Are you looking for plumbing lead generation strategies?

Most plumbing business owners lack the time or expertise to generate qualified plumbing leads continuously.

The following plumbing lead generation strategies will help you get more leads and customers so you can have faster and smoother growth.

While it may seem daunting, generating plumbing leads is relatively simple: you just need to appear online when and where your customers are looking for an plumbing company.

For example, when homeowners with a broken water heater search Google for “plumber near me,” does your company appear on the first page?

• When they ask friends on Facebook for their best furnace repair recommendation, is your plumbing company mentioned?
• Do neighbors on Nextdoor.com recommend you for water heater replacement jobs?

We’ve compiled a few key plumbing lead generation strategies below to help your plumbing company cut costs, generate leads, and increase revenue.

Plumbing Lead Generation Strategies

1. Plumbing SEO Lead Generation

If you want to attract customers who live near you, include your city or neighborhood in your keywords.

For example, use “New York water heater” or “Water heater replacement Miami.” Google’s algorithm displays the most relevant results for a customer’s search by topic and location. These “organic” (non-ad) results show up based on factors like relevance, authority, and proximity. SEO gives smaller plumbing businesses a chance to appear next to bigger companies on Google’s organic search results page.

A few of Google’s top search results are paid advertisements.

Businesses achieve this placement by investing in Google Ads. While powerful, these ads can be challenging to learn and master–but a PPC agency makes it easy for HVAC companies. By integrating with Google Local Services, they allow you to quickly advertise your company and services on the world’s largest search engine.

Plus, when potential customers click on your ad, they’re directly connected with you–ensuring that valuable leads don’t slip through the cracks.

For example, when a homeowner searches “Water heater Fort Lauderdale” on Google, your Local Services ad created with a PPC agency appears at the top of the search results.

The Ad also takes them directly to an automated scheduling page where they can book an appointment with your business immediately instead of struggling to find a form or phone number elsewhere on your website.

Note: If you want your company to show up on Google’s local plumbing list, make sure your business has a physical address in the area where you’re advertising. Using only a P.O. Box won’t suffice–Google may penalize your company and remove it from their lists if that’s all they can find for an address.

2. Plumbing Social Media Marketing

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By creating social media profiles, you not only get access to free data that allows you to track visits to your profile, but also ShakeYourHead’s research shows that 50% of business owners reported increased sales through SMM. So if you’re in the market for plumbing leads and are inactive on social media, you’re doing it wrong.

Plumbing leads social media

With over 2 billion users, Facebook is practically screaming for your business to have a presence. Not only will this let locals find you more easily, but it’s a great way to interact with customers and answer any questions they might have.

By investing only a few minutes to set up a free business page on Facebook, you give yourself access to powerful analytical tools which can help you reach your target audiences and capture the plumbing leads you’re searching for.

3. Optimize Your Plumbing Website

Many people who find your business online will visit your plumbing website, so you need to take care that it is visually appealing, easy to get around, and designed for Google searches.

A website is a reflection of your business, so it’s important to keep it looking professional and up-to-date. This will help build trust with potential customers and improve your online reputation. Additionally, make sure your website uses relevant keywords so that people searching for plumbing service providers can easily find you. It’s a great way to get started with plumbing lead generation.

Not only does a mobile-friendly website with a responsive design rank higher on Google, but customers in need of a plumbing company often search for one using their phone.

Make sure potential customers find you first.

Quickly convert them into a plumbing lead by:

• Optimizing your plumbing website. A website’s design should be appealing and uncluttered, with a focus on SEO keywords, in order to make it user-friendly.
• Allowing customers to easily contact you. Adding your contact information to the top of your website makes it easy for customers to reach you, and ensures that calls are answered around the clock.
• Personalizing your message. Feature your company’s story or plumbing techs’ work in behind-the-scenes videos. This is a great way to show potential customers what you’re all about, and it can help build confidence in your brand.
• Highlighting online reviews or customer testimonials. Turn your happy customers into advertisements for your outstanding plumbing service.
• Writing a blog or starting a plumbing podcast. Become a go-to website for both consumers and plumbing technicians seeking information on the latest products, repairs, and industry news.
• Engaging customers with Calls to Action (CTA). You can use special offers, discounts, and other incentives to drive website traffic and increase plumbing service leads. This is a great way to promote your business and attract new customers.

The East River Energy is an HVAC business that has a website that is well-designed and aesthetically pleasing. Right at the top of the page, there are two navigation menus for easy exploration throughout the site.

As you scroll down on each page, these navigations remain readily available as a reminder to explore more information about their commercial and residential services or even learn more about their history!

The bright green and orange from the HVAC company’s logo also appear recurrently around the web pages – what an efficient way to promote your brand identity!

4. Plumbing Referral Program

By implementing an incentivized plumbing referral program, you’re not only encouraging customers to help promote your company, but you’re also giving them a discount for successfully referring someone. So it’s beneficial for all parties involved!

Make sure your customers don’t miss out on the referral program you have to offer by including a link to it in your email signature.

Spice up this message with an attention-grabbing tagline that tells them what they can get if they refer a friend – be creative and use bold or colored fonts for even more impact!

For inspiration, take EverQuote’s approach: two short sentences were enough to promote their incentive successfully.

5. Plumbing Email Marketing

Emailing your customers regularly is one of the most effective plumbing lead generation ways.

By sending emails promoting your services, reminding them of services they should consider (e.g. water heater replacement, or checkups), and keeping you top of mind, you’ll be the first company they think of when they need plumbing services.

According to Megan Bedford of Mugyver Consulting, plumbing email marketing directed towards potential plumbing leads is cheaper per lead than other traditional methods like print or television ads.

Additionally, keeping your brand name visible in emails helps maintain customer loyalty and keeps you at the forefront of their minds. Email marketing generates $40 for every $1 spent – making it one of the most effective means available.

Plumbing email marketing can only work if it is focused, designed for your business, and delivers a message that would resonate with your customers.

By targeting specific groups like this, you can send more effective marketing emails.

Emailing best practices:

• Instead of sending a bunch of emails at once to your entire contact list, break it up and send smaller, targeted batches of automated messages to specific customer groups. For example, reach out with a “We Miss You!” campaign to homeowners you haven’t heard from in some time. 
• Only contact those individuals who didn’t open the first message when sending follow-up emails about plumbing safety and water quality. You can provide engaging, educational content by linking to your blog or YouTube channel videos.
• Steer clear of spam-prone language in your subject lines! The word “free” or exclamation points often encourages customers to delete emails without reading them.

6. Outsource To A Plumbing Marketing Team

If you would rather have experts increase your visibility and fix any marketing kinks, then outsourcing to a marketing team is the way to go.

Planning, writing, financing, and organizing how to get plumbing leads from reliable sources can be difficult and time-consuming. Search for marketing companies that have had success in plumbing lead generation.

You’ll likely have to pay a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but you’ll be able to work with an experienced team who can help make your marketing goals come true.

You can sit back and relax while the marketers do their thing, as you take care of other parts of your business. Some bright marketing companies might propose using plumbing software to better organize your enterprise.

That way, everything from online booking to follow-up email marketing is much simpler and more streamlined.

7. Gain More Plumbing Sales Leads With Online Reviews

Managing your company’s online reviews is an often neglected but very effective plumbing lead generation method.

Most people searching for a trusted and nearby plumbing company will read the reviews before making an appointment and are likely to avoid companies with negative reviews or low star ratings.

Did you know that 94% of consumers are more likely to use a business if they see positive reviews about that company?

It’s true!

So, if you’re a plumbing business owner, it’s important to get your customers to leave feedback on popular review platforms like Google and Facebook. 

The more positive reviews you have from real customers, the more trust potential customers will have in your business.

After every job you complete, send your customer a quick text or email requesting that they rate your services on Google (here’s how). A few seconds of their time can have an enormous impact on the success of your business. Let them know that it won’t take long at all and would be highly appreciated!

89 percent of people aged 35-54 being surveyed say they trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations. But on average, a customer will read 10 reviews before they can decide whether to trust a business or not.

8. Train Plumbing Techs to Get More 5-Star Google Reviews

Even though it’s an easy way to get started with plumbing lead generation, it’s not uncommon for plumbing technicians to avoid asking customers for reviews.

Actually, this is a problem in many industries, not limited to home services businesses.

You can encourage them to ask for reviews frequently by explaining how both good and bad reviews have a direct impact on your company’s revenue—and therefore their paychecks.

Do Plumbing techs make a commission?

With pay-for-performance bonus checks, you can encourage your plumbing techs to get more 5-star Google reviews so they can earn a commission, or hold in-house competitions with prizes for the most 5-star reviews.

• Even before a customer books an appointment with you, make sure you leave them with a good first impression. Once the job is completed, don’t forget to follow up!
• Offer online scheduling to make it easy for customers to book appointments with your company.
• Book the appointment today and don’t make the customer wait.
• Use technology to allow customers to track their tech and shorten your arrival window.
• To avoid any negative reviews, survey customers to make sure they are satisfied with the job before leaving the site.

9. Connect with Plumbing Lead Generation Companies or Local Apps

In order to get started with plumbing lead generation, companies can sign up with a plumbing referral program, such as Google Local Services, Angie’s List, and Home Advisor.

Some large stores that have a need for contractors also have programs, like Lowe’s or Home Depot. But be cautious not to overextend and lose focus of your company’s goals to provide first-rate plumbing service.

10. Measure ROI

ROI, or return on investment, is crucial to pay attention to in any plumbing lead generation campaign.

This measures how much business you’re acquiring for each dollar spent on a given marketing outlet (ex. Google Ads). If you don’t keep close track of what’s producing results and what isn’t, valuable time and money will be wasted on endeavors with little payoff for your company.

Set up a method to follow the number of leads and customers gained from various sources.

A key part of promoting your website is analyzing which strategies generate the most leads so that you can focus your time and resources on those methods.

Set up realistic goals

In order to have a successful plumbing lead generation campaign and therefore a thriving plumbing business, you not only need to put in the hard work, but also plan and solve problems strategically. You must understand your company’s position within the market and set target goals accordingly.

Keep in mind the following points while working on plumbing lead generation:

• How many service calls will be needed to fulfill revenue goals?
• How many technicians will you employ?
• How many installers will you employ?
• How many salespeople will you employ?
• What adjustments must be made for the holiday season?
• Which months are your busiest? Which are your slowest?
• If at all, how will you modify your service price list?

If you plan with these questions in mind, you will have a better understanding of your labor requirements and expectations. This way, future planning won’t be as abstract and will be more focused on the cost.

Once you know about labor as well your company’s blueprint expectations and expenses, you can begin taking action.

There are plenty of entrepreneurs in the plumbing market, but if you want to get new leads, you need to do your research.

Customers who have good experiences with your company or technicians are more likely to call you again when they need help. If you can give them a reason to believe in your company and trust your services, that’s half the battle.

A company that looks, feels, and performs as well as it promises is already on its way to success.

Final Thoughts

Now you know 10 new plumbing lead generation strategies that you can leverage in order to get more qualified plumbing leads every single month.

• Optimize your website to rank in Google so your customers can find you.
• Set up your social media profile so you can humanize your brand.
• Establish a referral program so your customer can more easily refer business to you.
• Keep in touch with your previous customers by sending them valuable emails.
• Make sure to ask customers to leave your Google reviews.
• Put your website on every local apps.
• Measure ROI and double down on what works.

Try one or two of these plumbing lead generation strategies this week and watch your calendar getting packed with sales appointments next month.

Now, let’s go crush it!