Your business phone number is everywhere. Website header. Google Business Profile. Facebook page. Business cards from 2019 that customers still have in their wallets.
Then you switch phone systems. Or move locations. Or decide that 10-digit number isn't as memorable as you thought.
Suddenly, half your online presence is sending customers to the wrong number. And the other half is sending them to voicemail hell because you forgot to update something.
Here's how to handle a phone number change without losing customers along the way.
Your Google Business Profile gets the priority treatment. This is what shows up when people search for your business name or find you on Google Maps.
Log into your Google Business account and update the phone number immediately. Don't wait until next week when you have more time. Google sometimes takes a few days to verify changes, especially with contact information.
Your website comes next. Check every page, not just the contact page. That phone number might be hiding in the footer, the about page, or buried in a blog post from last year where you mentioned your direct line.
Your email signature still has the old number. So does your voicemail greeting. And that auto-reply message that goes out when someone fills out your contact form.
Social media profiles need attention too. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn – anywhere you've listed business contact information. These platforms don't automatically sync with your Google Business Profile.
If you've ever submitted your business to online directories, those listings are still out there with the old information. Yelp, Better Business Bureau, industry-specific directories. Each one needs manual updating.
The ideal scenario? Keep your old number active and forward calls to the new one for at least six months.
Customers might have your number saved in their phones from years ago. That business card they kept in their glove compartment still works. The magnet on their fridge doesn't suddenly update itself.
If forwarding isn't possible, record a clear voicemail message with your new number. Repeat it twice. Speak slowly. People are usually calling while doing something else.
Send an email to your customer list with the new number. Put it in the subject line, not buried in paragraph three. "New Phone Number for [Your Business Name]" works perfectly.
If you send regular newsletters or updates, mention the change there too. Some customers miss individual emails but catch information in your regular communications.
For service-based businesses, mention it during your current appointments. "By the way, we have a new phone number starting next month." Give them a moment to update their contacts while they're thinking about it.
Those Google Ads and Facebook campaigns are still running with the old contact information. Same with any print advertisements, flyers, or promotional materials you've distributed recently.
Business cards, brochures, magnets, pens with your contact info – anything with the old number needs to be replaced or discontinued. Don't hand out materials that send people to the wrong place.
If you do local advertising, contact those publications to update your information for future issues.
AI assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overview pull business information from multiple sources across the web. When your phone number is inconsistent across platforms, it creates confusion.
Make sure your primary business information matches everywhere. Same format, same number, same business name spelling. Consistency helps AI tools understand that all these mentions refer to the same business.
This matters more than it used to. When someone asks an AI assistant for your contact information, you want it pulling the correct, current details.
Phone number changes take longer than you think. That forgotten directory listing will surface three months from now when a customer can't reach you.
Set up a simple tracking system. Make a list of everywhere your number appears and check off each location as you update it. Include subscription services, vendor accounts, and anywhere you might receive business calls.
Check your old voicemail regularly for the first few months. You'll discover places you missed when customers mention where they found the disconnected number.
After you think you've updated everything, test it. Have someone else call the numbers listed on your website, Google Business Profile, and social media accounts.
Click through your website contact forms. Make sure they're sending inquiries to an email address you actually monitor, and that any auto-replies include the correct phone number.
Ask a friend to search for your business on different platforms and see what contact information appears. Fresh eyes catch things you missed.
Your phone number is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. Making that connection as smooth as possible means more answered calls and fewer frustrated people who couldn't reach you when they were ready to buy.
The extra effort you put into updating everything properly saves you from months of missed opportunities later.
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Modern Humans helps local businesses get discovered by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google AI, and Perplexity.
Franklin, Tennessee
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