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

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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!
#offline marketing #google #landline #listing #local #number #phone #supply
  • 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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  • 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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  • 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.
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    • 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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  • 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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  • 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.
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    • 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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