Why You Need to List Your Business Phone Number

Do you have your business phone listed in the white page or in 411 Directory Assistance? If you don’t, you are putting yourself at risk when a potential customer decides to search for your number because they want to purchase the product or service you offer. If the 411 operator doesn’t come up with your number, the customer may be a little disgruntled, and the next action they will take will be to give their business to one of your direct competitors. It also detracts from your business image when a customer does not find you in the book or in the directory assistance database. Your small business is not perceived as stable when people can’t find you easily.

Here is something else to consider – some business loan lenders will confirm the legitimacy of your business by checking Directory Assistance and the phone book. If they don’t find you there, the chances of being extended business credit by that lender are slim to nil.
 
If you have a land line, the matter of getting your business phone number listed is standard and automatic. However, in this age of modern technology, many small business owners are opting to use a wireless phone system such as VOIP or cell phones to communicate with clients. The telecommunications industry has been shuffling around the concept for a wireless 411 directory for some time, but there is a great deal of controversy over the matter. Although the FCC insists that it’s illegal for telemarketers to use automated dialers to call wireless phones, many consumers are nervous about the prospect. The FCC says this type of directory would have to be opt-in for consumers to be included and no printed or electronic list would be made available to telemarketing agencies.

In the meantime, there are a couple things you could do to get your number listed in the current 411 directory. Firstly, you can pay for a land line service without an actual phone hooked up to it that you simply use to forward all your business calls to your wireless phone. That land line number can be listed in the directories. Now, certain wireless phone service providers are giving their clients the option of being listed in a particular national directory. If you have not heard from your service provider about this, call them and ask about it. The point is – get your business phone number listed in the book or in the directory pronto!