Do you have to supply landline phone number for local google listing?

13 years ago

It depends on where the clients / business phone number is listed, E.G has the big G already found it and which one is it... G looks for listed numbers, so if a business has a cell listed it will list a cell # on the "business edit" page, same for a landline or freephone, best thing to do BEFORE you start is check if the client has a number ANYWHERE online, this will be the primary number G will always call, you can then add a 2nd, 3rd number, if no number is found and you "list" one while editing, you will have to have a G postcard sent out to verify the business address / number / changes, this has been happening since around 19th dec 2010 when G started stopping multiple listings for fake businesses etc

hope that helps a little :-)

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TE2

13 years ago

Originally Posted by madison_avenue

[...] client [...] doesn't want to list his home address, he just wants to list a mobile phone number. Is this possible? Is there a work around method?

You will do this by setting and defining a service area. You will also use his address but check/uncheck the box that allows for hiding the address on the listing.

This way google knows what areas he serves but no address in displayed in his Place page.

Regards,

John

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madison_avenue

13 years ago

Thanks for the helpful replies guys. I guess for one man businesses operating from home it's not ideal to give out their home address, so if hiding the address on the listing can be done it is cool. He wants to serve a local area and be contactable by mobile.

Thanks
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Catalyst eMarketing

13 years ago

FYI all, there are quite a few things mentioned in this thread that I think could be detrimental to your clients Places listings.

Using the hide address feature seriously hurts rankings from what I've read in numerous places.

Using the service area reportedly also hurts rankings but not quite as bad as hiding address.

Using a mobile # is not advised and G could consider it against the guidelines. (Read the guidelines again). Plus using a mobile # if it's an existing business, could cause their rankings to drop if they already have lots of citations for their main local number.

Adding additional phone numbers (as suggested in one reply) is a bad idea and just confuses Google. I won't even add a fax number to listings and most pros I know will only include one # as well. AND it needs to be the main local #.

You'll find lots of the top industry leaders, plus lots of posts on the Google Places forum that support all of the above, so not just my opinion. But still on something as important as a client's rankings (and your biz reputation) you should always research and not just take advice from people in forums. Not even mine. :p But when it comes to Places advice in general, there are a LOT of people that give out incorrect info and many of the courses do too. So just be careful.

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madison_avenue

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 5starAffiliatePrograms

FYI all, there are quite a few things mentioned in this thread that I think could be detrimental to your clients Places listings.

Using the hide address feature seriously hurts rankings from what I've read in numerous places.

Using the service area reportedly also hurts rankings but not quite as bad as hiding address.

Using a mobile # is not advised and G could consider it against the guidelines. (Read the guidelines again). Plus using a mobile # if it's an existing business, could cause their rankings to drop if they already have lots of citations for their main local number.

Adding additional phone numbers (as suggested in one reply) is a bad idea and just confuses Google. I won't even add a fax number to listings and most pros I know will only include one # as well. AND it needs to be the main local #.

You'll find lots of the top industry leaders, plus lots of posts on the Google Places forum that support all of the above, so not just my opinion. But still on something as important as a client's rankings (and your biz reputation) you should always research and not just take advice from people in forums. Not even mine. :p But when it comes to Places advice in general, there are a LOT of people that give out incorrect info and many of the courses do too. So just be careful.

I had noticed most of the places listed had a landline number. I will tell the guy I am selling this to of the implications you've mentioned. Rankings are the most important thing so I don't want to risk it, so main local it may have to be. I will have another read through google guidelines to get a clearer idea of their requirements. Thanks for the heads up, 5 star!

Thanks
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Nevin McQ

13 years ago

I have has a new Google Places listing at number 1 by doing the following:

1. Hiding the home address and only providing the service area
2. Used a Google Voice number as the business phone number. (GV number is assigned to my mobile.

I really do not know when people say you need to do this and that. I became number 1 when I could not even be found on the internet before.

The website still has no content, however the GP listing is number 1

I think the key here was sending a couple of update messages if people are looking for secrets..

To me GP is based more on location and proximity as a very heavy factor

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Catalyst eMarketing

13 years ago

Is it a big city and competitive market and popular keyword?

I'd love to see the listing if I could. Maybe I'll learn something new.
PM me link if you care to share.

Thanks, Linda

Thanks
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Nevin McQ

13 years ago

Let me keep here in this thread for now so people can possibly learn.

It is a very densely populated area, and very wealthy where people pay for theses services.

The services are lawn care and maintenance. Right now I have only been testing the keyword lawn maintenance.

Google Adwords = 33,100 searches monthly locally
SEO Book = 14,100 searches monthly

Basically I took my keywords from what was popular for categories in the paper Yellow Pages.

I just used Google Earth so I can give the following example of competition:

I took my number one or A listing and made a 8 mile circle around my business. For the ones that made the Google Places I counted 34 businesses so I would say the competition is very heavy.

Now I wonder how many businesses are not even showing up, remember when I started this my business was not anywhere on the net..only of I typed on my domain or the person knew my name and company could you find my website which has no content except my contact form.

I am using the Google Voice number, I am not sure if you will still be able to do this as I have read many things have changed but all I can say is someone can try it.

Again I think because I made 2 or 3 updates or messages because the GP is active it helps.

Now remember what I said I think much of the searches are really reliant on Geo Targeting as one of the heaviest factors.

I still have to do more testing but after about 3 miles I start to lose placement. This is still testing I do both mobile and desktop.

Originally Posted by 5starAffiliatePrograms

Is it a big city and competitive market and popular keyword?

I'd love to see the listing if I could. Maybe I'll learn something new.
PM me link if you care to share.

Thanks, Linda

Thanks

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Russell Hall

13 years ago

Originally Posted by madison_avenue

Hi everyone,

Do you have to provide a land line phone number for local google listing or can you provide a mobile number.

Also I have client who is a handyman but he doesn't want to list his home address, he just wants to list a mobile phone number. Is this possible? Is there a work around method? maybe mailbox!

Thanks for your help!

What about setting up a Vumber number?

or alternatively,.. if he is a handyman and doesn't want to disclose his home number (either for privacy reasons, or just needs all calls directed to him at all times) then he should be able to contact his landline supplier and get a supplement number that he can then advertise that directly and have all calls from that number redirected to his mobile.

I's not uncommon for tradespeople to use mobile numbers exclusively because they're always out on a job or doing calls or whatever,.. plus they want to protect their peace and quiet when at home and there's nothing quite like being able to switch the mobile phone over to message bank and then turn it off in the evenings and Sundays or whenever.

Cheers,
Russell

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RKCastillo

13 years ago

Just adding my 2 cents here...

The phone number isn't that big of a deal anymore.

As they don't do phone verification anymore.

I use a cell phone in all of my listings.

But I agree, hiding the address will affect the rankings. I've also always used my home address and never had anyone knock on my door.

Thanks
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VegasGreg 13 years ago

Originally Posted by RKCastillo

The phone number isn't that big of a deal anymore.
As they don't do phone verification anymore.
I use a cell phone in all of my listings.

The phone number is a HUGE deal... if it is an established business with an established number already dispersed online.

If it is a new business, or a small biz as described, chances are there isn't an established landline number that is already out there, so using a cell phone could (an does) work.

If you aren't sure if there is another number, check all the citations online and see what number is populating.

Google still does phone verifications, you just need to know how and why they do them and you can make it happen, but in this conversation, we are talking about rankings. And using the established number helps the rankings. If it is a new # with no citations associated, then you are building the rankings from scratch, so it is ok.
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- Vrs 13 years ago
  
  I use an 800 number and hide my address - no problem at all.
  
  Thanks
  
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Do you have to supply landline phone number for local google listing?

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