Several years ago I had some do-gooder, trying to rid the world of Spam.  He assumed my ezine, OyesUcan, was the enemy and was going to expose my wrong doings to the internet world.  It didn’t matter that people were opting into my newsletter; to him it was still spamming. 

To justify his attack on my business this guy chose to pick up the phone and call what he thought was going to be a fake phone number listed on my contact us web page. 

Now the truth is I really do run a home business (with 5 children I would not do it any other way).  And this guy chose to call at dinner time.  So here I am standing over the stove, children noise in the back ground and answering my business phone. 

This is how the conversation went. 

Valerie:  Hello this is Valerie 
do-gooder:  I hear children!
Valerie:  Yes, OyesUcan is a home based business, sorry for the noise, how can I help you. 
do-gooder: (sounding confused) But this is an overseas spamming operation.
Valerie:  No I am a real person running a real business. 

The conversation went on for a bit and ended politely, although I did later find a forum post with some unkind things said about me and our conversation. 

The point is having my phone number may have saved some much worse attacks on my website had this do-gooder not talked to a person that day.  

If you are running a real business, post your contact information.  It is part of running a professional business. 

Valerie
editor OyesUcan