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Every Local SEO consultant will talk about consistency of local number across all sites. Google takes data from other sites to determine ranking on local listings in Places with more matches giving higher value.
The recommendation to use local numbers that differ across the many local portals is majorly flawed. The data you are recommending to altered is often distributed by Aggregators using one number. Changing it to a different number is where people get into problems of not only poor rank but incorrect data rendering. Stick with your main local number is the only recommendation.
The recommendation to use local numbers that differ across the many local portals is majorly flawed. The data you are recommending to altered is often distributed by Aggregators using one number. Changing it to a different number is where people get into problems of not only poor rank but incorrect data rendering. Stick with your main local number is the only recommendation.
Stephen, we are a Centuray Interactive client, just started 60 days ago and like it. We just started dealer Rater 20 days ago, using the same 8XX tracking number for Dealer rater as we use in our 2 Google Places account (Duke Automotive & Duke Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac). We have a dynamic number on our web site. But the web numbers and Google Places and all other 3rd party web numbers do not match, all are tracking numbers. All other 3rd party sites that I have claimed our info on so far I am placing tracking numbers.
As a dealer I want to know where my traffic is coming from and where I need to market, as well we use Phone Ninja's for phone training and its well worth it so I really dont want to give that up.
I am hearing a lot of things; that I should NOT use different 8XX tracking numbers for all my 3rd party, yp.com, bing, yahoo, yelp, etc. and use 1 number for all. And for my web?
Then Stephen says its ok to use a dynamic tracking number ,which we do.
Then I hear I should be using my local number that I have had for 40 years for everything (that would eliminate any tracking and call recording we use for training purposes)
So Stephen, let me know, or call me, what we should be doing. Because I want Google Places and all these 3rd party sites linking correctly and matching up our info as close to 100% as possible. I still want to see my traffic, and record calls for training.
I guess one simple way to solve this is to know if you have the ability to track and record our main number that we have had for 40 years?
As a dealer I want to know where my traffic is coming from and where I need to market, as well we use Phone Ninja's for phone training and its well worth it so I really dont want to give that up.
I am hearing a lot of things; that I should NOT use different 8XX tracking numbers for all my 3rd party, yp.com, bing, yahoo, yelp, etc. and use 1 number for all. And for my web?
Then Stephen says its ok to use a dynamic tracking number ,which we do.
Then I hear I should be using my local number that I have had for 40 years for everything (that would eliminate any tracking and call recording we use for training purposes)
So Stephen, let me know, or call me, what we should be doing. Because I want Google Places and all these 3rd party sites linking correctly and matching up our info as close to 100% as possible. I still want to see my traffic, and record calls for training.
I guess one simple way to solve this is to know if you have the ability to track and record our main number that we have had for 40 years?
Eley,
We're all in the same boat. Here's my work-around.
#1). Use images for toll free numbers. New and Used Chevrolet Dealer McMurray | Sun Chevrolet (see top right) Google does not read images.
#2). Footer of New and Used Chevrolet Dealer McMurray | Sun Chevrolet I took the risk and used Toll Free numbers on footer.
#3). "About Us" page is letter perfect: http://www.usedcarking.com/aboutus.asp I point the Google Places to the about us page in the hopes that google will associate the 2.
#3a). We have multi-roofs, so rather than point to the about us page, I make an landing page for each store and point the Google Places page to it.
Store#1 landing page.
Google Places for Store#1.
All 3rd party sites that are intended to be the "dealership contact page" get the local land line #. In the merchandise presentations, I use the toll free numbers.
It's not perfect, but I get to keep both needs alive.
We're all in the same boat. Here's my work-around.
#1). Use images for toll free numbers. New and Used Chevrolet Dealer McMurray | Sun Chevrolet (see top right) Google does not read images.
#2). Footer of New and Used Chevrolet Dealer McMurray | Sun Chevrolet I took the risk and used Toll Free numbers on footer.
#3). "About Us" page is letter perfect: http://www.usedcarking.com/aboutus.asp I point the Google Places to the about us page in the hopes that google will associate the 2.
#3a). We have multi-roofs, so rather than point to the about us page, I make an landing page for each store and point the Google Places page to it.
Store#1 landing page.
Loading…
www.usedcarking.com
Google Places for Store#1.
Loading…
maps.google.com
All 3rd party sites that are intended to be the "dealership contact page" get the local land line #. In the merchandise presentations, I use the toll free numbers.
It's not perfect, but I get to keep both needs alive.
I know I'm late chiming in here (and a newby to the forum too), so
please pardon my intrusion. Just thought I'd comment that as a local SEO
and Google Places professional, I think it warrants noting that over
the past several months, really going back to last year to be more
exact, Google has been changing maps/places and organic almost as much as I change my socks!
Add to that... with more frequency they are demanding re-confirmations
and even have been known to remove listings until meeting with approval
in what is their effort to eventually clean up the Places mess they've
created.
So I would agree with the others to NOT put in a tracking number for
Places page, as tempting as it may be. I'm sure you would regret it. I
wouldn't be surprised if your page got totally de-indexed for a while
(weeks even) by making any major changes to your citation.
Before coming on board with the dealership I now work at, I did
freelance work for local businesses and a large part of the work was in G
Places. If I had to go back to freelancing, I would not even touch GP
for the money I used to charge. I would triple the fee and give scant
guarantee, thanks to that uncertainty principle known as Google.
please pardon my intrusion. Just thought I'd comment that as a local SEO
and Google Places professional, I think it warrants noting that over
the past several months, really going back to last year to be more
exact, Google has been changing maps/places and organic almost as much as I change my socks!
Add to that... with more frequency they are demanding re-confirmations
and even have been known to remove listings until meeting with approval
in what is their effort to eventually clean up the Places mess they've
created.
So I would agree with the others to NOT put in a tracking number for
Places page, as tempting as it may be. I'm sure you would regret it. I
wouldn't be surprised if your page got totally de-indexed for a while
(weeks even) by making any major changes to your citation.
Before coming on board with the dealership I now work at, I did
freelance work for local businesses and a large part of the work was in G
Places. If I had to go back to freelancing, I would not even touch GP
for the money I used to charge. I would triple the fee and give scant
guarantee, thanks to that uncertainty principle known as Google.
✨ AI Highlights
A vendor-authored FAQ on call tracking for dealerships sparks a debate about whether to use tracking numbers on Google Places pages, with SEO professionals strongly warning against it due to NAP consistency risks and ranking penalties. The thread splits between dealers who want full call attribution across all channels and local search experts who argue that mismatched tracking numbers damage local search signals far more than any analytics benefit justifies. The key takeaway is that dealers face a real tradeoff: robust call tracking can undermine local SEO, and the safer approach is to reserve tracking numbers for paid sources while keeping a consistent local number on Google Places and citation sites.
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