CWI Media, LLC

I got a call from a client today and they shared with me an experience that I had never given anything thought to. The client was out of the office, but was checking e-mail via his smart phone. He received my e-mail and within minutes, he called me.

Instead of using his “Contacts” in his phone’s address book, he just “clicked” on the phone number in my e-mail signature - well, at least that was his plan.

My signature includes my Google Voice number, which rings my home and cell phone simultaneously until I answer one of them. If I don’t answer, Google Voice takes a voicemail, which is then transcribed and e-mail to me and sent via text message to my phone. The only problem was, I was using a phone number format that was not compatible with my client’s smart phone.

I used 540/200-8530. He could dial the 200-8250 part, but because he’s in Charlottesville, it wouldn’t go through without the area code. I had never thought about the format of my phone number in my e-mail signature… until today.

I immediately changed it - while still on the phone with him, actually. I sent him a follow-up e-mail and asked if he could dial the full number and he responded in the affirmative.

I changed the format to (540) 200-8530 and now his smart phone can read it. How do you have your phone number displayed in your e-mail signature?