Why Put A Phone Number On Your Site…
When you don’t plan on returning your calls?
Mini rant here. I’ve been told some not very nice things because I use a help desk system instead of a phone number. I understand we all prefer different methods of communication. But seriously, don’t judge the website by the telephone number (or lack of it) 😉
I recently tried to contact someone who displays his telephone number prominently in the contact/support area. But here’s what gets to me.
First of all, I was re-directed to a line of someone I wasn’t expecting. Instead of announcing the company or website or site owner, e.g. “Thank you for calling TechBasedMarketing.com or Lynette Chandler”, the voicemail message gave me zero idea who I just called and left me wondering if the number is even legit.
Next, it’s been over 10 days and still no return call. I made very sure to state my name, phone number and even website address clearly. C’mon folks. Even if you were going to turn me down, the least you could do is return my call and say “No thank you.”
Disappointed 🙁
Me thinks. If you don’t plan on returning calls or don’t want to talk to someone, don’t bother to put your phone number on your site.
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Hi Lynette, You are so right in your rant about telephone numbers left on sites and no one at the other end.
By the way, I like your ‘share this’ link, clean and simple to use. Where do I find it?
Thanks!
Hi Lynette, You are so right in your rant about telephone numbers left on sites and no one at the other end.
By the way, I like your ‘share this’ link, clean and simple to use. Where do I find it?
Thanks!
Thanks for posting this Lynette. It reminded me to check the Grand Central phone number posted on my wife’s polymer clay web site. I found out that they have had some growing pains which resulted in a few system glitches. If anyone is using the Grand Central and have not heard from them in a while, it’s probably a good idea to check up on your account.
PS: I didn’t have time to get involved in your easter egg hunt but hopefully it was fun for everyone.
Thanks for posting this Lynette. It reminded me to check the Grand Central phone number posted on my wife’s polymer clay web site. I found out that they have had some growing pains which resulted in a few system glitches. If anyone is using the Grand Central and have not heard from them in a while, it’s probably a good idea to check up on your account.
PS: I didn’t have time to get involved in your easter egg hunt but hopefully it was fun for everyone.
@Myrna I use the old ShareThis plugin but made some template changes to highlight it
@Doug hey there. Are you getting notices by email? I have notices by SMS. So far that has worked out OK but like everything else it’s good to have someone check on it regularly. This is one of those things that are so easily outsourced.
FYI they still haven’t called me
@Myrna I use the old ShareThis plugin but made some template changes to highlight it
@Doug hey there. Are you getting notices by email? I have notices by SMS. So far that has worked out OK but like everything else it’s good to have someone check on it regularly. This is one of those things that are so easily outsourced.
FYI they still haven’t called me
Yes I’ve got my notices set up for email delivery. Everything working fine now. Note to self: Do more outsourcing 🙂
Yes I’ve got my notices set up for email delivery. Everything working fine now. Note to self: Do more outsourcing 🙂
I have actually run across a study where a web owner was using Muvar a set it and forget it kind program to statistically test variables on a site and they found that listing a phone number actually decreased there sales! Sounds strange doesn’t it? But like you said everyone is different in terms of how they like to communicate it in that study it was statistically proven to reduce sales.
I have actually run across a study where a web owner was using Muvar a set it and forget it kind program to statistically test variables on a site and they found that listing a phone number actually decreased there sales! Sounds strange doesn’t it? But like you said everyone is different in terms of how they like to communicate it in that study it was statistically proven to reduce sales.
I like seeing a phone number on a site – it makes it more “credible” to me. But, you’re so right that it can backfire.
About 18 months ago, I was very interested in signing up for a program. I was quite familiar with the person offering it, although I didn’t know her personally. I called her at about 7pm thinking that I’d get voice mail and I could leave a detailed message to have her call me back.
Instead I got a very unprepared, flustered woman on the other end. It was indeed the person I wanted to talk to, but she seemed so disinterested and out of it, that I hung up.
Needless to say, she lost the sale.
So, please have a separate business line or a way to know it’s a business call. And if you’re not ready for “business” for goodness sakes, don’t answer the phone.
That’s my rant, Lynette 🙂
All the best,
Merlyn
I like seeing a phone number on a site – it makes it more “credible” to me. But, you’re so right that it can backfire.
About 18 months ago, I was very interested in signing up for a program. I was quite familiar with the person offering it, although I didn’t know her personally. I called her at about 7pm thinking that I’d get voice mail and I could leave a detailed message to have her call me back.
Instead I got a very unprepared, flustered woman on the other end. It was indeed the person I wanted to talk to, but she seemed so disinterested and out of it, that I hung up.
Needless to say, she lost the sale.
So, please have a separate business line or a way to know it’s a business call. And if you’re not ready for “business” for goodness sakes, don’t answer the phone.
That’s my rant, Lynette 🙂
All the best,
Merlyn
I have just ONE small website that includes my phone number.
I made the mistake of putting it on my other sites and was BOMBARDED by cold-callers and niusance calls from total DORKS.
I now have an extremely cheap mobile phone with NO credit on it. If people are prepared to phone THAT number I will answer it. Any nonsense and I hang up immediately.
Acts like a pretty good filter. If the caller is genuine, you then give them the cheaper rate number.
Pete.
I have just ONE small website that includes my phone number.
I made the mistake of putting it on my other sites and was BOMBARDED by cold-callers and niusance calls from total DORKS.
I now have an extremely cheap mobile phone with NO credit on it. If people are prepared to phone THAT number I will answer it. Any nonsense and I hang up immediately.
Acts like a pretty good filter. If the caller is genuine, you then give them the cheaper rate number.
Pete.
Yes, you are righ, It’s gain nothing good but may in bad, like you, complaining that they have not responded.
Yes, you are righ, It’s gain nothing good but may in bad, like you, complaining that they have not responded.
I like to see phone numbers on sites because you can use reverse phone trace services such as that at http://www.phone-number-trace.com and then see if they are who they say they are.
I like to see phone numbers on sites because you can use reverse phone trace services such as that at http://www.phone-number-trace.com and then see if they are who they say they are.
Hey all, thanks for your input. I think we can all agree it’s not so much about the method of communication. No matter which we choose to use, we should have the courtesy to respond. Whether we respond to it ourselves or not is irrelevant. As long as someone responds.
James, interesting you say that. I wonder how that would work when someone uses a service like SkypeIn or in my case, I use GrandCentral. Would it supply accurate information?
I tried using that to check up my GrandCentral number. The geographical location is pretty close but I’m not paying $40 to find out the name etc.
Hey all, thanks for your input. I think we can all agree it’s not so much about the method of communication. No matter which we choose to use, we should have the courtesy to respond. Whether we respond to it ourselves or not is irrelevant. As long as someone responds.
James, interesting you say that. I wonder how that would work when someone uses a service like SkypeIn or in my case, I use GrandCentral. Would it supply accurate information?
I tried using that to check up my GrandCentral number. The geographical location is pretty close but I’m not paying $40 to find out the name etc.
I agree. I think that sometimes folks get hear somebody say some piece of advice like “conversions were 25% better with a phone number on the web site and no one ever called me” and so just stick one up. We tend to forget that the number implies a level of customer service that if we don’t achieve then the reaction will be for the customer to run, not walk away, and so in the end it’s counterproductive to promise and not deliver.
I agree. I think that sometimes folks get hear somebody say some piece of advice like “conversions were 25% better with a phone number on the web site and no one ever called me” and so just stick one up. We tend to forget that the number implies a level of customer service that if we don’t achieve then the reaction will be for the customer to run, not walk away, and so in the end it’s counterproductive to promise and not deliver.