When people are looking for a service provider, one of the first places that they look today is online. After all, people can find a solution to any problem that they have with just a few clicks of their mouse or taps on their screen. Plumbers have long relied on word of mouth and traditional advertising techniques to generate new business, and these tactics are still useful, but a plumbing business also needs to have an online presence.
Here are 5 key ways to market your plumbing business online:
Create a website
Even in today’s online world, there are still plenty of small business owners that don’t have a business website. The reasons that these business owners give for not having a website include the cost, lack of knowledge, and lack of resources. However, today a business website is an important way to generate business. Potential customers might even be skeptical of a business that doesn’t have a website. A website for a plumbing company doesn’t need to be too complex, it just needs to have enough information to be effective and be user-friendly. So, for example, the website needs to be mobile friendly with an easy to use navigation and have contact information on every page.
Optimize your website
In order to improve the visibility of your website for related search terms, the website needs to be fully optimized. This is done by adding relevant keywords to the content of the site including the meta information. Since a plumbing company serves a local audience, local keyword terms (the city and state, neighborhood, etc.) need to be incorporated naturally. It’s also important to list the local address and phone number of the business on every page of the site.
Claim/verify local profile listings
There may still be a small segment of your target audience that uses the Yellow Pages when looking for plumbing services, but the majority of people will browse an online directory as opposed to an actual book. This is why it’s important to claim and verify a listing in all of the local online directories that are available. The first place to start is with the search engine local directories: Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Each search engine allows local business owners to submit information that includes a company description, contact information, days and hours of operation, and a link to the company website. These listings have become increasingly important since they appear prominently on the search engine results page when someone conducts a search for a local business. Even if someone just types “plumber” into the search engine, local plumber business listings will appear since the search engines know where the search is originating from based on the IP address or GPS on a mobile device.
Be active in social media
Social media can be a great way to separate your plumbing company from the rest of your competitors in your local area. The majority of people today use social media in one form or another. If you are active in social media it’s an opportunity to share some personality with customers. You can also share helpful advice via your social media accounts. Establishing a social media relationship with customers improves the chances that you will get repeat business and generate referrals.
Email newsletters
They might seem a little “old school” but email marketing is still an effective platform. Ask customers if they want to opt-in to the newsletter and send a monthly or quarterly email that has helpful plumbing tips or even send out emails around the holidays. This is a great way to keep your business top of mind for the next time a plumbing problem occurs.
While there are many ways to market your plumbing business, one of the most important channels today is online. Set aside a portion of your marketing budget for online activities and tackle these items on your own or hire an experienced marketing firm for help. Once you have a solid web presence, you should make sure to maximize the effectiveness by tying it in with all your other marketing and advertising efforts. Promote your website on your trucks, invoices, business cards, hats, t-shirts, etc. Of course, you need to remember that branding your company with a powerful number like 1-800-Plumbing helps your company stand out from the rest and can even eliminate the need to search online for a plumber entirely.
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