638 Calls in 2 Weeks : No Ads, Just Google Business Profile
“If your Google Business Profile isn’t making your phone ring, it’s not optimized, it’s just sitting there.”
— Orrnob Mahmud, Local SEO Strategist
A few weeks ago, I ran a little experiment on a local service business. No ads, no tricks. Just one Google Business Profile and a solid system behind it.
The result?
638 calls in just 14 days.
All organic. All inbound. All from people who were ready to book or buy.
This wasn’t a client project under my agency Divemarketers. This was something I ran on my own, to test, learn, and push the limits of what Google Business Profiles (formerly GMB) can actually do when fully optimized.
If you’ve ever wondered what a well-oiled GBP setup can do for your business, here’s the full breakdown.
The Setup: A Business with Potential but No Visibility
The business offered a high-demand service in a busy city. The competition was there, but the demand was even higher.
When I took a look at the profile, it existed but just barely:
- Verified, but not optimized
- A few blurry photos
- One or two half-baked reviews
- No posts, no updates, no clear service structure
No surprise, they were getting maybe 2 or 3 calls a day.
What I Did Differently: My 3-Layer GBP System
I approached this like I would any real-world project. I broke it into 3 layers: Basic, Smart, and Advanced. Each layer builds on the last.
Layer 1: Basic Setup: The Stuff Most People Skip
This part seems easy, but most business owners don’t take the time. Here’s what I focused on:
- Fully verified profile with accurate name, address, and phone
- Added every possible field: categories, hours, website, services
- Listed each service using actual search terms (not internal lingo)
- Uploaded real, high-quality images of work, location, and staff
- Started posting updates twice a week, nothing fancy, just real content
Simple truth: most GBPs underperform because they’re incomplete.
Layer 2: Smart Optimization: Showing Up Where It Matters
Once the basics were covered, I focused on local visibility triggers:
- Wrote service descriptions using location-based keywords
- Replied to every review, naturally inserting service + city names
- Uploaded job photos with context (e.g., “Before & After: Villa Paint Job in Jumeirah”)
- Manually listed all the areas served, not just the main city
These steps helped the profile show up more often, and in more places.
Layer 3: Advanced Boost: Getting Consistent Daily Calls
This is where most businesses stop, but going further is where the magic happens:
- Built citations on sites like Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, etc.
- Geotagged every image before uploading (adds location relevance)
- Monitored call logs and GMB Insights to post at high-activity hours
- Mentioned local landmarks and communities in updates
- Regularly updated service details and added mini FAQs to keep things fresh
Result? Daily calls started to climb. By day 4, it was over 50 per day. It didn’t stop.
Final Result
- 638 total phone calls in just under 2 weeks
- No ad spend
- Visibility across multiple map pack searches
- Profile now shows up for 10+ high-intent local keywords
And remember, this was from a business that was barely getting seen before.
What Most Businesses Get Wrong About GBP
I’ve seen this over and over, these are the most common GBP mistakes:
- Listing only one general service
- Never updating the profile with new posts or photos
- Ignoring reviews (or replying without any strategy)
- Not filling out all fields or skipping categories
- Assuming “set it and forget it” is enough
The truth is, Google pays attention to activity, accuracy, and relevance. If you don’t give those signals, you won’t get the spotlight.
Want Help With Yours?
If you’re running a local or service-based business and wondering why your phone isn’t ringing, there’s a good chance your profile needs a serious tune-up.
This isn’t a guessing game. There’s a system that works, and I’ve proven it.
If you want me to take a quick look at your Google Business Profile, I’m offering a free 30-minute strategy session to the first 10 people who reach out.
You’ll get:
- A full review of what’s working and what’s not
- Actionable suggestions you can apply immediately
- Honest advice not a sales pitch
Just shoot me a message.
And if you’re curious about the kind of work I do with local businesses long-term, you can always check out my agency at Divemarketers.com. I co-founded it to help businesses grow through SEO, not ads.
