The Ultimate Plumber Marketing Guide

Introduction

As a plumbing expert, you can handle everything from clogged drains to leaky pipes and broken water lines. But are you up to the task of building a marketing campaign to connect with homeowners who need your services?

Your plumbing business is only successful if you have a steady stream of leads. Too often, plumbers fall short because they don’t invest in plumber marketing: the digital tools and resources that make them competitive in the local marketplace. The only way you can use your skillset with a wrench in hand is if you have customers who are calling for your services.

The challenge is that online marketing seems like a moving target. The business industry is changing so fast, making it difficult for small- to mid-sized contractors to keep up. It takes time, resources, and a solid strategy to create a digital marketing campaign that will bring in leads and convert those leads into paying customers.

Gone are the days when direct mail and phone book listings were sufficient for plumbers’ advertising and lead generation. Now, business owners must choose from a never-ending list of plumbing marketing ideas.

What is the best advertising for plumbers? Are you leveraging these tools in your business?

Today, we are sharing the most effective strategies to help you see the best way to market a plumbing business. In this plumber marketing guide, we take out the guesswork so you can learn more about the online marketing strategies that are working right now. These proven techniques can add to your bottom line and boost your profit margins.

Setting Your Plumbing Company Up For Digital Marketing Success

One of the biggest mistakes a company can make is launching marketing campaigns without devoting the time and resources necessary to run those campaigns effectively.

Without the right strategy and an effective conversion tracking campaign, the result is that money is being thrown away. Typically, the business owner blames the marketing failure on the marketing campaign itself – not their ability to effectively launch, measure, and optimize those efforts.

Here are some things you must have in place before even considering spending money on plumber marketing ideas.

Your pre-launch checklist should include:

1: Campaign Strategy

To start, you need to segment your audience and know the specific demographic you are targeting. This preparation helps you dial in the offer, so you are speaking to the target audience.

For example, with digital marketing for plumbers, you want to connect with homeowners who are looking for plumbing maintenance, repair, and installation services. Create dedicated landing pages for each of these types of services, then have a clear Call to Action to show how your team can solve the customer’s problem.

Usually, the goal in the campaign strategy for a plumber marketing company is to capture the contact information from leads.

2: Tracking Leads and Conversions

To start, you need to segment your audience and know the specific dThe next part of a practical step is to set up your plumbing internet marketing strategy for success.

Do this by enabling click and conversion tracking on your campaigns. These analytics help you understand website behavior so you can see what actions people are taking when they arrive on your landing page.

Tracking and routing technology can also be built into phone calls, booking appointments, job revenue, email opening rates, and plumbing ads engagement. A robust tracking system helps you see every stage of the marketing funnel so you can optimize the steps to improve overall results.

3: Nurturing Your Leads

It’s not realistic to expect a website lead to turn into a paying customer at the first point of contact. Instead, you need to have a plumber marketing strategy in place that nurtures these leads as they move through your sales funnel.

Lead scoring helps you determine the quality of leads on your list. Then, develop a process that assigns these top leads to your sales team. The goal is to establish and nurture the relationship as soon as possible, which increases overall conversion rates.

Not only can you develop the lead through one-on-one conversations, but an email marketing campaign can be an excellent way to maintain communication with leads that you weren’t able to get in touch with.

4: Closing the Deal

The last piece of the puzzle to set your plumber digital marketing campaign up for success is to design a sales system that closes the deal. Set up team member responsibilities to have someone dedicated to answering phone leads, following up on warm leads, and engaging in ongoing communication with interested homeowners.

The key is to standardize this sales process, so nothing falls through the cracks. Ideally, the first point of communication should happen within 5 minutes from when the lead comes in. Then, you need a streamlined system for managing and following up with these leads – including customer education and a tested sales pitch to optimize conversion rates.

What’s the Plumber Marketing Strategy?

Most companies that embark on new marketing initiatives do so without clearly defining a plan.

Now that you have set the foundation to start your new plumber marketing campaign, it’s time to establish a specific strategy that outlines the steps and traffic generation strategies you intend to use.

Talk to any plumber marketing company, and they will all have their unique approaches when designing client campaigns. But there are similarities across the board: common elements that go into an effective marketing campaign.

Starting with the End in Mind

The main priority to designing a successful marketing plan is to start with the end in mind.

What is your goal for the campaign? Identifying the accomplishments that you want to reach will help you reverse-engineer the steps that need to happen to make these goals become a reality.

Ask yourself a few questions to find clarity in your goals:

• What are you trying to achieve?
• How exactly are you planning to reach these milestones?

These questions help you see the individual stepping stones that will lead to the longer-term accomplishments you are creating through this marketing campaign.

6 Tips for Creating Plumber Marketing Goals

The most effective way to create practical marketing goals is by choosing the business goals that you want to accomplish. These goals need to be well-defined and clear – giving you a clear yes/no answer when determining when the goals are met.

Here are a few tips to help you create quality marketing goals that line up with your business and revenue goals:

You want to be specific in setting the goals while also maintaining a realistic benchmark. Make sure the target numbers are possible while still high enough to keep the team working hard and focused on the outcome. If the goals are too low, it can cause the team to be unmotivated.

Plumber Marketing Strategies to Generate Online Leads

Now that your goals are in place, it’s time to design an ideal plumbers advertising plan. This process encompasses lead generation, landing pages, conversion rates, data analysis, and more:

Plumber Lead Generation Roadmap

Each of these strategies is effective on its own. However, combine them into an all-encompassing online marketing campaign, and you will have a turnkey system that brings high-quality leads throughout the year.

Continue reading for a detailed explanation about each of these subtopics that make up your bigger plumber digital marketing plan.

Your Plumbing Company Must Have a Well Optimized Website

A quality, well-designed website is the foundation of your plumber marketing campaign. Businesses need attractive and intuitive websites to provide information and services to customers online in our modern, digital world.

Without a good website, you can’t win in online marketing. But it can be easy to get distracted and lose focus when building a plumbing website. So here are a few of the most critical components that are necessary to attract new customers and move them through your sales funnel.

Technical Details for a Successful Website

Make sure that your website is loading properly, so there aren’t any delays when someone lands on your website. These technical details show Google that you have a quality website focused on user experience, which increases the likelihood of your site showing up in the search results.

Website load time might seem like a small detail, but the seconds that it takes for a page to load could be costing you a lot of money! In fact, conversion rates can go up by 74% when page load time is reduced from 8 seconds to 2 seconds.

CTAs: Lead the Website Visitors to Action

What specific action do you want people to take when they land on your website? Call to Actions (CTAs) are the design features that encourage potential customers to follow through with a specific action:

• Contact your business to schedule an appointment.
• Enter their phone number for a call request.
• Submit an email address to sign up for your newsletter.
• Request a free estimate.

Be specific about CTAs on your website and help customers see how they will benefit by taking this action. For example, “Call the plumbing experts today to get your free estimate.” This CTA indicates your team’s experience, as well as a bonus of a no-cost price estimate.

Share Customer Reviews

Did you know that including customer reviews on your website can increase your traffic levels by as much as 45%?

Customer reviews go a long way to building credibility and trust for your business. Help potential customers see the satisfaction you delivered for other customers. You can include anything in the marketing campaign, but people won’t believe these messages without customer reviews to back up your claims.

Display these customer reviews on your homepage, landing pages, and other visible areas of your website.

Other Website Design Strategies to Build Trust

Design website pages with clean, clear copywriting and other elements that build trust and establish a strong brand for your company. The words, images, and graphics on the website communicate a message about your business and the quality of services that you provide.

You can show trust by sharing affiliations and awards that speak to your company’s reputation. These small details distinguish your brand from the competition, helping you stay at the top of mind when customers are ready to buy in the future.

Checklist for Your Plumber Website to Convert Well

How to Make Sure You Show Up on Google When People Are Looking for a Plumber

Where is the first place people look when they are ready to hire a plumber? Google, of course! Internet marketing for plumbers is essential because a good strategy puts your website in front of customers who are searching for your services.

Not only do you need creative plumbing ads, but there are things you can do on your website to increase the chances of your brand showing up in the organic search results.

Plumbing marketing services focus on Pay Per Click marketing to generate immediate traffic to the website. Then, this data helps determine the ideal focus for an ongoing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign. When you see results from PPC and SEO simultaneously, you can have confidence in knowing that there is always a solid stream of leads coming to your website.

3 Steps to Establishing a Presence in the Search Engines

There are three critical steps that you should include in your plumber marketing campaign to establish a solid online presence.

Not only do these plumber marketing ideas make your website easy to find, but it also puts you a step ahead of the competition. You want to be sure that potential customers are finding your website before the competitor’s sites show up in the results.

In the sections below, we’ll share more details about each of these categories so you can implement steps to improve your plumber marketing strategy.

Mastering PPC For Plumber Related Searches

It’s no surprise that Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing feels daunting to home contractors. You are spending money on clicks with the hope that this traffic will result in a boost in sales.

PPC might feel like a bit of a gamble for an untrained business owner. But the truth is that Pay Per Click marketing can be a great way to bring in consistent leads, which boosts your profit margins and overall business success. Google Adwords for plumbers is a proven technique: an investment that should be part of every plumber marketing campaign.

When you choose the best way to advertise plumbing business services, then PPC marketing should be one of the many strategies in your investment.

Here are a few best practices to optimize the overall outcome for your campaign:

Step #1: Start with Keyword Research

The quality of your keywords will directly affect the success of your PPC campaign. Brainstorm plumber marketing ideas to come up with different keywords that people might be searching for – always prioritizing the relevancy of these terms to the services you offer.

Keyword research is a way to gain insight into the related services that are happening in your local area. First, identify a list of keywords, then you can use these phrases to show your message to the right audience.

There are many research tools for keyword research, such as Keywords Everywhere and Moz. However, one of the simplest and most effective solutions is to use the tools built in the Google Adwords system. Your goal is to find affordable clicks that offer a reasonable amount of volume.

Step #2: Setup Your Campaign

Now it’s time to divide the keywords into ad groups, preferably with four keywords or less in each group.

Again, focus on quality over quantity. Consider these plumbing advertising examples: A high amount of traffic for people searching for “DIY plumbing tutorials” won’t likely return the same ROI you can get from a handful of leads searching for “emergency plumbing services near me.”

Set up your campaigns with the buyer’s intention in mind. Eliminate any campaign groups that hint at free or DIY home improvement—split-test groups with focuses that promote a purchase.

Step #3: Write Ads to Capture Attention

You only have a short window of time to capture someone’s attention when they see your ad.

Make the headlines clear and concise, and always include a Call to Action (CTA) to encourage the audience to schedule an appointment. Make it easy for leads to know what to do to access available plumbing services.

Finally, test different ads in each group to see what messages resonate with your target audience. This split testing helps you identify the most compelling propositions to bring in leads and maximize the ROI on your ad spend.

Step #4: Optimize Your Landing Pages

Not only do you need effective ads, but the quality of your landing pages will also play a role in your ROI.

You’re investing a lot of time and money into split-testing different keyword groups and ads. Make sure you are sending these leads to a landing page that is clear and easy to navigate.

The best practice is to have a landing page for each type of service you offer. For example, instead of sending all of the PPC traffic to the homepage on your website, set up individual landing pages for subtopics like drain clearing, burst pipe repair, plumbing inspection, emergency plumbing services, etc.

SEO For Plumbers – How to Rank Organically

While PPC traffic provides the immediate leads you need to fill your pipeline at the moment, Search Engine Optimization is another investment that can build long-term results. Establishing a presence in the top search results for your target keywords is a great way to bring in potential customers on an ongoing basis without paying for every click coming to your website.

To put it simply: having your website on the first page of Google gives you a valuable piece of virtual real estate that helps you gain more traction in your business efforts.

SEO is truly an investment. Being on the first page of Google should be a priority in every plumber’s marketing plan. If you are working with a plumber marketing company, then they will talk to you about how SEO and Google Adwords for plumbers go hand-in-hand.

Since SEO is so valuable, there is fierce competition. So, you need to be proactive in your campaign to outsmart other plumbers in the area. Here are a few proven tips to help you get started:

Website Tips to Boost SEO Rankings

Even though it’s challenging to rank in the search engines, it’s possible to do when you follow the right SEO strategy. Here are several components to boost your website rankings:

These tips might seem simple, but the combined effort can have a positive impact to help you move up the search rankings and connect with more leads. Once you make an effort to implement these practices, you will see instant results.

Google My Business For Plumbing Companies

When people are searching for local companies, chances are they will see a map with the list results in Google. In fact, the map is one of the most prominent details that show up in local search results. So make sure that Google My Business is a priority on your list of plumber marketing ideas.

This map shares businesses that are near you, especially when in-person services are necessary. Part of your plumber marketing plan should include a strategy to get your company listed in maps because it can bring in new customers based on location.

Additionally, a map listing shares other relevant information that can motivate people to choose your services: reviews, company ratings, contact information, and other relevant information.

Checklist for Setting Up Google My Business

These are essential details that must be included on your Google My Business profile to increase the likelihood of a high ranking in the local search listings:

Other Business and Map Directories

While Google is the main resource for local listings and map results, other online directories can be included on your list of plumber marketing ideas.

Even though these directory and map listings won’t bring as much traffic as Google, they are still helpful backlinks that can contribute to your SEO strategy and more. These directory listings can be tedious, which is why it usually makes sense to hire a plumber digital marketing agency for assistance.

Ensuring Your Plumbing Business has a Meaningful Presence on Facebook

As you move down the list of plumber advertising ideas, the next priority is social media – specifically Facebook. In addition to establishing a business page, consider the benefits of running Facebook Ads as a lead generation strategy.

A large percentage of the population has Facebook accounts, which means that your current and potential customers are on Facebook. If you aren’t leveraging Facebook as part of your plumber marketing strategy, then it means that you are missing out on sales. Whether you are just learning how to create a social media campaign or you’ve already dipped your toes into the world of social media marketing, Facebook should be a big part of the overall digital marketing plan to help you connect with homeowners that need your services.

How Customers Interact with Your Facebook Ads

You can design Facebook Ads in several ways, depending on the action you want customers to take when clicking on the ads:

How to Design an Effective Facebook Ad

Consider these essential elements to create a Facebook Ad that not only drives traffic but brings relevant leads: people who are looking for your services.

Remember that people are spending time on social media for entertainment. So, make sure that your images and ads are bright, engaging, and eye-catching. Including smiling people is a good strategy. Also, use humor to humanize your business and make your ad memorable.

Make Your Plumbing Customers Worth More with Email Marketing

It’s a myth that email marketing is dead. The truth is that a quality email list can be one of the most valuable assets in your plumber marketing campaign. When your email marketing is done right, your customers look forward to the messages and engage with the information you are sharing.

Email marketing continues to offer a solid Return on Investment: every $1 invested in email marketing can bring an average return of $42. It’s tough to find other plumber marketing channels that deliver this high of an ROI.

Integrating Email in Your Plumber Marketing Plan

Email marketing isn’t enough as a standalone strategy, but it is a valuable resource for your overall plumber marketing plan. The personalized messages and newsletters help to build ongoing relationships with current and potential customers while leveraging your time using one-to-many communications (instead of only relying on one-to-one conversations).

For example, you can use social media, PPC, or SEO to bring potential customers to your website. But it’s not likely that they will call your company the first time they visit. Email marketing is a way to capture their information, so you have the opportunity to continue building the relationship.

Then, when the email subscriber needs plumbing services in the future, they always know who to call. Email marketing keeps your plumbing company at the top of mind, increasing the likelihood of repeat business in the future.

3 Email Marketing Goals

Focus on these three priorities to improve the success of your email marketing campaign:

Ideal Email Marketing Campaigns

Now that you have an email list in place, what messages should you be sending? Start with a personalized welcome message: a warm email that shares your gratitude and invites the customer to reach out if they have questions about plumbing services.

Also, make sure to schedule time in your plumber marketing plan to deliver exciting information to your subscribers. Free ebook downloads establish your business as an authority in the industry and make your company more memorable at the same time.

Additionally, a regular newsletter can be helpful for email engagement. Build relationships through simple messages such as holiday greetings or sharing current discounts.

Conclusion

We know that marketing is a tough job—after all, we’re marketers ourselves. We also know that there’s no perfect, one size-fits-all approach to lead generation—just use the channels and tactics that help you reach and engage your target audience. Keep their challenges, goals, and concerns top of mind; deliver information and content that solves their pain points; nurture those relationships and engage them over time—you’ll soon be filling your funnel with high-quality leads.

Additional Resources

• Plumber Marketing Plan
• How to Make Your Website a Conversion Machine
• How to Generate Leads with PPC Search Ads
• Mastering Local SEO for Plumbing Companies
• How to Generate Plumbing Leads with Facebook Ads
• Plumber Email Marketing Best Practices