marketing

Creating opportunities for Rinnai PROs to maximize sales in their local market with an affordable and easy advertising solution

Introducing a highly original and innovative advertising offering, Rinnai America Corporation launches the Rinnai PRO 360 Ad Packages. Developed for Rinnai PROs, the advertising package presents a simple, fast and affordable option to engage customers in a 90-day, multi-media campaign. With packages taking as little as fifteen minutes to complete and affordable options starting as low as $2,100, PROs can save valuable time and money when advertising their business. 

“We’re always investing in innovation and exploring new products and technologies that we can bring to market,” said Peter Reiner, Vice President of Marketing, Rinnai America Corporation. “Adding these PRO 360 Ad Packages is a great step towards supporting our PROs and supplying an affordable, easy solution, so they can focus on providing excellent service to their customers.” 

With the unique PRO 360 Ad Packages, Rinnai PROs can easily market their services across email, social media, Google and direct mail through prebuilt campaigns, making advertising easy, fast and affordable. Rather than having to create the campaigns themselves or work through an external partner, PROs can simply select from two options: Digital Only Campaign or a Digital + Direct Mail Campaign. With this structure, Rinnai has created an uncomplicated way to deploy a templatized marketing campaign that engages a PRO’s specific market or audience.  

“Our PROs are very busy and have a lot of competition for their time. With PRO 360 Ad Packages, PROs can set it and forget it,” said Lori Page, Senior Marketing Manager, Rinnai America Corporation. “This is something new and completely different for the industry, and we’re excited to provide a simple but impactful way for PROs to grow their Rinnai business.” 

PRO 360 ad templates are designed to educate the consumer on the benefits of Rinnai products while providing a PRO’s customized promotional offer. Rinnai will launch the program with two pre-built ad templates to choose from, Tankless Water Heater and Home Heating. The PRO 360 Ad Packages will continue to evolve and expand over time, providing PROs with new and exciting ways to engage with their customers.  

Rinnai launched its PRO Network more than a year ago with the aim to provide contractors the necessary support and training needed to help grow their business. Now, Rinnai partners with over 3,200 PROs across North America, helping them successfully scale and support their businesses. Participants in the PRO Network experience myriad of benefits, including the ability to grow their business through qualified leads, rebate programs, free training and earning free rewards. Adding the PRO 360 packages is just another reason why It’s Better In Network. 

To learn more about Rinnai PRO 360 Advertising, visit www.rinnai.us.

We know that plumbing is a competitive industry. But we also know that there are plenty of ways to stand out from the competition. 

COVID-19 has created a more competitive environment for plumbers, with industry revenue down 5.3 per cent across 2020/21, resulting in $15.9 billion lost to the industry. In addition, the plumbing industry is set to take a further hit following the conclusion of the lucrative Federal Government’s HomeBuilder scheme. 

Despite these challenges, there were 90,800 Plumbers in 2020, which is expected to rise to 96,500 by 2025 – creating an even more competitive environment. That means it is vital to do everything possible to promote your business to stay ahead of the competition. Here are some ways you can rise to the top.

Adopt The Latest Plumbing Technology

There are many benefits of adopting the latest plumbing technology. One is that it will help your business save money on water and energy bills. Another advantage is that it will make your life easier with less time spent on maintenance and repairs. You’ll also be able to provide better customer service, which in turn means more revenue for your company.

Investigate technologies like smart shower, toilet and irrigation systems that can be controlled with a mobile device, energy-efficient water heating devices and get the right tools for water leak detection in Melbourne. Technology is updating all the time, so it’s important that you stay up-to-date.

The modern household has a thirst for energy and water-efficient technologies that are better for the environment. Over 12 per cent of all houses globally are already smart homes, and it has become a 99.41 billion USD global industry. With more consumers changing their purchasing behaviors to be more sustainable, our plumbing business must move with the times.

Create a Website That is Designed to Attract Customers

Do you need a new website for your plumbing company? Traditionally those in the trades industry have not prioritized their digital presence, but today it is essential with most consumers using the internet to discover plumbers in their local area.

Older generations may still rely on word of mouth and numbers listed in directories; younger generations are heading directly to Google to find trades services. Considering that three-quarters of the Australian public will require plumbing services in the next 12 months, it is a market too big to ignore.

Websites are the backbone of any business. They’re how people find you, learn about what you do, and decide if they want to work with you. That’s why it’s essential to have a professional-looking site that will increase your visibility and credibility to help get more leads. 

Build Your List of Positive Online Reviews

While the modern consumer looks for plumbers online, referrals still play an enormous role in the industry – they have just moved online. 

Reviews are the best way to show potential customers that your company is worth their time and money. They help establish credibility and trust in your local community and separate you from cowboy operators without licenses that could potentially rip consumers off.

It would be best to encourage all of your customers to leave Google reviews on your business to help promote your brand. The more positive reviews you get, the better you will be perceived in your local community and the more jobs. 

What happens when people leave bad reviews? The worst thing you can do is ignore it. Instead, respond to all negative reviews and ask how to remedy the problem and improve their experience. This is a surefire way to flip around negative sentiment into positivity.

When you consider that over 90 per cent of consumers regularly or occasionally read reviews and 84 per cent trust them as much as a personal recommendation, it is a method of promoting your business that you can’t ignore.

We get it. Starting a business can feel overwhelming. Starting a brick-and-mortar business can feel even frightening. There are so many pieces to put in place, and if you drop the ball on even one of them, your entire business could be in jeopardy. That’s why we took the time to create this short checklist for starting a new business. It will help you avoid many of the common mistakes people make when they get started and understand what you need to do every day to ensure your start-up stays afloat.

1. Register Your Business with the IRS

Once you know what type of business you’re creating and what product or service you will offer, you need to register your business name. Whether you do that as an LLC or a corporation, you must take this first step as early as possible. An LLC is the easiest and the most cost-effective way to register your small business through your state.

After securing your LLC, you’ll need to register with the IRS. It will generate your EIN or your federal tax ID number. For retail stores, you also need to obtain a sales license. Having an EIN will allow you to open a business bank account. Experts suggest going through a credit union, as they don’t require you to have large minimum balances on your account like other banks. 

2. Hire a Bookkeeper

As a new business owner, you must track all your business expenses and money flow. It is essential for your taxes because you don’t want to lose money when tax season arrives. You can use software like QuickBooks for tracking. However, you should still try to find a qualified bookkeeper to keep your books in order. You will be busy running your business and bringing in customers, so you won’t have time to dedicate this task individually; after all, the last thing you want is the IRS investigating you. 

3. Seek Out a Good Location 

You can lease or buy commercial space. Leasing gives you the flexibility to move if you outgrow the area or need to expand. Plus, it gives you the benefit of a management company that will handle the tricky stuff like scheduling repairs. If you decide to purchase the space for your business, you must ensure that you have the right equipment and hire reputable contractors to maintain your store or a restaurant. 

For example, a plumbing failure can become an immediate disaster at a restaurant, cafe, hotel, or healthcare facility. Experienced business owners know all too well how important it is to have a professional plumber on call. So, finding a commercial plumbing distributor will help you clear the way for smooth business operations.

4. Build a Website

Your physical location is one of the brand activation points. However, these days, the customer journey most of the time starts online. To ensure prospects can find your business, you must optimize your website for the local search. Even if it’s just a landing page at first, it helps you look professional and build trust with your clients before they visit your physical location. You can use simple website builders like Wix or Squarespace when starting to save some costs on hiring a web designer.

5. Hire Staff 

Of course, you’ll need to hire staff before you open your doors. In some cases, you may be able to work independently. Before hiring, study the employment-related laws in your state, including the maximum working hours per week, the minimum wage, and what benefits you need to provide your employees. Once you’ve made your hires, ensure that you report these employees to your state within 20 days. 

Get Ready to Open Your Doors

Now you’re ready to open your doors! Your supplies are prepared, your staff knows what to do, and your potential customers started exploring your website. It took some work to get to this point, but you are finally running your new business!

If you’ve stumbled across this article, then the idea of being your own boss must have been on your mind for a while now. Perhaps you are working for another person’s plumbing business and believe you can be a business owner too. Maybe the boss sucks! Or you think you have enough experience to finally start your own business. Either way, one thing is certain–starting your own plumbing business is never a bad idea. 

While the road to every successful business has its ups and downs, the shortage of plumbers in the economy only means one thing–there could never be a perfect time to start your plumbing business. Besides, reaching the break even point is easy for such businesses, making them an even more viable opportunity. 

So, are you ready to sail this island? Once you have decided to be a boss, you need to be ready to put in all the hard work, but in the end, it will be worth it. This guide puts together everything you need to know about converting your plumbing skills into a successful venture.

Set Goals

Before starting your business, here is an important question you should ask yourself: what is the reason for starting this business? Is the goal to grow income? Do you want to have more free time on your schedule? Are you trying to build an empire?

People have different reasons for starting their own plumbing business. Your objective is the foundation upon which to build your business. Consequently, there is a need to be clear on the reason for starting your business. A business that you begin with no objective has a high chance of collapsing even before it picks up.

Create a Business Plan

Put simply; a business plan is a document outlining your business goals and objectives and activities to do to achieve them. Although it takes time to develop a comprehensive business plan, it will be worth the hassle in the long run. A comprehensive plan gives purpose, structure, and a clear-cut strategy to your business, allowing you to start with more minor hurdles.

Here is what your plumbing business plan should include:

• Growth opportunities
• Financial projections
• Financing
• Marketing strategies
• Short and long-term goals

Hiring

If your goal is to build a successful plumbing business, you know that hiring unqualified plumbers is out of the question. It is, however, essential to consider the qualifications you already have and those you might need in the future. When you are starting, minimum requirements are crucial. Then, with time as your business establishes itself, you can bring in some training.

After gaining further qualifications, you will be able to provide more services, and resultantly, you will make more money. Once you have the right capabilities, you can work on:

• Water recycling systems
• Central heating
• Gas and oil-fired appliances

One thing that potential customers look for when searching for plumbing services online is your credentials. For this reason, it is vital that you display your qualifications, as doing this helps you garner trust and more contracts. It would also be best to stay up-to-date with qualification requirements as they vary from state to state.

Finding Finances

Once you’ve sorted out the minimum requirements for your employees, the next thing to do is raise capital for your business. Every business requires cash, and the plumbing business is no exception. You will incur high costs in acquiring equipment and a vehicle, but you do not have to worry if you are operating on a tight budget as you could opt to get cash from a third party.

If you cannot raise the required amount independently, you could approach your bank or any other lender for small business loans. Most major banks have small business departments that provide a wide variety of financial options:

• Credit cards
• Business accounts
• Small business loans

These departments usually have business experts that will offer you guidance, and you’ll be able to contact them whenever you need any advice or clarification. 

If you decide to follow this path, ensure to bring along your business plan as no bank will lend you money if you lack a comprehensive plan on how to utilize it.

Alternatively, you could go for government financial schemes or ask for help from friends or family. Another option is looking for angel investors who might be interested in your business idea.

Marketing Your Business

It is unlikely that your business will be a monopoly as there will probably be other similar businesses in town. This means that competition will be tough, and it is, therefore, your job to convince potential customers that your business has more to offer compared to the rest.

It would be best if you began by creating awareness of your business. Once people know that there is a new business in town, they will be willing to stop by. If you strongly believe you could find your target market on social media, then, by all means, go for it. After all, the end justifies the means.

Now that your business is up and running, you should regularly do a SWOT analysis to determine what is going right and what needs some work. This, coupled with learning from other similar businesses in the market, is important if you want to establish a legacy.