Plumbing

Plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors have unique challenges when it comes to marketing. You’re working in hidden spaces, and potential clients usually don’t know much about you until something goes wrong. 

Even then, your work is often invisible, with the only evidence being a bill or the lack of one. In other words, this isn’t exactly a field where word-of-mouth works as well as it does for hotels or restaurants. 

So what can you do to grow your business? 

The answer lies in digital marketing strategies that will get you more leads, clients, and sales in today’s connected world. But, the trick is knowing which tactics are worth your time and which aren’t. 

In this article, we’ll give you some essential digital marketing tips for plumbing and HVAC contractors so that you know how to market yourself effectively online. If you’re ready to dive in, read on!

#1. Go Social

With more than 4.6 billion users worldwide, social media platforms are an ideal place to boost your online presence and gain more eyeballs. That said, social media marketing can be tricky, but it can also be extremely effective. You have to be careful not to fall into the trap of posting to your social channels just to publish something. 

You should be using social media to engage with your audience and build relationships with people who might need your services. Use the right social media channels for your business. If your industry is visual, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest might be a better fit than Facebook. 

If you’re an HVAC contractor, Facebook and Instagram are great places to start. If you’re a plumbing contractor, you might want to try a combination of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

#2. HVAC Contractors: Start With Lead Generation

The best way to generate leads for your business is to offer something for free. Whatever your industry, there are likely organizations that could use your services but don’t have the money to pay for them. You can help these organizations by offering your services for free, and in exchange, they’ll give you something: their contact information. 

This type of marketing is called lead generation, and it’s a great way to attract new clients and grow your business without spending any money. There are organizations that could use your services just about everywhere.

Start by thinking about your local community and the places you spend time: your kids’ school, your church, your gym, your sporting events, and more. Throughout the year, these places celebrate birthdays, host fundraisers, and hold other events. You can offer your services for free, and in exchange, you’ll get the contact information of everyone involved.

#3. Invest in An Engaging Content Marketing Strategy

You might not be a content marketing pro, but chances are that you have something to say. And if you want people to pay attention to you, you need to say it in a way that’s easy to find, read, and share. 

Most businesses should have an editorial calendar, which is a schedule for publishing content. Your calendar should include topics that are relevant to your industry, your clients, and your business. 

Organize your calendar by topic and make sure to include content for all of your marketing channels. If you’re an HVAC contractor, for example, you might create a blog post about how to choose the right type of air filter, publish a how-to on installing solar panels, or create a HVAC salary guide to help HVAC business owners hire top talent.

Or, if you’re a plumbing contractor, you might write an article on how to winterize your water heater or create a training video or tutorial video showing how to unclog a drain using a plunger. Whatever your industry, there are topics that will interest your clients.

#4. Take Advantage of Local SEO

Local SEO is the art of making sure your business is listed on the best local directories and maps. It’s also about optimizing your website and social media profiles for local search. You want to ensure that when potential clients search for your services in your area, your business appears at the top of relevant searches. 

That way, you don’t need to go door to door to find new clients. Depending on which state you’re in, your clients may also be able to find you through state-level directories like Angie’s List. If you’re a plumber, you should add your business to Yelp, Google My Business, and Plumbers.org. 

If you’re an HVAC contractor, your business should be listed on Yelp, Angie’s List, HomeAdvisor, and Local.com. Make sure that each of your local listings has accurate contact information, including a telephone number. You can also use your listings to add information about your business, including hours of operation and specialties.

#5. Set Up a Responsive Website

In today’s digital world, having a website is a must for businesses. It’s safe to say that your website is the foundation of your online marketing. Think of it like your 24/7 online store. It’s where potential clients will learn about your business, see what you can offer, how to contact you and decide whether you’re right for them. 

This also means that your site needs to be accessible on any device and optimized for search. You don’t want your potential clients to have to squint to read your content every time they open your site and try to learn more about your service.

#6. Leverage User-Based Advertising

Social media advertising is growing in popularity because it’s one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience. You can target users on Facebook and Instagram based on their age, location, interests, hobbies, and more. 

When you run a social media ad, you’re paying to get your ad in front of an audience that Facebook has identified as relevant to your business. When you’re advertising on Facebook, make sure that you’re creating your ads with the right mindset: you’re trying to get people to click, not to buy.

#7. Plumbing Contractors: Try Display Ads and Podcasting

If you’re a plumbing contractor, you might be ready to get more inventive with your marketing strategy. You might have the best marketing strategy in the world, but if potential clients can’t find it, you’re wasting your time. 

You can use display ads to get your message in front of a more general audience. You can write an article or create a video and then promote it with display ads on social media and on major websites. 

You can also try podcasting. Podcasts are a great way to engage your audience, and they’re growing in popularity. You can talk about your industry and answer your clients’ most pressing questions. You can even interview experts in your field or conduct interviews with your team members.

Conclusion

Your business is unique. That means you need a unique marketing strategy that works for you and your clients. These digital marketing tips will get you started, but don’t forget to experiment to see which one works and which one does not at the moment. 

In this fast-paced world, you may find that a strategy that doesn’t work for your business today could be your secret sauce tomorrow. Keep an eye out for trends and try new things. With a little effort and these essential digital marketing tips, you’ll be well on your way to a successful business.

Guest Author

Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order). 

Irving, Texas and Springfield, Ill. — The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will advance the benefits that both organizations provide to the geothermal exchange industry.  David Fink, president, PPI and Jeff Hammond, executive director IGSHPA, made the joint announcement virtually from their respective headquarters.

The purpose of the geothermal heat pump industry is to promote a sustainable and decarbonized future across the globe through the adoption of geothermal as the cleanest, most efficient heating and cooling technology.

Established in 1950, PPI is the non-profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry and its members through research, education, technical expertise, and advocacy.  Founded in 1987, IGSHPA is a non-profit, member-driven organization established to advance ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology on local, state, national, and international levels.

“For more than 70 years, PPI and our members have focused on the development of plastic pipes and fittings which are the vital connection to the earth and bodies of water for geothermal exchange systems,” Fink stated.  “We have always sought ways to work with other like-minded groups to amplify the benefits to the industry.  Our work with IGSHPA has been highly rewarding, and we are looking forward to doing even more.”

“This is a very exciting time in the ground source heat pump industry,” said Hammond. “In 2020, IGSHPA became an independent non-profit, no longer part of Oklahoma State University.  We see utilities, building owners, governments, and many others recognizing that ground source (geothermal) systems are the best technical solution for reducing energy costs and carbon emissions for heating and cooling buildings.  The geothermal industry needs sound technical leadership and guidance and IGSHPA is striving to meet those needs.  The collaboration with PPI couldn’t have come at a better time.”

One of the key components of the MOU is technical development, where PPI and IGSHPA agree to foster technical cooperation by providing opportunities to participate in and comment on proposed standards, guidelines, policies, and position statements on technical subjects, encouraging members in each organization to collaborate on technical committees and task forces, and establishing liaison representatives to key technical committees.

Recognizing the important role that research plays in accelerating the transformation to a more sustainable built environment, PPI and IGSHPA also agree to identify and collaborate in the development of projects related to the design and construction of efficient and long-lasting piping systems for geothermal applications.  They will also promote research in areas where results will add to the body of knowledge in conservating natural resources, increasing energy efficiencies and sustainability.

“PPI has enjoyed a close relationship with IGSHPA for a number of years,” stated Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division (BCD).  “IGSHPA’s scope of work related to geothermal exchange systems is very much in line with PPI’s scope of work.  Since becoming a member of IGSHPA in 2008, I have benefitted from the resources made available to their members and have seen how PPI’s input specifically related to plastic piping materials can assist IGSHPA members.  Several PPI member firms are also members of IGSHPA.”

Part of PPI’s mission is to educate the geothermal industry about correct usage of plastic piping materials HDPE, PEX, PE-RT, and PP.  “It is important that geothermal engineers have access to accurate information about these pipe materials. There are ideal applications for each of these materials, when utilized correctly,” MacNevin said.  “The MOU with IGSHPA will help to accelerate our goal to deliver accurate and thorough information about these systems, so that the best pipe material can be selected for each application.”

MacNevin said that within his division, the Geothermal Steering Committee focuses on specific industry-related issues.  “This group is dedicated just to the geothermal industry that includes helping to update standards and codes.  Plus, it publishes documents about the use of plastic piping systems for geothermal applications, and serves as a technical resource for geothermal system designers, with regards to plastic piping technologies.”

Other areas addressed in the MOU include advocacy and publications.  In addition to the recent MOU, each organization maintains official membership in the other.

“This Memorandum is certainly very exciting,” MacNevin said.  “It clearly defines our goals, outlines the initiatives, and sums up the strong support structure of why and how we have forged this agreement.  The collaborative work of IGSHPA and PPI members, based on their years of experience and knowledge, is intended to benefit the geothermal community and, ultimately, the public.”

“The wealth of knowledge contained in both of our organizations is second to none,” Hammond said.  “So, we are looking forward to expanding our relationship with PPI to help increase the technical knowledge of the industry.”.

Additional information can be found at https://plasticpipe.org/buildingconstruction or at www.IGSHPA.org/

Second annual program recognizes the home service heroes, smooth operators, career builders, and community caretakers who demonstrate excellence in their industries

Jobber, the leading provider of home service operations management software, today announced the recipients of its $150,000 Jobber Grants program. Twenty-five entrepreneurs were selected from thousands of applications and rewarded with funds ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 USD to help grow and amplify the community impact of their home service businesses.

“Jobber Grants is the only program specifically designed to spotlight the hardworking and often overlooked entrepreneurs who make up the home services category,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder of Jobber. “We are thrilled to recognize these people and to support their ambitions to build something out of nothing. The contributions of these individuals, whether they’re new to home service or industry veterans, are helping to create stronger and more robust communities across North America, and it’s our honor to recognize that.”

Recipients from this year’s program fit into four categories: home service heroes who keep our homes safe and running; career builders who help hardworking people build meaningful careers; smooth operators who strive for high standards in every area of their businesses; and community caretakers who give back to the communities where they live and work. Individuals were selected based on written submissions, followed by interviews with a Jobber judging panel.

The top grant of $15,000 was given to Shane Fast, founder of Renew Painting located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The company, which provides an array of painting and staining services, focuses on giving a diverse group of employees including women, minorities, and individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds valuable experience in skilled work while providing fair living wages and profit-sharing. Shane also donates 10 percent of all profits to non-profit organizations in his community.

“I spent many years in the inner city near St. Louis where I saw a lot of poverty and watched people really struggle to overcome obstacles,” said Shane. “The experience molded me to love people more deeply, recognize the position they’re coming from, and inspired me to give back to my community as much as I can. Jobber created an opportunity for us to ramp up our plans to provide meaningful employment to more people and equip existing staff in various ways, an investment that will also relieve some of the stress and pressures that come with juggling family life with rapidly scaling a business. To be entrusted with this Jobber Grant leaves me with profound excitement and gratitude.”

Shaylyn and Timothy Bliss, new entrepreneurs and founders of Home Roots Lawn Care in San Marcos, Texas, received a $10,000 Jobber Grant. Home Roots Lawn Care was founded in the middle of the pandemic while Shaylyn was pregnant and Timothy was mowing lawns in between shifts as a firefighter, working roughly 150 hours per week. The business quickly grew large enough to provide full-time roles for both Shaylyn and Timothy who are using the grant to expand their team and purchase equipment. Home Roots Lawn Care recently donated a significant amount of resources and time toward cleaning up low-income properties as part of a city-wide event, which they plan to participate in annually. Shaylyn and Timothy intentionally purchase supplies and equipment from local small businesses and employ many individuals who struggled to find work during the pandemic.

“This Jobber Grant is such a big push forward for our business, and comes at a great time, too,” said Shaylyn. “We’re in the process of training several new hires, which will allow us to focus on more complicated jobs and big picture planning.”

“It’s important that our people have a positive onboarding experience and that we create a strong sense of community among our employees,” adds Timothy. “We want to instill the importance of giving back to the community with every new hire, and Jobber is helping us achieve this.”

When asked how the grant will impact their companies, Justin and Jolene at Double J Plumbing and Heating shared, “The impact this grant will have on our business is monumental. We are very calculated with our expenditures, relying only on credit when absolutely necessary, and only take growth steps once we have saved the investment required, or when our monthly budget has grown enough to allow for investment. We have been saving each month in hopes to be able to hire in the New Year, but this grant will give us the ability to make this move ahead of our busy 2022 fall season, which will give us an incredible benefit going into the new year, and a headstart on our other future business goals! We also recently had some very unexpected vehicle repairs, so this has allowed us to redirect some of our savings towards the necessary repairs required to keep Justin working.”

In addition, Brandon Arnold, BDA Comfort Heating & Cooling stated, “As an aspiring business owner, it is my pleasure to soon be able to offer customers a myriad of HVAC services from residential maintenance and troubleshooting to commercial rooftop unit replacements. Like with most bourgeoning business owners, I have quickly identified there are a number of administrative costs associated with legally establishing a business name and the various day-1 essential items required for a service-based business to be considered operational. The Jobbers Grant will be used towards the goal of managing those costs, which allows me to be one step closer to my dream.”

The full list of Jobber Grant recipients:

The Career Builders:

• Mohamed Bouryal & Krista Keithly, Tidy Vibe (Tacoma, WA)
• Shane Fast, Renew Painting (Spartanburg, SC)
• Jenny Joy, Ruby Red Cleaning (Orlando, FL)
• Michal Kenins & James May, Vista Tree Management Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Chris Reid, Shoreline Plumbing (Tampa, FL)
• Jason & Joelene Sturm, Sturm Plumbing Inc. (Harrison City, PA)

The Community Caretakers:

• Andrew Kennedy & Dave Sera, Streamline Renewables (Gibsons, BC)
• Ashley Loveless, Organwize Professionals (Columbus, GA)
• Stefanie Menzie, Tree Wizard LLC (Norman, OK)
• Doug & Kristen Shoup, Shoup’s Cleaning (New Philadelphia, OH)
• Antonio Taylor, Pressure Family Exteriors LLC (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Garvin Thomas, Philtrin Holdings LLC (Philadelphia, PA)
• Alycia Wolosezky & Nicholas Twigg, Twigg Transformations (Victoria, BC)

The Home Service Heroes:

• Brandon Arnold, BDA Comfort Heating & Cooling (Houston, TX)
• Ashley & Matthew Grant, Mosquito Mom (Courtice, ON)
• Alex Neville-Verdugo, Lefty’s Handy Services (Springfield, MO)
• Justin & Jolene Shewchuk, Double J Plumbing & Heating (Okotoks, AB)
• Katharyn Snyder, Full Swing Land & Tree Care (Lake Clear, NY)

The Smooth Operators:

• Shaylyn & Timothy Bliss, Home Roots Lawn Care (San Marcos, TX)
• Nathan Fournier, HomeHarvest Central MA (Worcester, MA)
• Nick Kilburg, Fayette Ecological Restoration and Design (Fayetteville, GA)
• Callum Ng, Green Grads Window and Gutter Cleaning (Vancouver, BC)
• Ben Pennoyer, Ben’s Electric Solutions Team (Calgary, AB)
• Esteban Rodriguez, Esteban Land Design, Inc. (San Tan Valley, AZ)
• Ethan Rossler, Wash Wizards (West Palm Beach, FL)

Asked how the challenges of the past couple years (supply chain, pandemic, economy, and workforce) created an impetus for looking outside the box for opportunities like the Jobber Grant, From Jason & Joelene Sturm, Sturm Plumbing Inc., shared their thoughts.

“We never got the time off that a lot of other industries did through the pandemic. We were extremely busy throughout and yes, add in all the supply chain issues and everything else and it was a bit overwhelming! Once I realized everyone was dealing with this and there’s nothing I can do, I relaxed a lot.  We use jobber every day and applying for the  grant was an instant gut feeling when I received the email, I knew I had to apply and sent it to some others I knew could use the opportunity just starting out in business,” they said.

 

To learn more about this year’s Jobber Grants recipients visit: https://www.jobbergrants.com/.

The iWash S-12 adds an auto open/close lid to the line’s lengthy list of comfort and convenience features

Icera, manufacturer of high-performance, luxury toilet fixtures, is adding to its iWash line of electronic bidet seats with the launch of the  iWash S-12. The iWash S-12 offers all the premium features of previous iWash models—including a warm air dryer, heated seat, and built-in deodorizer—plus the convenience of an auto-open/soft-close seat lid. The iWash S-12 bidet boasts a slim profile and installs easily in place of a traditional seat on most elongated toilets.

The luxury performance of the iWash S-12 begins with the cleansing bidet spray. A tankless, instant ceramic water heating system provides an unlimited supply of warm water to the gently oscillating front and rear spray; the self-cleaning spray nozzle is adjustable for pressure. For further comfort, the bidet includes a heated seat and warm air dryer, both adjustable for temperature, as well as a built-in activated carbon deodorizer and an in-bowl LED nightlight.

“Between the toilet paper shortages during the pandemic and increasing travel abroad, Americans have been discovering the health and convenience advantages of the humble bidet. The iWash S-12 bidet seat allows homeowners to embrace these benefits in a format that suits their lifestyles, space, and existing fixtures,” said Rachel Tufono, Inside Sales Manager. “Plus, it’s packed with premium features that truly elevate the cleansing experience.”

The iWash S-12 operates via a wall-mount remote control and offers memory settings for up to two users. It comes with seat mounting hardware, metal T-valve, and water transfer hose.