Where does your address belong?

Many solopreneurs I deal with work from home, which can make the sharing your address topic more sensitive than if you have an office address. Here’s a question I received from a client about whether you should share your address or not:

I have always had my address on my business cards thinking that my card is something I hand out personally (and where I usually go to if I need to know someone's address). I do not put my address on my web site as I have no control over who goes there and sees it. A few people I asked felt it was best to keep it off both places. Is the answer a P.O. Box?

Here’s my answer:

I think an address belongs on your business card since, like my client said, you choose who you give your business card to. It doesn’t necessarily belong on your website – especially if you’re concerned about privacy. On your website, it is however important to make your geographic location obvious so people can place you. I’d suggest including at the very least, your state, on your website. City and state is even better.

For years, I had my address on the Marketing Mentor website -- and I never had a problem. Or at least I never had any stalkers (that I know about). But I do have a very mean-sounding dog.

As for a P.O. Box – I had one for many years. In my experience, it doesn’t serve any use except collecting junk mail.

Do you agree? Disagree? Have another strategy that works for you?

Comments

[TurtleBlueBird]

I started using a PO Box because I notice that's what many of the established-businesses I work with (banks) have.

And I feel very comfortable with the PO Box on my web site.

Ironically, the banks have Patriot Act reporting rules and they have to have a physical address for all their vendors. Which was fine with me, I wasn't trying to hide it!

(This was a much harder question 20 years ago, before the technological revolution! Now people are much more comfortable with the idea of all kinds of virtual offices.)

[Bev Rossi]

I recommend using a mailbox service, most cost about $250 a year. UPS stores and virtual offices offer these services. I think they are great for many reasons, they can collect valuable mail [software and hardware purchases shipped to you...] when you are not available and many sound like a regular office suite address.

Also my services is privately held company and the business owner is a true partner, he has stopped the FedEx truck on more than one occasion so that I could make the pick up deadline.

I have 5 employees we all share this same service, even those who work from home. I started using this service when I first launched my business and found it so useful I kept renewing, so I have never had to change my mailing address for 8 years, another plus.

Bev
www.GraphicMatter.com

[Pam]

Ilise, I have wondered this very thing for the past few months. Thank you for bringing it up.

I can see the value in having a P.O. Box if I will be working with clients or partners who need to ship to me, or as in TurtleBlueBird's case, her clients have it as a requirement.

However, for me, I think my city and state are just enough, which is how I am listing my address on my new website. I was afraid it may appear unprofessional not to have a brick-and-mortar address, but people really ARE becoming much more comfortable with virtual offices now. Thank you for helping to clear up that question mark for me!

[Stephanie Jones, Finch Creative]

Instead of a PO Box, I use my home address, however I only place this information on estimates and invoices, because that is really the only time anyone needs it. This makes sure only my serious clients receive it (and know where to send in payment of course). I do not put it on my business cards or web site (though I do indicate my state on my web site).

This works well for me and saves me money and time traveling to retrieve mail from a PO Box.

[Rachel]

Since I already had a UPS mailbox for my other business, JaLa Designs, LLC, it wasn't hard to go ahead and also use it for my copywriting business, RAF Communications. So, I put the address for my UPS mailbox on my RAF website. I think if someone doesn't have a P.O. or other mailbox, though, using just city and state are fine.

I've actually noticed quite a few people not including addresses on their business cards, though. I left my address off my business card as well because there was other more value-added information (like elaborating on my services, etc.) that I wanted to include instead - and I did not want the card looking too crowded. I have my phone number on there, of course, which includes my area code - so this somewhat tells people where I'm located (although granted, if someone doesn't know which city my area code is associated with, it might involve a little work for them to look it up...but since I give out most of my cards locally, this is probably not a major issue for many.)

I can imagine that many believe putting the address on the biz card is a good thing, but I'm happy with the information that's on there.