How Is the Rise of Video in Local SEO Boosting Customer Engagement and Calls?

In 2025, video isn’t just a nice-to-have it’s a local SEO powerhouse. Short-form video, how-to clips, customer testimonials, and location-based content are transforming how local businesses get discovered, build trust, and drive more phone calls.

If your business relies on local leads whether you’re a home service provider, medical clinic, or brick-and-mortar retailer embracing video could be your most profitable move yet.

Let’s explore why video matters more than ever, how it influences SEO rankings and engagement, and how to strategically use it to get your phone ringing.

Why Is Video So Important for Local SEO in 2025?

Here’s what’s changed:

• Google AI Overviews now prioritize content that’s rich, relevant, and visual including embedded video.
  
  

• People trust faces and voices more than text or stock images.
  
  

• Mobile-first users are more likely to watch a 30-second video than scroll through long blocks of text.
  
  

• Local consumers want to see your service in action before they call.
  
  

And search engines know it. That's why video content improves dwell time, reduces bounce rates, and sends strong quality signals to Google.

In fact, businesses that include video on landing pages see an average 80% boost in conversions  and a significant uptick in direct click-to-call actions.

5 Ways Local Video Content Drives Phone Calls

1. Google Business Profile Video Posts

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the first thing people see when they search for your service. And in 2025, it’s more dynamic than ever  especially with video posts.

When you upload videos directly to your GBP:

• They appear in your photo gallery and posts
  
  

• They boost engagement signals that help you rank in Google Maps
  
  

• They show potential customers what to expect
  
  

What kind of video works best?

• 15–30 second intro from the owner
  
  

• Quick walkthrough of your office, truck, or process
  
  

• Before-and-after results
  
  

• Customer testimonial clips
  
  

✅ Include captions and a visible phone number to prompt action.

2. YouTube Shorts and Local Search Integration

YouTube Shorts are now integrated with Google local search results, especially for mobile users.

That means your 60-second or less vertical videos can appear when someone searches “drywall repair near me” or “best chiropractor in [city]”.

Shorts you should create:

• “Top 3 Drywall Issues in [Your City] – And How We Fix Them”
  
  

• “Why Alexandria Residents Love Our Same-Day Pest Control”
  
  

• “Fast Fix: How We Repair Water Damage in Under 2 Hours”
  
  

Every video should end with a clear CTA:
“Need help today? Tap the number in our profile to call now!”

3. Video Testimonials Build Instant Trust

Nothing gets the phone ringing faster than trust.

Video testimonials do two things:

1. Provide social proof in a more human way than text reviews
   
   

2. Reduce skepticism — viewers see real people, not fake-sounding blurbs
   
   

Use your happiest clients. Ask them:

• What problem did we solve?
  
  

• How fast was our response?
  
  

• Would you recommend us?
  
  

Post these clips on:

• Your homepage
  
  

• Your Google Business Profile
  
  

• Landing pages for local ad campaigns
  
  

• Facebook and Instagram with location tags
  
  

You’ll see more calls because people buy from people — especially people who live nearby.

4. Local Service Videos Optimize for “Near Me” Searches

The Google algorithm loves location-based language.

Make short videos that include:

• Your city or neighborhood name
  
  

• Local landmarks or jobsites
  
  

• Specific services + locations (e.g., “Drywall Repair in Arlington Apartments”)
  
  

These hyperlocal videos help you rank higher for voice and mobile searches like:

• “Who fixes drywall in Clarendon?”
  
  

• “Affordable pest control in Woodbridge”
  
  

• “Emergency roof repair near me”
  
  

Pair the video with a call-focused landing page and track the results.

5. Video FAQs Answer Common Questions and Prompt Calls

Create a video FAQ series answering the top questions your customers ask.

These don’t have to be long or fancy. Just:

• Face the camera
  
  

• Be clear and conversational
  
  

• Add a call-to-action at the end
  
  

Examples:

• “How do I know it’s termites or just ants?”
  
  

• “Is water damage behind the wall dangerous?”
  
  

• “Can you repair drywall in a rental unit?”
  
  

These videos build trust and authority, and more importantly, they give people confidence to call you.

Tips to Maximize Calls from Your Video Content

✅ Always include a call to action
Every video should include a spoken and/or on-screen CTA:
📞 “Call us today for a free quote.”
📍 “Located in Herndon, serving all of Fairfax.”
📲 “Click below to call now!”

✅ Optimize for mobile
Most viewers will see your videos on a phone. Use vertical formats (9:16), large fonts, and short durations (30–60 seconds).

✅ Add video schema to your website
Use structured data markup to help Google index and display your videos in search. This increases visibility in AI Overviews and rich snippets.

✅ Use call tracking numbers
Assign unique phone numbers to each platform (YouTube, GBP, website) to track which videos are driving the most calls.

✅ Use captions/subtitles
Over 85% of video content is watched without sound. Add captions so your message is understood with or without audio.

The Bottom Line: Video Makes You Clickable, Trustworthy, and Call-Ready

Video content is no longer optional — it’s a local SEO essential.

It helps you show up in more searches, keeps people on your page longer, builds trust before the first contact, and makes it easy for them to call when they’re ready.

In 2025, your biggest local SEO advantage might not be more keywords or backlinks — it might be a 30-second video that shows who you are and why someone should call you.