20 things about Google - Thing 05 -Google Phone Home!
In my last blog I wrote about the importance that Google places on where you are actually based. Its free Google Local service is a brilliant tool that we should all be using.
Today I am going to take this further and I need to warn you that you might not want to hear what I have to say. You don’t have to take this on board, I am just putting it out there because I want to help everybody as best I can. You might not like it though, just don’t shoot the messenger!
Take a look at this picture. It is taken from a business based in Chichester. However, like many businesses, they have a few other “local” phone numbers, so that customers in the surrounding towns (Portsmouth, Worthing, Petersfield and Fareham) have got a local number they can call. People do always prefer local after all and therefore it makes sense, doesn’t it, to have a few local phone numbers which increases the chance that people will call you?
Not as far as Google is concerned.
If you do this, your rankings with Google will suffer. Sorry.
It gets even worse. Let’s look at one of my clients, a wonderful veterinary practice with a main practice in Bognor. They have two satellite practices, one in north Chichester and one in Birdham (to the south of Chichester). All three practices are separate, legitimate physical locations and all have the same Area Dialling Code: 01243. They had all of their phone numbers on every page and have done so for years.
They are having a SEO campaign run by a excellent company we have been working with for some time and this was one of the things they have highlighted. To resolve the problem, we are developing micro sites for the satellite practices, each one on a separate sub domain. This means that Google will treat them completely separately and, as long as we avoid duplicate content, all the practices will perform well.
Just in case you were wondering, all of this only applies to local rate phone numbers. Mobiles and national rate numbers are not geographic and do not have an effect.
In simple terms, you can only be in one place at one time! My company, Access by Design have won awards for our expertise in web design. Chichester based is where we are! However, we build website for companies all over Hampshire, West and East Sussex and beyond.
Next time... something new you can do with an Alt tag that will help your Google rankings!
If you would like to find out more about how we could help you, why not give us a call on 01243 776399? Hoping you have a great day!
Clive Loseby
Managing Director
Access by Design
