10 min Most marketing advice gives you the same tired list of ways to get more clients: post more, join every platform, follow every trend. But if you’re running a local service business (a physio clinic, nail studio, or coaching practice) that advice will eat your time and produce very little. Your next client probably isn’t coming from a viral TikTok. They’re searching for someone nearby, right now, who can fix their problem.
So you want to get more clients without breaking the bank on ads. This article is all about showing you how to do just that. We’ll take a look at where potential clients are hanging out, what makes them decide to book, and give you five simple actions you can take this week to get started.
If you’re interested in learning more about the overall strategy, you can check out our other articles on building a marketing plan for your small business and creating a solid marketing strategy. These will give you a better idea of the big picture, but if you’re ready to dive in and start taking action, keep reading. We’ll show you where high-intent clients are looking and what convinces them to book, so you can start attracting more clients without spending a fortune on ads.
Key takeaways
- The clients most likely to book today are searching on Google, asking in local Facebook groups, or coming via a referral — not scrolling social media.
- A complete, up-to-date Google Business Profile is the single highest-leverage free action you can take.
- Reviews from the last two weeks carry more weight than an old five-star average.
- A clear, frictionless booking path converts interest into appointments — missing it loses clients who were already ready.
- You don’t need to do everything. Nail the three channels that matter for local businesses and the rest follows.
Two types of people are online — and only one of them matters right now
Before tactics, get this straight.
There’s the browser: scrolling Instagram or TikTok, half-interested, not in any rush. Maybe they’ll follow your page. Probably not. They’re not booking today.
There are people who need help right away. Like someone who hurt their back or needs a makeup artist for a wedding that’s happening this Saturday. They’ve finally decided to hire a coach because they can’t take it anymore. These people aren’t just browsing the internet, they’re actually searching for a solution to their problem. They need assistance and they need it now.
To really make a difference and get more clients, you need to focus on the strategies that will have a significant impact, and these are mainly targeted at the second group of people.
Take a physio as an example. The person who searches “sports physio near me” after twisting their knee wants an appointment today. The person watching a wellness video at 11pm? Weeks away from booking, if ever.
The upside: you don’t need to convince ready-to-book clients that what you do is valuable. Your job is to show them that you’re the right fit. Findable, trustworthy, easy to book. That’s the whole game.
Step 1: Claim your Google Business Profile
Nothing beats Google for finding high-intent clients. Someone searching “eyebrow lamination near me” isn’t browsing — they’re ready to book.
Google still matters for local businesses. Most consumers search online for local businesses every week, and many are looking for something nearby right when they need it. The best part is that this traffic doesn’t cost you anything – it’s free. To get started, you can set up your Google Business Profile in just 20 minutes. This is a great way to make sure your business shows up when people are searching for what you offer in your area.
When you’ve made your profile live, make sure you finish it off properly. Choose the most specific category you can, double-check that your hours are right, and add some recent photos. If your profile is complete, it’s nearly three times more likely to get people’s trust than one that’s outdated or doesn’t have much information. A good profile is key to making a good impression, so take the time to get it just right.
Add a booking button or contact link directly on the profile. Local searches often happen when people are ready to act. If you make it one tap to reach you, a lot of that impulse converts.
Step 2: Get fresh reviews
Star ratings matter. Recency matters more.
Recent reviews carry weight because they show what your business is like now, not what it was like a year ago. A business with 4 reviews from last month will often beat one with 40 reviews from 18 months ago in a new visitor’s eyes.
When a client has a great experience, that’s the perfect time to ask for a review – the feeling is still fresh in their mind. Just send them a text with a direct link to your Google review page, and keep your message short and sweet.
If you’ve got a minute, a Google review would really help us out – here’s the link.
Most of the time, happy clients will be more than happy to leave a review.
Aim to collect 2 or 3 new reviews a month rather than running a one-off campaign. Consistent recency signals an active, trusted business.
Step 3: Watch local Facebook groups
Facebook isn’t dead; especially for local recommendations.
You know how people are always looking for recommendations on things like good physios, nail salons, and coaches in their local community groups? The thing is, most businesses don’t even see these posts because they’re not paying attention. And that’s where you come in – it’s a gap that you can fill by helping these businesses connect with the people who are looking for their services.
Join a few relevant local groups: neighbourhood pages, parent groups, local sports clubs, community forums tied to your niche. Spend 5 minutes a day scrolling. When someone asks for your type of expertise, answer helpfully — mention you’re local, point them to your profile or website, and skip the hard sell. Be useful. Be human.
You’ll get direct enquiries and, over time, name recognition in your area. Both matter.
Step 4: Reach out to past clients
The easiest ways to get more clients are often the ones sitting in your phone.
A quick message to a happy client you haven’t seen in a few months can turn a blank calendar into a booked one, fast. Not a promotional email blast — a direct, personal check-in.
Hey Sarah, hope you’re doing well. Haven’t seen you in a while — let me know when you’d like to book in again.
Referrals work the same way. When someone recommends you, the new client arrives already warm, already trusting. Ask for referrals right after a great appointment. Keep it easy — give them a link to send, not a form to fill in.
Step 5: Make your profile impossible to doubt
Say someone finds you — via Google, a group post, or a friend’s recommendation. They’ll click through to suss you out. This is where a lot of businesses lose clients they’d already half-won.
Three things kill the booking at this stage:
No recent reviews
A flat, ageing star rating signals stagnation. Clients want proof you’re still delivering.
Complicated booking process
Make booking easy, don’t turn it into a treasure hunt. All you need is one clear button that says “Book now” or “Get in touch” – something simple like that. The more steps you have between someone being interested and actually taking action, the more likely they are to give up. Just one obvious button can make a big difference.
Stale or missing info
Wrong hours, no address, old photos. These aren’t small oversights — they actively erode trust. Someone ready to book will move on to the next option the moment something feels off.
Fix these before you do anything else. A polished profile converts the traffic you already have.
What not to do
Two things worth saying plainly.
Don’t bother with paid ads until your Google profile is complete and ready to attract customers. The ads will drive traffic to your page, but they won’t fix the underlying issues.
Imagine someone clicking on your ad and ending up on a profile that’s incomplete, with no reviews and no way to book – you’re essentially paying to lose a potential client even faster. It’s like sending people to a store with empty shelves, they’ll just leave and go somewhere else.
Make sure your profile is ready to convert visitors into customers before you start running paid ads.
Don’t get caught up in constantly posting content without a plan. Simply putting up posts every day on Instagram without a clear call to action and no reviews to back it up won’t necessarily fill up your schedule.
First, make sure you have the basics covered – a complete and up-to-date Google listing, recent reviews from customers, and a straightforward way for people to book your services.
Once you have these foundation elements in place, then you can start creating content and running ads that will actually drive results, because they’ll have a solid landing page to send potential customers to.
This week’s to-do list
Pick one. Start today.
- Claim or update your Google Business Profile.
- Add 3 recent photos: your space, your work, your team.
- Send a message to your last three satisfied customers with a direct link to share their experience on Google. This way, they can easily leave a review and help spread the word about your business.
- Join 2 local Facebook groups and spend 5 minutes a day listening for relevant posts.
- Message a past client you haven’t seen in 3 months or more.
The simplest way to think about all of this
You don’t need to be everywhere. You need to show up strong in the few places where people are ready to buy.
For businesses that rely on local customers, it’s crucial to make it simple for people to find you on Google. You also need to build trust with potential clients by having great reviews. And, it’s a big plus if people can book your services with just one click. It’s really about making your business visible, trustworthy, and convenient for people to use. When you’ve got these basics covered, you’ll start to see more customers coming your way, and that’s a great feeling.
If you need help with coming up with a plan, Peerie can assist small service businesses in creating simple and effective marketing strategies – all without having to pay agency fees or rely on guesswork.
→ Check how Peerie can help your business grow
FAQs about ways to get more clients for your local business
Do I need to be on social media to get more clients as a local business?
Social media can help, but it's rarely where ready-to-book clients are. Someone who needs a physio appointment today isn't scrolling Instagram — they're searching on Google. For most local service businesses, a strong Google Business Profile and a handful of recent reviews will do far more than daily social posting.
How do I get more Google reviews?
Timing is everything. Ask right after a great session or appointment, while the experience is still fresh. A simple text with a direct review link works well — something brief and personal, not a mass email. Most happy clients are glad to help when it's easy and they've just had a good experience.
How many reviews do I need before clients start trusting my business?
There's no magic number, but recency matters more than volume. A business with 5 reviews from the last month will often feel more trustworthy than one with 50 reviews spread over 3 years. Aim to collect a couple of new reviews each month consistently rather than chasing a high total.
Is it worth paying for ads to get more clients quickly?
Ads can work — but only when the foundations are in place. If your Google profile is incomplete, you have few reviews, and there's no clear way to book, ads will just send people to a page that doesn't convert. Sort the basics first, then ads become worth testing.
What's the best way to get referrals from existing clients?
Ask directly, at the right moment. Right after a client has had a great result is when they're most likely to say yes. Keep it simple: tell them what you're looking for and give them something easy to pass on — a link to your booking page or Google profile. A personal ask will always outperform a generic "tell your friends" footer in an email.
