Your phone isn’t likely to ring these days unless you do something to make it ring. And calling your office line from your mobile phone doesn’t count.

Many remodelers say referrals are their lifeblood — and they pride themselves on that fact. Still, it doesn’t hurt to take some action to stimulate those referrals if they’re not currently making your phone ring off the hook.

More than 100 readers responded to our online survey and shared their ideas for making the phone ring. We’ve collected a sampling of those ideas below. In some cases we’ve refined or combined several of the thoughts, but they nevertheless represent the collective thinking of Qualified Remodeler readers from around the country

1. Contact past clients. Remind previous customers of all the services you offer; they may not remember everything you do. Personal phone calls, letters, even a postcard can do the trick. For many, the allure of having your personal attention to their project might make it worth their while to remodel now vs. later, when backlogs may again impact schedules.

2. Advertise locally. The more local, the better. Place new advertising in a local or neighborhood magazine and offer a discount coupon. Many readers also cite the impact of trying different advertising venues, such as shopping carts or benches, in areas where your target customers are likely to see them.

3. Offer financing. There is a common misperception that tighter credit markets have led banks and other home improvement lenders to exit the industry. Not true. There is a range of secured and unsecured financing products available to your customers. A well-advertised offer of low interest rates will certainly get some consumers to pick up the phone.

4. Tout affordable jobs. Not all remodelers are set up for small projects, but the time is certainly right. Offer a low-cost small addition that the average homeowner can afford and will add value to their home. Dormer jobs and finished basement projects are quicker and therefore can be offered in prices ranges that would spur many into action.

5. Optimize your Web site. Remodelers are discovering that their most qualified leads come to them via the Internet. Success involves incorporating keywords that drive your target customers to your site. This process is called search engine optimization or SEO. For more information, see our Exterior Contractor column on pg. 42 of this issue.