Directory phone verifications - automatic phone tree issues?

[Kristen]

I am starting a new client who uses a phone tree answering system for their main phone number we'll be using for citations and I'm wondering if this will create problems when trying to do phone verification with the local directories.

We're just beginning to do citations, so I wanted to see if anyone has run into any issues with verification when a live person doesn't answer the phone, but instead the call goes to "for billing press 1, for technical support press 2, etc."

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Kristen, that's a tricky one - no idea.

Hopefully Nyag, Darren or one of the other citation specialists will come by with an answer for you.

 

[Scott Rawlins]

I have tried to do this before with no success. What I believe happens is that Google starts giving the verification code as soon as the phone is answered, whether it be a live person or an automated system. I ended up having to request a mail verification. This was awhile ago, so maybe it has changed, but I doubt it.

 

[Kristen]

Okay, thanks Scott, that makes sense. They have already claimed Google, I'm just a little concerned about all the others. Hopefully they'll always offer another way of verification.

 

[billbean]

Automated phone answering system is definitely problematic, if not a non-starter. For most of the citations/listings that matter there will be a work-around though it will add a fair amount of time to your project with regards to verification/confirmation.

 

[Kristen]

EEK, I always seem to get clients with issues like this.

Luckily, many of this client's keywords aren't triggering local at the moment, but I could foresee that happening in the future.

I want to build out their directories to distribute reviews and build an A+++ reputation when potential customers search for their business name so maybe we'll just go about creating citations a little slower for this client in addition to link building and content marketing.

 

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Kristen,
Some Local SEOs have the client temporarily disable the phone tree for just the few minutes that the verification call is set to come in. Only a few of the local business indexes offer phone verification, so the phone tree doesn't have to be down for long, overall. If you can accomplish this, you can avoid the delay of postal verification.

 

[Scott Rawlins]

Good point Miriam. Feel like I'm having an AHA moment right now.

 

[MiriamEllis]

!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Kristen,
Some Local SEOs have the client temporarily disable the phone tree for just the few minutes that the verification call is set to come in. Only a few of the local business indexes offer phone verification, so the phone tree doesn't have to be down for long, overall. If you can accomplish this, you can avoid the delay of postal verification.

I admit I don't do citations so don't know this but...

I can see the above for Google Place verification because you control the timing and it's automated, so will call exactly when you tell it to.

But are all the directories like that? I know InfoUSA used to and probably still does call but it's a human that calls a month or 2 from now, not one where you can control the timing. So you have no idea when the call will come in with some of these right?

 

[Kristen]

Thanks Miriam, Linda and everyone else. I'm running the idea of temporarily disabling the phone system by the client. Hopefully that should be easy enough for them to do.

I have seen the majority of directories give you the option to verify when you are ready, but like everything else in local, it seems these directories are always changing things around.