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  4. Do Search Engines Try To Follow Phone Number Links

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Do Search Engines Try To Follow Phone Number Links

On-Page Optimization
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  • Lions-Pro
    Lions-Pro Subscriber last edited by May 11, 2016, 7:28 PM

    Any SEO thoughts on using rel="nofollow" when inserting a link to a phone number?

    To make a phone number click to call we use  (555) 555-1234

    Wondering if search engines are trying to follow that link or if this is standard and not to worry. Any thoughts on if I should add rel="nofollow" to these or does it not matter?

    Thanks!

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • Lions-Pro
      Lions-Pro Subscriber @MikeRoberts last edited by May 13, 2016, 7:32 PM May 13, 2016, 7:32 PM

      Thanks Mike. I do get an occasional 404 on those phone numbers, but not a lot. Was more concerned about having links that were really not links and passing equity to nowhere. Appreciate the response!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Lions-Pro
        Lions-Pro Subscriber @GlobeRunner last edited by May 13, 2016, 7:30 PM May 13, 2016, 7:30 PM

        Thanks Eric appreciate the answer! That is what I though but thought why not ask...

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • MikeRoberts
          MikeRoberts last edited by May 12, 2016, 3:10 PM May 12, 2016, 3:10 PM

          While a bot might try to follow it (because it is, in it simplest form, a type of link), that will not in any way adversely affect you.  That tel: in the tag will tip them off that it is a telephone number and/or should be click-to-call. So no link equity will be lost, you won't start seeing tons of 404 warnings, or anything of that sort.

          Lions-Pro 1 Reply Last reply May 13, 2016, 7:32 PM Reply Quote 2
          • GlobeRunner
            GlobeRunner last edited by May 12, 2016, 12:30 PM May 12, 2016, 12:30 PM

            They certainly will make note of those phone numbers, but since the phone number is not a web page there's no way to pass on "link juice" to it. So, there's really no reason to mark it as a nofollow link.

            Lions-Pro 1 Reply Last reply May 13, 2016, 7:30 PM Reply Quote 1
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