Where Should I Put My Direct Number and Extension Number on My Website?

Short Answer: You should place both your direct number and extension number in the footer of your website to ensure Google approves it. It’s important to remove the number from the top of your website to avoid confusing calls from Google ads and website visitors.

Full Explanation

Placing your contact information strategically on your website is crucial for both user experience and tracking effectiveness. By positioning your direct number and extension number in the footer, you allow Google to recognize and approve the numbers without negatively impacting your advertising data. This approach ensures that callers reaching you through your website are distinct from those arriving via your Google call ads.

Keeping the number off the top of your website prevents potential callers from dialing directly after clicking on your ads. If your number is visible at the top, you risk losing the ability to differentiate between calls generated organically through website visits and those intentionally prompted by your Google ads. This separation is essential for accurate call tracking and optimizing your marketing strategies.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Remove your direct and extension numbers from the top section of your website. This helps avoid accidental calls that can complicate your call tracking.
Add both the direct number and the extension number to the footer of your website. The footer is a Google-approved location that remains visible throughout the site without interfering with user behavior on ads.
Monitor your call metrics to ensure that calls from your website and Google ads are being tracked separately. This helps maintain clear insights into how your visitors are contacting you.

Real Examples

Imagine a business running Google call ads and also providing their number on their website. If the number appears at the top, potential customers might click on the website and immediately call the visible number, blending ad calls with organic calls. By moving the number exclusively to the footer, businesses can distinguish callers coming from direct ad clicks from those genuinely exploring the website first.

Common Mistakes

Placing the direct number at the top of the website, which causes confusion in tracking calls.
Not including the extension number alongside the direct number in the footer, which may result in incomplete contact information.
Ignoring the importance of clear call separation between Google ads and website visits, which impacts marketing analysis.

FAQs

Q: Why shouldn’t my number be at the top of the website?
Because if a visitor clicks on your site from a Google call ad and then calls the visible number at the top, you won’t know if the call came from the ad or organic browsing.

Q: Can I put only the extension number somewhere else on the site?
The best practice is to keep both the direct number and extension together in the footer for consistency and Google approval.

Q: Will Google still approve my number if it is only in the footer?
Yes, placing your contact numbers in the footer is compliant and gets approval from Google.

Key Takeaways

Always place your direct and extension numbers in the footer of your website.
Remove contact numbers from the top to avoid mixing calls from Google ads and website visitors.
Clear separation of call sources helps ensure proper tracking and marketing effectiveness.