Phone...?

[ellenmillion]

So... first point: I hate phones. This appears to be a girl-geek feature. Every girl I know who also falls (usually willingly and self-diagnosed) into the geek category also hates phones. Whether this is a knee-jerk reaction to the girly-girl stereotype of gossipy, phone-toting girls, or something else is moot. Just an interesting observation.

Second: I do, with increasing frequency, get asked for a phone number to call. Usually for print services, but sometimes for EMG artist stuff, or various other things.

See point one. I HATE phones. I can feel my IQ dropping to my toes when I pick up a receiver.

I've gotten away, thus far, with a brush-off: 'I work at home and don't give that number out.' But it does give me pause. Do I tarnish my professional veneer by NOT having a business phone? Do people feel more secure having someone to call and talk to? Have I lost business by not being a 'phone person?'

I'm considering looking into getting a number and answering service, but a) shudder at the cost and b) HATE PHONES.

What do you think?

Comments

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I do the phone thing, but reluctantly. The website states "strongly prefer E-mail contact". The last few months, I've had this "show number function", at least then I can sort of mentally prepare myself for a professional talk. I guess this makes me a geek too. :)

[hippiechic567.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think you should have a contact number, even if you let an aswering machine take your calls. People feel more secure knowing there's a real person on the other end of the phone line.

[ciri.livejournal.com]

Ditto. I hate phones too, but I'm amazed you've had your business for so long without having at least an answering machine. There are a lot of people who don't like handling things through e-mail, so I think there should be the option for them to have someone to talk to, even if it is to leave a message and you call them back later.

my $.02

[pers1stence.livejournal.com]

I agree with the previous commenters that you should probably have a phone number, even if you just let it go to voice mail. It gives people a somewhat stronger sense that there is a real person in a real place; if for no other reason than that someone has to give a real billing address and pay the bills (usually via credit card or check) in such a way that adds to the authenticity of the individual. While that may be true of your email address also, given that domain names aren't necessarily paid for and that there are nefarious types who don't pay for their Internet in any way, it can leave people feelling like they don't know if a real, licit person is on the other end. And again, we're talking psychology of perception here, rather than specifically rational or logical thought.

[renatus.livejournal.com]

Maybe a cell phone with a voice mail box, and leave it turned off except to make outgoing calls and check voice mail? I dunno, but having a phone for the business sounds wise.

I'm beyond just hating phones to actually being frightened of calling people. The hardest thing about looking for work, for me, is having to call back to places. I would often procrastinate it for days and ahve to stand there and peptalk myself for ten minutes to get myself to call, and then try not to hyperventilate the entire time. At the end of the call my heart would be racing. I have no idea what it is - it's even scarier than face to face interactions, and I have a hard time with those.

[jeliza]

That's almost exactly what I do; I only answer the cell phone if it is family, and then I can return business calls once I've mentally prepared myself for it.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oh, YEAH. And haven't I just been complaining like crazy that I need a secretary?!

[klawzie.livejournal.com]

I really, really don't like phones. There are only three people I've ever been to talk to on the phone without being uncomfortable and for longer than about five or ten minutes: my best friend, my dad, and my ex-boyfriend.

I think a phone number would make some people feel more comfortable. I took comfort in the fact that you'd been a business for so long.

[celticwren.livejournal.com]

I know that for some things phones are faster. For example, when I asked about a phone # for you, I figured that way I could bat info back and forth with you and figure out what you wanted right then rather than waiting a day or so and wondering when you would get to that stack of e-mail. :)

I know what you mean though, I grew up from the age of five without a phone...It's funny though, I remember being on the phone with one of my friends for what seemed to be a long time.
When I started working and had to start answering the phone I would avoid it. I managed to avoid picking it up until about two weeks into work. I'm fine calling people about work related stuff, but when I go home I always let the machine get it, and I'll only answer if I feel like it. What I really hate is when my husband is on the phone with someon and th en hands the phone to me. This happened the other day, when I was pulling oput my hair over something and not sociable he'd called one of my a commission clients for some other reason (he is the reason I got the commission). I didn't understand the reason why he put me on the phone since she had given him a note to give to me concerning the commission. Anyways, I was really flustered and unhappy ( not a very good time for getting decent conversation out of me), couldn't wait to get off the phone to get back to what I was doing! ( which was pulling my hair out! <:) )

[watercolorwitch.livejournal.com]

I hate phones to! But if people are asking about one you may want to look into an 800 number or something. It is a tax right off as a buisnes number and there are ways to get around the hassle. Make sure you post on your advertisments what your buisness hours are. Not the crazy hours that you actually work lol but the hours that you would be willing to accept calls. When not in those hours have a machine leave a message about calling back during your buisness hours and turn off the ringer!

[shyfayrie.livejournal.com]

I am the SAME way!!!! Ive notice a lot of other artists are too!!

[eozarth.livejournal.com]

I hate phones, I've always hated using phones. As a kid I had a phone phobia, I couldn't even answer one if it was ringing and god forbid calling out.. nuh uh. These days I use em if I have to but it makes me uncomfortable. A couple of times at work (I format resumes... no customer contact) I've been asked to man the phones while the receptionist was afk but luckily I always got out of doing it :P
I reckon only get a phone number if you don't mind people interrupting you all the live-long day with stupid questions so that you can't get any -real- work done. Although having voicemail might work *shrug*

[toeknuckles.livejournal.com]

hmm...tough call...

i give out my phone number, but nobody calls. *phew*
and when somebody rarely does, i say i can better give them information via email. worked so far.

my reason for trying to avoid the phone is because i'm not a confident type with dealing with people, or an experienced business person. often when i'm asked a question, i have to think about it or do a little research, and while email allows for that, on the phone it's too easy for me to come across as ditzy. 8-|

still, people DO like knowing there's a phone number there if anything goes wrong. so, it may be a good move.


also, on a unrelated note, your art cards have been shipped back to you. shouldn't be too long before they turn up there. 8-)

[chamois-shimi.livejournal.com]

Well, if you go with a business number, I would just go with an answering machine to go with it rather than a service... and turn the ringer off. Or better yet, plug the answering machine straight into that line, sans phone, and just do the plug-phone-in and returning calls thing once per day, or something.