Does a local number help you rank locally - if so how local does it have to be ?

[leves]

Does a local number help you rank locally - if so how local does it have to be ?

In London, UK we have a 2 main area telephone number system having a 0207 at the beginning of your phone number means that its inner London and having an 0208 means that its more on the outskirts of London.

But in addition to that the next 3 numbers also relate to the area so 0208 731 relates to a particular area of North London.

Does google take this into account when ranking your site locally ? Do you even require a geographic telephone number or can you rank just as well using a generic national number as long as you verify your business using the verification card they send in the post ?

 

[Phil Rozek]

In my experience it doesn't matter whether it's a local number.

In theory it might affect your rankings a little bit, indirectly, over time, because you might get higher click-through if you have a local number - and long-term click-through rate does seem to be a factor in your rankings.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about what Google thinks of your number (but rather only how it comes across to would-be customers).

 

[willieaames]

Nice reply phil.