When calling works best
Calling beats email for businesses where the owner is on the job all day and rarely checks email: plumbers, electricians, roofers, auto shops, salons. It's also the only route to businesses with no public email.
Who will answer
At small businesses the owner, a family member or a front-desk person picks up. Prospect Cheap lists include the main phone plus mobile numbers and phone type where available — mobile numbers often reach the owner directly.
Best times
- Trades: early morning before jobs, or late afternoon.
- Restaurants: mid-afternoon, never during service.
- Clinics: just after opening or after lunch.
The first 15 seconds
Say who you are, why them, and ask permission:
"Hi, is this Mike? This is Dan from Northside Web — I noticed Mike's Plumbing has great reviews but no website. Have you got 30 seconds?"
Keep the goal small
Don't sell on the first call. Aim for permission to send something: a mock-up, an audit, a price.
Follow the rules
Calling rules differ by country. In the US, for example, there are restrictions on autodialled and prerecorded calls and texts to mobile numbers, and do-not-call lists apply in many cases. Dial manually, respect opt-outs and check the rules where you call. This is general information, not legal advice.
Log everything
Mark outcomes in your CRM (GoHighLevel imports are built in) so follow-ups happen on time.
A simple call structure
- Opener — name, company, why you're calling them specifically.
- Permission — "Have you got 30 seconds?"
- Observation — one fact: their rank, reviews, website, ads.
- Question — "Is getting more calls from Google something you're working on?"
- Next step — send a mock-up, audit or price; book a 10-minute follow-up.
Handling "send me an email"
Treat it as a yes. Ask for the best address (it may be the owner's personal email, which is gold), send within the hour, and reference the call in the subject line.
Prepare with your list
Before calling, glance at the lead detail: website summary, rating, reviews, owner name and socials. Thirty seconds of context makes your opener specific instead of scripted.