Get Your Plumbing Website Rank Higher In Google, Increase Your Exposure To “plumber near me searches” And Maximize Your Potential To Get Qualified Leads Online.
If you manage or own a local plumbing business, you want to reach homeowners and property managers in the surrounding area. But it goes without saying that your company is always fighting for clients with several competitors online. The plumbing industry is crowded with several plumbers competing for the same number of limited clients.
However, there are strategies that you can use to make your company stand out from the curve and get a competitive advantage when looking to get more qualified leads that could convert into paying clients.
One strategy you can use is optimizing your plumbing website for local search. This is crucial for various reasons, the most essential of which is ensuring that search engines like Bing or Google can find your website easily and rank it higher in their relevant searches.
This may include “near me” searches that users may type in Google. Many times, when looking for a plumbing company on Google, clients won’t have a glimpse of who they are searching for, and that’s why they just type in “plumber near me” on Google and locate what is geographically closest to them.
If your plumbing company website is not optimized for local search (or near me searches), you could be missing a significant portion of your target market. Ranking higher in the “plumber near me” searches can make your company a focal point of that particular geographical area, which can make your business appeal more to those local clients.
But how do you rank higher in those “plumber near me searches”on Google? Here are our expert tips:
1. Make Sure Your Google Business Profile is Properly Updated
There are various tools your plumbing company can use to help rank higher on “near me” searches. One of such tools is creating a Google Business Profile. Your details would be shown if a user were to look for a plumbing business. This information includes your address, company name, contact details, reviews, and opening or closing hours. When verifying your plumbing business on Google, you are given a chance to edit such information and add to it so as to fill in as many details about your company as possible.
As a plumber, you should also ensure that the information provided in the Google Business Profile is regularly updated and accurate. If your plumbing company wants to rank higher in near me searches, you should also ensure that it is listed in major business directories like Angie’s List, Yelp and HomeAdvisor.
2. Geo-Target Your Web Content/Pages Around Specific Locations
As a plumber, you want your ideal customers to find your website on Google or Bing, right?
One of the few things you can do is map out the particular areas where your company serves. It goes without saying that geotargeted plumbing keywords are easier to rank (e.g., plumber in Murfreesboro) in Google since they are typically less competitive. They also have high conversion rates.
Therefore instead of creating content around “plumbing contractors in Tennessee,” you can scale down to the area you want to get local clients from. Best of all, you can use the Google Keyword Planner to identify those geotargeted keywords.
3. Make Your Online Customer Reviews Visible
Client reviews have nowadays become one of the most crucial aspects for plumbers getting new leads or businesses. Simply because a huge portion of people look for online reviews before hiring a local service business like roofers or plumbers. Prospects tend to trust such reviews as they do with recommendations from their friends or family members, feeling as though it offers them a level of trust in a business that may not have been there previously.
Google Makes it simple for their clients to review a plumbing business. All a client has to do is open Google Maps, search for that business, and choose to write a review, which is that easy.
Online reviews play a major role not only in the trustworthiness and authority of your plumbing company but also in your overall organic search ranking. Google puts a lot of emphasis on the number of online reviews as well as the overall score when ranking your plumbing business website.
If your plumbing company has a lot of negative online reviews, don’t conceal them, work on enhancing them. Even when you are obtaining positive reviews, you should prioritize responding to every review left. Show your clients that you care about the quality of the plumbing service that they get by responding professionally to the complaint and working to make sure that they are satisfied with the overall experience.
Ultimately, you need to make sure that your plumbing company is obtaining a lot of positive reviews since Google’s SERP utilizes this as a factor when determining overall search rankings. When you have lots of positive online reviews, though, you want to show them off as much possible as you can. This makes it easy for prospects or clients to see that your plumbing business is trustworthy and offers quality service.
4. Display Your Business Name, Address, and Phone Number
Showing an accurate company name, phone number, and address clearly is crucial when optimizing your plumbing website for “near me” searches.
Ensure that you display your address, phone number(s), and business name typically throughout your plumbing website, most likely at the bottom of your page.
5. Make Sure that Your Business Information is Consistent Across All Platforms
Be consistent with the business information that you share with prospects or clients. Consistency helps Google show the most updated and accurate information for your clients and anyone searching for a “plumbing contractor near me.”
If you portray an inconsistent address on a local business directory, you may end up confusing Google. This common problem can be cleaned up manually or using paid services.
6. Use Schema to Show Events in the SERPS
Another way of featuring in the local search results is by planning events and showing this information in schema markup.
Updating your schema markup increases credibility and boosts your market share by directly featuring events with the SERP for your plumbing company.
Schema markup is an excellent way for your plumbing company to reach clients via local search. Schema data helps search engines like Bing or Google collect the right information about your company and present it via rich-featured snippets. You can utilize it to show your hours of operation, contact information, and business address.
7. Optimize Your Photos for Location-Based Searches
Photos impact location-based searches. Think strategically when optimizing your images. If you want to rank higher for a particular location, that location should be one of your keywords not only in the content you use on your plumbing website but also in the tags and file names of every photo.
8. Obtain Backlinks with Location Anchor Text
Backlinks will typically be part of an effective plumbing SEO strategy. But, when it comes to local SEO for plumbers, you want to concentrate on high-quality/relevant backlinks with the local geographical anchor text. If you want your business to rank for near me searches in Murfreesboro for the emergency services category, you wouldn’t target the keywords “near me” but rather “Emergency plumbing Murfreesboro.”
9. Make Sure Your Plumbing Website is Mobile-Friendly
Google has put a lot of importance on the user experience, implying you should too. Because most “near me” searches occur on mobile devices, ensure your site is mobile-friendly. This implies that it should be fast and work seamlessly across any mobile or desktop device.
10. Create and Optimize Pages for every Business Location
Does your plumbing business have more than one service area? If so, you need to build different web pages and Google Business Profiles for each location. In addition, your plumbing company will want to optimize such properties for “near me” searches. Particularly, your webpages should contain:
A user-friendly URL that shows your location, such as www.mysite.com/Seattle-plumber/
Meta tags and title tags are optimized for location and target keywords.
A brief description of the location that shows the hours, services offered, and address.
Proper alt and title tags for photos used on the website
Finally, Rank for “Plumber near me” searches with SEO services from BlackStorm Design + Marketing
You can do many things to optimize your plumbing business for those important “near me” searches. Most customers end their search on the first page of the search engine result page, and they will most likely contact the top three plumbers on the first page of search results. If your plumbing company is not close to the top of the list, it doesn’t matter how much experience you have you are not likely to obtain any calls.
Of course, you can solve the issue by using our plumber SEO services to ramp up your rankings where it requires you to be on Google. Using the right SEO plumbing keywords will increase traffic to your website result in more qualified leads, and ultimately book more jobs.
Your higher organic ranking means obtaining more calls every month. Our SEO experts can help drive traffic to your plumbing website and high ranking on Google.
Getting the leads that you require to increase your plumbing jobs from online traffic is not easy without the right support. If you want to rank higher in “near me” searches for your service area, reach out to plumbing SEO experts at BlackStorm Design + Marketing today. We have the insight and expertise you require to reach the people you want to book jobs with most. We can help you with optimizing your current social media and website, streamlining your accounts, and coming up with new ways to spread the word about your plumbing business out in your local community.
Schedule a free discovery call with BlackStorm Design + Marketing to learn how our plumber SEO services can help grow your plumbing business online today.
Discover Our Proven Bag Of Tricks For Using Google Business Listing For Plumbers To Attract Qualified Local Leads And Improve Your Online Visibility
Google is estimated to have a whopping more than 95 % of the search engine market. This implies that with more and more people looking for plumbing companies like yours online, Google can become an important marketing tool for your plumbing business.
If you’re a plumber, you already know that internet marketing is essential to reaching new clients. And one of the best ways to get local clients is through your Google Business listing.
However, if your plumbing company doesn’t have a business profile on Google when homeowners type your business name into the search bar, nowadays they would say that you don’t exist. If your plumbing website can’t be found online, you can kiss goodbye to the prospects of booking service appointments with them. Whether you are offering residential or commercial plumbing services, you could be missing a huge chunk of your target market to the competition.
If you want to rank higher on Google and appear more in local searches or Maps, keep reading to know everything you need to generate consistent qualified leads and rank higher in local searches or Maps with a free Google Business Profile for plumbers.
What is a Plumbing Google Business Profile?
Google Business Listing or Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is a digital tool built by Google to help local plumbing companies like yours manage their online presence on Google Maps and Google Search.
When a homeowner searches with a local intent (consider plumber + city or town name, plumber near me), Google will give them a map with red pins on it. Below the map, you will see the list of plumbing contractors with contact details and stars.
The map is part of Google Business Profile, a free tool by Google that helps local plumbing businesses get found by prospects or clients online. Your plumbing GBP listing appears in search results when people are looking for plumbers in their area, and it provides them with important information about your business, such as your phone number, address, hours, reviews, and more.
Why Does Your Plumbing Company Need a Google Business Profile?
Your plumbing business must be found when prospects or clients search online. Using traditional media to market your company has benefits, but that should be your secondary strategy, not your primary one.
Online visibility is the king in today’s plumbing industry. A professional plumbing website is a great place to begin, but it can be easily lost in the sea of other countless options. When homeowners look for terms like “plumbing contractors in (city) name or “plumbers near me” online is your business showing up at the top of the search results? If not, your competitors may have a vibrant plumbing local SEO strategy, implying that your website is buried on the second or third page of Google (where no potential clients look).
Getting your plumbing business registered on Google Business Profile is a simple way to get found when homeowners are looking for your services online. Here are some of the few advantages of setting up your Google Business Profile:
Manage Your Business Information
When prospects or clients are looking for your plumbing company in Google Maps or Searches, you can rest assured that they will be able to access your address, website, hours, phone number, and more. A Google Business Profile makes managing details about your plumbing business easy! For example, you can change hours, list popular services, add photos, and more. Such Information will pop up on Google Searches and Google Maps, so make sure that they are accurate!
People Search Locally Everyday
According to a recent study, more than 85% of prospects or clients conduct a search on a smartphone or tablet before making a purchasing decision, and 46% of all Google searches are local searches. This implies that homeowners normally use search engines like Google or Bing to find information that is relevant to their plumbing services needs in their area. By claiming your profile on Google, you will have a higher chance of showing up in the local search engine results. So if a homeowner searches for a “plumber near me” and your company is claimed on Google, you will have a higher chance of getting a new client.
GBP gives you a Competitive Edge in the Market
Whether you are a commercial or residential plumber, your competitors have likely already registered their Google location profile. As stated above, claiming your GBP can improve local search results visibility. This implies that you will likely pop up at the top of search results with other plumbers in your area simply by claiming your profile. This will help your company get more visibility over other competitors who have not claimed.
Collect and Respond to Reviews
Google Business profile makes it easy for users to leave Google reviews. Establish trust with new and repeat clients by responding to such reviews properly. As with any home service contracting business, online plumbing reviews help to boost your plumbing sales and generate more qualified leads.
GBP Makes Your Plumbing Company Highly Visible Online
Google’s Local pack occupies a huge portion of the first page of the search engine results and is typically the initial thing a prospect will see when they type in their search query. A Search Engine Result Page (SERP) shows places related to your search.
It helps browsers to see the information they require at a glance.
The Google Local Pack also includes a host of other relevant information that any prospect may want to access including but not limited to where it is situated on the map, your business phone number, opening and closing hours, and star rating of your business. It is important and convenient for customers and plumbing business owners as well.
According to Moz, GBP is the greatest determining factor of Google Local pack rankings. So, if you want to connect your target market in this case, the homeowners or property managers who are within your service area-claiming, verifying, and optimizing your online details through your plumbing Google Business Profile can help.
Get Insights That Offer You Helpful Information
Google Business plumber listing will help you understand how people search for your services and the areas they are coming from. For instance, you will be able to get information about the number of views or clicks obtained, search queries, engagement, or audience.
How to Create a Google Business Profile for Plumber in 5 Simple Steps
Claiming and managing your Google Business Listing is free and easy. Here are some simple steps you can follow to get your plumber business listed on Google:
Step 1: Visit the official Google Business listing page
https://www.google.com/business/. Click the “Manage now” button. If you have not signed in to your Google account, it will ask you to do so. Make sure you sign in with a Google account that you want to be associated with your Google Business profile.
Step 2: Setting the Name of Your Plumbing Business
Once you get signed in, if you hadn’t set up a profile in the past, it will ask you to enter the name of your plumbing company.
Go ahead and type your name in.
If your plumbing company name doesn’t appear, click on the result under your business name that says:
Create a business name and enter your company details.
Step 3: When prompted, enter the correct information about your plumbing company
Step 4: Click “Submit.”
How Do You Verify Your Plumbing Business with Google?
The most crucial reason you need to verify your plumbing business on Google is dead simple: You won’t be able to manage your company information in Maps, Search, and other Google properties unless you verify it. Google has to check the actual physical location of your business and confirm whether you are authorized to own a listing.
Here are some of the ways that you can verify your plumbing company listing on Google:
Option 1: Verify Your Plumbing Business Through a Postcard
Getting your company verified by mail involves Google sending you a postcard within two weeks with a verification code attached to it. Before requesting such verification, ensure that your GBP listing address meets all the Google guidelines. Otherwise, your postcard could be delayed or arrive in the wrong location.
To begin the process, simply sign in to your GBP account and click the Verify now option on your profile. When you obtain the postcard request pop-up, ensure that the address is correct before clicking on the “Send Postcard” button.
Once you get the verification code attached to your postcard, follow the steps below:
Sign in to GBP and select the specific location you wish to verify.
Click “verify location” or “Verify Now” and type in the 5-digit code on your postcard.
Click “Submit.”
Option 2: Verify Your Plumbing Business By Email
You can select the email option as your verification method if available. You should then get a message in your inbox with a verification code. Type in that code in the GBP dashboard, or you can click verify button in your email message.
Option 3: Verification by Phone
If this option is available, Google will send a text containing a verification code to the plumbing company phone number. You will later type in this code and click submit to verify your plumbing company.
Option 4: Instant Verification
A great option that most plumbers fail to leverage is instant verification. As Google clearly states that if your plumbing website is verified in the Google search console, you qualify for instant verification. However, ensure that you sign in with the same Google account that you utilized in your Google Search Console account.
11 Google Business Listing Optimization Tips for Plumbers Seeking to Get Found Online By Prospects Searching for their Services
Is your plumbing company’s Google Business Profile optimized for success? GBP listing is an effective way to promote your plumbing services online, but only if it’s properly done.
Local marketing is an important element of an effective digital marketing strategy. A conventional SEO approach will not be sufficient for a plumber with multiple locations or searching for more local customers. In fact, advertising to your local target market calls for a unique set of marketing strategies.
When done properly, local internet marketing helps plumbers enhance their branding, engage with their local community, boost customer loyalty and achieve impressive conversion rates.
Without further ado, here are our optimization strategies for plumbing contractors seeking to get found online:
1. Get the NAP citations on Your GBP Listing Accurate & Correct
NAP are abbreviations for Name, Address, and Phone Number for your plumbing company, and getting them correct is important to optimizing your listing on Google.
That sounds straightforward, but keep in mind that the company changes over time and has had different addresses in the past.
As a plumber, you need to ensure that all your citations are accurate and consistent with the ones you incorporate as part of your GBP.
2. Choose the Right Primary Category and Subcategories of Your Plumbing Business in the GBP
This is a crucial part of local plumbing SEO; you should get it right. Google allows plumbers to add categories in their GBP listings, which tells Google what kind of plumber you are and the type of services you provide to clients.
For example, if you offer plumbing services, you may select “plumber” as your primary category so prospects looking for “leak repair services” can find your company in local searches.
The subcategory is also crucial if your plumbing business does more than one thing. For instance, your plumbing business may be offering repair services, in which case “leak repair” would be your subcategory or secondary category.
Choosing the right category and subsequent secondary categories can be a determining factor in helping your plumbing company outrank the competition.
3. Write a Compelling Plumbing Business Description
To describe your plumbing company, Google gives you 750 characters, so make each word count. Don’t add any promotional talk in your plumbing business description (Google may penalize you for that) but tell prospects about your plumbing services and what sets you apart in all you do. We highly recommend adding something about your company’s history and mission.
4. Focused Plumbing Marketing: Choose Your Service Area
The good news is that GBP allows your plumbing company to choose a service area by entering the cities or Zip codes you serve. To achieve this, sign into GBP, navigate to the “Address” section and select “Yes” next to “I deliver services and goods to my clients at their locations.”
However, keep in mind that Google will identify a center point of the areas you enter and draw a radius from there, so if you enter too many cities may appear like what you want.
5. Add High-Quality Photos to Your GBP Listing
Quality photos are an important part of any business listing, it will help prospects see what you are all about and offer them a sense of your plumbing company. The quality of the photo can make all the difference in persuading clients to visit your business.
According to Google, plumbing business profiles with photos obtain 40% more requests for showing driving directions to their location from browsers on Google and more than 30% clicks through their sites than plumbers who don’t have photos. Photos will help improve engagement with prospects and boost your online presence on Google search.
6. Leverage the New Google Posting Feature
Google launched a new feature of GBP called posts. Just like social media, plumbers can now share updates, photos, or promotions directly to your GBP listing. This will increase your client base and engage repeat clients, and your posts will show up on your business profile on Google. You can leverage such posts to direct prospects to take particular actions, like signing up for your newsletter or requesting a plumbers estimate.
7. Include the Right Plumbing Keywords
The right keywords are very crucial in improving relevance and will assist your business rank higher in Google Maps or Searches. Make sure you incorporate the most common frequent terms used to look for your plumbing business into your description naturally, this will assist your plumbing business to Google.
The keywords you utilize should be relevant to topics on your listing, stuffing keywords can make Google penalize your plumbing website or hurt your organic search rankings. But using the right phrases and keywords will help you rank higher in organic search results and include search terms on all your listing attributes.
8. Request and Respond to Online Reviews
On average, prospects or clients read at least ten reviews before they trust any plumbing business-and they trust online reviews more than word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends!
So, it’s not sufficient to wait for clients to write reviews. As a plumber, you need to be proactive with a stringent process to ask for them. Online reviews are a crucial element in obtaining higher visibility in local organic searches.
Take your plumbing marketing to the next level by leveraging online reviews. Google takes such reviews very seriously in its local SEO ranking process. We recommend that you create a link that clients can use to leave a review for your plumbing business.
It’s against the rules to offer incentives for clients to review your plumbing business. But, giving your happy clients an easy way to write a quick positive review can skyrocket your rankings greatly. And once you get reviews, ensure that you engage with clients by responding to their reviews.
9. Pay Attention to the Q & A section
The question and answer is Google’s community feature that pops up directly under your name, phone number, and address. It helps any Google user to ask questions about your plumbing company or answer them. And since you are an authority in the field, you should be answering each question that’s asked.
Questions can receive numerous responses, but the answer with a high number of “likes” will appear as the primary answer. Then prospects can click the link to read more answers if they wish.
The ability to ask questions and have them promptly answered may be the determining factor in whether a homeowner chooses your plumbing company over a competitor. You must keep an eye on the Q&A section since anyone can give answers to the questions asked.
While there is no proven way to switch off the Q&A feature of your business listing, there are a few things you can do to stay ahead of the curve including:
Set up alerts: This will help you get notified each time someone asks a question, thus making you the first one to provide an answer.
Create Your Own Questions and Answers: You can post some of the commonly asked questions in the plumbing industry and provide answers. You can then upvote the answers in your profile.
10. Setup Messaging System to Help Clients Request a Quote Online
The Google Business Profile messaging feature helps searchers directly send a direct text message to your phone directly from your business listing. This is a unique way to demonstrate your commitment and responsiveness to customer service. You can activate this messaging feature from your Google Business profile dashboard. Read more about the guidelines for using your business listing messaging feature.
11. Delete Duplicate Listings on Google
Lastly, but most crucial, identify and remove any duplicate listings for your plumbing business. Generally, Google allows only one listing per business. Duplicate listings can cause confusion for both customers and search engines. If you have two listings and reviews split between the two, you will note that neither profile will have an impressive record. Such inconsistencies can hurt your local search engine rankings. And you can figure out how fast prospects will click off to the next plumbing business.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQS)
Does my plumbing company need a Google Business Profile?
Yes. Any plumbing business trying to maximize and boost visibility online should claim or create an optimized Google Business Profile.
How do I get my plumbing business on Google Maps?
You can get your plumbing company on Google Maps by creating a Google Business Profile listing and following prompts to offer your company contact details, including your address. After creating the profile, you will be asked to verify it, and then later, your business can be featured on Google Maps.
Is a plumbing Google Business Profile free?
Yes, it is free to create a Google Business Profile listing for your plumbing company. You can use the profile to showcase your business photos, reviews, contact details, questions and answers, posts, and reviews. You can also obtain analytic reports to know how your customers interact with your profile.
Google Business Profile Optimization Services for Plumbers from Blackstorm Design + Marketing
Drive more qualified leads to plumbing business with our local SEO experts.
How do you expand your footprint and plumbing service area?
Formerly Google My Business, a fully managed plumbing Google Business Profile listing is crucial to compete in new areas in the modern digital world. It has become the most impactful digital marketing service we offer at Blackstorm Design + Marketing.
Things change each day with Google, so if you fail to manage your GBP listing full-time, your company’s online presence is likely to dwindle or become stale. Google strives to give authentic, knowledgeable, and trustworthy results in their top results. A well-managed Google Business Profile helps your plumbing company take prime spots in a Google search or Maps as your company becomes their best-searched option.
How do this happen? Our fully-managed Google Business Profile Service gives your plumbing business:
An optimized business listing for the best categories and images
Positive answers and responses to reviews and questions to your plumbing company online.
Better brand representation by enhancing client engagement.
A revamp or setup of a Bing place listings.
With our help, you will take advantage of your local online marketplace. With customized strategies offered by Blackstorm Design + Marketing, Google will recognize your plumbing business as a trustworthy, authentic source for its users. Our fully-managed plumbing GBP along with local SEO services from Blackstorm Design + Marketing will take your business to the next level.
Ready to Double or Triple Your Plumbing Leads with an Optimized GBP listing?
Without an expert at the helm of your Google Business Profile, your company will lose business in the online arena. Let the team at Blackstorm Design + Marketing double or triple your qualified leads with fully managed Google services.
Learn how to claim and use a free Google Business Profile to get found by prospects and outrank your competitors online
Are you struggling to outrank other local plumbers online? If so, learn from thousands of plumbing contractors across the United States to know the surefire hacks to rank #1 on search engine results pages. Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business) is the primary hub for local SEO for plumbers. As a plumber, you understand that you rely on local clients to make your plumbing company a success.
Google Business listing is all about making your plumbing company more visible online. That’s why we have created a definitive guide for plumbing contractors who want to make the most out of their business profile on Google. Keep reading to see how you can use Google Business Profile to get ahead of local competitors and obtain more qualified leads.
What is Google Business Profile for Plumbers?
Formerly known as Google My Business, Google Business Profile is a free tool built by Google that helps you promote your plumbing services as well as your site on Google Maps and search results for free. By claiming a GBP listing, plumbers can showcase reviews, post updates, and rank higher in the Local Map 3-pack for keywords related to their business. This platform helps you list your plumbing company on Google Maps and regulate what details prospects will see in Google search results.
To make sure your plumbing company has a good chance of ranking higher on local search results both on traditional organic and Maps, you must optimize your Google Business Profile listing. That incorporates everything from NAP information, Google posts, and the Q&A section.
Google Business listings pop up when a homeowner conducts a local search (“plumber [city name] or “plumber near me”) or performs a search on Google Maps. Your plumbing company’s GBP listing can show up when a prospect looks for your brand, appearing on the right side of search results on laptops/desktops, and at the top of search engine result pages.
Why is Google Business Profile Crucial for Plumbers?
Why should you care about Google Business listing as a plumber? Because a large portion of the population is using Google, it implies a huge audience can access and view your profile. The more visible your plumbing company is the higher your chances of drawing prospects’ attention to your business.
Google Business listing is no longer optional-it is an important part of any plumbing company’s web presence and is typically the first place clients look for updated information about your business. If your clients want to find new opening hours or want to contact your business and inquire about something, you can bet they are not going to flip through the Yellow Pages. Here are some of the benefits of having an optimized Google Business Profile in your plumbing company:
GBP Helps Your Plumbing Services Get Discovered for FREE in Google Maps and Search Results
While content marketing strategies (like optimizing your website copy pages and SEO blogging) can improve your search visibility, a Google Business Profile is the most effective hack.
Whether you want to boost sales, improve brand awareness or increase booked jobs, a GBP is an effective way to get your plumbing company in front of wallet-out local clients. You can get your plumbing company listing in front of high-value online browsers by claiming and optimizing your business profile with the proper address, business category, and keywords. This listing can improve your presence in the local search engine results and make it likely for prospects to discover your plumbing company.
Unlike paid Google or social media ads, a Google Business profile is ultimately FREE and offers your company priority in the search results to increase inquiries, interest, and even sales.
Enhance Your Local SEO by Integrating Google Maps
If you offer a plumbing service in a particular local area, you want to ensure your plumbing company information pops up front and center for potential clients.
That’s why a Google Business listing can be one of the efficient ways to reach warm plumbing leads when they are ready to convert.
By claiming, verifying, and optimizing your Google Business Profile, you can make sure that your plumbing company shows up when interested clients are looking for the services you provide in your locality. Whether a client conducts a direct search on Google or even via Google Maps, your plumbing services will show up at the top of search results.
Control Your Plumbing Company Online Presence with a GBP
On mainstream marketing platforms like social media, plumbing companies like yours should play by the rules of big brands. The algorithms decide who discovers your plumbing company online and what impression they have about your brand.
But with a Free GBP, you can curate the kind of experience prospects will have with your plumbing company. From updating your operational hours to showcasing your contact details, you can give each prospect the superior experience possible with your plumbing company.
Best of all, by knowing how to optimize your Google Business listing, you can increase the chances of your plumbing business information showing up at the top of the search engine rankings. This offers you the greatest potential to impact purchasing decisions of searchers who come across your brand.
GBP Offers an Easy Way for Your Clients to Find Your Physical office
Your GBP listing has seamless integration with Google Maps as we stated earlier. Along with assisting your plumbing company to improve its visibility on Google, such integration also helps clients to navigate to your physical office as well.
With Google Maps integration, prospects or clients can discover directions to your physical office with a single tap. Besides, they can access your business operating hours and crucial contact details (such as your plumbing website, email address, and phone number) to make it seamless for people to contact your business.
The easier it is for your new clients to reach your plumbing service company, the more likely they will have a positive experience with your company. It is all about providing a seamless online experience that converts browsers into paying customers.
Get started Google Business Profile for Plumbers in 5 Simple Steps
Getting started with a Google Business profile is relatively easy, and the setup process takes a very short time. An important initial step in the local SEO strategy for plumbers is claiming, verifying, and optimizing your Google Business profile. You will be surprised to know that Google Business Profile is a FREE platform.
Google Business Profile doesn’t come with a paid version, and as soon as you register and confirm your plumbing company, you can access all the features and tools that the platform has to offer. While setting up is relatively simple, here are some hacks to make sure that the process goes seamless for the first time. Here are some strategies that will help you get started with plumbing Google Business listing:
Add a Location
The initial step towards claiming your Google business profile is to add a location. Including a public address depends on your preference, but it helps create transparency if you put your company address in the public domain.
Service Area
A service area typically depicts how far your business is willing to go in order to serve a client. You can set this area as a perimeter around your physical office, or you can select the service area to be relatively small.
Add Correct NAP citations
we cannot overemphasize this enough. Your GBP will request your plumbing website URL and phone number. Ensure that you enter these details properly or else you will lose an opportunity of booking new jobs.
After ensuring the above three crucial information is entered correctly, follow the steps outlined below to claim or register your plumbing business on Google:
Step 2: Search for your plumbing company by address and name
Step 3: If your business doesn’t appear. Click “No”, these are not my businesses
Step 4: When prompted, enter the correct information about your plumbing company
Step 5: Click “Submit”
Among the areas your plumbing company can show up include Google Maps, Local 3-pack, conventional organic results, and knowledge graph. Registering or claiming your plumbing business on Google Business listing is typically the initial step of a process of ranking at the top spot for plumbing keywords in your service area. But a properly optimized plumbing company GBP increases your chances of ranking #1 on Google.
How to verify Your Plumbing Google Business Profile
Your free plumbing Google Business Profile can do more than you think. When optimized properly, it can showcase your best traits and make it hassle-free for clients to discover, learn more about and even call your business. But for it to do this, you should verify your listing with Google to show that you are the plumbing company owner.
Google offers various options to help you verify your plumbing business Google Business Profile as outlined below:
Verify your GBP via Email
The most common way to verify your Google Business profile is through a regular email. However, before you request verification by email, ensure your business address complies with the address entry guidelines. To request your GBP verification by email, follow the steps below:
Sign in to your Google Business Profile and choose the company you want to verify
Among the options offered, choose to verify by email
Tap to verify. When you get an email in your inbox, follow the steps outlined to complete the process.
Remember to check whether you can access the email you want to use for the verification process.
Verify Your GBP using a Postcard
This is the most common method. Google will send your plumbing business a physical postcard (normally via a snail mail). You will then use the code in the postcard to verify your Google Business Profile.
Verify Your GBP by Phone
If you choose this option, Google will send a verification code to your plumbing company phone number. You will then enter the code to verify your plumbing company on Google. This will be instant and will help you enjoy the benefits of your Google Business Profile faster.
Google Business Profile Optimization Tips for Plumbers to Rank Higher in Local Search
Any plumbing business today requires targeted and higher visibility on Google. Most plumbers know that this needs optimizing their Google Ads and website, but what they fail to understand is that there is a third entity that should be optimized; their Google Business Profile. When properly used, your Google Business Profile can assist your business to generate new plumbing customers and leads. Consider it this way, right now homeowners are searching Google for plumbing services, and they will either find your business or your competitors.
To improve your chances of being found by prospects or clients, this post will discuss proven tips that will boost your visibility on Google. Without further ado, let us dive in.
Use Your Legal Plumbing Company Name
Your company name is one of the most crucial aspects of Your Google Business Profile. It is highly recommended that you strictly follow Google’s guidelines when it comes to the company name that you want to use in your Google Business Profile.
There are multiple ways you can attempt and trick the system for higher visibility and rankings. Don’t do them. One thing plumbers try and do is place their geographical location in the name on the GBP. For instance, Bryan owns a plumbing business and the legal name of the company is Bryan’s Plumbing. Bryan services Murfreesboro, TN area. The name he should use in his Google Business Profile is Bryan’s Plumbing, not Bryan’s Plumbing Murfreesboro.
If the name of the region or city you serve is part of your legal company name, then go ahead and include it. But, if your legal business name doesn’t have the name of the region or city, don’t add it to the name in your Google Business Profile. This is a strategy that might give you short-term results but can also make your profile to be suspended by Google.
Choose the Right Primary and Second Categories
Selecting the right category is a must for optimizing your plumbing Google Business Profile. This is because the categories you select for your GBP can assist Google to connect your plumbing business to customers based on what they are actively looking for. There are two kinds of categories- a primary category and numerous secondary categories, and you choose your secondary categories and primary category from a predefined list.
We highly recommend that you choose the right category. In our case of a plumbing business, the primary category you choose should be “plumber.”
If you provide more services other than plumbing, for instance, electrical and or/HVAC, you can include these as secondary categories- “Electrician” and “HVAC Contractor.” You may add other categories depending on the services you provide accordingly.
Focused Plumber Marketing: Define Your Service Areas
A service area depicts a geographical area or perimeter where you can deliver your plumbing services. You can choose up to 2 service areas where you offer plumbing services. Service areas can be defined by cities, postal codes, or by provinces. It is important that you choose the right service areas because the service areas you select will determine how your business appears on the search results when prospects search a geographical location.
For example, if you provide plumbing services throughout the Middle Tennessee area, you may want to choose Murfreesboro, Franklin, Manchester, Nashville, Smyrna, and more. Choose all the areas you serve (up to 20). If you only serve five areas, then choose those five-no more.
Set Your Operating Hours Generously
Spelling out your business operating hours helps Google inform customers if you are closed or open. If your plumbing company is closed, then Google can alert customers when you shall reopen for business. Besides, setting your normal business hours, you can also indicate your special hours for public holidays like Christmas or Easter.
Give Your Correct Phone Number
One of the crucial elements of your Google Business Profile is your company’s phone number. Your number will prominently have displayed on your Google Business profile and helps customers to contact you directly from your profile without necessarily having to visit your plumbing website. This is particularly applicable if customers are accessing your GBP on a mobile device like a smartphone.
All they need to do is click on the phone number to contact your plumbing company. It is convenient and faster for customers. The reverse is also true, it can be overwhelming as a client if you are trying to contact a plumbing business but you cannot easily and quickly locate their phone number. You can give a secondary and primary phone number in your Google Business Profile.
Use Google’s Appointment Booking Function in Your Plumbing GBP
Google’s appointment booking button can help your plumbing company outrank the competition. If your plumbing company requires clients to schedule appointments and you utilize built-in scheduling software, clients can book appointments with your business right from your Google Business Profile. This can make it hassle-free even to attract new customers they don’t have to click off from Google to book an appointment with your plumbing business.
Using your appointment booking links, clients can easily book your offer anywhere can find your business. Plus, you can also share your appointment booking URL link on Yelp, Facebook pages, and Instagram Profiles. Take advantage of this feature of Google Business Profile when you hire booking providers to get new clients.
Add Attractive but Real Photos and Videos to Your Plumbing GBP
Sharing videos and photos of your plumbing company and those tagged by your clients is an effective and easy to boost engagement and traffic to your site and place of business.
To leverage the benefits of this feature, use good-quality photos, ensure high resolution, and upload new photos regularly-don’t use stock photos. Real photos help Google differentiate your plumbing company and thus represent your brand.
As one of the hacks here, we highly recommend taking quality photos of your office, photos of your staff at work, and the before and after photos of completed projects. Such photos and videos can help to increase trust and build brand awareness in your target audience.
List Your Plumbing Services
The services section of your Google Business profile helps you list all the services you provide. You can add the service name, a description, and a price for every service.
Unlike products that are shown up as part of your GBP, services are normally visible on mobile devices. On such devices, a service tab is shown along with your listing. When a client clicks on the tab, they will have a chance of viewing all the plumbing services you offer.
Including your plumbing services is an efficient way to differentiate your plumbing company from the competition and may help to skyrocket your local search rankings.
Add a Questions and Answers Section in Your Plumbing GBP
Google Business Profile help prospects or clients to answer a question about your plumbing business. It is advisable that you answer such questions preemptively on your own. Go to the knowledge tab of your Google Business Profile, and you will come across an option for “Question & Answers.” Fill it with potential questions that clients may have about your plumbing company and answer them in advance to make sure that they have accurate information about your business.
Add Attributes
Highlights or attributes help you share with the world about specific attributes or services of your plumbing company, and including them can assist you to stand out from your competitors. To know what attributes you can add to your GBP listing, click on the “info” tab in the dashboard of your listing. By clicking the pencil icon, you will know the kind of services or attributes you can add to your plumbing company.
Accurate Description of Your Plumbing Business
Your plumbing business description is one of the crucial places you can utilize to target the “business or money keywords.” But you should not overdo it- keep your customers in mind and highlight the best things about your plumbing company.
In business for more than two decades? Your clients will no doubt love this.
Before a homeowner contacts you for a plumbing repair or service, they will first go through your reviews on Google. Even before that, they will have made up their mind on whether to choose you or your competition based on the quality and quantity of your online reviews.
One of the most crucial things you can do to help your plumbing company rank higher in local searches is to ask for more reviews on Google. Customers’ reviews are great for improving your social proof, and they make it easier for prospects or clients to trust your plumbing business. You can add as many client reviews as possible to your Google Business Profile.
Review Your NAP Information
The initial thing to do is go through the “info tab.” Make sure that you review your NAP (Name, Address, and Phone number) citations on the tab.
First, review your plumbing company name. Is your name listed correctly? Is it consistent with other review platforms such as Yelp? If you note any errors, update the information here properly. Check also that your address is entered correctly in your Google Business Profile.
Lastly, review your business phone number. Ensure everything is correct and that you are using your plumbing company’s primary phone number. If your company has multiple numbers for employees, make sure to utilize the main phone number for your office.
Use the Google Posting Feature to Grab More Eyeballs
Regular posts are like free display ads for your plumbing company. You should post promotional offers since browsers can see posts before they land on your plumbing website.
Posts display a brief description and a thumbnail image that shows up to a full-size image and more information when clicked. They are displayed at the bottom of your Google Business Profile on desktop and in a dedicated tab in the Google Maps app.
Frequently Asked Questions about Google Business Profile for Plumbers
1. Is Google Business Profile for plumbers free of charge?
Yes, Google Business Profile is absolutely FREE. This means any plumbing contractor can claim, verify and optimize any listing Free of charge.
2. How can I get my plumbing business to show up higher on Google search or Maps?
here are some steps you can take to ensure that your plumbing company shows up on Google as illustrated below:
Step 1: Go to Google Business Profile
Step 2: Find your plumbing company
Step 3: Add or select your plumbing business
Step 4: Choose your category
Step 5: Verify your plumbing company
Step 6: Set up a connected Google Plus Page
Step 7: Request Google reviews
3. Does my plumbing company need an optimized Google Business Profile?
Yes, your business should be taking advantage of the power of an optimized Google Business Profile customized for your company. By offering your opening and closing hours, services, reviews, address, and latest business address, you will be able to successfully manage your online presence across Google properties from its local maps to its search engine.
Let Blackstorm Design + Marketing Team Manage and Market Your Plumbing Company on Google Business profile
A well-optimized Google Business Profile is an important component of a a winning local plumbing SEO strategy. Knowing how to claim, verify and optimize your Google listing as a plumber can help boost Google rankings and assist you to reach potential clients on a local level.
We trust that this definitive Google Business Profile optimization guide for plumbers will assist you.
But if you are still unsure of how to claim, verify and optimize Google Business listing as a plumber, we got you covered.
At Blackstorm Design + Marketing, we specialize in helping plumbing businesses of all sizes optimize their local SEO and outrank their competitors. We achieve this by helping you claim your Google Business Profile. We are a team of internet marketing experts dedicated to helping you skyrocket the growth of your plumbing services company.
10 Simple Ways to Get More Google Reviews for Your Plumbing Company
Testimonials, referrals, and online reviews (particularly Google reviews) are crucial to growing the plumbing business. In fact, Google reviews are the foundation upon which a plumbing company can establish a good working relationship with their community. Google reviews are incredibly crucial-more 80% of customers trust online reviews just like they do with personal recommendations, and 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a plumbing business.
More positive reviews = more qualified leads, higher search rankings, and increased revenue.
If you are struggling to enhance your online presence, read on, in this post, we will give you 10 ways to obtain more Google reviews and practical strategies on how to pull off negative reviews.
Without further ado, let us dive into our post!
Why Do Google Reviews Matter in Your Plumbing Business?
While the possibility of opening up your plumbing company to Google reviews can generally be daunting, it’s something that should not be overlooked. It’s true that you never understand how clients feel about the plumbing services you provide. However, it’s crucial to remember that people will review your plumbing company online regardless.
If you are hesitant to take the plunge and begin engaging with clients on review websites such as Yelp, consider this. Oftentimes, Google reviews found online can sway opinions, and they can lead to new clients that you may not have otherwise had-or they can turn people away and give your plumbing business a poor reputation. As a plumbing company that probably depends heavily on word of mouth, Google reviews are an important aspect of your online presence.
Here are three reasons why you should enhance plumbing company online reviews:
Google Reviews Impact Your Client’s First Impression
Prospects or clients tend to perceive online reviews as a good indicator of how well your plumbing company has performed in the past. If your plumbing company has mostly great reviews, the one who reads your review sees that you have satisfied clients and is probably more likely to contact your plumbing business. Plus, if you have a higher star rating than other plumbers on a review website like Yelp, the user may instantly assume you offer better service.
Let’s face it: if you had to select between two similar plumbing businesses and one had a 3-star rating and the other had an average of a 5-star rating, which would you select? Probably the one with a higher star rating.
Google Reviews Impact Your Paid & Organic Rankings in Search
Do you know your online reviews actually affect how visible your plumbing business is at the top of the Google search results page? First, let’s examine the local map results. When you Google a plumbing service in a particular city, you will come across a map on the SERP with the top three locations. These listings typically the number of Google reviews and a high star rating based on your user experiences.
The better reviews your plumbing business has, the more likely it can be featured on the top of coveted three listings-as online reviews are a crucial ranking factor for your local SEO.
Google Reviews Help Attract New Clients
Once clients have clicked through your page, you are almost near the main goal. Prospects or clients who come to your plumbing website should be enticed to book jobs with your company. While a user-friendly website experience is crucial, Google reviews can be powerful alone to increase your conversion rates alone. For this reason, any plumbing company with a strong rating should be showcasing that review all over their website. This review will increase client trust even if they have never come across your reviews online.
Proven Ways to Get More Google Reviews and Rank your Plumbing Business Higher in Local Search
Any local plumber will tell you that launching and growing a plumbing company is hard work. Creating a unique plumbing service is challenging enough, but then comes the job of spreading the word about your plumbing company and building a client base. Word of mouth recommendations remains one of the best methods of plumbing marketing today.
The major difference today is that word about your plumbing business spreads faster through client reviews, and the most famous review website in the world is Google-particularly for local home service businesses like roofing or plumbing. The more positive Google reviews your plumbing business has, the higher you will rank in local searches. That said, getting online reviews is not easy, so read for the effective ways to get Google reviews that actually work.
Without further ado, let’s look at the proven tips for boosting your number of positive reviews on Google.
1. First, Understand the Process
It takes a few seconds for a client to write a Google review. Simple enough, right? Well, there is a process to get here. The client has to:
Open up Google Maps
Look for your plumbing business
Click on it to showcase your Google Business Profile
Scroll down to the reviews section on your profile
Click to leave their review
Homeowner: You have been amazing. How can I review your plumbing company online?
Would you rather say: A Google review would be awesome! Just head to our plumbing website, and there’s a link right there to help you leave a review.
2. Ask and You Shall Receive
It is easy for clients to forget, especially in this modern and hectic world, so even a superior service doesn’t warrant a positive review on Google. They may leave smiling after service, but once they are out of your door, they have mentally moved on to other things. Find those clients who simply forgot how wonderful you are by reminding them.
A good plan starts by asking previous clients to review your plumbing business. This is normally achieved through an email in which you offer a direct link to your Google My Business listing. Keep the process as simple as possible, and the client will be likely to follow through.
To get more Google reviews going forward, figure out setting up an automated thank-you email to be sent to your clients three to five days after completing your plumbing project.
3. Add Your Google Review Link to a Business Card
One of the best ways to ensure your clients know they can review your plumbing business is through a business card. You can post the direct link, but it is highly recommended that you create a separate page for online reviews on your plumbing website, and it will be easier for clients to type in the address.
4. Claim, Verify and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Google Business profile helps obtain more reviews but also makes those reviews public. GBP is one of the most visited review platforms on the internet just by the virtue of being a Google service. Because Google owns a major share of the search engine market, more prospects or clients see Google Business Profile and normally read Google reviews more than other review platforms.
If you have not claimed your plumbing company on Google Business Profile, you should register for it ASAP. To help your business get more reviews on Google, ensure that you retrieve your Google review short link and add it to your email correspondence. Include it on your plumbing website and social media ads or posts as well. Visible links will make it easier, and more probably that people will leave a Google review.
5. Add a Review Button to Your Plumbing Website
Most clients expect your plumbing business to have a professional website. So, one of the good places for a Google review is your plumbing website. Simply login into your Google My Business and click on the button to display your review link. Copy that link, and then include a button on your plumber’s website.
6. Respond to Reviews
Homeowners will be more responsive to plumbing companies that value their input. To obtain more plumbing reviews, make sure you reply to the reviews you already have. Replies will help gain the trust of more new clients, generate qualified leads, and earn new clients who can, in turn, offer your company more reviews.
Don’t just respond to the positive reviews, either, and replying to negative reviews is as, if not more essential.
7. Ask for Google Review By Email
Another way is that you can wait until you finish the job and ask for the Google review through email at the end of the day. Ensure your email request consists of links directly to the Google Business Profile and or your Facebook page reviews section.
The email is probably going to be less effective since you don’t have that interpersonal exchange with the client, and you didn’t obtain a commitment to write a review. Besides, emails are easy to park or ignore.
8. Post Your Review Link to Social Media Pages
Social media is a great way to interact with your clients. Whether you are using organic social media (aka free) or using paid social ads (such as Facebook ads), utilizing social media posts to request feedback is an efficient way to obtain more reviews on Google.
9. Make it Easy for Customers to leave a review on Google
No matter how wonderful your customer experience is, making the Google review process easier will generally improve your chances of success.
Make the process of writing Google reviews as easy as possible.
10. Obtain Google Reviews from Partners and Vendors
Partners and vendors may not be clients, but they can attest to what it feels like to work with you consistently. They also may be more willing to leave a Google Business review if you leave one review for their business first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Reviews for Plumbers
What is the best way to obtain Google reviews for my plumbing company?
Let your Google reviews bring in new clients while you operate your plumbing business. Blackstorm Design + Marketing will instantly generate new Google reviews from those new customers. Do this before your competition.
How do you get clients to leave Google reviews?
There are a few ways to get clients to write a review on Google but the simplest one is to:
Utilize an email campaign: send out emails to clients after you have completed a project, requesting them to leave a review on your Google Business profile.
How do I get negative Google reviews removed?
If you have a negative, defamatory or fake review on your Google Business profile, you can also attempt to have it eliminated:
Request the reviewer to remove it themselves
Requesting Google to eliminate it
Reporting it as spam
How do I get more Google reviews?
There are multiple ways you can encourage clients to leave reviews, such as:
Ask them outright in person
Send out regular follow-up emails
Include review links on your plumbing website or in email signatures
Running Google Ad campaigns
Create social media posts
Increase Google Reviews with Blackstorm Design + Marketing
Your plumbing business can benefit greatly from Google reviews. Such reviews not only inspire new and repeat business but also improve your search engine results and SEO. More positive reviews on Google will drive your plumbing company to the top. However, the process of creating a steady flow of Google reviews in your plumbing company isn’t easy. That’s why we highly recommend that you partner with a reputable online reputation management agency like Blackstorm Design + Marketing.
The more proactive you become towards collecting more Google reviews, responding to reviews, and also deal with negative reviews, the more confident your team will be in handling this crucial aspect of internet marketing.
If you would like to leave your Google review generation to experts, our team at Blackstorm Design + Marketing is here to help. Schedule a free discovery session with Blackstorm Design + Marketing to learn more about our wide range of internet marketing services designed to help plumbing companies like yours obtain as many qualified leads and sales as possible.
A service area typically depicts how far your business is willing to go in order to serve a client. You can set this area as a perimeter around your physical office, or you can select the service area to be relatively small.
