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.