Freelancing is an excellent way to cultivate an extra source of income that you can use to pay for necessities or save for a rainy day. It also allows you the freedom to choose your own hours, which is essential for students, parents, or those who simply don’t like the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle.
When running a virtual online business like freelance writing, research, or graphic design, your safety is a primary concern. You also want to be able to separate your freelance job from other income streams, as well as develop a healthy work-life balance that lets you disconnect when you’ve completed your work for the day. A temporary phone number is an excellent way to communicate with clients without compromising your safety, and it’s also incredibly easy to use. All you need to do is find a provider, download their app, sign up, and pick a phone number.
Once you’ve learned how to set up a temporary phone number, it’s time to think about leveraging this number for maximum effect. Today, we’ll discuss some key considerations for using a temporary phone number as a freelancer, including vital safety tips.
Choose a Good Provider
The most important part of using a temporary phone number happens before you’ve even activated the number: selecting an excellent provider with a track record of success. Carefully read the terms of service so that you’re sure your temporary phone number won’t be shared with others or connected to your real number. Generally, you’ll have to activate the service using either your normal phone number or an email address, but this information should be kept strictly confidential by the provider.
You’ll also want to check that it’s a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service that you can access via a mobile or web app, allowing you to easily access your messages and calls no matter where you are. This is especially true if you’re a digital nomad who lives to travel; double-check that your professional temporary number will work in any municipality that you decide to visit.
Pick a Local Phone Number
Ideally, your provider will let you choose a number with a local area code. Your clients may be concerned if you state that you’re in a certain municipality, but your number is from an entirely different area of the world, making them worry that you may not be a legitimate actor. To forestall these concerns, check ahead of time that you can select your preferred area code, ideally one close to where you live and work.
Update Your Contact Information When You Change Numbers
The purpose of a temporary phone number is to protect your confidentiality, so you’ll want to maintain a strict separation between the number you use for personal business and the one that you utilize for your freelance work. Check that your personal number has been removed from any professional profiles, such as those on Indeed and LinkedIn; you may also want to search for your personal phone number on the internet to ensure that it isn’t connected to your name or other contact information. Many freelancers have websites where they host samples of their work that clients can peruse before working with them; this is another place where you will want to update all your contact information to reflect the new number.
If you have personal social media accounts that were verified with your own phone number, make sure that you scrub any personal details from them so that your clients can’t monitor your social media usage.
Use One Number for One Client
This may not be feasible if you’re a freelancer who works with numerous clients at once, but many choose to secure a long-term contract with one company, which either party can exit at will. To ensure that your information remains confidential, set up a new temporary phone number each time you change clients. This will ensure you won’t be continually contacted by a previous employer, particularly if you ended the relationship on bad terms. Always be sure to update your pages to reflect this so that clients don’t get confused or frustrated when they call a deactivated account.
If you have multiple clients at once, you may decide to communicate mostly through email, only giving your temporary number out when it is strictly necessary.
The Bottom Line
Because freelancers often work with a variety of individuals throughout their career, it’s important to prioritize safety and protect your privacy. A temporary phone number gives you the freedom to contact clients and look for work, but it also allows you to easily terminate business relationships when your contract is complete. By selecting an excellent temporary phone number company and ensuring that your personal number isn’t tied to your professional portfolio, you’ll be able to enjoy all the freedom that comes from freelancing, sure that your personal details are secure from prying clients.
