A Practical Tool for Service-Based Businesses

We’re excited to share the Local Splash App, a new way to manage the key parts of your business all in one place. This app was built specifically for service-based businesses to help you connect with new customers, keep track of leads, and handle day-to-day tasks without extra hassle.

For more than 20 years, we’ve worked with local owners to help them grow their business. With over 10,000 satisfied clients and an impressive 4.9/5 customer satisfaction rating, we offer a foundation of trust and proven results which The Local Splash App builds upon. For the first time, we’re putting a tool into your hand that can save time and drive results.

Why We Built the Local Splash App

Illustration of the Local Splash App interface showing analytics, business performance metrics, and a dedicated business line, emphasizing an all-in-one solution for managing small businesses.

If you’re like most small business owners, your to-do list is never-ending. You’re answering calls, following up on leads, running ads, and trying to stay organized — all while serving your customers.

 

How many times have you missed a lead because you couldn’t get to your phone fast enough?

We’ve seen many of the same issues come up again and again:

  • Missed Leads: When calls or inquiries pile up, it’s easy for some to fall through the cracks.
  • Unclear Results: You know you’re spending money on ads, but it’s hard to see if they’re working.
  • Too Many Tools: Switching constantly from one app or platform to another just slows you down, it doesn’t help.
  • Being Tied to a Desk: Running your business shouldn’t mean being stuck in the office all day.

That’s where the Local Splash App comes in. We built it to solve these problems and give you back some of your time.

How the Local Splash App Makes a Difference

Stay Connected

The app includes a dedicated business phone line, so you can make calls or send texts without using your personal number. Whether you’re in the office or on the go, you can stay organized.

Screenshot of the Local Splash App's lead tracking feature, displaying a list of real-time leads, contact details, and follow-up statuses to ensure no leads are missedRespond to Every Lead

Leads are tracked in real-time, so you always know when someone has reached out. You’ll get notifications right away, making it easy to follow up before they move on to someone else.

See What’s Working

The app shows clear, easy-to-read data about your ads. You’ll know which ones are bringing in calls or inquiries and where you’re getting the best results. This kind of information helps you make smarter decisions without wasting time or money. The built-in Client Dashboard provides real-time tracking of campaign results, helping you measure performance and adjust strategies from one easy-to-use interface.

Work Anywhere

You don’t need to be at your desk to keep your business moving. With the app, you can update your information, check on your campaigns, and take care of important tasks no matter where you are.

Features Designed for Busy Business Owners

Business Phone Line

Keep your personal and business communications separate with a dedicated business phone line built right into the app. Whether you’re making calls or sending texts, everything stays professional and organized. For instance, if a client calls while you’re out, the app logs the call, so you can easily follow up later without losing track.

Lead Tracking

Leads are tracked in real-time, giving you instant visibility into who’s reaching out and what they need. Imagine receiving a notification as soon as a customer submits an inquiry. You can respond promptly, showing them they’re a priority. No more hunting through emails or sticky notes to find a potential lead.

Advertising Insights

Visualization of the Local Splash App's ad campaign insights, including performance metrics like clicks, impressions, and a graph showing trends over time.With the advertising insights feature, you can see exactly how many calls and inquiries each ad generates. This means you can stop guessing and start focusing your budget on the ads that actually work. For example, if you notice a click-to-call ad is bringing in twice as many leads as another campaign, you can quickly allocate more budget to maximize results.Click-to-call ads are easily integrated into the app, enabling potential customers to connect with you instantly. 

Mobile-Friendly Tools

Running a business often means being on the move. The app lets you update business information, check campaign performance, and handle daily tasks wherever you are. Whether you’re between appointments or working from home, you can manage everything right from your phone. Picture yourself updating your holiday hours while waiting for a client—it’s that convenient.

Straightforward Design

The app was created with busy business owners in mind, so you won’t need a tutorial to get started. All the tools are intuitive and easy to use, so you can jump in and manage your business right away. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you’ll find the design straightforward and frustration-free.

Helping You Focus on What Matters

We understand the challenges of running a small business because we’ve worked with thousands of them. The Local Splash App was built to handle the busywork so you can focus on growing your business and serving your customers. The app’s bespoke lead generation tools are specifically tailored to help you capture and convert inquiries efficiently.

The Local Splash App – Where to Download 

You can download the Local Splash App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. ake the first step to a more manageable, organized business today.

 

Turning Missed Opportunities Into Growth for Your Business

As a local service business owner, you probably know the frustration of an unanswered call. But did you know that 85% of people whose calls are not answered will never call back? For service-based businesses, where every customer inquiry could turn into revenue, a missed call isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a missed opportunity.

Answering your phone consistently is simply good customer service. Moreover, it’s a way to stand out from competitors and win customer trust. Let’s explore the financial cost of missed calls, why answering every call matters, and how you can manage this challenge without feeling overwhelmed.

Across the United States, 33.2 million businesses are in operation, with 99.9% of them classified as small businesses (Source: ClearPayments). For many of these businesses, the phone is a lifeline for leads, bookings, and customer inquiries. 

How Much Are Missed Calls Really Costing Your Business?

Missed calls are costing your business

Missed calls can have tangible financial consequences. Research shows that the average business loses $126,360 annually due to unanswered calls. Imagine what even a small slice of that revenue could do for your business – whether it’s hiring additional staff, upgrading equipment, or launching new marketing initiatives.

Beyond the immediate loss, unanswered calls mean missed opportunities to build long-term relationships with customers. When you don’t pick up, you’re not just losing one potential sale – you could be forfeiting lifetime customer value. 

In a market where 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, being the business that picks up the phone gives you an edge over competitors.

Why Local Businesses Shouldn’t Ignore Unknown Numbers

It’s easy to assume that every unknown number is a robocall or spam. But while spam calls are common, dismissing all unfamiliar numbers outright could cost you. Consider this:

  • New customers often call from personal or unlisted numbers.
  • Referral customers might call without providing prior notice.
  • Lead generation efforts or marketing campaigns might bring in calls from numbers you don’t recognize.

Three-quarters of consumers prefer calling a business over other methods of contact, making every call an opportunity to build trust and earn their business. When you ignore these calls, you’re effectively closing the door on potential revenue. And given that the vast majority of callers won’t try again, the stakes are high.

Balancing Accessibility and Time Management

We get it – answering every call can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already juggling the demands of running a business. However, there are ways to stay accessible without losing your day:

  1. Invest in Reception Services or Tools: Hiring a virtual receptionist or outsourcing your calls can ensure every customer gets a response.
  2. Use Call-Tracking Solutions: Call tracking helps you understand where your calls are coming from, which marketing efforts are driving them, and which calls hold the most value. Local Splash’s Call Tracking service is an excellent example of how technology can simplify this process.
  3. Use Call-Forwarding Tools: Set up your phone system to forward calls to team members or even your own mobile device when necessary.
  4. Leverage Smart Apps: Tools like the Local Splash app make managing high call volumes easier, allowing you to balance customer inquiries with your other responsibilities.
  5. Establish Clear Protocols: Train your team (or yourself) on how to handle calls efficiently, including setting voicemail messages that encourage callers to leave detailed information.

These tools aren’t just conveniences – they’re game-changers for small businesses trying to capture every opportunity while staying productive.

Turning Missed Calls Into Growth Opportunities

Missed calls aren’t just lost opportunities; they’re also lessons in how to improve your business operations. By addressing the reasons calls go unanswered and implementing strategies to stay accessible, you can turn those missed moments into touchpoints for growth. For example:

  • Respond promptly to missed voicemails or follow-ups.
  • Track patterns in call volume and consider adjusting staffing or schedules accordingly.
  • Use customer relationship management (CRM) tools to monitor leads and inquiries.

Incorporating these strategies doesn’t just prevent lost revenue – it positions your business as reliable and professional in the eyes of your customers.

The Bottom Line: Missed Calls Are Missed Opportunities

unknown callerThe numbers don’t lie. Every year, countless businesses lose money simply because they don’t answer their phones. With nearly two-thirds of calls going unanswered and the average business losing over $126,000 annually, it’s clear that missed calls are a problem worth solving.

But there’s good news: by taking proactive steps, you can not only ensure that every call counts but also stand out in your market. In a landscape where most businesses fail to answer the phone consistently, simply being available gives you a significant edge over competitors. 

Customers value responsiveness, and the business that picks up the phone is the one they’re more likely to trust and choose.

From a pragmatic level, making call answering a priority – whether through call-management tools, hiring additional support, or refining your process – can lead to growth. Small changes create lasting impressions and meaningful results.

If you’re looking for ways to make call management more effective and streamlined, Local Splash offers solutions like Call Tracking and the Local Splash app. These are among the tools that help small businesses like yours capture more leads, improve response rates, and ultimately grow.

Start answering your calls today – and watch the opportunities roll in.

For a local service-based business, finding the right customers at the right time can be a challenge. But when you achieve that, it virtually guarantees your success in your market. 

To stand out above the noise and ensure your business is seen, it’s more important than ever to target customers who are actively searching for your services. That’s where Yelp comes in. With Yelp’s Request a Quote feature and targeted Yelp Ads, local businesses can connect directly with potential customers who are ready to make a decision.

Whether it’s a plumbing emergency or a home renovation project, consumers turn to Yelp when they need a trusted professional fast. By leveraging Yelp’s powerful advertising tools, small service businesses like yours can engage with these purchase-ready customers – driving more leads and bookings than ever before.

Why Yelp for Service-Based Businesses?

As a service-based business, your success hinges on visibility and trust. Yelp is uniquely positioned to help you achieve both. Getting your name in front of potential customers is only half the battle. You want your business in front of people who are actively looking to hire someone like you. Unlike broad-reaching advertising methods that cast a wide net, Yelp’s platform is designed to help you connect directly with consumers who are ready to make a decision.

Yelp metrics make a compelling case for why local businesses should consider adopting Yelp's Request a Quote and Yelp ads into their marketing campaign. One of the key competitive advantages of Yelp Ads is that they target the right audience directly. Users who go to Yelp are typically looking for a local home service provider, whether it’s for plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, or other home services. Yelp’s search functionality is optimized to serve users who need immediate help with services. With 73 million unique visitors each month, Yelp’s audience is highly targeted. According to Yelp’s internal data, 86% of searches on Yelp are for a product or service, not a specific business. This means your business has the potential to be discovered by people actively seeking out services in your category.

What makes Yelp even more valuable for service-based businesses is that its advertising tools – including Request a Quote – are designed to help you stand out. When a user searches for a service, Yelp doesn’t just show them a list of businesses. It provides opportunities for them to engage directly with you through calls, mapped directions, or, most importantly, Request a Quote, making it easy for customers to reach out for a quote or more information. This kind of engagement drives brand visibility and actual business action – turning browsing into bookings.

Is Yelp Right for Your Business?

It’s no secret that Yelp has faced its share of criticism, particularly around negative reviews and concerns about how they are handled. Many small business owners have been wary of the platform due to these concerns, and understandably so. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Yelp has significantly improved its platform in recent years, addressing many of these issues and making strides to ensure a more balanced and fair experience for businesses.

Yelp is a number one lead source for many businesses in the U.S. While negative reviews may still surface, Yelp’s Review Filter and Verified License badges provide a level of transparency and credibility that businesses can leverage. Additionally, Yelp’s Request a Quote feature and targeted advertising tools are about much more than just managing reviews. They focus on driving tangible, actionable leads from consumers who are ready to engage and hire.

The reality is, while Yelp’s past reputation might still be a concern for some, the Request a Quote feature and Yelp Ads give businesses the ability to generate high-quality leads directly from users who are actively searching for services. Like them or not, the bottom line is that Yelp has created a great opportunity for small businesses. The platform’s ability to engage with customers who are ready to buy far outweighs concerns about past perceptions.

Why DIY is Bad for Business

You might be wondering: what’s the advantage of partnering with a Yelp Certified Ad Partner like Local Splash instead of going the DIY route with Yelp Ads? The answer lies in expertise, strategy, and results. While Yelp offers robust advertising tools, Local Splash takes it a step further by bringing years of experience in local search marketing and a deep understanding of Yelp’s advertising platform.

As a Yelp Certified Ad Partner, Local Splash has direct access to exclusive discounts, promotions, and campaign optimizations that can significantly improve the effectiveness of your Yelp Ads. Plus, we offer real-time support, ensuring that your campaigns are constantly optimized to deliver the best results possible. You’ll have an experienced team by your side to help manage and track everything – from ad spend to lead generation – while you focus on running your business.

Working with Local Splash gives you the benefit of not just creating ads, but creating ads that convert. We help you make the most out of Yelp’s Request a Quote feature – turning casual browsers into customers. Our detailed tracking and reporting tools also give you visibility into how well your campaigns are performing, making it easy to measure your success and adjust strategies as needed.

Next Step: The Must-Have Tool for Your Service-Based Business

For service-based businesses, Yelp Ads and the Request a Quote feature are a powerful combination that can drive real results. The platform is specifically designed to connect businesses with customers who are actively looking for services like yours, making it an ideal tool for driving qualified leads and bookings.

Despite its past reputation challenges, Yelp has transformed into a marketing powerhouse that offers businesses the opportunity to engage with potential customers who are ready to hire. By leveraging Yelp Ads and Request a Quote, small service businesses can dramatically increase their visibility and connect with a highly targeted, purchase-ready audience.

Working with a Yelp Certified Ad Partner like Local Splash means you’ll get the most out of Yelp’s tools – without the headaches of managing ads on your own. If you’re looking to grow your business and capture more leads, it’s time to reconsider Yelp and put these powerful tools to work for you.