VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Jen Gosnell]

Hi you guys!

So for a long while now, I've been using a GV number for my business line. I don't have a land line anymore (ditched it about 2.5 years ago) and haven't missed it at all.

Recently I switched my personal cell service from AT&T to Google Fi, which (although my prior attempts at information gathering indicated otherwise) basically eclipses GV. You can't use them both on the same device, even if you're tying numbers to different email addresses. Which means I can no longer have my business number routed to my primary device. So I'm faced with the prospect of carrying two devices (I really don't want to do that) or finding a different solution.

I can't port my existing business number to Skype (I checked), and during the course of considering all this I started to wonder whether I really need a "business" line at all.

The vast majority of my client interactions are done via email - almost every single one. I can think of about two times that I have gotten on the phone with a client to discuss work. And my business, let's face it, is me. There's no plan to create an empire. It is and is gonna be a one-person shop.

I talked to five or six fellow VOs and their experience echoed my own - almost never do they transact VO business by phone. So - why would I not just simplify to a single point of phone contact, one number only?

I hear you saying "professionalism" - well okay, but in my personal life I don't answer the phone like a dumbass (LOL) and I know how to send a call to voicemail if it's not a good time to talk. A polite, generic-but-personal voice greeting can be used. The client would be unlikely to notice any difference.

Lee, I saw in an old thread from a few years ago that you added a business line after Peter badgered you about it. Are you still using both personal and business numbers with the Line2 a? Any thoughts on the difference between having separate numbers or just one?

Love to hear any thoughts you guys have. Convince me that I should decide to keep a separate line - 'cause at this point, I'm not seeing any big advantage to doing so.
_________________
jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

[Bruce]

I have one Google Voice number that feeds into my old cell number from Arizona and into my local Skype number for personal and business. I pick up whichever is better at the moment it rings. We're in a tiny valley here and my office is on the lower floor, so cell signal strength can be very bad. That's why the Skype is a great alternative. Skype is also great for phone patching. I've had four clients in Europe and the U.S. listening in at the same time. You just keep answering each call as it comes in and there they are.

Nifty tidbit: my Skype number is some odd local number I never announce, but they let me change the caller ID on outgoing calls so it shows my Google Voice number when I call.

Technology can be grand.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[todd ellis]

+1 on google voice.

my cell # rings it & my toll free # forwards to it.

nifty tidbit: if you have verizon (or another carrier with some kind of "in" list where you don't pay for those calls) - add your google # to that list = no inbound minutes used. want to call tech support & stay on hold for 2 hours and not spend any minutes? call your google #, press "2" and then dial out.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bruce]

Oh, another thing, I got rid of my 800 number. Hardly anyone was calling it, and now that long distance is basically free there's no need for it.

Phones are important, but I just scanned through my jobs for this year and not one of them came from a phone call. They all came through emails from the client or agent or production house. I did phone patches and ISDN sessions on some of them so I've spoken to those people, but I'd venture to say that with the majority of my work I don't talk to anyone, ever.

All part of the shifting paradigm.


B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[bobsouer]

On the other hand, I get a surprising number of initial contacts via phone. At least 2 or 3 every month and sometimes a half-dozen or more. Much of the rest of the session prep is done via email, but I'm very glad to have my Google Voice number as the "phone face" of my business. It rings both my land line in my studio (which I still use now and then for phone patches, but more and more I'm just using Google hangouts and answering the phone call there) and my cell phone so I can be reached any where I happen to be. I am not going to let my Google Voice number go, and frankly what you discovered about Google Fi is a big part of the reason I haven't explored that option, Jen.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Lee Gordon]

[DougVox]

What's a business line?


_________________
Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com

[Lance Blair]

The Google Voice line only works outgoing in the US, right? I used to use it, but I just don't trust Google and how they keep changing everything. It was a total pain in the seat-area to connect with people, even before all the Hangouts tweaks.

I have a Skype telephone number that I use as my studio/phone patch line. It's a small monthly fee, but worth it.

I also have my trusty cellphone number.

Now I'm also using ipDTL Tel, for ISDN bridging - but I can also use it for connecting to land lines, and I've used it several times this year as a phone patch. Much better sounding than Skype.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Kristin Lennox]

I just answer my cell phone and try to sound like I know what I'm doing...
_________________
Always look on the bright side of life.

Dee doo. Dee doot doot doo dee doo.

my website

[Jen Gosnell]

I would probably do Skype if I could port my existing business number, but I can't.

I thought of ipDTL, Lance, but it didn't seem like a good option for mobile. I'm not sure about any GV restrictions, actually. One of the reasons I switched my personal number to Fi is that it's a paid service (so there are higher service expectations) and works over both mobile and Wi-Fi. But unfortunately, I got misinformation from a rep about its compatibility with GV so my master plan went sideways.

Bob, it's good to know you take calls. I wonder if the number of calls corresponds to your longevity in the business. Has the volume changed over time? Since I don't have a base of clients used to calling me, I was thinking the pain of losing a number might be minimal if anything.

So Doug, do you have one phone number to rule them all? 305-332-9494 is what your kids and your clients would use to call you? Any complexities with managing that?

Thanks you guys!
_________________
jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

[MBVOXX]

I keep a low $ land line for the phone patch and security system and use my cell for all phone dialogue. I've had the same cell # since cell phones first appeared, something like 30 years. But almost 100% of my business communication is conducted via email. Quick comms from my agent come via text with an email followup.

[Jen Gosnell]

[Jason Huggins]

I have a Skype number and a Google Voice number. Skype interface is easier for me and it rings to my cell phone if I don't answer on the computer. Even though all phone calls ring to the same number, I answer, "This is Jason," to all calls that come in.

[Jen Gosnell]

[vkuehn]

Curios to know: did you have a focus group session to see if saying "This is Jen" is more effective than answering: "This is Jason."

I was thinking about emulating one of our esteemed participants by answering: "This is Philip" but now I am not sure which way to go.