What is CNAM?
CNAM stands for Caller ID Name Delivery. But whereas the traditional variant only shows the caller’s phone number, this feature provides the name of the party originating the phone call. It is limited to 15 characters with at least a single non-numeric one, and represents a person or an organization behind the call.
The difference between the traditional and character-based ID programs is important to understand. With standard or traditional ID programs, people looking at their cell or landline will only see digits they very well may not recognize and, with the recent proliferation of spam, will probably just ignore. But with character-based ID programs, they’ll see your own or your company’s name – which will make it much more likely that they will pick up.
What does the CNAM feature look like?
When this feature is activated, your call will appear on a called person’s phone with the pre-set information the number you’re calling from. Instead of just a phone number, there will be the name of your company, yourself, or whatever else you registered when applying for the feature. Like with other inbound calls, on cell phones, there will be an option to swipe or tap to accept the call (this depends upon the type of cell being used) or to reject it. On older landline setups, the CNAM will appear wherever your landline displays text and/or digits.
It’s important to point out that this feature only works if both you and the provider of the person you are contacting are using the same CNAM lookup database. If their provider doesn’t dip into the same database, just your regular number (or the city & state) will show up.
How to set up CNAM with MightyCall
With other business phone service providers CNAM costs from $10 to register, but with MightyCall it’s free.
Setting it up is a very simple process, one which MightyCall will do for you (mostly).
- Decide on a CNAM: You want callers to recognize you right from the get-go. So think of the name you want clients to associate with your company. Usually, this is the company name itself, but you are free to choose any combination of letters and digits you like. The only requirements are to stick to a total of 15 alphanumeric characters max, and to include at least one non-digit character.
- Fill out the form: MightyCall can get you into the CNAM database. Just fill out the form, and MightyCall will get on it.
- Wait: It may take up to 5 business days for your phone number to appear with your chosen nomenclature for people when you give them a phone call. When all’s set up, enjoy the benefits!
How does CNAM work?
This service allows your company name (or your name, or really any chosen name) to appear on the phones of those you decide to ring. This is useful for callers as it makes it far more likely folks will pick up.
The technology works like this. First, you put your information into the lookup database. When you give someone a call, the numbers are run through the database. If they have been located, they are then paired with the text which has been stored and the text appears on the phone of the person who is receiving the call. If that given telephone number was previously input into the person’s contacts, whatever they listed it as will appear instead.
Why use CNAM service?
This is an extraordinarily useful feature which essentially any business could benefit from using. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider giving it a go:
Free advertising
Normally number identification costs $10 to register, but with MightyCall it’s free – we take care of it for you. This essentially means you pay nothing extra to be able to take full advantage of displaying your information on the telephones of those you are contacting. Just by making a call, you make others aware of your existence. No need to run an ad campaign.
Make people aware of you (or your brand)
If you’re just starting off or trying to expand into a geographic area in which you otherwise have not been present, being able to display your caller name instead of a random phone number will go a long way toward presenting yourself to new audiences and potential clients.
Separate yourself from spam
Spam callers are spreading like wildfire across the virtual landscape, and they have made people extraordinarily reticent to answering calls when it’s uncertain who is on the other side. But when a name appears on their phone, they’ll be more likely to pick up, as they can be more secure in knowing who they’re speaking to.
Associate your digits with your brand
It’s hard for people to memorize new numbers. With this feature, you can associate your name with your digits in people’s heads. Think Pavlov’s dogs, but phone numbers.
Use case
For example, you own a company that provides psychological help. Hence, you want to be recognizable. If you put the name of your business instead of the number for outbound calls, the customers will know who is calling. This feature increases your clients’ trust because they see the name of your company, so the chance that they will pick your calls is higher.
Helpful terms to know about CNAM
- Robocall: Robocalls are made by “robots” and are almost always spam. This feature can help mitigate this and makes it more likely for people to respond when you contact them.
- Local Numbers: When you read “local”, what does that indicate? It means that a number is in your region. It may not necessarily be your county, but it’ll be an area code from the region that you’ve been assigned to by the North American Numbering Plan.
- VoIP: Standing for the voice over internet protocol, this technology allows using online telephony to make phone calls over the internet.
- CNAM information: This refers to the information one has to enter in order to be added into the database. This includes details like your name, phone number, and the company name to show on calls.
Ready to start using CNAM?
So, the Calling Name Delivery allows you to make a sale with every ring of the telephone. It’s free advertising. It’s something that can take your business to the next level. But when looking for a phone system which offers it, it’s important to look at the big picture: a service which offers that plus dozens more crucial features, strong security settings, and a devoted support staff. That service is MightyCall, and it’s waiting for you.
