AI Tools to Improve Local SEO Results in 2025


Most local businesses don’t need complicated SEO to see fast results—they need more reviews and better follow-up. That’s why in 2025 our go-to offers are review generation campaigns and AI answering services. Both deliver quick, measurable wins that make clients stick. In this post, we’ll break down exactly when to pitch each service, how we structure follow-ups with email sequences, and the workflows we use to get results clients can see right away.

Table of Contents

Quick overview: What we sell and why it works

We focus on two services that give quick, measurable wins for local businesses:

  • Review generation service — Get more Google reviews fast so the business moves up in the maps and grid results.
  • AI answering service — Capture more calls and convert more leads by using an AI-based answering and lead management system.

Both services are easy to show results for. The review service often moves the needle in maps rank within days. The AI answering service fixes follow-up problems and converts leads the business already gets but does not close.

How we handle the sales call and next steps

Our sales process starts on a listing delivery call. If a prospect is ready to sign up on the call, we send a checkout link and complete the sale. Most prospects are not ready to buy on the spot. When that happens, we use a simple, friendly follow-up approach that keeps the deal moving without pressure.

“You don't have to decide right now. If it's all right with you, we will send you a few emails over the next couple of days with more information about this service. You can reply with questions or click through and sign up whenever you'd like. Is that fair?”

That short script does two things:

  • It gives the prospect space to decide without pressure.
  • It sets up permission to send a short email sequence that educates and converts.

Right after the call, we tag the contact in our CRM for the specific service we want to promote. We do not plug one contact into multiple sequences at once. Even if multiple services would help the prospect, we usually push one or two services based on what the prospect needs most and what will show quick wins.

Got SEO Questions? Get answers every week at 4pm ET at Hump Day Hangouts. Ask questions ahead of time, or live – just go to: https://semanticmastery.com/hdho (bookmark this!) 10+ years of insights given every week!

Get your checklist to help get better results with GBPs, faster. 

Which service we pitch first — rules of thumb

We pick the service to promote based on the business's current situation:

  • Pitch the review service when the business needs more social proof and local ranking signals. For many contractor niches, getting 15–25 reviews quickly can improve maps rankings and expand local coverage areas.
  • Pitch the AI answering service when the business already has decent online presence and lead flow but struggles to convert leads. If they have poor follow-up, unanswered calls, or messy lead handling, an answering and lead management solution can raise their close rate.

We usually pick the review or answering service as our top two offers. Those tend to show measurable results fastest and help the business see the value of working with us.

How the review generation service works (step-by-step)

Here is the simple flow we use when selling and delivering the review service:

  1. Ask for an existing customer list on the sales call. If they have a list, we import it to launch an initial review campaign immediately.
  2. Set up a branded landing page (on a subdomain) that the contractor uses to submit new job customer info after each job or at the end of the day. The form captures first name, last name, phone, and email.
  3. Every submitted contact is automatically added to a review request workflow and campaign.
  4. We run a short, aggressive review request push that can drive 15–25 reviews in a week or ten days in many markets. That quick velocity often moves maps rank up and expands visibility.
  5. We show those wins in the local grid report by comparing review counts, maps rankings, and coverage area before and after the campaign.

Those quick wins are something business owners can see and understand. When they see the review count jump and the maps position improve, they feel more confident buying additional services.

How the AI answering service helps convert more leads

The answering service is not a marketing play. It is a sales and lead management play. It works best for businesses that already get leads but are losing them because of response problems.

  • Calls go to the AI answering service instead of voicemail. That reduces lost calls, spam, and missed opportunities.
  • When a consumer calls, the AI confirms that their info was received and that an estimator will call to schedule an appointment. That provides immediate closure for the caller.
  • Because calls are handled quickly and professionally, prospects are less likely to call the next company on the list. We capture interest and push it toward booking.
  • For businesses with decent lead volume, this often raises booked estimates and closed jobs without spending extra on ads.

In many cases we pitch the answering service instead of more marketing. If the business already has presence and lead flow, improving follow-up is the better use of budget.

Email sequences and how we use them

We use short email sequences to follow up after the sales call. Each service has its own five-email sequence. The goal is to keep the prospect engaged, answer their questions, and provide a clear path to purchase.

We do not put prospects in more than one sequence at a time. If multiple services fit, we pick the one that is most likely to be tested first. For example, if the business needs both reviews and better lead handling, we may promote the review campaign first or the answering service depending on which will drive faster impact.

What the five-email sequence looks like (high-level)

We can’t share the full, detailed scripts here, but this is the structure we use for each five-email sequence:

  • Email 1 — Recap & next steps: A short recap of the call, the main benefits of the service, and a checkout link. This is calm and friendly. It repeats the promise and answers the simplest questions.
  • Email 2 — Proof & results: A quick case study or example showing recent wins for similar clients. We use numbers and screenshots when available to show maps rank or review count changes.
  • Email 3 — How it works: A simple breakdown of the process and what the client can expect during the first 7–30 days. We remove friction and show how easy onboarding is.
  • Email 4 — Objections answered: Common questions and short answers: pricing, time to see results, what we need from them, and how to stop the service if necessary.
  • Email 5 — Final nudge & link: A friendly closing message with the checkout link and an invitation to reply with any last questions.

We keep these emails short and clear. We ask for permission on the call to send them, and most prospects agree. If they want more time, we give it. The sequence is designed to convert the ones who are ready while keeping the relationship open for the rest.

How we tag and track prospects in the CRM

After the call we tag the prospect for the service we plan to promote. The tag triggers the appropriate workflow and email sequence. Tracking includes:

  • Which service sequence they are in
  • Whether they opened emails or clicked the checkout link
  • Any replies or objections that need manual follow-up
  • Progress through onboarding if they convert

We avoid tagging one prospect into multiple active sequences. That keeps messaging focused and reduces confusion for the prospect. If they later need another service, we switch tags and start the next sequence when appropriate.

Onboarding and delivery basics

For the review service, onboarding is straightforward: import customer lists, set up the branded landing page, and train the contractor to submit new customer info daily.

For the answering service, onboarding includes call flow setup, training the AI with common scripts, and making sure the estimator follow-up loop is clear. We also set filters to reduce robocalls and spam so the business sees fewer junk calls right away.

Examples of results we highlight

We present simple, easy-to-read metrics to clients so they can see progress:

  • Number of new reviews by day
  • Maps ranking changes and local grid improvements
  • Number of calls handled by the answering service
  • Booked estimate increases after switching to AI answering

These are tangible outcomes that help clients understand the ROI of either service. Showing clear numbers helps us build trust and make upsells easier later.

Common objections and how we answer them

  • “I don’t want to decide right now.” — We tell them that’s fine and that we will send a few short emails with more info. We invite questions and leave the checkout link in each email.
  • “Will AI sound robotic?” — We explain that the system is trained on script templates and that we can customize phrasing to sound natural. The main goal is to capture intent and schedule a follow-up, not to replace human rapport.
  • “How fast will we see results?” — For reviews, we often see big changes in 7–10 days with an aggressive push. For answering, improvement in captured leads can be seen within the first week once call flows are live.
  • “Do you need anything from us?” — For reviews we need a customer list to start fast. For answering we need access to basic call flows and a short training session with admin staff.

FAQ

Do we have email sequences for these services?

Yes. Each service has a five-email sequence that we use after the sales call. The sequences are short, focused, and designed to convert prospects who are open but not ready to buy on the phone.

Can a prospect be in more than one sequence at a time?

No. We keep prospects in one active sequence at a time. If multiple services are relevant, we choose the one most likely to deliver quick wins and start there.

How many reviews do we aim for in a short campaign?

In many local contractor markets, 15–25 reviews in 7–10 days can produce a meaningful maps rank lift. Exact results depend on the market and competitor activity.

Will the answering service reduce spam calls?

Yes. The AI filter helps reduce robocalls and solicitation calls reaching staff. It also ensures legitimate callers get the closure they need and a promise of a callback.

Where are the full email templates and workflows stored?

We keep the templates and workflows in our Mastermind snapshots and workflow library. Members of the Mastermind have full access to plug-and-play sequences and automation scripts.

Conclusion

For local businesses, the fastest wins in 2025 often come from two places: more positive reviews and better lead follow-up. Our approach focuses on those two areas first. We use short, targeted email sequences after the sales call to convert prospects who need time to decide. We pick the service that will move the needle fastest, tag prospects in our CRM, and run a clean onboarding process so results show up quickly.

If a client already has decent lead flow but is losing jobs, we push the AI answering service to fix follow-up and conversion. If the client needs more local trust and visibility, we push the review generation service to create quick ranking gains in maps. Both services are easy to explain, easy to measure, and can be the stepping stone to more advanced SEO and marketing work later.

We keep things simple, so clients can see results fast and feel confident investing in the next step.