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Permalink Reply by Mr. Natural on September 10, 2011 at 6:34pm

Well...not that I know anything about the phone, but I think this is pretty simple: If you need to track the source of calls and are interested in listening to their content, use trackable toll-free phone numbers. If you just want the call, and are sure of the ability and intent of the person who answers, you're O.K. with a regular number.

And I'm stickin' to it!

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Permalink Reply by David Robertson on September 12, 2011 at 11:52am

That would be good....but local SEO best practices says that you need to use a local number and that number should be the same on google places as it is in all your citations...Citations being places online where all your business info is listed like YellowPages, Brownbook, yellowbot and on and on and on.

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Permalink Reply by Kurtis Smith on September 13, 2011 at 10:49am

I am convinced that although the type of phone number that you use is important for tracking, the real question that needs to be asked and answered is what are the processes that you have in place to measure the effectiveness of your offering? The buyer is only interested in your value proposition, so if it is substantial enough for them to call, then the real question is what happens when someone picks up the phone? The point is that if you have a process for measuring the effectiveness of the add, and one for improving the conversion rate of the individuals answering the calls, then the number that you use is a matter of cost and personal preference. Does that makes sense?

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Permalink Reply by Jock Schowalter on January 20, 2012 at 1:26pm

I concur with David on the phone number consistency. This is recognized as the best way to ensure Google gives your place listings higher credibility by having a consistent number. 

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Permalink Reply by Kenny Atcheson on January 21, 2012 at 4:20pm

It stinks but it is true...

Using a tracking number may hurt your SEO rankings on your local pages.  As someone that advises you to track everything  it bugs me but the question is, "Would you rather have perfect tracking and less visitors or no tracking and more visitors?"

The phone number you use on your local page should be whatever number you have on your website Contact us page and everywhere else.  If you have multiple phone numbers, typically the number should be the phone number you have had the longest that is posted everywhere online. 

Social Media is difficult to track and measure ROI but as Gary Vaynerchuck says, "What is the ROI on your new suit, that new coat of paint in the office?"  

As Social Media, onine reviews, and local pages evolve, the tracking will improve with new tools and systems. 

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Permalink Reply by Chad Morgan on January 25, 2012 at 11:40am

We deal with this all of the time.  Do a Google Search for every variation of your business phone number, address and business name and you'll be surprised how many different citations are out there.  Now look how Google Places has you listed.  If the Google Places is correct then you'll want to start working your way through all of the sites that have it listed differently.  It's very important to have your name, address and phone number EXACTLY the same down to the spaces and commas.  There are so many businesses trying to "game" the Places listings that the search spam team has really cracked down on validation.  Search will continue to become MORE local and MORE personal to each individual search user.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Staton on August 4, 2012 at 5:54am

I'm an expert in SEO and David is correct.  You should use your local phone number - the same as the one listed everywhere else.  Google rewards it :  )

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