Google Implies Phone Number Formats Don't Matter

Jul 11, 2018 - 7:27 am 4 by

Google Phone Numbers

You've all seen it, how different web sites and email signatures format their phone numbers. Some do 212-555-5555, some do (212) 555-5555, some do 212.555.5555, some do 212 555 5555, some do 212_555_5555 and the most annoying do 2125555555 and other variations.

Someone asked Google's John Mueller if it matters and can Google pick it up? John basically said Google can figure it out. He said to require sites that they must use a single format would be "futile" and thus doesn't make sense. So I suspect Google can figure out many types of phone number formats based on your preferred style.

John responded on Twitter saying "I imagine it's futile for any directory to require phone numbers with specific separators."

Forum discussion at Twitter.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: June 13, 2025

Jun 13, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google AI Mode Search, Apple Intelligence Updates, Google Live Search, AI Content, SEO & Google Ads

Jun 13, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google

Google Is Now Rolling Out AI Mode In The US

Jun 13, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Drops Support For Seven Existing Structured Data Markups

Jun 13, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Shows Audience Size For Custom Segments

Jun 13, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Search Autocomplete With Back To All

Jun 13, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: SEOs & Webmasters Visit John Mueller At Google Zurich