Data decay is inevitable Proactive cleaning is vital

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Website Forms: Include clear, unchecked opt-in checkboxes for phone calls and SMS on all web forms (e.g., "Yes, I agree to receive [Type of calls/SMS] from [Your Company]").
Event Sign-ups: Use digital sign-up tools that capture phone numbers with explicit opt-in for specific communications.
Third-Party Data: If using external lead sources, rigorously vet their compliance practices and ensure they provide auditable proof of consent for the numbers they supply. Assume you need to re-verify consent.
Transparency: Clearly inform individuals how their phone number will be used at the point of collection, referencing your privacy policy.
3. Embrace Comprehensive Data Cleaning and Validation

Phone Number Validation:
Real-time APIs: Integrate phone validation APIs (e.g., Twilio Lookup, Phone Validator) with new zealand mobile number list your CRM/dialer to instantly check if a number is active, valid, and identify its type (mobile, landline, VoIP) at the point of entry or before a campaign launch.
Batch Validation: Regularly run your entire database through a batch validation service to identify and flag or remove disconnected numbers.
Deduplication:
Automated Rules: Configure your CRM to automatically identify and merge or flag duplicate phone numbers based on various criteria (exact match, partial match, combined with name/email).
Regular Audits: Periodically review potential duplicates flagged by the system.
Standardization:
Consistent Formatting: Ensure all phone numbers are stored in a consistent, international format (e.g., E.164: +CountryCodeNumber). This is crucial for accurate dialing and DNC scrubbing.
Remove Extraneous Characters: Eliminate spaces, hyphens, parentheses, and other non-numeric characters.
4. Implement Robust Compliance Management
This is perhaps the most critical aspect of phone database management.

Do Not Call (DNC) List Scrubbing:
National Registries: Integrate with or regularly scrub your outbound calling lists against all relevant national Do Not Call registries (e.g., TCPA's National DNC Registry in the US, TPS/CTPS in the UK, DNCL in Canada) and any applicable state/provincial DNC lists. This should be done frequently (e.g., every 30 days or before each campaign).