How Annuvell checks contact details and websites

Businesses and customers both rely on accurate contact details. A working website and a reliable phone number help people reach the right business quickly, while errors can frustrate customers or send them elsewhere. Annuvell Local checks these details to make listings clearer, so everyone knows what to expect when they get in touch.

What Annuvell checks on your website

Annuvell Local checks each website that a business adds to its listing. The check is technical: it tests whether the website address works, follows legitimate redirects, and identifies cases where a link is broken, misdirected, or simply a placeholder. The check is never about content quality or how a page looks.

• How the check works: When a website is added or updated, Annuvell sends a polite HEAD request to the address. If this does not get a response, it falls back to a GET request. The check follows up to three redirects, resolves the address safely, and gives up after eight seconds if the site does not respond.
• Placeholder domains: Obvious placeholders like example.com are filtered out before any check runs, so these are never shown to the public.
• Frequency: Checks happen when a website is first added or changed, and also during regular admin bulk rechecks—usually within a seven-day window. No checks run just because a visitor loads your listing.
• No content scan: Annuvell does not scan or judge the website’s content, nor does it check page load speed or design. The check is about reachability only.

For more on keeping your links accurate, you can read the guide: Keeping your website link accurate after a redesign or domain move.

Understanding website status labels

Every website on Annuvell Local receives a status label, visible in your dashboard and—where relevant—on the public listing. Each status has a specific meaning, helping both business owners and customers understand what to expect.

• ACTIVE: The website works directly, with no redirects needed. This means Annuvell’s check reached the site at the address you provided, confirming it is live and reachable.
• REDIRECTED: The address you entered takes visitors to a different valid website, via a legitimate redirect. This is common after a domain move or rebrand, and usually works fine for customers—but you may want to update your listing to the new address for clarity.
• UNREACHABLE: The check could not reach the website at all—this may mean the address is wrong, the server is down, or there is a technical problem. Customers will see that the link is flagged as broken.
• TIMEOUT: The website did not respond within eight seconds. This can mean temporary server issues or a slow site. It is worth checking your hosting or address.
• INVALID: The address does not work as a website—this could be due to a mistake in the URL or an unsupported format. Customers will not be shown this link.
• PLACEHOLDER: A placeholder domain (like example.com) was detected. This is never published to the public listing.
• UNKNOWN: The website has not yet been checked. This usually appears just after a new link is added, before the next check runs.

A broken or unreachable website will be flagged to the public, while a placeholder is simply not shown. Customers can see at a glance if the link is worth clicking.

Phone number verification and what is shown

Phone numbers are another key piece of contact information. Annuvell Local uses a straightforward method to indicate whether a business’s phone number has been verified:

• How verification works: If a business lists a phone number on its own published website, and that website is checked as reachable, Annuvell marks the number as verified. This confirms that the number is not just claimed but is actually published by the business itself.
• What customers see: Listings show whether a number has been verified from the business’s own site. If it has, the number is labelled as verified. If not, it is shown as provided by the business, but without the verified label.
• Consistency matters: If you change your business number, update it everywhere—including your website—so the verification can be matched next time Annuvell checks your details. For more help, see guide: Keeping your opening hours and contact details accurate.

Verified numbers give customers extra confidence that they are dialling the right business, not an outdated or incorrect contact.

What the checks do not cover

It is worth being clear about the limits of these checks. Annuvell’s process is designed to confirm whether contact details are technically reachable and publicly published, but it does not:

• Judge content or design: The check does not scan, rate or review the website’s content, images, or any part of its layout. A working link does not mean the site is high quality, secure, or up to date.
• Scan arbitrary URLs: Only the address you provide is checked. Annuvell does not follow links, check subpages, or test for malware or phishing.
• Monitor ongoing availability: Checks run only when details are changed or as part of regular admin rechecks. If a website goes down temporarily after passing a check, this is not reflected until the next scheduled check.
• Check on every visitor: No website or phone check runs each time someone views a listing. This keeps browsing quick and private.

If you are a business owner, you are still responsible for the quality, safety, and accuracy of your website and contact details. Customers may check your site or number independently.

What business owners can do if details are wrong

If you notice that your website status is not what you expect, or your phone number is not marked as verified, there are practical steps you can take:

• Fix website issues: If your site is flagged as unreachable, redirected, timed out or invalid, first check the address in your dashboard. Correct any mistakes and make sure your site is live. If you have recently changed domains, update your details to the new address.
• Recheck after fixing: Once you have made changes, use the Recheck website option in your dashboard. This triggers a new check so your public listing can update promptly.
• Keep phone numbers consistent: Your published phone number should match the one on your website. If you change your number, update it everywhere to maintain verification. If you do not already have your business listed, you can Find my business (claim your listing).
• Routine reviews: Set a regular reminder to check your listing details and your website’s working status, especially after any significant change such as a redesign, domain move, or phone number update.

Being proactive keeps your listing accurate and helps avoid confusion for potential customers.

What customers should make of website and phone labels

When browsing Annuvell Local, customers can use the contact detail labels to make informed choices about which businesses to contact.

• A flagged website: If a business’s website is marked as unreachable, broken or invalid, be cautious about relying on the link. You may want to call or email instead, or check the address independently before visiting or making a booking.
• A verified phone number: Where a business’s phone number is shown as verified, this means it is published on the business’s own website and has been checked. You can be more confident you are calling the official business, not a misprint or outdated number.
• Other labels: If a number is only provided by the business but not verified, it does not mean it is wrong—but it has not been confirmed from a public source.
• Comparison: The Annuvell compare tool shows whether each fact is verified, provided, stated, or not stated. Not stated simply means the business has not published that detail, not that it is false or missing in practice.

If you see inconsistencies or missing information, you might choose to contact another business, or ask for clarification directly.

Next steps

Check your website status in the Annuvell Local dashboard, especially after any changes to your site or contact details. Use the Recheck website feature if you have fixed an issue, and review your phone number for consistency across your website and your listing. For practical tips on keeping your details up to date, see guide: Keeping your opening hours and contact details accurate. If you are not yet in control of your listing, you can Find my business (claim your listing) and update your details now.