If you own a local business, you’ve undoubtedly encountered this difficulty on several occasions:
“I want more calls, but I don’t want to spend more money on ads.”
Good news?
You don’t have to.
Most businesses think getting more calls means increasing the budget. In reality, you can maximize your revenue by simply improving the things you already have your Google Business Profile, your website, your reviews, and your local visibility.
In this guide, I’ll show you practical, easy-to-implement strategies that don’t require increasing your advertising budget. These are the same strategies we use at Contacticity to help businesses grow without spending money.
Now, let’s dive into these impactful strategies to get more calls through local SEO!
1. Make Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Look More Trustworthy
Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful tools a local business has, and it’s completely free from Google to list your business.
A complete and properly optimized Google listing ensures that customers can find your hours, services, location, and phone number instantly, which directly increases calls and trust.
Here’s how to get more calls using your GBP:
✅Add real photos of your services
Google LOVES fresh photos.
Business owners who upload 3–5 photos a week see 20–30% more calls.
Add:
- Before/after photos
- Team photos
- On-site service photos
- Product photos
- Customer results
Consistency beats quality.
✅Post weekly updates
Yes, posts matter.
Google shows fresh listings higher.
Post about:
- Updates
- Promotions
- Quick tips
- Customer success stories
✅Fix your categories & services
Most businesses choose the wrong category.
Example:
A mobile mechanic choosing Auto Repair Shop instead of Mechanic loses visibility.
Make sure:
- Main category = the EXACT service you want to rank for
- Add all service categories
- Add service descriptions (200–300 words each)
✅Make your business look “active”
Add:
- Business hours
- Areas served
- Q&A answers
- Products (even service descriptions count)
This signals to Google:
“This business is active → show them to more people.”
2. Improve Your Website Conversion Rate (So Visitors Actually Call You)
Here’s a truth most business owners ignore:
You don’t have a leads problem.
You have a conversion problem.
If 100 people visit your website and only 2 call, your conversion rate is 2%. Instead of buying more traffic, improving your website can turn that into 5%, 10%, or even 20% — without spending more.
✅ Add a big, clear call button
Put one at:
- Top of the website
- Sticky header
- Bottom of every page
Many businesses hide their phone number.
Make it easy: Call Now should always be visible.
✅ Add trust elements
Customers buy from businesses they trust.
Add:
- Customer reviews
- Before/after photos
- Awards
- Certifications
- BBB badge
- “Serving Iselin, NJ + surrounding areas”
- Real team photos
Trust = more calls.
✅ Make your website load FAST
Slow websites kill conversions.
Aim for:
- 2–3 seconds load time
- Compressed images
- No heavy animations
- No unnecessary plugins
✅ Add service pages (not just one homepage)
If you offer:
- Roofing
- Repairs
- Installations
- Maintenance
Each one deserves their own page.
More pages = more keywords you rank for = more calls.
3. Increase the Number of Google Reviews (Without Asking)
Reviews are the #1 factor in whether someone calls you.
You don’t need hundreds — you just need more than your competitors and recent activity.
Here’s how to get reviews without sounding desperate:
✅ Use a simple script
After completing a job, say:
“Hey, we really enjoyed working with you today. I’ll text you a quick link — would love if you can drop a quick review. It helps us grow.”
Friendly, simple, effective.
✅ Send a direct review link
No one wants to search for your business.
Use your Google review link and text it.
✅ Reward your team, not customers
Avoid incentivizing customers (against Google policy).
Instead, reward employees for:
- Most reviews
- Best reviews
- Fastest reviews
✅ Respond to every review
Google boosts listings that respond.
✅ Ask at your best moment
Right after a job well done.
4. Fix Your NAP Information Across The Internet
NAP = Name, Address, Phone Number
Google checks 50+ websites to confirm your business legitimacy.
If your details are inconsistent, your ranking drops and your calls drop.
Make sure your info is consistent on:
- Yelp
- Bing
- YellowPages
- BBB
- Houzz
- Angi
- Local directories
This is a simple fix that boosts calls quickly.
5. Optimize Your Social Media for Local Intent
You don’t need millions of followers.
You just need:
✔ Consistency
✔ Location mention
✔ Service highlights
✔ Before/after photos
Post things like:
- “Serving Iselin, Woodbridge, Edison & Nearby”
- “Today’s job: Website rebuild for a NJ bakery”
- “5 Tips to help local businesses get more customers”
Social media content should remind people:
You exist. You are active. You are local.
That alone increases calls.
6. Make It Easy for Customers to Contact You in Multiple Ways
Not everyone wants to call.
Add:
- Call button
- Text button
- Facebook Messenger
- Contact form
- Live chat
More options = more leads.
Some people avoid calling businesses, but they will send a message instantly.
7. Build a Strong Local Brand (Online Presence Matters)
Branding doesn’t have to be expensive.
All you need:
- A consistent logo
- Consistent colors
- Same profile picture everywhere
- Same business description
- Same tone of voice
Businesses that look “put together” get more calls.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a bigger ad budget to get more calls.
You need a better strategy.
Business owners across New Jersey are improving their visibility by optimizing what they already have — their Google Business Profile, website, reviews, and local SEO.
If you focus on:
✔ Trust
✔ Visibility
✔ Simplicity
If you’re exploring ways to strengthen your local marketing, Contacticity is here to assist whenever you’re ready.