It seems like there are two types of plumbing shops.
The first is the "Big Boys". You know who they are. They hire a local celebrity to be on their billboards, their radio ads, their TV commercials... everywhere you look, these plumbers are bombarding your eyes or ears. And, they spend
tens of thousands a month
in advertising.
Then, there's the small shops. They put their business card on every restaurant bulletin board and every phone book. They don't spend as much money as the Big Boys, but
their phones don't ring very much
. Sometimes, it seems impossible to keep their crews busy.
For everyone else, what are some easy, practical, effective marketing tips that won't break your budget?
Get on the map.
By this, of course, we mean Google Maps. Google dominates search traffic, and 3 out of 4 people use Google Maps to inform their buying decision in one way or another. Google offers a great, free service called
Google My Business
. By setting up your account and verifying your business information, your customers will be able to see things like your hours, your website, and even leave a review that you can interact with. It's a simple step that helps you can practical momentum.
Create lifetime customers.
Now, this is a big one. See, the Big Boys spend tens of thousands of dollars each month developing what's called "top of mind" value. Basically the idea works by continually drilling their company's name into their customer's ears that, when an issue arises, that's the first name they think to look for. It's powerful. And it's expensive. And it's also essentially battling for continual one-time customers. Over. And over. And over. Instead, create reasons for customers to prefer to stay with you. Customer Loyalty Programs that offer seasonal discounts on big ticket installs, for example, or offers rewards for referrals go a
long
way toward keeping people in your camp.
Get sticky with it
. A great, cheap, and effective way to generate repeat business is to offer a 'courtesy inspection' of a home or business' other items. So, you get a call for a leaky toilet, but you also offer to inspect the garbage disposal and water heater for free. While you're doing that inspection, place a simple, 2-inch sticker on those items with your branded name, website, and contact phone number. The next time that your customer has a problem with that hardware, they'll see your sticker, and call you assuming
you
did the install. That 25-cent sticker just got you a service call worth potentially a few thousand dollars.

Social media.
Granted, every business needs to evaluate if social media makes sense for them. But most of the time, it's an easy way to keep in front of your customers, and provide value from them every week of the year. Setup a Facebook page, and aside from your typical conversion funnel marketing approach, create quick videos to show customers how to fix common issues themselves. (If you're feeling especially accomplished, put those videos on YouTube, too!) Your customers will love that you're helping them, and you'll love that your customers find you beneficial. Win win.
Obsess over customer service.
This doesn't get nearly as much credit as it should. Regardless of the industry, the most successful companies consistently "WOW" their customers over and over again. And, speaking frankly, for most plumbers, the bar is set pretty low. Don't just settle for wearing booties in the house or cleaning up your mess. Go over-and-above. If your customer is a business owner who spends most of his day outside, bring him a frosty drink from a gas station. If your customer is an office full of women, bring fresh flowers for the restroom. These touches
literally
cost you only a few bucks, but the impression that they leave on your customers will be worth thousands of dollars in repeat business and referrals.
Never
cease to WOW your customer, and they'll reward you with loyalty and free marketing.
Conclusion
No amount of clever marketing can outspend poor customer service. And companies that leverage how they treat people can get away with paying much less than the Big Guys in town. Especially if you're a plumbing company in a dense metro area, these tips may just help you gain more customers than you know what to do with.
Was This Helpful?
Sign up here, and we'll automatically email you as we publish new articles that you may find useful.
Thanks! We'll send you updates as they happen.
As Seen In:
When my team talks with new clients, we hear a ton of frustration, overwhelm, and general fed-up-ness.
I'm guessing you can relate.
Maybe you've been trying to figure out all this marketing stuff on your own OR you've handed a crap-ton of money to an "expert" for no apparent reason.
Your phones still aren't ringing like they should.
Your advertising still isn't performing like you expected.
Your website's still not ranking or converting like it needs to.
You can't figure out why... and/or your current marketing "partner" isn't 'fessing up.
We think you deserve better.
Ryan Redding
CEO Levergy
Author of The Book on Digital Marketing for Plumbing and HVAC Contractors
Let's get on a call so you can tell us where your business is and where you want to go. We'll follow-up with a free, comprehensive assessment and actionable tips.
If you like what you see so far, we'll put together a customized plan with transparent, flat-rate pricing—and then get to work growing your business.
Have peace of mind knowing you have a true partner on your side who cares about your success as much as you do.
"... they always go above and beyond the call of duty. I'm impressed with their work ethic, loyalty, and integrity."
- Russell Furr, President
"[Levergy] understood my specific needs and got the work done—bypassing all the unnecessary nonsense. And now business is booming!"
- Steven Douglass, President
Your mileage may vary.
All Rights Reserved | Levergy® is a brand name of KickCharge Creative.
Any other logos or brands referenced are property of their respective owners.
info@levergy.io | 918.921.9296
Past results are not a guarantee of future results.