i would take your number off immediately. i wouldn't put a phone number up unless you open up an actual business with an office and such. when freelancing? no. much too dangerous in my mind.
I'm (still) working on a website for my company. We're very small, only about 10 employees total, so we're all friendly with each other, and since we all work out of our own homes we don't see each other very often.
My boss insists on calling me to bounce ideas around. What I've told him is this: "You can call me if you want to, but anything we talk about on the phone is not going to be taken seriously or make it onto the website, unless you back it up with an email." This creates a paper trail and eliminates any chance for me to misconstrue what was requested, or for him to change is mind and blame it on me (he's like that).
These days, though I agree with frick about not posting your personal # for security reasons, there are a number of ways to get a disposable number to use for business. Things like GrandCentral or Skype can be used anonymously to forward calls to your phone if you feel like you absolutely have to list one
( ... )
I took my number off, not so much because I'm concerned about safety (I am, of course, but that isn't my first concern. Though that might just be the Facebook generation speaking). More because I thought as someone starting out, I don't have the... well, frankly, the option of picking and choosing clients by removing a channel of communication that they prefer. I'll just give them the number later on, if needed, after we've established a partnership. I feel like it's a little self-important to say "If my potential clients can't even use email, they're not clients I want." I don't think that's true at all (although I do find it exasperating to work with people who are that technologically challenged). But I want this to be my career, so I don't want to start dreading every new client just because I think they're going to contact me by phone. Anyhow, thanks again : )
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My boss insists on calling me to bounce ideas around. What I've told him is this:
"You can call me if you want to, but anything we talk about on the phone is not going to be taken seriously or make it onto the website, unless you back it up with an email."
This creates a paper trail and eliminates any chance for me to misconstrue what was requested, or for him to change is mind and blame it on me (he's like that).
These days, though I agree with frick about not posting your personal # for security reasons, there are a number of ways to get a disposable number to use for business. Things like GrandCentral or Skype can be used anonymously to forward calls to your phone if you feel like you absolutely have to list one ( ... )
Reply
I took my number off, not so much because I'm concerned about safety (I am, of course, but that isn't my first concern. Though that might just be the Facebook generation speaking). More because I thought as someone starting out, I don't have the... well, frankly, the option of picking and choosing clients by removing a channel of communication that they prefer. I'll just give them the number later on, if needed, after we've established a partnership.
I feel like it's a little self-important to say "If my potential clients can't even use email, they're not clients I want." I don't think that's true at all (although I do find it exasperating to work with people who are that technologically challenged). But I want this to be my career, so I don't want to start dreading every new client just because I think they're going to contact me by phone.
Anyhow, thanks again : )
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