5 Tactics For Optimizing Google My Business To Make Your Phone Ring

Patrick McFadden • December 10, 2022

In this no frills article, I'm going to reveal 5 tactics any local service and service area business can employ to start optimizing google my business to make their phone ring. Any local business that needs targeted visibility on Google will want to continue read this.


Everyone wants to know what the key is to ranking well on Google. Today each tactic that I reveal includes an explanation of the how this tactic makes your phone ring.


When someone searches for a business or place near their location, they’ll find local results across Google in places like Maps and Search. For example, you can probably find local results if you search for “marketing consultant near me” from your mobile device. Google try's to show you the kind of nearby marketing consultants that are in your local area.


To improve your business’s local ranking, most people are given the same advice over and over, claim and update your business information on Google Business Profile. The 5 tactics I'm providing you for optimizing google my business are beyond claiming and updating. 


Tactic #1: Get 10 Google Reviews

Multiple local ranking studies, have shown that hitting ten reviews on your local listing will result in a ranking boost in the Google local results = a boost in phone calls. Note: Getting more than ten reviews does not help you rank better in Google Maps or the Google local pack but reviews are still important for building trust and conversions.


Tactic #2: Get New Google Reviews At The Frequency Of Competitors

Based on our experience, review recency does matter… there is a direct correlation between new reviews and ranking increases = increases in phone calls. You're probably asking, "How Often Do You Need New Google Reviews?" The answer is the age old reply, "it depends". You need to look at your competitors. If they are getting new reviews every other week, then you should be getting new reviews every other week as well. If you are in a less competitive industry or are in a smaller market, once a month is probably okay. 


Tactic #3: Include Call To Actions In Your GMB Post’s 

Based on our experience, photos that contained text in them get almost 4x the clicks compared to photos with no text. Posts containing a call-to-action. For example, including “call us today” in the image or post title get the most activity. Call to Action = Clicks and Activity = Phone Calls.


Tactic #4: Post About Specials and Discounts

Small business owners and CEOs of local businesses often ask, "what types of content should they include in their Google posts?" Based on our experience, posts about specials or discounts get the most activity. Activity = Phone Calls.


Tactic #5: Provide Responses to Google Reviews

The statistics show how important review responses are and because Google said so. Google has confirmed that responding to reviews helps your business’s search ranking and an increase in search rankings is an increase in phone calls. Statics show that responding to reviews increases the number of customers that will recommend businesses to your friends and family. Review diversity, review recency, and review quantity are all signals that are taken into account by Google’s search algorithm. 


Contact your marketing consultant at Indispensable Marketing

If you’re a small service based business that needs help with optimizing google my business to show up on the first page of search results on Google at Indispensable Marketing we can help. We offer marketing strategy consulting, marketing audits, monthly marketing packages, consultations, exploratory calls or monthly local SEO servicesContact us for more information.


By Patrick McFadden April 18, 2025
Understanding platform intent, sales cycles, and what actually works in high-ticket home services
By Patrick McFadden March 31, 2025
1. The Challenge: VMI was like many service providers — positioning their value around what they thought clients wanted : “Office furniture installation and assembly — let us handle creating your perfect workspace.” But the actual buyers — facility managers, project managers, furniture reps — weren’t looking for “perfect workspaces.” They were trying to avoid installation nightmares . Their real priority? ✅ Great installation days. ✅ No chaos. ✅ No missed deadlines. ✅ No angry phone calls from clients. 2. The Insight: After conducting stakeholder interviews under our marketing strategy consulting engagement , the Indispensable Marketing team uncovered critical feedback: “We need installers who maintain a professional site and follow instructions.” “We lose relationships when installations go badly.” “I need quotes back quickly or I can’t sell the job.” This wasn’t just about services , it was about trust, problem-solving , and professional reliability . So we reframed their differentiators not by what they did, but how they showed up : Same-day project quotes Problem-solving on-site Update protocol with clients Professionalism guarantee Lasting Impression Insurance 3. The Shift: We shifted the positioning from vague benefits to real-world, emotional triggers : Instead of: “Let us create your perfect workspace.” Now: “Get the perfect installation day, every time.” That subtle shift aligns with who’s actually buying (and who feels the pain when things go wrong). The end-user may care about the workspace. But the buyer cares about the install . 4. The Lesson for Others: If you’re selling a service, don’t describe what you do. Describe what the client wants to avoid or achieve — and who the real buyer is. Then, systematize what you’re already doing well and give it a name. Just like our team did with: “Same Day Quotes” “Lasting Impression Insurance” “Reliable Presence Protocol” 5. The Outcome Within weeks of updating their messaging and positioning: The company reported more qualified leads asking the right questions Furniture reps began referring them because they were “easy to work with and made them look good” They were shortlisted for larger, multi-phase projects due to increased confidence in their process But most importantly, they stopped competing on price — because they weren’t selling perfect workspaces anymore. They were selling peace of mind on installation day.
By Patrick McFadden March 8, 2025
Most marketing firms talk about tactics. We help our clients see the bigger picture.
More Posts