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Many home-based professionals use their personal phone line for their business, but I don’t recommend it. It creates too many problems, and there is always the risk of a potential client catching you in the act of being unprofessional. For example, what if your teenage daughter gets on the phone just when an important client is trying to reach you? Worse, what if your three-year-old (like my three-year-old) is in the habit of answering the phone when it rings? Some of your clients might think it’s cute. Others won’t. Why take the risk?

I suggest you invest in a second phone line — for business use only. That way, when the phone rings, everyone in your household will know it’s a business call, and will react accordingly.

A separate phone line for your business also allows you to record a more business-appropriate message for your voice mail or answering machine. Clients will have a tough time taking you seriously if your voice mail message is, “This is the Robertson family and Janice Robertson, copywriter. No one is home right now …”

I’m amazed that so many home-based professionals pay so little attention to their recorded voice mail message. For prospective clients, it could very well be the first time they hear your voice.

Here’s the voice mail message I recorded today:

“Hi, you’ve reached the office of Steve Slaunwhite for Monday, May 30th. Sorry I missed your call. I’m in the office all day today so I’m likely on the phone or away from my desk at the moment. Please leave a message at the sound of the tone, and I promise I’ll return your call at the first opportunity. And thanks for calling.”