Would two telephone numbers on a website affect NAP consistency? One is the "actual" business number with Schema, the other is a call tracking number.
-
Hello!
I have two telephone numbers listed on a website - one is the "actual" business number and is utilizing proper schema, while the other is a call tracking number featured more prominently on the site (both in the header and above the "actual" business number in the footer).
The code looks like this:
New Patients:
999-555-5555
Current Patients:
555-555-5555
Does Google prioritize the "actual" business number because it has the proper schema on it? Or would the call tracking number still be counted and affect NAP consistency for Local SEO?
Thanks!
-
Recommended reading on call tracking: http://blumenthals.com/blog/2014/11/25/guide-to-using-call-tracking-for-local-search/
-
Thanks for your question.
There are few formal rules related to what Google will and won't do related to indexation. If Google finds any piece of information worth indexing and displaying, it will do so. Schema is a great way to tell Google what information you want displayed in search results, but it's not an explicit rule that they always follow and, in many instances, they ignore it completely.
Having said that, lots of businesses have more than one phone number in the way you're suggesting, like a chain store with a central 800 number.
I think you're probably going to be ok based on what you're describing. However, if you want to be absolutely sure the tracking number isn't indexed, I would recommend hiding the tracking number using either a JavaScript swap for search traffic or by making the tracking number an image. I would also be sure that the actual contact page for the location (if you have one) is using the local phone number you want indexed.
Hope that helps!
-
Hi George!
Thanks for the response! To answer your question: Yes, both numbers are presented to the user at the same time. Here's the breakdown:
-
Header: Tracking number (no schema, prominent font within sticky header so it's always visible)
-
Footer:
-
Practice Name (w/ schema)
-
Address (w/ schema)
-
Tracking number (no schema, has text beforehand saying "New Patients:")
-
"Actual" office number (w/ schema, has text beforehand saying "Current Patients")
Because of the way it's laid out, users would normally see the tracking number first within the header - so although I agree it does create a bit of an UX issue, I think the setup keeps it from being egregious.
I guess a better way to ask the question is: If there are two numbers on the site, would Google prioritize (in regards to local NAP consistency) the one that shows up first (and twice on every page), or the one that shows up last but has the proper schema tags? I.E. does the schema tag override any differing indicators on the site? Or does an indicator's priority placement on a page and/or multiple instances over-power the schema tag?
Thanks!
-
-
I agree with George, above. Typically a tracked phone line uses some kind of JavaScrpit code to "swap" phone numbers, while keeping the hard coded phone number within the source-code of the page.
The JavaScript allows crawlers to read the phone number as one number, while displaying another number to users and appropriately tracking and attributing their call to the correct Source / Medium.
You can check out the images below to see what George and I are talking about!
-
Hi Now Media,
Just to clarify, are both telephone numbers displayed to users at the same time? If so that seems more of a user experience and CRO concern, since I don't see how you'd get accurate data from having 2 numbers on the site.
Typically, the solution for tracking numbers is to use some JavaScript to toggle out the tracking number depending on how a visitor gets to your site.
Thanks for your question!
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Best address to use on Google business listing for youth sports program
Hello, Moz Community! I'm helping a friend with some local marketing for his youth sports program. He trains his kids at a community center and a public park where court times are managed by the city. His address in his Google business listing is currently the community center, but that is shared with multiple businesses including the community center itself. I know he needs an address that is unique to his business, but he lives outside of the city in which his program is located. Our goal is to boost exposure in the city in which his program is located. Since 1) his business address is located outside of the city in which he conducts business and 2) the addresses at which he conducts his business is utilized by multiple businesses including the actual property owner, what options do I we have for an address that Google will recognize as valid and won't cause ranking issues? If there is nothing we can do in the current situation, what are steps we can take to address this issue for his business? Thanks a lot!
Local Listings | | Tony_GP0 -
Is SEO effect of NAP Inconsistency A Hoax?
Is the effect of NAP inconsistency on search rankings basically a myth to justify business citation management services? I've been doing SEO for over 10 years but only recently started doing local businesses. I have yet to find any sort of published study that clearly shows a significant ranking effect by correcting an inconsistent NAP on any business directory site other than Google and Bing Business Listings. In fact, the publishers of any such articles claiming NAP inconsistency has a significant negative SEO effect are almost always businesses or people that are charging for such services. Gee, could they be a little biased? Obviously if you have an incorrect address that is far from the actual address, correcting it will help your ranking (think 3-pack) in the area close to your business but that's not really the type of ranking effect I'm talking about here. I'm talking about a missing suite #, or an old address that is 1/2 block away from the new address but still the same phone number, or identical address but different phone (a toll free versus a local number). That kind of stuff. Of course you don't want to have an incorrect address or non-working phone number on places like Superpages, Yelp, Yellowpages, etc, but does anyone know of any place I can find good factual proof that having inconsistent NAPs on these sites has any significant effect on rankings? I'm sure some of the big SEO companies have the data to determine the effect. Or is this more of a "tin foil hat" / herd / OCD mentality on this subject that no one can prove (or disprove?)
Local Listings | | MrSem0 -
Incorporated Business Listings
Hey Community! My agency has been working with more companies that are Incorporated lately who are requiring SEO assistance. A few of our customers have their business listed to include the Business Name, Inc. in the Google/Facebook listing and some of them don't. What would you guys recommend we go with when dealing with an incorporated business? One of the businesses we're working with is Blossom Childcare and Learning Center, Inc. Thanks
Local Listings | | Advancify
-Kris0 -
Is Moz Local useful for a specialized small business?
I can see the use of Moz Local for businesses for the general public, like a restaurant. But is it useful for a more specialized business like a recording studio? The studio ranks high on Google already for our city (usually #1 but some days #2). It's not like people are driving around and grab their phone to look up an emergency recording studio stop. Is it useful?
Local Listings | | amybethmegjo0 -
Different Phone Numbers in GMB/onsite
Hello All! I have an issue. I have a local business with multiple addresses, In order to start doing some conversion optimization I need to know where are the leads coming from, my assumption is that part of the leads come from phone calls directly from the google my business listing that appears in the local pack and some come from the website itself. Here's where the problem lays, I cannot understand how many calls come from each platform, Google My Business analytics provides a very high number that doesn't fit with my reports (i have a CRM that can track calls), the numbers are inflated in hundreds of %. The solution i thought of was implementing a different phone number in my website to track the leads, the problem is the NAP, which will be different. Another solution I thought of was implementing an additional phone number in Google My Business, and adding that additional phone number to the local landing page, displaying the new phone number as the main number on the page and leaving the old number in the schema markup. Does this solution seems fit? do you have another suggestion?
Local Listings | | OrendaLtd0 -
Should add Schema markup to my sites Business Directory?
I'm adding a Business Directory to my ecom site to show where the product can be purchased/used. Some listings are stores where you can purchase others are restaurants, bars and spas the product can be used. My question is should I add relevant Schema markup for each listing? My thoughts are yes but wanted feedback from the community.
Local Listings | | ColeBField
Thanks0 -
"state" abbreviation in Google My Business for Irish/UK locations
Hi guys I have a question about one of the required bulk upload fields for Google My Business Locations: "State". We are covering Ireland and the UK and we don't have states, more provinces and counties. Any ideas what to enter in to this field? For example, for a shop in Dublin Ireland should it be Dublin (the county) Leinster (the provence) for the "State" field? And how are these abbreviated? Should I just enter IE or GB for all entries in the state field?
Local Listings | | AdiRste0 -
Do Citations help will all local rankings/Pages on my website or just the page it's linked to
Hi All, My ecommerce site has different category/landing pages for each of my branches . I'm currently getting some more citations done as wondered the following Is it a general rule to say, that the more citations you have the better as long as they are consistent and free? Given that I have different categories /landing pages showing the NAP of my individual branches along with unique content, should all these extra citations help with local rankings across my whole site or is it usually just helping the specific localized webpage it's pointing to ? I can get a company to help me do my citations but to do all the branches, it is going to be quite expensive. Is citations quite a big individual SEO factor in local search as opposed to on page seo factors etc etc. Any advice greatly appreciated. thanks Peter
Local Listings | | PeteC120