We’re getting to a point where phone numbers matter less and less. Names are saved in my phone so I don’t have to remember them, but a phone call or text is just one of a dozen ways I can contact someone.
As we head toward an essentially number-less future, some relics from the past keep popping up. Just this week alone, I’ve seen a handful of situations where people gave out multiple phone numbers “so I’m easy to reach”, when the reality is that it makes it more difficult.
A man gave me his business card this week, which included a “mobile” number and an “office” number. Which should I call to reach him? If he doesn’t answer one, should I leave a message right then, or try the other one next and leave a message? It’s silly.
“What is your phone number?” – singular.
A more strange example was a landscaping truck that I was behind in traffic. The back of the truck explained what they did, and included two prominent phone numbers stacked on top of one another. There was no indication of what each did, just two numbers to call. Why? Do they go to two different people, so I just try both repeatedly until I get someone?
Clarity always wins
It’s a small thing, but clarity is always your best choice. If you want someone to know where to call you, give them the number. If you need to have multiple places to pick up calls, VoIP systems can help with that, or you could even use a free Google Voice account. Don’t put the burden on your customer to figure out where to call, just make it super easy for them to reach you and begin that connection.
Multiple phone numbers is generally crazy! Maybe, just maybe, I could see value in daytime vs. evening numbers, but we all know how to forward phones.
I do have this one silly fear of not knowing any numbers. Should I ever get arrested, and have that chance to make only one call, uh ... I don't know that number! Same idea, if I'm ever out somewhere, and my phone dies, I can't call for help. "modern world problems"
Remember the day when folks paid for land-line phone calls outside their city? Many businesses had “local” numbers in neighboring cities so they could be reached for free. All because Steve Jobs and AT&T forced the other Telocos to embrace a different paradigm, where the phone company’s strangled apps were replaced by free market ones.