Comments on: Google’s Rich Snippets For Local FAQ Update

By: Nico Brooks

Nico Brooks — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:30:21 +0000

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been following your and David’s one phone number advice, but we use Google Voice for our number, and it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be less trusted than a land line. Probably still worth it for our business, but good to keep in mind.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:19:34 +0000

@Nico
NAP is and NAP will be for the foreseeable future. The P part of the NAP is Phone number and it is a primary key used by Google to cluster the data about your business.

You should have only ONE specific number for each location/public presence/professional. You shouldn’t have one in this directory, another in another directory and a third on your website for the particular place. It can be a Google Voice number, or a VOIP number or (probably most trusted) a land line but it should be only ONE.

That number is the glue that holds Google’s clustering system together.

By: Nico Brooks

Nico Brooks — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:01:56 +0000

Thanks for this. Curious if “phone numbers that are not specific to a business location” applies to Google Voice numbers. If so, this guidance would indicate that it’s a bad idea to use GV as a primary number for a business in general. Do you have any idea?

By: Tyler Robertson

Tyler Robertson — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:27:57 +0000

@Andy-
I have recently done the same thing on a client’s site. However; after reading this, I’m now inclined to remove the markup. I’m curious why you think the code can’t hurt if G is now stating that it ‘might’ hurt?

By: SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 7, 2011

SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 7, 2011 — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:05:34 +0000

[...] Google’s Rich Snippets For Local FAQ Update, Mike Blumenthal [...]

By: Andy Kuiper

Andy Kuiper — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:50:49 +0000

I’ve made review pages on two sites (both utilizing proper hreview code) that have passed the Rich Snippets Testing Tool test, and I’ve not seen any change in the SERPs (no star ratings). It’s been 6 weeks… I was hoping to see the review data in the SERP’s — oh well, I have my fingers crossed; having the code definitely can’t hurt

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:45:03 +0000

@David

Well I have made a career out it, that’s for sure. But truth be told, I would just as soon be out of work on this front.

Interesting that they have clearly stated NOT to use microformats as a way to manage call tracking numbers.

By: David Mihm

David Mihm — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:43:00 +0000

“Clearly, it would seem to be in every one’s best interest if Google’s current policy and best practices were easily tracked.”

But Mike, it’s so much easier for Marissa to outsource/crowdsource this to you!