Recently I got a proper business number for Conn Web Studio. I knew straight away that it would be a big job, because a phone number is never in just one place.
I build websites for a living, so I know how easily details drift out of sync. That is why I made a point of going through every platform and making sure everyone, and everything, was using the same number.
It meant updating my Google Business Profile, my website, my socials, my policies and a handful of backend settings I had not looked at in months. I am a bit obsessed with the small details, so I wanted to do it properly.
This post is not really about phone numbers. It is about why it is so important to keep your details consistent across all of your platforms, and to check them every time something in your business changes.
Your details get copied everywhere
When you set up a business, you enter your name, number, email, address and opening hours into one platform after another. Each one keeps its own copy, and none of them talk to each other. So when something changes, you have to go and change it in every spot yourself. If one gets missed, a customer ends up with the old information and may quietly assume you have gone quiet.
The backend settings nobody sees. This is where my list got long. Booking systems, invoicing software, email signatures, email marketing tools, form notifications and automatic replies can all include your details. You will not spot these on a quick check, but your customers see them every time they get an email from you.
Test it the way a customer would
Once everything had been changed, I went through it as if I were a customer. I tapped the call button on my phone, filled in my own contact form to see what came back, and searched for my business on Google and tapped the number. It only took about five minutes, and it is the best way to confirm that everything matches.
Make checking your platforms a habit
I do this for my clients all the time, so I knew what to look for, and it still took careful checking to make sure nothing was left behind. That is a good reminder that a website is never really a set and forget job.
Whenever something changes in your business, add "check my platforms" to your to do list, and give your website, Google profile, socials, policies and backend settings a quick look every few months even when nothing has changed.
If you have a change coming up, or you would like a second pair of eyes across your whole online presence, I would be happy to help. I can look through everything, tidy up the loose ends and make sure your details match everywhere, so you can get on with running your business.