20 Low-Cost Ways to Get More Plumbing Customers (and Keep Them Coming)

Plumber holding wrench

Get more plumbing customers without breaking your bank account with these actionable tips

Plumber and client shaking hands.

Acquiring new customers is the bane of many plumbing contractors. While sometimes it may be simple as finding a homeowner searching for a specific plumbing service, other times it can be more challenging. The standard method to get more plumbing customers is from marketing to the right people down to closing the sale. For many plumbers, this may be a daunting task, particularly when their efforts don’t achieve the desired results.

Clients are the lifeline of your plumbing company. If your phone is not ringing, then your plumbing expertise will be of no use. You won’t generate any revenue and thus your company will close its doors. So, it is crucial to maintain a consistent flow of customers to your plumbing business.

The amazing thing about running your plumbing company is understanding that there is a huge demand for your services at all times. Wherever people reside, pipes are very crucial to their everyday life. Sometimes, something goes wrong with their piping system and they have to repair it urgently. That, said, as there might be a higher demand for plumbers, there is always a need to get more plumbing customers by using the appropriate marketing strategies.

If you are wondering how to get more customers to your plumbing business, we got you covered. This post will share in-depth strategies that will hands down – assist you to get more clients for your growing plumbing business. Want to be booked several months in advance? Here are our inexpensive ways to do it.

1. Get More Plumbing Customers by Marketing Your Services

Female and male plumbers with their client.

Marketing is essential in any plumbing company. You cannot generate revenue in your plumbing business without money and time in marketing your plumbing services. This aspect is no different in the plumbing industry. You will never secure any new customers if you don’t invest in plumbing marketing.  Target customers must know that you are a plumber and the services you are providing.

If you want to expand your customer base, you need to boost your marketing efforts. Homeowners should know that you are a plumbing contractor. Only through this strategy can you obtain clients to work for. So, consider implementing a marketing strategy that will boost your plumbing brand in your area.

A successful plumbing marketing strategy will attract various kinds of clients – whether they are panicking from a pipe that has just busted or are performing research online to find a reliable plumber for their new bathroom installation.

Related: 15 Plumbing Marketing Ideas, Strategies, And Tricks To Grow Your Business

2. Get More Plumbing Customers by Building a Professional Website

Plumbing maintenance landing page website.

Having a plumbing website not only increases your visibility among plumbing clients but also makes you more trustworthy and reliable.  In the modern digital world, online presence is crucial. Search engines like Google or Bing are the first stopover when it comes to searching for a service or product.

A homeowner will turn to Google to find a plumber before looking for one in their backyard. If your company doesn’t have a website, you will miss the opportunity to secure a job. For this reason, you should hire a reputable plumbing web design agency to get your site built especially if you are not familiar with web development and design.

Put information about your plumbing company, where you are situated, the number of years you have been in the plumbing industry, your working style, and what makes your business stand out from the competitors. Consider having a plumbing company blog to help you establish a connection with your clients.

Read more: Plumbing Website Optimization:14 SEO Tricks Your Business Needs For Lead Generation

3. Get More Plumbing Customers by Focusing on SEO

Search Engine Optimization

Even if your plumbing company is small, there is a high likelihood that you have a website. If you don’t, we highly recommend that you solve that problem ASAP. If you don’t have a plumbing website, then you are missing out on major opportunities of getting found by homeowners searching for plumbers online.

In the infant stages of the Internet, a plumbing website alone was enough to help a business, secure new clients. But things are different nowadays. Now there is stiff and cutthroat competition online. If you want to grab the attention of your potential clients online, you will require more than a website to achieve that. You will require an actual plan.

That’s where search engine optimization for plumbers comes into play.

Search engine optimization sounds complicated and very technical. And in actual sense, it can be. But at the most fundamental level, SEO is the process of creating a plumbing website that directly and clearly addresses the problems your clients have when they conduct searches on the internet.

Generally speaking, you can handle the SEO of your plumbing website alone, making this an inexpensive option for generating qualified leads. In fact, it is possible to take a DIY approach to plumbing SEO and see great results.

Related: How To Improve Your Plumbing Website’s SEO

But you must be willing to commit time to learn the ins and outs of the process. Poorly executed SEO can adversely affect your business, so you will want to perform some serious research to make sure that your plan is solid before implementing it.

Or you can partner with a plumbing SEO agency to help you throughout the process. If you have the budget to afford this kind of service, we highly recommend it.

4. Carefully Manage Your Online Reputation to Get More Plumbing Customers

Client reviews

Another way to get more plumbing clients/leads is to manage your online reviews carefully and consistently. Most prospects search for reliable nearby plumbing businesses with great online reviews, and always try to avoid low-average star ratings or negative reviews before scheduling a service appointment.

Positive client feedback on review platforms such as Facebook, Google, and other business review and social media websites can make a noticeable difference when clients decide which plumbing contractor to hire. According to a Consumer Survey, more than 90% of clients cited positive reviews as a factor that makes them more likely to hire a particular business.

Real clients who give your business positive reviews help to establish trust in your plumbing company. Your prospects read an average of 10 reviews before trusting a plumbing business, and more than 80% of those people – trust online reviews as much as recommendations from their family or friends, according to the survey. If you don’t have the time to manage what customers say about your plumbing business on the Internet, hire a plumbing online reputation management agency to help you out.

5. Get More Plumbing Customers Via Paid Advertising

PPC

Pay-per-click advertising gives your plumbing business a chance to bid on famous keywords that homeowners use to search for a plumbing company like yours online.  Your plumbing SEO plan is what drives the organic (or FREE) web traffic. That’s people who find your plumbing company website through a simple search on Google. But there is another (typically faster) option for grabbing the attention of your potential customers: paid advertising otherwise known as pay-per-click advertising (PPC).

Based on various factors like a maximum bid for every keyword, landing page score, or your ad copy, then your ad is shown to prospects or clients looking for plumbers in your area. Pay-per-click advertising comes in multiple different forms, which may include but is not restricted to;

Search ads: Search ads are the most crucial and common type of PPC ads for plumbers. You will normally see them at the bottom and top of the search engine result page with a small logo that says “Ad” next to the results.  It is a way to jump at the top of your competitors on search engines, ahead of all organic search results that took a lot of effort and time to be seen.

Display ads: This will show your plumbing ads across all the sites that partner with Google. You can select a specific target market or website where your ads will be visible.

Remarketing ads:  Do you know that great feeling that a business is following no matter where you go on the Internet?  That’s not by accident, it’s retargeting or remarketing. A plumber knows that you are interested in a specific service (since you had visited their website before) and re-engages you with an ad.

Social media ads for plumbers: Just like display ads, you can target a particular audience, using the vast data of the social profiles you could purchase from, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Instagram. The right image is crucial to conducting a great social media PPC ad.

6. Claim Your Free Google Business Profile Listing to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Google Business Profile

Claiming your Google Business Profile will assist your plumbing company to appear on the local search results page, skyrocket your website traffic and make it easier for potential clients to find your plumbing services online.

Your Google Business Profile offers visitors a snapshot of your company and services, including your logo, contact information, service area, client reviews, and pictures of successfully completed projects.

Read also: The ultimate guide to Google Business Profile for Plumbers

Here is what your Google Business Profile will appear like when a new client looks for a plumber in your service area.

7. Use Social Media Marketing to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Social Media Marketing

From TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram to Facebook, just about everyone is on one social media platform at some point. Social media apps help people to stay connected, keep informed, and above all entertained.

And folks spend a lot of time on social media.

The average American spends over one hour on social media each day. This explains why social media advertising is one of the common forms of internet marketing.

Since anyone with a social media profile can utilize that profile to advertise, marketing on social media is technically free. But just like PPC ads or SEO, the most successful plumbing social media advertising efforts need a budget and specialized skill set.

Plus, social media marketing for plumbers takes time. Likely, more time than what most plumbers think.

Not only will be required to create and publish posts regularly but also remain active with your target audience or market. When they ask questions or leave comments, you should be able to respond to them promptly. That implies you have to be on your preferred social media networks a lot, yourself.

If you had already spent a good time on social media, this could be a surefire way to generate plumbing clients or leads. Otherwise, you may be required to hire a social media advertising agency for plumbers to help you out.

8. Invest in Email Marketing to Win More Plumbing Customers

Email Marketing

Another great way to obtain plumbing clients is by using targeted email marketing campaigns.

Sending regular emails to your client list promoting your plumbing services and reminding them of your top-notch services (such as plumbing system maintenance) keeps you on top of their mind. So when the client requires plumbing services, you are the first plumber they remember.

Targeted plumbing email marketing tends to be cheaper than conventional advertising and keeps your business top–of–mind for clients. To make email marketing work for your plumbing company, figure out the particular topics that will resonate with your target audience.

For instance:

  • Share informative and helpful tips to establish brand loyalty (e.g., signs that your water heater is failing)
  • Remind clients of recommended maintenance
  • Provide seasonal reminders to help clients keep their plumbing systems running optimally and smoothly.

9. Build a Plumbing Brand Your Clients Will Recognize and Love

Plumbing Brand

Creating a brand for your plumbing business is one of the best ways to attract and impress potential customers.

(It is also one of the effective ways of outranking the competition)

Once you have settled on the visual elements of your brand (like fonts, logo, and colors) ensure that you use them consistently throughout your plumber marketing efforts to assist new and existing clients recognize your business.

Related: 9 Inexpensive And Super-Effective Tricks For Branding Your Plumbing Business

10. Get More Plumbing Customers Through Content Marketing

Content Marketing

Content marketing involves crafting and distributing important information across multiple digital channels. Content, from blogs to videos to online reviews has profound impacts on your potential customers. They are one of the efficient ways to create a positive first impression on your target audience or market.

Quality content creation combined with great keyword research makes sure that your content is read and understood. You must set aside a section for a blog on your website where you can write quality SEO content related to the plumbing niche. If you handed over the task to a plumbing marketing agency, they will perform a competitor analysis to see what other plumbers are writing about.

But your content creation should not be restricted to blogs only; there are multiple ways to use your plumbing business’ content. For example, you can create infographics, videos, short films, and more with content strategies and promote them for appropriate channels for maximum reach. With numerous content marketing tools available, you can easily make sure that your content resonates with your target audience.

11. Get More Plumbing Customers with Local Service Ads

Local Service Ads

Local Services ads from Google are focused on small plumbing businesses that want to be rated highly and build the respect and trust of local buyers. Via the Local Services platform, plumbing contractors are able to buy advertising inventory that is best has the best search engine estate: the #1 spot of search results.

This is particularly helpful for mobile searches; which contribute to more than 60% of all online searches. That number is expected to increase over time.

Local service ads for plumbers get your business affordable customers from people actually looking for your services.

But you must apply for this service. If you are accepted, then you should set up a campaign while allocating a good budget. If you are still on the fence about what your budget should be, schedule a free discovery call with Blackstorm Design + Marketing to get started.

12. Get More Customers Through Plumbing Lead Generation Websites

Plumbing Lead Generation Websites

Another proven way to get more plumbing customers is by paying a lead generation company to do all the hard work for you.

If you have a good marketing budget that allows this option, then it makes a lot of sense to use it.

Listing your plumbing company on pay-per-call lead generation websites can put you in front of wallet-out prospects who are actively looking for your plumbing services- with minimal effort on your part.

These platforms are perfect if you provide kitchen or bathroom remodels and maintenance services. Just bid on the jobs you want and send quotes to potential clients.

You can also use them to collect client reviews and enhance your brand’s reputation (both online and offline).

13. Use Retargeting Ads to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Have you ever noticed when you leave a specific website and then head over to Facebook, you will see an ad from the site you visited down on your feed? That’s retargeting in action.

Retargeting presents yet another way to get more plumbing customers in the form of pixels. Pixels are minor snippets of code you can put on your landing pages to record and track information about the behavior of users.

With such data, you can develop personalized service recommendations and retarget prospects with custom ads that show as previous website visitors browse other sites, like Google, Bing, and Facebook.

For example:

Retargeting Ads

If a prospect visits one of your plumbing service pages and clicks off without filling out a form or calling your business, then you can retarget only those people with ads that contain client testimonials, for instance, across other websites in the Google Display Network or even social media networks such as LinkedIn or Facebook.

Remember, most people don’t purchase plumbing services on their first visit to your website, so utilizing retargeting is a free and smart marketing strategy to re-engage non-converting leads and visitors.

14. Get More Plumbing Customers Offline Using the Following Strategies

More Plumbing Customers Offline

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are one of the inexpensive ways to get new plumbing customers-but if you sit down and wait for your existing customers to refer their family members and friends to your business, you could be waiting longer. Take charge by actively requesting referrals from your satisfied clients. Include a referral-generating activity in your sales process. For example, send out a follow-up email asking for a referral after you have completed a client’s plumbing project successfully.  Have your sales representatives ask for referrals when they follow up to answer questions after completing a project.

Network with Other Plumbing Contractors

Networking is crucial in each field.

Networking is crucial in each field. The approach helps you connect with other stakeholders in your industry. However, many plumbers don’t want to engage with their peers or colleagues. They wrongly that having a good relationship with their rivals is a bad idea.

If you hold the same school of thought, then you are wrong. Networking is a great way of expanding your client base. It assists you to get some tact in the plumbing industry because your colleagues can refer their customers to you in case they have excess on their end. You too can have sought their help when you get a client beyond your scope or service reach.

If you are still on the fence about how to get more plumbing customers, consider contacting local small businesses in your area. Most of them will be glad to use you or team up and refer their clients who require plumbing services to you as long as you are willing to return a favor. Some of the few businesses you can contact include; home inspection companies, pest control, pool companies, real estate agents or investors, and more.

Offer Superior Services to Your Customers

Prioritize customer services

There is no doubt that customers are the number one sales representative of any plumbing company. Your clients will bring their colleagues and peers to your plumbing business. But this will only happen if you offer satisfactory services.

If you want to get more plumbing customers, always provide exceptional customer experience and services. Remember, happy clients are equal to the more new business plus the introduction of more customers. So, prioritize customer services and you will experience an increase in your customer base within a very short timeframe.

Attend Trade Shows

Plumbing Trade Shows

Attending industry trade should be on top of your to-do list of plumbing advertising ideas. They not only offer tons of solutions for how to book more plumbing jobs and how to scale a plumbing company but also helps you to spy on your competitors, boost brand awareness and establish new business partnerships.

To make the most out of the trade shows, you should offer some irresistible to visitors, like a freebie or another incentive like contests, giveaways, coupons, and more.

Lastly, make sure that you are writing down the contact details of interested visitors and following up to advertise your plumbing services.

15. Get More Plumbing Customers Through Strategic Alliances

Strategic Alliances

Another great way to get more plumbing clients for free is to partner with other local businesses in your service area. That could be Lowe’s Home Depot and others. Creating a strategic partnership implies they will recommend you to their clients, display your marketing materials or business cards, and offer a steady stream of exclusive plumbing leads. So, get to networking!

16. Send Direct Mailers to Get More Plumbing Leads/Customers

Email marketing

Here is another plumbing marketing idea that can withstand the test of time; direct mailers. Yet another ‘prehistoric’ marketing strategy, but it is not ineffective. At present, people are more excited to receive postcards and mail than to obtain promotional emails from plumbing companies.

Use postcards to stir interest and grab attention. As many plumbing companies have abandoned the mailbox, you may also find direct mail as a unique way of standing out from the competition. Make sure that you hire a graphic designer to ensure that your direct mail gets the attention of your audience while enhancing your brand’s image.

17. Use Branded Plumbing Marketing Materials

Plumbing business card

Always ensure that you have something physical to give a prospect to carry with them and remind them of your plumbing company. The bare minimum would be to print business cards with your website name and URL on display.  Taking it a notch higher with swag like branded clothing and stationery is also a famous medium of getting your brand out there.

18. Wrap Your Plumbing Van to Make a Lasting Impression

Plumbing van wraps

Which one seems professional according to you?

A beat-up, dirty van with tools in the bed and no signage?

Or a well-maintained, clean van with a sleek logo on its side?

The one with a sleek plumbing logo, right? Adding a magnet or wrap to your work vans is an efficient way to make them appear more professional, while also leveraging the benefits of free advertising space. Your work vans are fundamentally billboards on wheels, so why not use it?

19. Get More Plumbing Customers by Canvassing the Area

Canvassing an area to get more plumbing clients for free.

Canvassing an area to get more plumbing clients for free may seem like an old-school marketing strategy, but your ideal plumbing customers are likely to book jobs with you and remember your business when they connect a face to your company. If you want to try canvassing, try it after you have completed a nearby project.

To achieve great results, remember to:

  • Always be courteous and polite, even if you don’t obtain the reaction you want.
  • Set a goal for every interaction: obtain their contact details, give them your business card
  • Have a script ready so you are well prepared
  • Follow up with prospects after getting their details-you could include them on your mailing list.

20. Use Nextdoor to Get More Plumbing Customers in Neighborhoods with Older Homes

Nextdoor website

Nextdoor is nowadays being utilized in more than 90% of American neighborhoods to find local home service providers, such as roofers or plumbers, and can be a goldmine to get new plumbing clients. What makes this app attractive is its verification process, which ensures that the people who are listed in the Neighborhood actually reside there.

You can use Nextdoor to scope out neighborhoods with older homes that are likely to require new pipes, new buildings that require plumbing installations, and neighborhoods that have a history of offering large-scale plumbing jobs.

To get started, register on the platform and get verified. Then, watch out for posts where users are asking about plumbing service contractors. 24% of all posts are homeowners requesting for home improvement service providers, so you should be able to book more plumbing jobs with this app.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get More Plumbing Customers

FAQs

How do you get more plumbing leads?

There are several strategies that you can use to generate plumbing leads including creating a professional plumbing website, using SEO to make it easier for people to find your site, email marketing, social media advertising, online reputation management, and more.

What is plumbing lead?

A plumbing lead is a prospect expressing interest in your services by submitting their contact details via a phone call or submitting an online form.

Why hire a marketing agency to get more plumbing customers?

Plumbing marketing agencies have numerous tools and expertise that can assist you to understand your client’s preferences which informs your advertising strategies.  An agency will also help you save money because you will not have to commit all your time doing keyword research, or paid ads in which you are unsure of your performance.

Let Blackstorm Design + Marketing Help You Get More Plumbing Customers (Offline and Online)

A good plumbing lead generation campaign fuels your sales funnel.

Any of the strategies discussed above can be a game-changer in getting more clients for your plumbing business.

A good plumbing lead generation campaign fuels your sales funnel and ensures that you have no shortage of new customers. If you are still unsure about how to get more plumbing customers even after reading this article, we are here to help you.

Blackstorm Design + Marketing is a premier internet marketing agency for plumbers and home service contractors. Our team specializes in running plumbing marketing campaigns that generate exclusive leads for plumbers across the country.

Schedule a free discovery call with Blackstorm Design + Marketing to learn how our experts can help take your plumbing marketing campaign to the next level.

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