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Digital marketing for plumbers: 2024 guide

A closeup of a plumber working on a pipe under a sink.

Did you know that 97% of people use online media to search for local services? That’s why digital marketing is so important for plumbers who want to stay competitive and profitable.

Sound daunting? We’ve got you covered. 

In this blog, you’ll explore: 

  • What digital marketing for plumbers is. 
  • Why you should invest in online marketing for plumbers. 
  • Key digital marketing strategies for success. 
  • Ways to take your plumbing business to the next level. 

Let’s jump in!

What is digital marketing for plumbers?

Digital marketing involves the use of software tools and online platforms to promote your services. With an effective digital marketing strategy, you can: 

  • Send targeted email marketing campaigns. 
  • Engage with customers on social media. 
  • Leverage mobile functionality for direct communication. 
  • Optimize your plumbing website for search engines. 

Why you need it

With digital marketing, worrying about finding new customers is a thing of the past. You reach a wider audience more effectively and efficiently than with traditional marketing methods. 

Plus, it increases the likelihood that your business pops into the minds of customers when they need plumbing services. 

Digital marketing helps plumbing companies like yours:

  • Attract new customers. 
  • Improve customer retention. 
  • Build brand awareness. 
  • Drive profits and growth. 

Let’s take a closer look at the best ways to implement online marketing for plumbers. 

Internet marketing for plumbers means maximizing online visibility and engagement. Here are some recommended strategies to level up your digital marketing. 

Establish your social media presence

Social media is a powerful tool to expand your customer base. Missing out on it means overlooking a key platform to engage with prospective customers. 

Kickstart your digital presence by creating social media profiles on: 

  • Facebook. 
  • LinkedIn. 
  • Instagram. 

To start building your social media presence, be sure to:  

  • Share engaging posts and video content. 
  • Interact with followers. 
  • Showcase your plumbing projects. 

This approach increases your brand’s visibility and fosters trust with your audience. 

Build your digital footprint with a blog

A great website gets your business noticed, but valuable blog content sets it apart and keeps your digital traffic flowing. Create blog posts on your website to share helpful content like:  

  • Expert plumbing tips. 
  • How-to guides. 
  • Industry trends and insights. 

This positions you as a trusted expert and boosts your visibility on search engines. Better yet, it motivates your readers to take action, which produces more leads and drives business growth. 

Invest in email marketing

To cut through the noise of crowded platforms and directly engage with your audience, invest in email marketing tools. 

Create sign-up forms on your website to collect email addresses from visitors and customers. Then, to boost repeat business, consider sending: 

  • Regular updates and newsletters.
  • Targeted email campaigns.  
  • Exclusive promotions. 
  • Relevant content and plumbing advice. 

By creating an email marketing strategy, you can effectively connect with your audience and nurture customer relationships. 

Upgrade your plumbing website

Your website is often the first point of contact for future customers. So, it’s key to ensure that it makes a positive impression.

Your website should be: 

  • Informative. 
  • User-friendly.  
  • Fast and responsive. 
  • Professional in appearance. 

Mobile responsiveness is equally vital. Did you know that 69% of smartphone users prefer businesses with mobile-friendly websites? 

As more people use mobile devices for home service searches, an accessible and optimized website for all device types becomes a necessity. 

Use local SEO to drive website traffic

Local SEO (search engine optimization) enhances your visibility in search engine results for your geographical area. So, when people search for “plumbers near me,” they have a better chance of encountering your website.

To power up your local SEO efforts, start with these best practices: 

  • Tailor your website with local search keywords. 
  • Claim your Google Business Profile listing. 
  • Ensure information consistency across platforms. 

With a tactical SEO strategy, you’ll outperform your competitors and maintain a strong standing with Google and other popular search engines. 

Generate leads fast with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising follows a model where you pay a fee each time someone clicks on your ad. It lets you display ads on search engines and social media to target potential customers. 

For effective lead generation, launch PPC campaigns that target your desired audience.

Create a Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is an excellent tool to boost your online presence and reputation. 

Based on our firsthand experience, your Google Business Profile should include: 

  • Up-to-date contact information. 
  • Photos of your work. 
  • Online reviews. 

This improves your visibility in local searches and navigation tools like Google Maps so customers can find you more easily.

Digital marketing for plumbers: How to get started

If digital marketing for plumbers seems complex, follow these straightforward steps: 

  1. Define your target audience: Understand who needs your services, including their demographics and behaviors. Making an ideal customer profile (ICP) guides your marketing efforts and gives you more value for the same amount of work.
  1. Establish a digital marketing strategy: Identify primary objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for your digital marketing strategy. Then, design campaigns around them to reach your audience effectively.
  1. Implement plumbing marketing strategy: Execute your digital marketing plan across the digital channels that your ideal customers frequent, such as email and social media platforms.
  1. Monitor and adjust: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your digital marketing efforts. Analyze the data to understand what’s working and what’s not, then adjust accordingly.

Why should plumbers invest in digital marketing?

Our research indicates that there are over 113,000 plumbing companies in the U.S. With this in mind, digital marketing is crucial for you to stay competitive and reach a wider audience.

Traditional outreach strategies, such as cold calling, are outdated and ineffective in the plumbing industry. While they do help engagement, these methods can only take you so far. 

In contrast, digital marketing for plumbers provides a scalable, efficient way to connect with potential customers. Better yet, it leverages the power of the internet to ensure the right people find your services. 

Boost brand visibility

Leveraging online marketing for plumbers positions you favorably across: 

  • Search results. 
  • Social feeds. 
  • Online communities. 

This visibility enhances brand awareness and increases the likelihood of customers choosing your services. Brand recognition is one of the most powerful factors in fostering new business opportunities.

Convert more potential customers

Digital marketing attracts the right traffic by focusing on specific demographics and local searches. It also lets you cast a wider net to potential customers with minimal risk.

From here, optimized websites and compelling calls to action convert promising digital traffic into actual plumbing leads and customers.

Ways to grow your plumbing business

While digital marketing for plumbers is valuable, it’s not the only way to grow. Here are some additional strategies to expand your plumbing business.

Automate manual processes for more efficiency

Consider implementing software tools to automate your: 

Automation reduces your time spent on administrative tasks so you can focus on providing quality service. 

Focus on lead tracking for better cash flow

It’s beneficial to emphasize lead generation and nurture when expanding your operations. A customer relationship management (CRM) system helps you track: 

  • Plumbing leads. 
  • Follow-ups. 
  • Conversions. 

As a result, you fuel data-driven insights and foster stronger customer relationships. And by prioritizing high-conversion strategies, you optimize your sales processes and improve cash flow. 

How to track leads with Method

Method is the #1 lead-to-cash automation tool for QuickBooks and Xero users. It makes lead tracking easy by letting you: 

  • Embed web-to-lead forms for 24/7 lead capture. 
  • Separate leads and paying customers in your database. 
  • Keep track of your communications at each stage of the buying cycle. 

Once your leads convert to customers, you can instantly transfer them to your accounting software with Method’s real-time, two-way QuickBooks or Xero sync. 

Digital marketing for plumbers FAQs

What strategies can you use for plumber digital marketing?

Here are some digital marketing solutions and strategies you can use for your plumbing business: 

  • Website optimization. 
  • Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. 
  • Email marketing. 
  • Content marketing (i.e., blog posts). 
  • Local SEO efforts. 

Is social media marketing for plumbers a good idea?

Yes, social media marketing is an excellent strategy for plumbers. Social media campaigns let you:

  • Build brand awareness. 
  • Engage with your community. 
  • Showcase your work. 
  • Target specific audiences. 

See how Method stops your leads from going down the drain!

Image credit: Anıl Karakaya via Pexels

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