I’ve chosen not to use my mobile (cell) phone for my VA business. Why? Because I’m in my office 95% of the time anyway and they can get me via the landline and email – why do I need them calling on my mobile phone too?
I use the mobile phone for personal use only, i.e. family, friends, emergencies. If I’m out of my office I can’t be doing work for clients anyway, as the majority of what I do is done on a computer.
And yet, it seems I’m in a minority and I think it shocks some clients when they ask for my mobile number and I won’t give it to them. I know what will happen if I do. They’ll start using it to ring me all the time – instead of my landline number.
If I need to be hearing from them when I’m away from my office then I’ll simply divert my landline to my mobile phone to receive their calls. But chances are, that if I’m going to be away from my office for sometime (like several days or more) then I’m more likely to divert my landline to one of my VA team members to handle calls in my absence.
So, do you use your mobile phone for business, or are you like me, and reserve it for family and friends only? Let’s face it, there’s little opportunity to be ‘disconnected’ from the office with all of today’s technologies. I like to be able to switch off now and then – it’s good for the mind, body and soul.
Chris Jenkins says
Until recently I have also kept my mobile private, however over the last 12 months I have increasingly relied on my mobile to send texts to clients + so now it does get used for business. I’ve resolved this by taking the opportunity when upgrading my mobile to a smart phone, to keep the old phone for business use, + the new phone for personal.
I do now have the problem of carrying two phones during the changeover period, but it’s worth it to be able to manage my time/workload effectively. I still receive txts/phone calls at 10pm or throughout the weekend, but I respond during work hours unless I’ve arranged with clients to do so.
If I don’t look after myself properly by managing my work/personal time effectively, then I’m unable to provide the best service I can for my clients.
Lisa Olinda says
I was amused when I received your post in my inbox this morning. Yesterday I had a client asking for my cell phone number and I responded that I keep my cell for my family’s use only. If I am going to be away from my desk for an extended time I have the ability to divert my work line to my cell (if I choose to do that). When I am out with family and friends I really don’t like dealing with a cell phone. It is there if I need it. Clients can email me if necessary and I often check my email on the go to see if anything urgent needs a quick response. I think we need down time!
Sharyn says
Funnily enough, I give out my mobile number for exactly the reasons you don’t, in fact I actually don’t have a landline at all any more.
I haven’t had a problem with clients calling at strange hours, although I’d be quick to bump a call from anyone who did. I think that’s the biggest reason I prefer giving out a mobile number – I can put the phone on silent if I want to disconnect 1000% and I can bump calls from people when it’s not convenient to talk.
When I know who’s on the other end of the phone I don’t have the same urgency to answer that I do with a landline. If I couldn’t tell whether it’s a client who is a bit of a drama queen fine to send to messagebank or a client who’d only ring if it was really important I’d be far more inclined to answer ‘just in case’.
Daniel Milstein says
Good Share.I hope more people discover your blog because you really know what you’re talking about. Can’t wait to read more from you!
Anne Camien says
I haven’t officially opened my doors (a few months away–I hope), and I have been thinking about how to deal with this. Part of me wants to accessible to clients, but I also want to have my time. How accessible should one be.
I think back to before cells phones were the latest and greatest toy. Businesses and also people got along fine with playing telephone tag even though it was frustrating trying to make contact and first class mail was the only way written communications got to whomever. Are things that much different today just because cell phones are the latest and greatest.
I still haven’t made up my mind, but have almost decided that I’ll let things unfold with an emphasis on keeping some things private.