As a newbie who is starting out, I was wondering is it necessary to add a telephone # to your business cards or would an email and website be acceptable?

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Frankie Croker
Virtual Boost: Dental Virtual Support

It's a matter of personal preference whether to include a phone number.

I have a Google Voice # which I include on my marketing materials as some people prefer to call rather than email, so I give them that option. I use Google voice to redirect calls to my home phone and that way I am not publishing my home phone #.

However, if you intend to primarily communicate via email then omitting the phone number would be fine.

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Linda
Clockwise Virtual Assistance

I have a business line connected to the house phone. It only cost's $4 a month and it is a double ring. This way the family knows not to answer it, (especially the hubby as he takes horrible mesages ) I am the only one who can. I have a voicemail for the biz and then for personal.

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Jenn B.
EveryBody Needs a JENN

Frankie,

Giving people as many choices as they can to contact you is ideal.

If you don't have a business number, use Google Voice...it's free and as Linda mentioned calls can be routed to your cell or your home phone and no one will ever know. The only problem I have with Google Voice is that when marketing locally, which I rarely do, but I advertise locally, the GV number is long distance and not local.

However, I would include email, phone, social media sites, website url...offer as many ways as possible to have people contact you. Some people don't want to make a call while others may wish to simply connect on Facebook. People like and appreciate choices so give it to them!

There is a great thread on business cards and design.

Here's a great link to a Google Voice discussion.

Janine

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WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com

I recently had new business cards and I include my phone number, email address, website url and twitter name. I think that's enough for a card, otherwise it would be too cluttereed. If people check out my site they can also contact me via Skype if they prefer.

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Bridie's Typing Services - specialising in transcription services
The professional's choice

I do have a phone number for my business but I choose to keep it off my business card mainly because I don't answer the phone without an appointment.

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indulging entrepreneurs with the gift of time & money via nonpareil support.

I may be the minority here, but I do not include my phone number on my marketing materials. I may decide to change that in the future. I prefer to communicate via email and I want to stress to my clients that this is the preferable method of communication.

For telephone calls, it is in my contract that calls are to be scheduled if possible, and that any calls that are over 10 minutes will be billable as a business meeting. I have a "disclaimer" on my website that explains why my phone number is not listed publicly and that clients will receive my phone number in case they need to call. Of course, I realize that sometimes information is not always clear over email and sometimes phone conversations are needed. In cases where I feel I need more clarification, I do not plan on always charging the client for those conversations. Those charges will be at my discretion, depending on the situation at hand.

I did a lot of thinking about how to handle this. I do not like to talk on the phone (I blame it on several years of working at a catalog retail business early in my life). And I do not like to be constantly interrupted when I am working hard on someone's project-- it is not the best use of my time and I want to be sure that the client I am working for is getting their money's worth out of me. So for me, I feel that it is a win-win situation to not have my phone number listed.

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Chela Lucia
www.LucentAdminSolutions.com The Bright Choice for Virtual Assistance!

LucentVA made me think of another note: I do list my number on my website, but it's shown as VOICEMAIL not as a phone number.

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indulging entrepreneurs with the gift of time & money via nonpareil support.

I currently use my cell phone for my 'work' number and I do advertise it on biz cards, website, etc. The default ring tone is "30-seconds-of-silence" and my phone is set to vibrate. Otherwise, I jump when the phone rings and I'm trying to concentrate. If I don't feel like dealing with anyone at the moment (for whatever reason) I let the call go to voicemail.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I advertise and market my phone number everywhere because I am a newbie and I want to take all calls at this time. Maybe at some point I'll be 'hiding' my telephone number, but for now, call me!!!!

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Terri Williams, Assisting the small business owner
www.terripwilliams.com