Local SEO: Citation Consistency
-
My company manages local SEO campaigns for local-service SMBs (e.g. plumbers, dentists). One of the things we do is claim and manage directory listings. To provide trackable results, we apply tracking phone numbers to the directory listings, but those phone numbers don't match the phone number listed on the client's site.
So we have a problem from a citation consistency standpoint.
On the one hand, we'd like everything to be consistent -- business name, address and phone number -- to achieve citation consistency.
On the other hand, we want to prove the value of what we're doing by showing the client data from tracked phone calls.
Can we provide best-practice Local SEO and Maps Optimization - and achieve citation consistency - even if we're introducing inconsistency by using tracking numbers?
-
Hi Robert,
Unfortunately, call tracking is taboo in Local SEO. Here are some articles on this I think you will find helpful:
http://searchengineland.com/be-wary-of-call-tracking-numbers-in-local-search-26895
http://searchengineland.com/for-local-seo-lack-of-call-tracking-solution-spawns-cloaking-70198
The thing is, the phone number is one of your key trust metrics with Google...equal to or greater than street address. Getting this mixed up can have pretty severe consequences, making it not really worth it to even go down the call tracking road.
I understand the frustration with this, especially given how useful call tracking can be in paid search campaigns, and etc., but the best you can do with call tracking is to train the business owner and his/her phone staff to do this the old fashioned way. Train them to ask, "How did you hear about us?" Not very high tech, but it does provide some data to you to see how your work is benefiting the business.
I hope the articles help, Robert. Your questions is a very important and valid one.
-
In my experience no. Two numbers for one business just doesn't work.When I've tried to implement this I've had trouble:
A) Getting all the NAPs to match and its not easy to get that done with just one number.
B) Convincing the client to put anything but their business number on their website.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
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
-
Unsolved Are links from staff profile pages no longer good for SEO?
Hey there, We run a small site that lists lawyers and we have an opportunity to ask the lawyers to display a 'badge' on their own website's staff page, linked back to the page on our site that they are listed on. Initially I thought this would be good link building (i.e. the lawyer's own staff/profile pages on their website linking to our site where they are listed = a highly relevant link). I was less concerned about the authority of the law firm's sites, though these will range from sometimes low-ish to medium. I just assumed that Google would see the value in the lawyer wanting to link to our site where they are listed. However, our SEO has said that these days Google doesn't give much/any value to these types of links from individual staff pages. His advice was to try and get the badge added to one of their service pages (or their About page) which will be unlikely as the badge is person-specific. I thought I'd ask if this was everyone else's experience regarding Google not valuing links from individual staff pages? Thanks for you help 🙂
Link Building | | Andy-H0 -
Examination of Anchor Text Ratios for SEO
A new article on Search Engine Journal asks even though anchor Text Ratios are considered important by many SEOs for ranking in Google, are they really something to worry about?
Link Building | | akhter87610 -
I need USA based local directories list any one can help ???
I need USA based local directories list any one can help ??? I know about this list http://www.seomoz.org/directories/local. Also i need list of Local directories based on Denver Colorado separately and Charlotte NC separately. Thanks in advance for any help or guidance.
Link Building | | GM0070 -
Seo for a photographer's website
Hello all, I am a big fan of this site & of SEO. I am a photographer & I do my own SEO (horribly, I must admit), my questions is how to I go about attracting natural links when so much of my content image of weddings & family portraits? How I do get good websites or blogs interested in about my website?
Link Building | | KristopherWho0 -
How much number of root domain affect in SEO?
my competitor has 18 root domain with 68000 links. If i build my links with quality links with differnt root domain will help me to get better SERP result?
Link Building | | Kevinnam81
I have about 6 months to build links and get in better position than my competitor. please advice me how can i start this project.
i am building links with competitors root domain right now and indexed by them about 6 of 18 and keep building it..0 -
Are link exchanges bad for SEO these days? Also, is adding my site to free yet relevent directory sites a bad idea?
I operate a computer services company in Eugene, Oregon called "Eugene Computer Geeks". We do a lot of web design, and need incoming links to my site very badly. Lately I've been asking clients if they would link to me, but they almost always ask for a link in return. If we exchange links, does Google penalize my site? Would the incoming link be better for SEO if I'm not linking back to the other site? ALSO Is it possible that manually submitting my site to free, yet relevant web directories would hurt my rankings? It's not a big deal to me if it doesn't help my rankings, as I see a benefit to having my site listed, but wanted to make sure there wasn't a chance that it would hurt my rankings. As far as I know all the directories are free from SPAM, porn, warez, or anything like that. Thanks!
Link Building | | eugenecomputergeeks0 -
Which is better for SEO Facebook or Twitter?
If you could choose between a tweet from an influencer or a post from a Facebook fan "influencer"? Which would you choose?
Link Building | | nicole.healthline0 -
SEO MOZ LINK BUILDING TOOLS
So I learnt that in link building you need to send an email to someone from where you want the inbound link coming in from. In this case, are there any tools withing SEO moz that allow you toactually search for links and also provide you the contact email? Thank you, Vijay
Link Building | | vijayvasu0