Smallshock

You’ve probably been on enough web sites to see that there’s no real ageeement on how to format phone numbers.

For instance, you might see this: (785) 555-1212

Or this: 555-1212

This: 785-555-1212

Or this: 785.555.1212

Maddening, isn’t it?

Personally I think phone numbers should be formatted as such: (785) 555-1212, in keeping with the standards set by the International Telecommunicatioms Union. Although kind of an artistic formatting, I don’t like using 785.555.1212, as the use of periods in between numbers means something different in the computer world and could, I suppose, cause a problem with regard to machines reading data.

One more thing to consider: I often see where the area code is left off of phone numbers. This is a huge mistake. The web is global. If someone from out of the area, the state, heck, even the country, is interested in your products or service, not having an area code could be a barrier to them.

Don’t make your web visitor go through hoops to find basic data and contact information about you on your web site. Make that experience as easy as possible.