What To Do With Your New Business Phone Number

As a small business owner, you know how critical it is to be easy to reach. When customers can find you, you have a better chance of establishing relationships built on trust. 

Missing a call or text or neglecting to respond to an email can lose you business. That’s why it’s essential to make sure business phone numbers are visible to everyone who may want to get in touch… wherever they happen to look.

So, what should you do with a new business phone number? How can you ensure that everyone who needs the number has it just when they need it?

This guide is designed to help you seamlessly transition to your new number and make sure it is visible in all the right places. By following these steps, you’ll maintain strong connections and avoid any potential communication hiccups. 

Transition from old numbers to new numbers

There’s nothing worse than a prospect calling your old number only to find that the number is out of service. By forwarding calls, you’ll be able to make sure that you still receive calls to your old number.

Forward calls from past numbers – Ensure you set up call forwarding from your old number to your new one. This way, you won’t miss any important calls during the transition period.

Notify contacts, partners, and customers – Send out a notification via email or direct mail to all your contacts, partners, and customers informing them of the change. This helps to maintain seamless communication.

Additionally, consider setting up an automated response on your old number informing callers of your new contact details. This can be a simple recorded message that plays before the call is forwarded, ensuring that even those who don’t leave a message know your new number.

Add your new business number to your web presence

Leads, prospects, and customers are likely to find your number online, so you’ll want to make sure your new number is readily available wherever they look. Here’s how to ensure your new number is visible online.

Add to Google My Business

Whenever someone searches for your business on Google, they should see your Google profile with a prominent phone number. There is even a “call” button that allows searchers to call you directly from their phones. 

When you have a new number, update your contact information on Google My Business. This ensures your new number appears in search results and on Google Maps.

Make sure to verify the changes after updating to ensure they are correctly reflected. Google My Business updates can take a few days to process, so plan accordingly.

Update your website

People are likely to look for your number on your website, especially if they have questions or have encountered a problem.

We recommend making sure that the new number is prominent in key areas of your site. Set up a call routing so that voicemails are received and reviewed by your support team.

• Header and Footer: Add the new number to the header and footer of your website for easy access.
• Contact Page: Update your contact page with the new number, ensuring it is prominently displayed.
• Include “Call or Text”: Specify if the number can receive texts to encourage more forms of communication.

It’s also helpful to add a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to your contact page, addressing common queries that might otherwise lead to phone calls. This can reduce the number of calls for routine questions, allowing you to focus on more critical inquiries.

Add to Social Media

When you get a new business phone number, be sure to add it to your social media profiles.

• Facebook: Update the phone number in your About section and on any contact buttons.
• Twitter: Add the new number to your profile information.
• Instagram: Include the new number in your bio and contact buttons.
• YouTube: Update your channel’s contact information with the new number.

Update review websites

Most prospects look at reviews before making a purchase. In fact, 95% of customers read online reviews before making a purchase, according to GlobalNewswire. If these customers have questions during the decision-making process, you want to make sure they can reach you. It is essential that your new business phone number is on these sites.

Here are a few websites to update:

• G2
• Capterra
• Yelp
• Google Reviews

Don’t forget other niche review sites relevant to your industry. For instance, if you are in the hospitality industry, updating sites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com is crucial. For service-based businesses, Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor are key platforms.

Update your marketing materials

When you market your business, you need your new phone number to be obvious so that customers can pick up their phone to call or text you. Here are some of the most important materials to update:

Print Marketing Materials

• Business Cards: Print new business cards with the updated phone number.
• Brochures, Pamphlets, and Print Ads: Ensure all printed materials reflect the new contact information.
• Car Wraps/Magnets and Billboards: Update any physical advertising materials like car wraps, magnets, and billboards to display the new number.

When reordering these materials, take the opportunity to review and refresh the design if necessary. A new phone number can be part of a broader rebranding effort, signaling to your customers that you are continuously improving and evolving.

Digital Marketing Materials

• Video Ads: Update any existing video ads to include the new number.
• Digital Assets: Ensure all digital assets, such as downloadable PDFs or digital flyers, are updated.
• Email Signatures: Update your email signature to include the new phone number. This ensures that every email sent carries your current contact information.

Update local directories and industry profiles

Local Directories

Local directories are often the first place people look for services in their area. Ensuring your information is up-to-date can also improve your local SEO, making it easier for new customers to find you.

• Yext: Update your business listing on Yext.
• Chamber of Commerce: Ensure the local Chamber of Commerce has your current number.
• Town/City Website: Update your contact information on relevant municipal websites.

Industry-Related Profiles

Maintaining accurate profiles on these platforms can help build credibility and trust with potential customers. It also ensures that leads from these sites are directed to your correct number, preventing missed opportunities.

• Angi, Thumbtack, BBB, HomeAdvisor, YellowPages, NextDoor: Update your contact information on these platforms to maintain accurate industry presence.

Conclusion: Making your new business phone number work for you

Updating your business phone number across all platforms and materials is crucial for maintaining effective communication with your audience. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure a smooth transition and keep your customers and partners informed.

Additionally, regular audits of your contact information can prevent future discrepancies. Set reminders to review and update your contact details periodically, ensuring they remain accurate and consistent across all channels.

By taking these steps, you’ll not only improve your accessibility but also enhance your overall customer service, making it easier for clients to reach you whenever they need assistance. This proactive approach can significantly boost customer satisfaction and loyalty, contributing to your business’s long-term success.

Updating your phone number: a checklist