to call:
A pop-up window will appear and will start calling the lead:
At this point, a call will come to the Bridge Number which needs to be answered before the call can connect to the lead.
*If you are calling multiple leads with the 3-line dialer, please see this article: Three Line Dialer Guide
*If you are using a Smart Call List, please see this article: Smart Call Lists
Calling from Lofty via CRM mobile app- Outbound
When calling from the CRM app there will be an option to call with the Personal Number OR the cell phone:
If you choose to call with the Personal number, the call will still need to connect to your mobile phone number in order to call the lead.
If you choose to call with the Cell Phone Number, the call will not be recorded in Lofty.
Inbound Logic
Receiving calls from leads works very similarly. The lead will call the Personal Virtual Number and the call will then connect to your "Bridge Number".
If you miss a call, the lead may receive an "inbound voice message", depending on your call package.
Learn More: Voice Messages for Inbound & Outbound Calls
Bridge Number
You cannot connect a call via Lofty without setting up your bridge number. To set up the bridge number navigate to Settings>Call/Text >Call/Text Settings and click the edit icon. Enter your mobile phone number or VoIP number and click "Save".
*Please note that if you are using an international number as your bridge number, you must include the country code as well as the city/area code.
Once the bridge number, call/text package and personal virtual number are set up, you will be ready to make/receive calls and texts.
Learn More
Adding / Removing Call or Text Packages
Billing, Usage, and Availability for Call/Text Packages
Getting Started with a Virtual Number
FAQs
Q: Why is my Personal Virtual Number not connecting to the Bridge Number?
A: Please follow these troubleshooting steps:
- Check that your Personal Virtual Number is not blocked on your mobile phone
- Check for spam settings such as "silence unknown callers"
- Try to add your Personal Virtual Number as a contact on your mobile phone
- If you are using an international number as your Bridge number, please ensure you have added the full phone number. This would include the country code and city/area code.
Q: How can we prevent receiving spam calls to the virtual number?
A: Try adding your Personal Virtual Number to the National Do Not Call Registry. If this does not work, you can change your Personal Virtual Number
Q: Why is there a delay when connecting from the Personal Virtual Number to the Bridge Number?
A: If you are using a VoIP number, like Google Voice, there is often a delay when making a phone call. This is expected behavior when using VoIP. If your Bridge Number is an international number, there may be a slight delay when connecting. This is also expected behavior.
Q: How does texting work with the Personal Virtual Number?
A:See Texting via Lofty
Q: How can we have someone's number not be labeled as spam or "spam risk" when they call a lead?
A: You can register your numbers via the Free Caller Registry - https://www.freecallerregistry.com/fcr/ and https://www.calltransparency.com/ - This helps register/white-list your numbers with the major carriers and reduces the chances of them being flagged.
All numbers and information provided will be shared with all three Carrier Spam Monitoring Partners - HIYA, TNSI, and First Orion. If you only do ONE thing on this list, do this. Getting your numbers registered has shown to be highly effective in protecting them from being flagged.
Q: If I purchase a virtual number, do I own that phone number?
A: Yes. If you have another service provider that you are able to port the virtual phone number to, you can request to have the number transferred. However, if you do not submit a request, the virtual number will be made available to be purchased by another Lofty user.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this topic or any others, please contact our Support Team via email at <support@lofty.com>, by phone at 1 (855) 981-7557, or chat with us through your CRM.
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