Landline or mobile number

[Ashley_Price]

I know this has been asked a few times over the years, but now that mobiles are almost so prevalent that it's unusual for someone not to have one, do we feel that a landline number still gives people the reassurance that a business is "legit"?

Or is it the case now, that you can just use a mobile number?

I know for trades like builders, electricians and plumbers, mobiles have long been the norm, but I'm seeing far more "white collar" businesses (accountants, solicitors, HR consultants etc.) just advertising a mobile number.

 

[kkfcXHzmCc]

I know this has been asked a few times over the years, but now that mobiles are almost so prevalent that it's unusual for someone not to have one, do we feel that a landline number still gives people the reassurance that a business is "legit"?

Or is it the case now, that you can just use a mobile number?

I know for trades like builders, electricians and plumbers, mobiles have long been the norm, but I'm seeing far more "white collar" businesses (accountants, solicitors, HR consultants etc.) just advertising a mobile number.

I actually think that having a business number, does make a business look more legit. You can just get that number re-route to a mobile anyway! Though, personally I just expect someone to get back to me in good time; regardless of how.

 

[arnydnxluk]

I suppose it's all subjective. Personally I will assume any business with a mobile number is a one person business. In some cases that's expected and fine but in other cases it could be detrimental to the business.

If your brand is yourself (e.g. you're a contractor) then use either, it makes no odds.

If you're building a brand or want to appear larger than a one person business, then you should use a landline to match that image.

Edit - also I'm fully aware that a landline number doesn't actually mean anything but it's funny what it does subconsciously.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I should mention I am NOT asking for myself, as I have both a landline and mobile number.

However, I am also Secretary of Lewes Chamber of Commerce, and we're currently rebuilding our website and someone mentioned it might be better to have a landline rather than mobile number (mine), for a contact.

This just made me wonder about businesses generally.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I think the fact that some people see a landline as important is actually sufficient answer to the question.

Personally I would expect a Chamber to have a landline (even if it was obviously virtual)

 

[estwig]

I built a website for my Scout Group and got a landline number from Colin, been with him years already. It looks good, we can divert it, have an answerphone message, do what we like with it and it's cheap as chips.

 

[cjd]

You really don't want your personal mobile number on someone else's website! And neither do they. You'll be getting their calls for months after you've left because people will put it into their own phone.

In any case, a 'landline' number makes it look as though there's more than one guy working for the organisation and you can divert it to whoever will stand in for you for holidays etc. What happens out of hours? You'll still get the calls. No, very bad idea!

This is how we do it

https://www.voipfone.co.uk/Call_Forwarding_And_Divert.php

 

[Ashley_Price]

You really don't want your personal mobile number on someone else's website! And neither do they. You'll be getting their calls for months after you've left because people will put it into their own phone.

In any case, a 'landline' number makes it look as though there's more than one guy working for the organisation and you can divert it to whoever will stand in for you for holidays etc. What happens out of hours? You'll still get the calls. No, very bad idea!

I have only just taken over as Secretary, and so I have no plans to leave just yet.

I also get paid (an admittedly small amount) for everything I do for the Chamber. I am happy to answer calls out of hours and while on holiday. I am a virtual PA and clients can call me at any time. Besides I can always switch the mobile off and leave an appropriate outgoing message on the voicemail when I don't want to take calls. (I am one that believes I either take all calls, or not at all. So it doesn't matter whether they are Chamber, one of my clients, a friend, and that's from 7am until 10pm seven days a week.)

But, I have come to an agreement with the President, that I really want to push the Chamber forward and I am willing to put the hours in for that. We're quite a small Chamber (at the moment), so the number of calls averages about one a week.

I know how call forwarding, etc., works, as my landline number is diverted to my mobile as well.

 

[cjd]

Sounds like they got a bargain when they hired you!

I still think having an 07 number on a web site is naff and just shouts small, one man band.

 

[FD Capital]

I've used Skype in before now - so land lines actually rang on Skype which I have on my phone, and you can get Geo-location numbers such as London even if you are not based there. With VOIP there are actually lots of options like that now.

 

[TheWebDesignCompany]

Over the years we have experimented with all kinds of numbers, Localised landline numbers, matching 0800 numbers and mobile numbers.

I get very few calls to the 0800 number these days, (used to get a lot years ago) putting my mobile on forums and messages gets a lot of calls. I have had trouble with a local London number not getting any calls. But the local Essex number gets loads of calls, perhaps it is my industry I don't know, but it doesnt seem to make much difference for me.

I have even had some business cards printed with a mobile number instead of the landline number to test them out...

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I don't like anybody knowing my mobile I have landlines emails and you come and talk to me at our business address and up the yard !
So I am easy to find but I don't want people texting me when I am watching the rugby or phoning my mobile at 3 in the morning.
As a massive Blackberry user over the years I have amassed many handsets . These are now spare work phones so the landlines out of hours are diverted to my work phone or the lead driver/controller .
There is no need what so ever for us to give out mobiles and we have had some massive problems with people returning calls and text to mobiles assuming it is the business line

Ie Driver rings from spare blackberry to say he or her is on their way and the customer assumes this is the business line and weeks later tell us that they can get hold of us !

We have answer phone messages on these phones explaining that this is not a business phone and to call our office number but this somehow gets ignored

 

[cjd]

^^^ This is the problem - mobile numbers are on personal phones, unless you don't care about seperating your business and personal life, I think it's a mistake to use them as your business phone.

And there's no need to, you can have a landline number and divert it to your mobile, switching the divert on and off according to your business hours and devert to another phone oe voicemail when you're not 'on call'.

 

[estwig]

I've had the same mobile number since mobiles became a 'thing', nobody gets my mobile for work stuff.

Clients can call or email me and that's their lot. I work from home, the phone switches to answer message at 5 o'clock, I don't want to hear it ring.