Anyone using NAPs for non-Local just for the links?

[Ryuzaki]

I did this once before across three sites but I was doing so much at the same time that I wasn't able to measure the impact. I'm thinking about this in terms of getting "allowable" links across a lot of domains I wouldn't otherwise get links from, nofollow or do. I don't care, I'm looking at the overall sitewide authority boost it would provide over the long term.

That's the catch. This is a long term project so I don't want to do anything too goofy. This site is entirely online and has no local presence. It never will. On the past ones I created a fake box number at a real location and used a Google Voice phone number.

I'm thinking about consistency across Who Is as well. Right now I'm using a real address that nobody will ever operate a business out of that I'm confident I could claim without hurting anyone else. I'd do that solely for the Who Is consistency, and probably set up a Google Voice number again.

I'm just thinking out loud so you guys can see what I'm talking about. Seem's like it'd be an easy extra 50-100 referring domains that should never bring a penalty, unless there's things going on in the local world I don't know about like suffering sitewide problems from having inconsistent NAPs out there.

What do you guys know about all of this? I'll never try to rank locally, so does it even matter if I use fake info versus real, or inconsistent versus consistent? Is this even a good idea?

 

[turbin3]

Only thing I'd be concerned about is the investment of time/money into doing it, and whether it's worth it to you. I haven't seen a huge boost with it, for non-local, but links are links. You're absolutely right that it's a safe and potentially great way to get another easy 50-100+ linking domains. In some cases, those extra linking domains might be enough to edge you out above the competition, or they might make little difference at all. Either way, if it's non-local, might as well do it and potentially beat the competition in yet one additional area. Best case, maybe you even creep into some local rankings inadvertently.

 

[Philip J. Fry]

What does NAP stand for?

 

[andreint]

Name
Address
Phone Number

 

[ddasilva]

In the end, links are still links. I've used fake NAP just to get links from citation sites for affiliates sites that have no local presence. No problems here. Obviously you won't rank in the local maps, but if you're just ranking in organic, then I don't see an issue.

 

[Broland]

@Ryuzaki Yep your thinking is correct on pretty much all you said. Can help with links, domain mentions, brand mentions, and overall establishing as a biz entity with G. If mainly doing it just for links, there are a good number of sites you could skip that don't allow a link or aren't that important, but some nice profiles on all of the main ones is a positive step in SEO. Also rotate through keyword optimized descriptions (use each 3-5 times when indexing around the same time), add keyword titled and tagged/captioned photos, extra biz details, etc. - just like doing any other off-site SEO or on page optimization. And then you can go back and make updates/add new content weeks or months later on a lot of the main sites.

 

[Phenom]

@Broland can do about anything local, our agency has used him for the last year. But I have used a phone number as the only link on a press release. The authority shot up. Like giving a business card out.

 

[hvazquez07]

suffering sitewide problems from having inconsistent NAPs out there.

I have seen this to be a problem when you're trying to rank for Maps. Incosistent NAPs can be a pain in the ass to clean up and you'll never get a ranked map listing (if your competitors are doing it right). However, provided that your site is not local, you shouldn't be worried about that. If you can make it right from the beginning, way better though.

Further, I've used local citation services like Loganix on non-local niches with great results. Even for foreign niches they work well.