Did you recently get a new phone number, and are considering how you’ll notify all of your previous contacts?
The truth is, there is definitely a right way, and a wrong way to go about it.
In this article, I’ll first be sharing best practices when sharing your new number.
Then, I will also give you some example templates that you’re welcome to copy and paste to others – or use as inspiration to craft your own.
Intro (first go over best practices, than example)
How To Notify Your Friends, Family And Contacts About A New Phone Number
When letting people know that you have a new number, it’s important that you do it in a way that…
- Doesn’t annoy or bother them
- Lead to any awkward situations
- Makes it clear who you are, and why you’re contacting them.
It’s also important to take into account who you should actually notify, and who you shouldn’t.
So, look over these tips to ensure that you’re updating them the right way!
1. Make A Copy Of Your Contacts Beforehand
First things first, you’ll want to ensure that you have a full copy of your contacts list before you start, especially if you’ll no longer have access to your old contacts after getting a new number.
For example, if you are trading your phone in and aren’t transferring the data to your new phone, you’ll want to ensure you export or backup all the contacts that you care about.
Otherwise, you will no longer have their numbers, and the one that they have will be outdated. This makes it very easy for the two of you to lose touch, and not be able to contact each other again easily.
Additionally, keeping a list of everyone that you want to reach out to will make the process go a lot quicker once it comes time to let them know.
So, ensure that you have a full copy, and you’ve decided who you’re going to notify. I’ll share some tips on that later!
2. Keep It Brief, Sincere, And Personal
When it comes time to let people know about your new number, there are three main rules to keep in mind.
First, you’ll want to keep the message brief, and to the point. Unless the details are important, people really don’t need to know, and texts that are really long may not actually end up read.
If using a template, long messages don’t really take much extra time to send out. This can make it enticing to send a really long message, even if it’s not necessary.
Next, try to personalize your message. This is particularly important for contacts that you don’t talk to frequently, and may not completely remember who you are.
For example, you may wish to use your full name, and remind someone of how they know you if they haven’t talked with you recently.
Finally, keep the message sincere, and explain why you’re reaching out to them. A personal, sincere message shows that you value having someone in your life, and that you care about the two of you remaining in touch – even if it’s been a while since the two of you have actually called or texted each other.
3. Tell (Almost) Everyone – Even Those You Don’t Talk To
Unless you’re okay with never hearing from someone again, it’s a good idea to let them know about your updated number – even if you haven’t talked in a long time.
After all, once your number has been changed, they will no longer be able to reach you via texting or calling, even if they want to reconnect with you.
Additionally, some people may take personal offense if you don’t let them know about your new number, as it shows that you don’t value the relationship.
Of course, there are limitations to this.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t need to update your number with most businesses, unless they are a company that proactively reaches out to you.
Most businesses won’t even know who you are if you reach out, due to the large volume of people that they work with.
Additionally, services like your doctor or dentist will likely have a different way that you’ll need to update your number, so sending a text to them probably won’t cut it.
That being said, most friends, family, and contacts will benefit from knowing about your updated number, even if you don’t actually plan on talking with them anytime soon.
4. Consider Posting On Social Media As Well
In addition to letting people know individually, it may be a good idea to announce your new number on Facebook as well.’
While you don’t need to share it directly, you can always post a status update stating that your number has changed, and to reach out to you if they want it.
This not only gives people another chance to see that your number has changed, but it also gives you an excuse.
After all, if you forget to text someone from your new number, you can always mention that you shared it on Facebook.
That way, if someone else gets your new number but they don’t, they’ll just assume they missed your Facebook post.
5. Avoid Sending Group Texts
Finally, one more important tip is to avoid sending group text messages to a lot of people at once.
Although this can save you a lot of time, it will likely do nothing but annoy all of your contacts.
Why? Simple.
When you send a group text, it lumps everybody together into one message thread. This means that every time that anyone responds, that response gets sent out to all other people in the group thread.
If your contacts are kind enough to message you back, this means that everyone is going to start getting a lot of messages at once – which can very quickly become annoying and bothersome.
Plus, reaching out one-on-one is far more personal, which can leave a positive impression on anybody that sees your message.
Example Templates To Send
Now that we’ve covered some of the best practices when notifying contacts about a number change, let’s now look over some example templates.
While you are welcome to copy and paste these, I do encourage you to personalize or mix them whenever possible. Adding a bit of personalization in, asking them how they’ve been, or showing a bit of your personality can help the messages feel more authentic.
Example Template 1 – Work Colleague
Hi (THEIR NAME),
This is (YOUR NAME) from (YOUR DEPARTMENT.) I just wanted to let you know that this is my phone new number, and my old number (YOUR OLD NUMBER) is no longer in service. That way you could update in your contacts!
Example Template 2 – Friend
Hey (THEIR NAME),
It’s (YOUR NAME) and I just got a new phone! My new number is (YOUR NEW NUMBER), and my old one no longer works. Just wanted to let you know so you could update it in your phone.
Example Template 3 – Acquaintance
Hello (THEIR NAME)
This is (YOUR NAME), you may remember me from (HOW YOU MET.) I’m reaching out to let you know that my old phone number, (YOUR OLD NUMBER) no longer works, and this would be the best one reach me on. Just wanted to let you know!
Hope you’ve been well,
– (YOUR NAME)
Conclusion
If you want your old contacts to be able to reach you, then it’s a good idea to proactively let them know about your new phone number.
That being said, you should ensure that your messages are personal and sincere in order to show the other person that you value them in your life. Additionally, you should avoid sending mass messages as these can quickly become annoying, in addition to feeling impersonal.
I hope that this article has given you some ideas. If you have any further questions, just let me know using the form below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy your new number,
– James McAllister
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