Google My Business Call Tracking Just Added

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Did you guys see the news I broke yesterday about Google adding call tracking to the Google My Business Insights?

Although not as comprehensive as some of you might want, it will give consultants a another way to track and work on improving conversions, ROI and an important new metric to report on.

I just got some additional info about how it works, but ran it by Google Local management to be sure it's correct. Waiting for more details from them.

Do you have the new phone call tracking option in your dashboards yet?
(Some may not, because this update is still rolling out.)

What do you think?
#added #business #call #google #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author kemdev
    Can this number be used on your website as well?
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      I think that Google has enough of my data, and they really don't need any more. Not a service I will be using any time soon.
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      • Oops, I guess I caught a pre-launch sneak peak, but it was not quite ready to launch and it's going away.

        Jade from Google just posted an update at my forum about this. She said it was not supposed to be live yet and would be rolled back for now.

        I guess you guys haven't seen any of the screenshots posted at my place or have not seen in your own dashboards??? Because I think you are both misunderstanding what this does.

        Sorry when I posted I thought everyone had it, cuz most folks I checked with did.

        Originally Posted by kemdev View Post

        Can this number be used on your website as well?
        No it's not a tracking # or anything like that.

        In your GMB dashboard it shows how many calls you have gotten from your listing. Like it shows how many clicks you've gotten.

        But obviously it can only track click to call via mobile. But with more and more consumers on mobile - it will still be a good metric to know.

        Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

        I think that Google has enough of my data, and they really don't need any more. Not a service I will be using any time soon.
        You can't opt out.

        Once it's live it will just be a metric in Insights like impressions and clicks are now.

        Here are screenshots of what it looks like in case you don't have it. (Google is in the process of rolling this update back right now so you may not see it.)

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        • Profile picture of the author savidge4
          Ahhh so if you have click to mobile button it can track that.. not land lines etc... Here I was getting hot under the collar

          seriously tho, if that is NOT opt outable, I may stop using Google analytics. they have enough already.

          Sad part is even with an opt out option they are still tracking the data. and we wonder why Google is where it is today! hahaha
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          • Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

            Ahhh so if you have click to mobile button it can track that.. not land lines etc... Here I was getting hot under the collar

            seriously tho, if that is NOT opt outable, I may stop using Google analytics. they have enough already.
            Well it's not in Google analytics so if you stop using GA it won't help.

            This as I said this is in Google My Business Insights. It's part of the GMB stats. Just like Google tracks clicks it will track the # of clicks on your phone #.

            I don't see how they could let one person say - "delete that part of my Insights I don't want to see it!" And even if you don't want to see it, they still will. So I don't understand what good opting out would even do.

            All this is doing is letting YOU see some new data that was previously hidden, that they've been seeing all along.

            EVERYONE else I know is really excited and sees this as a positive. You can read post after post from Local Search pros on G+ praising this new feature. So I'm still not really clear on what your objection is?
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            • Profile picture of the author savidge4
              Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

              Well it's not in Google analytics so if you stop using GA it won't help.

              This as I said this is in Google My Business Insights. It's part of the GMB stats. Just like Google tracks clicks it will track the # of clicks on your phone #.

              I don't see how they could let one person say - "delete that part of my Insights I don't want to see it!" And even if you don't want to see it, they still will. So I don't understand what good opting out would even do.

              All this is doing is letting YOU see some new data that was previously hidden, that they've been seeing all along.

              EVERYONE else I know is really excited and sees this as a positive. You can read post after post from Local Search pros on G+ praising this new feature. So I'm still not really clear on what your objection is?
              Above ment to say Google Business not Google Analytics, but I am about to give up both of them already

              Uh im not seeing this as a big deal...

              #1 in analytics one can make the call click button a "Goal" and track this.

              #2 you can set the click to call button to a forward phone number before it reaches the place of business.
              A) once again better tracking ability
              B) allows the client to see on caller ID this is a "Mobile Site Caller"
              C) in some cases I have actually set the mobile calls to a separate phone that ONLY accepts the mobile call forward ( to many scrapers and the phone was going off the hook with people wanting to sell the client services )
              D) my stats read correctly the number of clicks either equals the number of callers or is less than.. never MORE

              #3 look at the very example you have displayed... 48 visitors to your site and 64 callers. Really? That's what 133%, visitor calls per visit? how exactly is that happening?

              so basically if EVERYONE Is oh so excited.. well good for them. I already track this crap and do so far better than getting whopped 133% results, thank you very much.

              Seriously, it has come to the point that Google is getting all the data, and is no longer "truly" sharing the data. its all hidden or scewed any more. I have to bustout the site logs just to see what damn keywords are used... As seen in the example I can not expect them ( Google ) to get me reasonably valid data on how many times a button was clicked vs how many phone calls were recieved.

              Again look at the data you presented.. there is MORE TO THE STORY
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              • 1) That was not my data. It was a screenshot a member posted on my forum so I have no idea about the back story on that listing.

                2) It was not even supposed to be released so is likely only half baked which could account for the numbers being off.

                3) Google Places/GMB stats have never been super reliable.

                4) If you don't like it, you can just ignore the feature when it comes since you have the ability to do it your way which in your opinion is better, so that's fine.

                5) But most SMBs are not savvy enough to do the things you are talking about. This gives them an easy way to see call volume without having to set anything up. Simple. Which is what SMBs need.

                To me any additional data they give us is a welcome step!

                And any new features indicate PROGRESS, which is better than being stuck in an old product that was largely ignored for years.

                Hate to sound like a Google fan girl here, but at least they are working on new features and trying to make things better. So I'm not sure how you can fault them for trying to give us the features that so many SMBs as well as consultants have been asking for!
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                • Profile picture of the author savidge4
                  Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

                  1) That was not my data. It was a screenshot a member posted on my forum so I have no idea about the back story on that listing.

                  2) It was not even supposed to be released so is likely only half baked which could account for the numbers being off.

                  3) Google Places/GMB stats have never been super reliable.

                  4) If you don't like it, you can just ignore the feature when it comes since you have the ability to do it your way which in your opinion is better, so that's fine.

                  5) But most SMBs are not savvy enough to do the things you are talking about. This gives them an easy way to see call volume without having to set anything up. Simple. Which is what SMBs need.

                  To me any additional data they give us is a welcome step!

                  And any new features indicate PROGRESS, which is better than being stuck in an old product that was largely ignored for years.

                  Hate to sound like a Google fan girl here, but at least they are working on new features and trying to make things better. So I'm not sure how you can fault them for trying to give us the features that so many SMBs as well as consultants have been asking for!
                  I first of all want to say that you are the POSTER CHILD of a " Google Fan Girl" and in all good intentions I mean that in a good way. your excitement and dedication for what you do is beyond incredible. For you its a good thing, for me its just another point of competition.. ha ha !

                  If you really want to discuss Google, and interesting; you might want to look into the changes over at adwords. They are adjusting the "Keyword Matching Options" to include plurals among other things. THIS is a change that will trickle ( more like cascade as in Niagra Falls cascade ) into regular search as well as local search.

                  This type of change will actually lesson the overall bonus I personally have gained since "Hummingbird". To be honest, I never really saw it coming, but looking back, yeah I was setting myself up as an exception.... and boy does that suck.

                  I have implemented the same strategy across to my Google Business listings and was doing rather well, and soon that will be gone as well. And really there is not a damn thing that can be done about it.

                  In case you are missing what I am saying:

                  Google user types "Italian Restaurants in Clarksburg, Wv"

                  In you title and description you would naturally leave the "S" off in your title and description "Philips, the best Italian Restaurant in Clarksburg, Wv." ( I don't leave off the S ) so the text in my listings would look like "Philips, the best Italian Restaurants in Clarksburg, Wv."

                  "Restaurants" is technically a exact match for Restaurant ( No S ) AND Restaurants

                  So now with Google rolling out the ability to have competing variations for an exact match ( Again this is currently ONLY in the listing of Adwords Ads ) It is seriously only time before this rolls out into other areas.

                  I can see this being a big shake up not only in the Main Serps but in the Local Serps as well.

                  Stay Happy!
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                  • Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                    I first of all want to say that you are the POSTER CHILD of a " Google Fan Girl" and in all good intentions I mean that in a good way. your excitement and dedication for what you do is beyond incredible. For you its a good thing, for me its just another point of competition.. ha ha!!
                    Thanks - I think. ha ha!

                    Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                    If you really want to discuss Google, and interesting; you might want to look into the changes over at adwords. They are adjusting the "Keyword Matching Options" to include plurals among other things. THIS is a change that will trickle ( more like cascade as in Niagra Falls cascade ) into regular search as well as local search.
                    I don't keep up with Adwords much. G Local consumes all my time. But I do cover techniques for optimizing for plurals in my training - so will keep an eye on it from the organic front to see if anything changes.
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                    • Profile picture of the author mak25
                      What I would like to know, is how can you track a 'click-to-call' button on a mobile site in GA?
                      eg: <a href="tel:111-111-1111">

                      Those stats would be a great help.
                      I have yet to find a way to do that.
                      Any tips or suggestions?
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                      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
                        You simply set up a Goal. Once you are on the property screen go up to 'Admin' 'Property' then the 'view' column. you will see 'Goals' and simply follow through the steps.

                        I set goals on a great number of things. Add to cart, View cart, Proceed to Checkout, Banners I might be testing, all kinds of stuff. super easy to track actual clicking.

                        Originally Posted by mak25 View Post

                        What I would like to know, is how can you track a 'click-to-call' button on a mobile site in GA?
                        eg: <a href="tel:111-111-1111">

                        Those stats would be a great help.
                        I have yet to find a way to do that.
                        Any tips or suggestions?
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                        • Profile picture of the author mak25
                          Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                          You simply set up a Goal. Once you are on the property screen go up to 'Admin' 'Property' then the 'view' column. you will see 'Goals' and simply follow through the steps.

                          I set goals on a great number of things. Add to cart, View cart, Proceed to Checkout, Banners I might be testing, all kinds of stuff. super easy to track actual clicking.
                          Thanks for your reply savidge4. I followed the steps but they are confusing. For example: Goal setup=template, Inquiry=click to call, Goal description=click to call, Type is where it gets murky. Choices are: Destination, Duration, Pages/Screen per session, Event (ex:played a video) Nowhere does it offer click to call.

                          Next is Event conditions: Category, Action, Label, Value. What do you do there?
                          I choose Action, Equals To, then I filled in click to call.

                          Next is 'Use the Event value as the Goal Value for the conversion. If you don’t have a value defined in the condition above that matches your Event tracking code, nothing will appear as the Goal Value.' I chose: yes

                          Where in the Event tracking code does it contain click to call tracking? I'm confused...again.

                          Finally it says: This Goal would have a 0% conversion rate based on your data from the past 7 days. Try a different set up.

                          Totally lost here.

                          Someone said I need to add this code to my pages:
                          <a href="tel:866-570-1785" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','Click-to-Call','Nav','866-570-1785']);">866-570-1785</a><a href="tel:866-570-1785" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','Click=to-Call','Footer','866-570-1785']);">866-570-1785</a>

                          Not sure if that's correct or not. In that code I don't know what 'Nav' and 'Footer' is all about.

                          Any input would be appreicated, since this would really verify how many calls my clients are getting form their mobile site.

                          Thanks
                          Mike
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                          • Profile picture of the author savidge4
                            Originally Posted by mak25 View Post

                            Thanks for your reply savidge4. I followed the steps but they are confusing. For example: Goal setup=template, Inquiry=click to call, Goal description=click to call, Type is where it gets murky. Choices are: Destination, Duration, Pages/Screen per session, Event (ex:played a video) Nowhere does it offer click to call.

                            Next is Event conditions: Category, Action, Label, Value. What do you do there?
                            I choose Action, Equals To, then I filled in click to call.

                            Next is 'Use the Event value as the Goal Value for the conversion. If you don't have a value defined in the condition above that matches your Event tracking code, nothing will appear as the Goal Value.' I chose: yes

                            Where in the Event tracking code does it contain click to call tracking? I'm confused...again.

                            Finally it says: This Goal would have a 0% conversion rate based on your data from the past 7 days. Try a different set up.

                            Totally lost here.

                            Thanks
                            Mike
                            You are basically building a custom condition... it is not going to say "Click to call" You are over complicating here... its a destination IE the destinations is ahref phone #. You don't wont to place code anywhere, then you will have to get into your site logs to to dig it out.
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                            • Profile picture of the author mak25
                              Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                              You are basically building a custom condition... it is not going to say "Click to call" You are over complicating here... its a destination IE the destinations is ahref phone #. You don't wont to place code anywhere, then you will have to get into your site logs to to dig it out.

                              Thanks again. I'm not sure if I did it correctly. I'll check back tomorrow and see what stats I get, if any.
                              My guy gets his mobile site (take-out place) used over 1200 times a month, according to GA sessions.

                              Would be good to know how many times the click to call button was used.

                              Thanks again
                              Mike
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                              • Profile picture of the author savidge4
                                Originally Posted by mak25 View Post

                                Thanks again. I'm not sure if I did it correctly. I'll check back tomorrow and see what stats I get, if any.
                                My guy gets his mobile site (take-out place) used over 1200 times a month, according to GA sessions.

                                Would be good to know how many times the click to call button was used.

                                Thanks again
                                Mike
                                Check tomorrow? dude.. its instant.. go out and click, and go into GA and see if it registers!
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                                • Profile picture of the author mak25
                                  Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                                  Check tomorrow? dude.. its instant.. go out and click, and go into GA and see if it registers!
                                  Not a thing. Zero across the board. Maybe I'm as dumb as a stump, but I can't figure this out.
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                                • Profile picture of the author mak25
                                  Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                                  Check tomorrow? dude.. its instant.. go out and click, and go into GA and see if it registers!
                                  Maybe you don't know what you're talking about.

                                  Your info did squat.
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              • Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

                #3 look at the very example you have displayed... 48 visitors to your site and 64 callers. Really? That's what 133%, visitor calls per visit? how exactly is that happening?

                so basically if EVERYONE Is oh so excited.. well good for them. I already track this crap and do so far better than getting whopped 133% results, thank you very much.
                No I believe you read that wrong. It was not 64 calls out of 48 visits.

                If you look again, it was 112 total clicks.
                48 of the the clicks went to the site and 64 clicked to call.

                I can buy that because lots of existing customers/patients also search for the business in Google to find the phone number to call. I Google my Drs to find their phone numbers all the time. I'm sure I'm not alone.

                mak25, sounds like savidge has call tracking in GA down, so hopefully he'll be back to answer.
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                • Profile picture of the author savidge4
                  Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

                  No I believe you read that wrong. It was not 64 calls out of 48 visits.

                  If you look again, it was 112 total clicks.
                  48 of the the clicks went to the site and 64 clicked to call.

                  I can buy that because lots of existing customers/patients also search for the business in Google to find the phone number to call. I Google my Drs to find their phone numbers all the time. I'm sure I'm not alone.

                  mak25, sounds like savidge has call tracking in GA down, so hopefully he'll be back to answer.
                  I totally see what you are saying yes.. in the GB+ listing you can visit the site or you can call.

                  Just a quick side note... KIDS look at those numbers! Outside of having a ranking GB+ listing the ONLY WAY you could get those kinds of numbers for your clients ( click to call ) is with a MOBILE WEBSITE ( like I have said many a time Responsive does not do this )

                  If you are a web designer and NOT selling at least the most basic of mobile to your clients, you are only hurting yourself. Clients want / expect results, and if you do not have the methods in place to deliver that clients phone ringing 64 times out of 128 visits you are NOT doing your job!
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