Moved, change phone number?

I use a VOIP phone for my business calls. I just moved to a new area and I am contemplating on if I should change my phone number to reflect a local number or not.

What do you guys think? What would you do? The charge to change a number is $20, but that is kind of the least of my concern. I have been advertising with my phone number for awhile and I worry that by changing it people will try calling and not be able to get ahold of me.

you could always keep the old number & get it diverted to a new one...

joeseph wrote in post #17034797
you could always keep the old number & get it diverted to a new one...

Yes, but then I will be paying for two phone lines. While it is an option, it is not really something I would prefer to do.

Port your old number, if possible, to Google Voice. One time $20 fee. Then forward all calls to your new number. You own the old number and you can get a new number for the new area.

https://support.google​.com/voice/answer/1065​667?hl=en

I couldnt do that because it has to be a mobile phone.

Ultimately, do you guys feel that it is important to have a local number? Or do you think it does not really matter?

There are people who will see a non-local number and think that you are out of the area. I see this all the time at my job. Having said that, I don't know if these people represent your clients and if they would react the same way.

drvnbysound wrote in post #17034959
There are people who will see a non-local number and think that you are out of the area. I see this all the time at my job. Having said that, I don't know if these people represent your clients and if they would react the same way.

Thanks for your input! I too don't know if those who would be my clients would react that way. I talked with my phone provider and found I can keep my old number and instead change my "alternate" number to a new local number.

So I would have my old business number, which I would start to use as a personal number and then a new local number.

In your opinion, do you think it would be best to get a local number to avoid any issues? Or, should I stick with what I have (out of area number)?

Personally I ditched having a landline a good 3 or 4 years ago. In fact over here it is getting quite rare for many photographers to have landlines.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #17034966
Personally I ditched having a landline a good 3 or 4 years ago. In fact over here it is getting quite rare for many photographers to have landlines.

If you only use your cell phone, how do you know when it is a client calling vs a personal call (so you can answer differently)?

Ratjack wrote in post #17034967
If you only use your cell phone, how do you know when it is a client calling vs a personal call (so you can answer differently)?

If it is a personal call chances are I already have their number in my phone. Otherwise I just answer the phone as if it is a business call. It is really a non issue.

Ratjack wrote in post #17034967
If you only use your cell phone, how do you know when it is a client calling vs a personal call (so you can answer differently)?

...I answer every call the same way: even personal calls. And cellphone only here as well, and down under, if you needed another data point.

Ratjack wrote in post #17034930
I couldnt do that because it has to be a mobile phone.

Ultimately, do you guys feel that it is important to have a local number? Or do you think it does not really matter?

OK. Another workaround is to port that phone to a mobile provider. Use one of those prepaid plans. Then after you have it with the carrier then port it to Google Voice.

I helped a friend do this before using a T Mobile prepaid plan.

Yes, it is another step and it costs a little bit more money for that intermediate step, but if that number is important to you then it is an alternative.

I changed mine - although depends on where you live. Here in the PNW, seems there are a lot of transplants and people could look for a local rather than someone else.

Ratjack wrote in post #17034930
I couldnt do that because it has to be a mobile phone.

Ultimately, do you guys feel that it is important to have a local number? Or do you think it does not really matter?

With Google Voice, you can have it send calls to your mobile phone or any other phone you choose, or even multiple phones at once. Also when you have the Google Voice app on your phone you can choose whether you want outgoing calls to appear as coming from your regular mobile # or your Google Voice number.

Are you depending on return customers that will attempt calling on the old number? Do you have advertising that reflects your old number? It's hard to say what to do without knowing what biz you are in.