Bit stuck at the moment so in need of opinions....

 

I currently use my mobile as the main business number, however, I do now have office space for which BT are installing lines next week. All fine and dandy.

 

My issue comes as the offices are actually just outside of where I live, and have been targetting for the last year, and is actually a different area code to my main town of business.

 

Now, I have a few options;

• Stick with the number that BT have generated for me
  
• Purchase an 0844/0845 number
  
• or, purchase a geo targetted (in my case 01273) number and route to the default BT number
  

 

My main worry is that for the last year or so I have been heavily marketing myself in my local town, building up relationships and trust within the area, and have gained the number 1 spot in google for my main "keywords town" (although rapidly jumping up the rankings for more broad terms also!). So, people know me as a "Lewes" web designer, I live in Lewes and that has been my main targetted area, and I do not wish to lose that.

 

I have only accquired office space outside the area as rent around here is ridiculously expensive and I simply could not afford it at this time.

 

So, I guess, my question is would it be bad business to display a telephone number for the "Lewes/Brighton" area and advertise myself as "Lewes Web Designer", when in reality, I actually work out of offices based more closer to Eastbourne.

 

Obviously, I could easily obtain an 0844/0845 number and route that, but would that put potential clients off ringing it? Also, the 0844/0845 kind of takes away the personal touch approach that I have built up a reputation for.

 

All opinions welcomed...

If you're marketing yourself to Lewes clients, it's absolutely fine to display a Lewes number.

 

I'd suggest getting a number from Sipgate and using it with a SIP phone. I got a Cisco 7940 on Ebay for about 50 quid, you'll have to make sure it's running the SIP firmware (a lot of the phones on Ebay have been flashed to SIP) and usually get a power adapter separately, as they will originally have been used with Power over Ethernet using the SCCP firmware.

Only seem to offer 0845?

You're 01273, right?

That is correct...

That's weird, when I access that URL it gives me a dropdown for UK geographical area.

Same here, I get Brighton.

So do I, now! Very odd...