Phone numbers on advertising material

[thom]

I am going to list 2 phone numbers on my advertising material. One of those phone numbers will be clearly marked as a cell phone number. The other will be a land line. Should the land line be marked as "office", or "home"? Or something else? What looks better?

[patrick6411]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by thom I am going to list 2 phone numbers on my advertising material. One of those phone numbers will be clearly marked as a cell phone number. The other will be a land line. Should the land line be marked as "office", or "home"? Or something else? What looks better? Office if you are answering it professionally. I forward our office number to my cell when I know that I will be away from it.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by thom

I am going to list 2 phone numbers on
my advertising material.
One of those phone numbers will be
clearly marked as a cell phone number.
The other will be a land line.
Should the land line be marked as "office",
or "home"?
Or something else?
What looks better?

why oh why would you use a cell phone number in advertising?

you keep it simple and advertise one business line and when you are out and expecting calls have it forwarded to your cell.
this way you will not be advertising your cell to the world as well as you will receive all the calls you are expecting.

always mark number as office anything else including cell phone is unprofessional as well as if you list a cell phone number that will be the first number they call and they will harass you with texts and annoying messages at all hours of the day.

we are just landscapers dude, no one is gonna need a emergency lawn mow or 50 ways to contacts us, we are just landscapers, its not that important and you are probably the only one in your world that thinks it is.

not trying to insult you, just saying.

[patrick6411]

Originally Posted by dpld

why oh why would you use a cell phone number in advertising?

you keep it simple and advertise one business line and when you are out and expecting calls have it forwarded to your cell.
this way you will not be advertising your cell to the world as well as you will receive all the calls you are expecting.

always mark number as office anything else including cell phone is unprofessional as well as if you list a cell phone number that will be the first number they call and they will harass you with texts and annoying messages at all hours of the day.

we are just landscapers dude, no one is gonna need a emergency lawn mow or 50 ways to contacts us, we are just landscapers, its not that important and you are probably the only one in your world that thinks it is.

not trying to insult you, just saying.

You have a great point. When I place ads I never place a cell or an email number on my ads. The reason I don't place email is because a live person is easier to sale my services to then a cell. I don't give my cell out, but don't ever reply to text messages even from family. I sure wouldn't reply to customers.

[LawnBoy0311]

Do the same as above. It makes life MUCH easier! Dont leave your cell #, have the calls forwarded

[Hedgemaster]

My business number IS my cell phone number.

I sure as crap am not giving out my home number, and I don't see the need to pay for another land line where nobody is there to answer.

I'd never advertise that it's my cell number though.



I never thought I'd like texting - at all, but a LOT of my better clients are busy, working people who I communicate with via text messaging a LOT.
It allows for quick questions, offers, reminders, etc to be made in a manner that is much less intrusive than a direct phone call.
I just made an extra $100 today because I texted some clients while in their neighborhood to see if they needed anything while I was there.

All that said, the only other person who calls my cell, is my wife.

[Cashin H&P]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

My business number IS my cell phone number.

I sure as crap am not giving out my home number, and I don't see the need to pay for another land line where nobody is there to answer.

I'd never advertise that it's my cell number though.



I never thought I'd like texting - at all, but a LOT of my better clients are busy, working people who I communicate with via text messaging a LOT.
It allows for quick questions, offers, reminders, etc to be made in a manner that is much less intrusive than a direct phone call.
I just made an extra $100 today because I texted some clients while in their neighborhood to see if they needed anything while I was there.

All that said, the only other person who calls my cell, is my wife.

I agree with hedge, texting customers is awesome. I never though I would allow it but it makes things so much easier. I do have two cell phones though, one for the company and one for my personal use, it only takes drunk dialing a customer once tomake you get a personal phone.

ps. its a good thing that customer happens to be a family friend and though it was the funniest thing it the world!

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by dpld

why oh why would you use a cell phone number in advertising?

you keep it simple and advertise one business line and when you are out and expecting calls have it forwarded to your cell.
this way you will not be advertising your cell to the world as well as you will receive all the calls you are expecting.

always mark number as office anything else including cell phone is unprofessional as well as if you list a cell phone number that will be the first number they call and they will harass you with texts and annoying messages at all hours of the day.

we are just landscapers dude, no one is gonna need a emergency lawn mow or 50 ways to contacts us, we are just landscapers, its not that important and you are probably the only one in your world that thinks it is.

not trying to insult you, just saying.

This is interesting.... I made the mistake of advertising my cell phone for years. So when I get some crazy looking number I dont answer. Then I find out it was a job. Then I get another and answer and its spam. So now I dont answer my phone while I'm working.

I was just doing a tree job and the lady called me 4-5 times from 3 different numbers. When I was done I pulled out my phone to call her and seen all the calls. She was just trying to come by with a check and when I did call her back it was to late. She sent the check in the mail fast but still that was $900 I had to wait 2 days for that wouldve been in my hand.

I talked to another local guy and he did it the same way DLPD mentioned. He only gave out the office number and checked the messages when he was home and done for the day. It does end up being a distraction to handle calls when you have crews to direct and decisions to make in the field.

[Billy Goat]

I hope to have my lawn business up and running before spring. I was wondering what to do about a office line also. From the posts above I see its not a good idea to use your personal cell phone as a office line. I like to sleep at night also.

A second land line would be nice in the future if the business grows but for now I was thinking about getting a second cell phone just for the business. I have a family plan so adding extra phones is cheap. People today text more and more instead of calling on the phone.

Another cheap option not getting a second land line is getting magic jack for your computer. I have a older one but never really use it but I think when I got it, the number is active for for 5 years before renewal. I think the new magic jacks dont even need a computer. They plug right into a network jack.

[patrick6411]

If the cost of the second phone line is what is holding you guys back, try a majicjack. They work pretty good and are cheap. You are able to forward it to your cell.