Did you know that Robert Scoble does something that helps him improve his ability to connect to people around the world that Chris Brogan doesn't...yet? (Or at least didn't at the time I was writing this post in 2008.)
Scoble clearly recognizes that he is communicating with people from all over the world. How do we know this? It's reflected in the way he writes his telephone number (+1-xxx-xxx-xxxx). Scoble includes and indicates (by using "+1") the country code for the USA, the country where he telephone number is based.
As a comparison, Brogan omits the country code on the telephone number he lists his web site. It's an interesting example of how even those with considerable experience in global business and social media can miss a very simple but important thing that helps keep the conversations going.
I want to make it very clear that I'm in no way attacking Chris, who I respect a lot. Actually, I had a conversation with Chris about this posting as I was preparing it. Chris instantly got where I was going. By this time, I'll bet he has changed his phone number on his web site, social networking listings and planned any new business cards to include his country code.
So why should you add your country code to your phone number?
Over the past few years, I've been paying close attention to how people verbally give out and/or write their phone numbers -- on their web sites, on social networking sites, on email signatures, on business cards, etc.
Most people in countries outside the USA include their country code when providing their phone number. However, people in the USA omit the country code all the time -- as if the world revolves around those of us living within"+1"!
To be fair, I've seen plenty of folks from other countries make the same mistake by omitting their own country code, but I find the omission of country codes embarrassingly prevalent in the USA, particularly among professionals in fields who ought to know better.
It is absolutely critical to include your country code in your phone number if you communicate with anyone outside your own country. It's essential information, just like area codes/ city codes are within countries.
To put it bluntly, the omission of a country code when listing your telephone number on a web site, social networking site, email signature or your business card is a subtle form of arrogance, cultural insensitivity and cultural imperialism. Consider what we are communicating to others when we expect people to "know" -- or, worse, force them to find! -- the country code for the country in which we (not they) live.
Is that a message that you want to send or an impression you want to give to others, especially those with whom you conduct business or other professional activities?
I've written a number of good hints about how to write your telephone and fax numbers -- and other information-- as part of my Global Tuneup™ series. Check it out!
Good luck with that Global Tuneup™! And let me know if you have other suggestions!
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This post is part of the Manitou Heights Global TuneUp™ series. If you're not familiar with it, check out the Global TuneUp™ series introduction!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Now thats an extremely observant post. Very specific, but makes a person think. If you are going to be getting business from other parts of the world, don’t assume that everyone knows your country code as well. For all they know you could be located in the UK or in Spain.
Makes complete sense, and is just a good business practice. Thanks for sharing.
Nice catch – were you an editor, proofreader, really good at that game where you had to identify the differences in two similar pictures
I love your recent tweets – thanks signing off +1-651-695-0174
PS: I always thought it was a little arrogant for the United States to be #1, I wonder how that happened, do you know? Unless we are the backbone of the world’s telephone system.
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