Would two telephone numbers on a website affect NAP consistency? One is the "actual" business number with Schema, the other is a call tracking number.

[nowmedia1]

Hello!

I have two telephone numbers listed on a website - one is the "actual" business number and is utilizing proper schema, while the other is a call tracking number featured more prominently on the site (both in the header and above the "actual" business number in the footer).

The code looks like this:

New Patients:

999-555-5555

Current Patients:

555-555-5555

Does Google prioritize the "actual" business number because it has the proper schema on it? Or would the call tracking number still be counted and affect NAP consistency for Local SEO?

Thanks!

[George-Freitag]

Hi Now Media,

Just to clarify, are both telephone numbers displayed to users at the same time? If so that seems more of a user experience and CRO concern, since I don't see how you'd get accurate data from having 2 numbers on the site.

Typically, the solution for tracking numbers is to use some JavaScript to toggle out the tracking number depending on how a visitor gets to your site.

Thanks for your question!

[BrandonDoyleRFL]

I agree with George, above. Typically a tracked phone line uses some kind of JavaScrpit code to "swap" phone numbers, while keeping the hard coded phone number within the source-code of the page.

The JavaScript allows crawlers to read the phone number as one number, while displaying another number to users and appropriately tracking and attributing their call to the correct Source / Medium.

You can check out the images below to see what George and I are talking about!

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[nowmedia1]

Hi George!

Thanks for the response! To answer your question: Yes, both numbers are presented to the user at the same time. Here's the breakdown:

• Header: Tracking number (no schema, prominent font within sticky header so it's always visible)

• Footer:

• Practice Name (w/ schema)

• Address (w/ schema)

• Tracking number (no schema, has text beforehand saying "New Patients:")

• "Actual" office number (w/ schema, has text beforehand saying "Current Patients")

Because of the way it's laid out, users would normally see the tracking number first within the header - so although I agree it does create a bit of an UX issue, I think the setup keeps it from being egregious.

I guess a better way to ask the question is: If there are two numbers on the site, would Google prioritize (in regards to local NAP consistency) the one that shows up first (and twice on every page), or the one that shows up last but has the proper schema tags? I.E. does the schema tag override any differing indicators on the site? Or does an indicator's priority placement on a page and/or multiple instances over-power the schema tag?

Thanks!

[George-Freitag]

Thanks for your question.

There are few formal rules related to what Google will and won't do related to indexation. If Google finds any piece of information worth indexing and displaying, it will do so. Schema is a great way to tell Google what information you want displayed in search results, but it's not an explicit rule that they always follow and, in many instances, they ignore it completely.

Having said that, lots of businesses have more than one phone number in the way you're suggesting, like a chain store with a central 800 number.

I think you're probably going to be ok based on what you're describing. However, if you want to be absolutely sure the tracking number isn't indexed, I would recommend hiding the tracking number using either a JavaScript swap for search traffic or by making the tracking number an image. I would also be sure that the actual contact page for the location (if you have one) is using the local phone number you want indexed.

Hope that helps!

[MiriamEllis]

Recommended reading on call tracking: http://blumenthals.com/blog/2014/11/25/guide-to-using-call-tracking-for-local-search/