Do you feel like you’re flushing your marketing efforts down the toilet? If so, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Plumbers are some of the most overlooked professionals in terms of marketing.
However, marketing is critical for them, no matter how you slice it. If you want to keep your company afloat (or take it to the next level), you need to be proactive about marketing your plumbing business. We compiled a dozen marketing tips to help you get started, but first, we need to figure out if you need it.
Why Do Plumbers Need Marketing?
As any plumber knows, marketing is essential to success in today’s business world. After all, what’s the point of being great at what you do if no one knows about your business? Marketing helps you reach new customers and keep existing ones coming back.
A prime example would be if you search for “Plumbers Chicago.” Your results should look something like this:
The above image shows us the top 4 Google Ads results, 3 Google Business profiles, and the first 3 Free/Organic search results. These are the companies that will most likely get the customers because they are the easiest to access. After all, users want convenience, so they wouldn’t want to scroll too much. That’s why up to 67.60% of people will click on one of the first five results on google, of which 31.24% will click on the first result. Crazy right?
That’s why marketing is such an integral part of the business world nowadays, because if your website isn’t on the first page of Google, chances are most people won’t even know about you. Not to mention that digital marketing also helps to build name recognition and create a strong brand.
In short, plumbers who want to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace need to prioritize marketing. But, of course, that doesn’t mean that marketing has to be expensive or time-consuming. Instead, plumbers can use many simple and effective marketing strategies to get the word out about their businesses.
So, if you’re a plumber looking to take your business to the next level, don’t underestimate the power of marketing. It could be the key to your success.
Online Marketing Ideas For Plumbers
Now that you understand why you need to tighten the pipes on your marketing game, it’s time to look at a few plumber marketing ideas that may help you.
Have A Responsive Website
If you’re in the plumbing business, you do a lot of your work behind the scenes—but that doesn’t mean your website can be an afterthought. In today’s digital age, up to 85% of potential customers give you a call after visiting your website for the first time. That’s why it’s so important to have a responsive website that accurately reflects the quality of your work and has clear instructions on how your service works.
A well-established website allows your prospecting customers to discover your brand, services, and contact details in a blink of an eye. Depending on how your site is set up, you can also give them the ability to book an appointment online. The possibilities are endless.
After all, there’s no point in having a bathroom without faucets, so why leave your business without a site? By investing in a high-quality website, you show potential customers that you’re serious about your business and willing to invest in its success. And that’s something everyone can appreciate.
Here are a few features to include in your website:
- Call to action: These are vital for your success. You need to have clear instructions, prompting customers to take action. It can be anything from a “Call Us Now” button in the top right corner, to a “Learn More” under each service you list on your Homepage.
- Speed: Google has directed a lot of its focus to create the best experience for its users. Therefore, having a website that loads and responds fast makes both your customers and Google happy. You can test your site speed here: PageSpeed Insights.
- Mobile-friendly: Around 90% of Google searches are done from a mobile device, so you need to ensure that the website is friendly to these users. It can be as simple as how images are displayed, how far buttons are from each other, or how large your text is. All of these play a vital role in ensuring the best experience for your users.
- Trust signals: We will focus on these in a bit more detail further down in the post, but having trust signals such as reviews and testimonials is another essential for your website. As you may have guessed, it shows potential clients that they can trust you because they can see what others have experienced while working with you.
There are many more features that can influence your overall customer experience, but adding these basic ones to your website will already have a major impact. Let’s continue to explore other tips that may help you.
Claim Your Google Business Listing
One of the most effective ways to market your business is to claim your Google Business Listing, which can be done here: https://www.google.com/business/. This will allow you to control how your business appears on Google Maps and search results.
You can add photos, videos, and other information that potential customers find helpful. And you can even respond to reviews, helping to build trust with potential customers. So, if you want to improve your plumbing marketing leads, claiming your Google Business Listing is the way to go.
Get In On The SEO Action
The last thing you want as a plumber is a website full of leaks. But if your website is not optimized for search engines, that’s what you’ll have.
Search engine optimization (SEO) improves the visibility and ranking of your website on search engines such as Google and Bing. And just like a plumber needs the right tools to repair a leaky pipe, an SEO company has the expertise to fix your leaky website.
Optimizing your website for search engines can attract more visitors, generate more leads, and grow your business. SEO assists you in finding how prospective customers search for the services you offer. Furthermore, it helps you increase your site user experience, so a search engine is more likely to serve your website as the answer to a query.
Here is a quick example of Google’s result for the query: “Plumbing FAQs.” The search engine identified the request and served the most relevant piece of content it could find.
SEO allows you to find the queries people search for and adjust your site to accommodate your customer. You can think of it as the plunger of the digital world; it goes in and gets the job done.
Write Expert Blog Posts (Add Video Tutorials)
Marketing your business can be challenging if you’re a plumber. You want to reach potential customers but don’t want to spend a fortune on advertising. One way to present your business to a broad audience without breaking the bank is to write expert blog posts for your plumbing website.
Video tutorials are particularly popular right now, so consider adding some of those to your site. Plumbing is a complex trade, and potential customers will appreciate having access to clear and concise information that can help them solve their plumbing problems. In addition, by writing expert blog posts, you’ll be able to show off your plumbing skills and build trust with potential customers. It’s a win-win.
Use Pay-Per-Click Advertising
Are you looking for a plumber marketing solution that will really make a splash? Then pay-per-click advertising is the perfect solution for you.
With pay-per-click advertising (PPC), you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it cost-effective to reach potential customers. Plus, you can target consumers in your local area with PPC, ensuring that your ad reaches people who are most likely to need your services.
Pay-per-click advertising is the way to go if you’re looking for a plumbing marketing strategy that will deliver results faster than the rest.
Encourage Reviews (Modern Day Word Of Mouth)
Which of these would you rather click on?
In the modern world, word-of-mouth is no longer just about what your neighbor says about your plumber—it’s also about online reviews. And when it comes to plumber marketing, encouraging online reviews should be a top priority.
There are a few key reasons why online reviews are so critical.
- They provide social proof that your plumbing business is reputable and trustworthy.
- They help build SEO for your website, attracting more organic traffic (free prospects) and leading to more customers.
- They give you valuable feedback that you can use to improve your business.
So, how do you encourage online reviews?
- First, make it easy for customers to leave a review by providing links on your website and in your email signature.
- Second, offer incentives such as discounts or coupons for those who take the time to write a review.
- And third, follow up with customers after they’ve used your services to thank them for their business and ask if they’re happy with the results.
Following these simple tips can boost your plumbing marketing efforts and encourage more customers to leave positive reviews.
Get Listed On Public Reviews Sites (Houzz, Yelp, Etc.)
As a plumbing business, you want to make it easy for potential customers to find you online. So, another excellent plumber marketing idea is to get listed on public review sites like Houzz and Yelp.
Millions of consumers visit these sites every month looking for local businesses, so it’s essential to claim your listing and ensure that your information is accurate.
In addition to making it easier for potential customers to find you, being listed on Houzz and Yelp can also improve your SEO. These sites are high-authority websites, so having a listing on them can help to boost your website’s ranking in search results.
To get started, create a free account on Houzz and Yelp and claim your business listing. Then, fill out your profile with accurate information and add photos of your work. By taking these simple steps, you can make it easier for potential customers to find you online and improve your plumber marketing efforts.
Social Media Marketing
Social media is one of the most powerful tools in your plumber marketing arsenal. It’s a great way to connect with potential and current customers, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your website.
There are a few key things to consider when using social media for plumbing marketing.
- It’s essential to focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a smaller number of engaged followers than many followers who never interact with your content.
- It’s essential to be consistent. Posting irregularly or infrequently will only lead to people forgetting about your business.
- It’s also vital that you use relevant hashtags and keywords so your content can be found by those looking for it.
By following these simple tips, you can use social media to effectively market your plumbing business and attract more customers.
Offline Marketing Ideas For Plumbers
In the above section, we discussed online marketing for plumbers, and now it’s time to see what you need to do offline to improve your visibility.
Get Involved In The Community (Sporting Events, Schools, Charities)
One great way to do plumber marketing is to get involved in the community. You can do this by sponsoring local sports teams, donating to schools or charities, or volunteering your time and services to those in need.
Getting involved in the community is a great way to build brand awareness and connect with potential customers. It’s also a great way to show that your business is more than just a money-making machine—but that you’re also investing in making your community a better place.
So, if you’re looking for ways to market your plumbing business offline, consider getting involved in the community. You can even combine this with your online marketing efforts to get the most reach.
Give Discounts For Referrals
Many plumbing businesses offer discounts for referrals, and there’s a good reason for that. Referrals are one of the best ways to get new customers. After all, if someone you know and trust recommends your business to someone else, they’re more likely to use your services.
If you want to attract more customers, consider offering discounts for referrals. It is an easy way to encourage current customers to spread the word about your business, and it can be a great way to attract new customers as well.
Consistently Deliver The Best Service Possible
Of course, one of the most important things you can do to market your plumbing business is delivering the best service possible. This may seem like an obvious point, but many companies often overlook it.
Your customers are the lifeblood of your business, so it’s important to always give them the best possible service. That means being on time, being professional, and going above and beyond to meet their needs.
If you can deliver the best possible service, you’ll find that your customers will be more than happy to recommend your business to others. And that’s the best marketing you could ask for.
Find Another Business To Partner With
Another fantastic way to market your plumbing business is to find another company to partner with. It could be a business complementary to your own, such as a home improvement store or a real estate agency.
By partnering with another business, you can reach a whole new group of potential customers. And, if you partner with the right company, you may even be able to get some referrals from them.
Where To Start
If you follow these 12 plumber marketing tips, you will be able to help your business get the growth it deserves. Presenting yourself better online can make all your pipe dreams come true, and that’s where we come in.
Zima Media is a full-service digital marketing agency with years of experience helping businesses like yours reach more customers and drive more sales. We offer a wide range of services, from SEO and website design to paid search and social media marketing. So, no matter your needs, we can help you get the results you want.
If you’d like to learn more about our services, sign up to our portal today! Also, feel free to reach out at any time, we’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and help you get started on the path to success.
2 Responses
Interesting, thank you for sharing such informative article. Looking forward to read more soon.
*Good topic, thank you for sharing this. Can’t wait to read more of your posts.