SEO

When people need a plumber, what do they usually do? In years past, they may have looked in the classified section of their local newspaper but today? They go online of course and search for plumbing companies near to where they live. For this reason, your company does need to have a website. Your plumbing business will pull in more sales if you get one up and running, and you will have the opportunity to stand out amongst your competition too. 

If you already have a website online (or if you are in the process of putting something together), the following might be useful to you. These are the improvements that will benefit your customers and your business, so consider each suggestion.

Improve your SEO

When customers Google ‘plumbing business near me,’ you want your company to come out on top on the search page. If you are several positions down (or pages away), your competitors will have the advantage. For this reason, you need to focus on your website’s SEO (search engine optimization) to ensure your site ranks highly. 

Check out this guide on SEO for plumbers for advice you should find useful. 

Make sure your website is mobile-friendly

What does a local resident do when their home springs a leak? Do they spend five minutes booting up their laptop to search for a plumber? Probably not, especially if they have their cell phone to hand. For this reason, you need to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. As web pages can load incorrectly when the website isn’t optimized for phones and tablets, it’s important to make the necessary changes on your site. 

A website designer will help you in this regard, so get in touch with somebody if your skills are clearly more plumbing than computer-related. But if you are able to comprehend the inner workings of a website as well as your customer’s plumbing fixtures, here are some suggestions for making your website mobile-friendly. 

Add testimonials and customer reviews

Why should somebody choose your business over your nearest competitors? You need to give them a reason to do so, perhaps by making adjustments to your prices or by displaying your certifications on your website. You should also add testimonials and customer reviews, as these will evidence the work you have done for others. 

So, speak to your happy clients and ask them to write something about your company. When your site visitors read what they have said, they will be more inclined to trust and consider your plumbing business. Be sure to ask your customers to write reviews on local business sites too!

Add features your visitors will find useful

When in the process of developing your site, there are all kinds of free APIs that could be integrated into your website, such as web search options, weather reports, and text-to-speech tools. Some of them can be considered inessential but useful, while others could be considered essential for some of your customers. Follow the previous link for some examples and discuss the range of APIs that could be integrated into your site with a web developer. 

Going beyond these, you could include other things on your site, such as a blog or video page to give your readers useful information about their home’s plumbing. Your articles and videos could include ‘how to’ guides, as these would showcase your expertise as a plumber. 

To further improve your plumbing website, look at the sites of your competitors and beyond and learn from the very best of them.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption but many businesses are now looking forward to a new post-Covid era. As restrictions ease and case numbers start to fall, there are opportunities to learn from the outbreak. In this guide, we’ll discuss ways to create a more profitable, efficient plumbing firm.

Equipment, technology and parts

We are more reliant on technology than ever before. Over the last 12 months, businesses across all sectors depended on technology to stay afloat. As the owner of a plumbing company, it’s hugely beneficial to capitalize on the benefits of investing in technology and equipment. Technology enables plumbing firms to communicate with remote teams and clients seamlessly without engaging in face-to-face meetings and it can also provide safety benefits and improve efficiency by saving time and money. 

If you own a plumbing firm, it’s useful to conduct an audit and keep a close eye on new developments and innovations, as well as tracking your competitors. Look for investments you could make to streamline operations, save time and promote safety and work with suppliers and other companies that have a track record for providing high-quality components, parts and services. From an air cylinder and new pipework to innovative tools that provide solutions for hard-to-reach areas or complex jobs, it pays to take the time to research and compare suppliers and figure out what kinds of investments will drive your business forward. 

Targeted marketing

Most businesses rely on marketing to get their brand name out there and encourage customers to get in touch. If you run a plumbing firm, using targeted marketing techniques can help to improve ROI. For plumbing businesses, social media and local SEO can be incredibly effective. It’s also beneficial to ask customers to leave reviews. Over 90% of consumers read online reviews before contacting businesses and over 85% of smartphone users will either call or visit a business within 24 hours of conducting a local search. Define your ideal customers, find out how they spend their time online and consider combining digital and traditional marketing methods. Local SEO, social media and content marketing and paid ads can all help to boost lead creation alongside local press adverts and flyers. 

Options for customers and employees

Agility is key for businesses trying to thrive during the pandemic. While many firms will be keen to get back to ‘normal’ ways of working, it is beneficial to adapt and modify the way you interact with customers and provide services to cater to consumer demands and trends. You could save time and money and ensure customers feel safe by offering telephone or virtual consultations, for example. It’s also beneficial to consider staffing and how your teams operate. Remote work has become much more commonplace. Switching to more flexible structures may allow you to save money on renting offices or communal workspaces at the same time as giving your workforce more flexibility. 

The pandemic has been incredibly challenging for businesses but there are silver linings. If you run a plumbing firm, it’s wise to approach the months ahead with a desire to create a more profitable, efficient business. 

The trades have always been competitive and very word-of-mouth and reputation-led, even in these online times. This means that it’s essentially important for any business, no matter if they’re involved in construction, repairs or specialized outfitting, to focus on how to gain, retain, and satisfy their clients. This much is obvious.

That said, there are many competing businesses out there doing the exact same thing. Unfortunately, if you’re not first choice for a client, then odds are you won’t secure work from them. In this post, we’ll discuss a few strategies you can take to help your trade business become more competitive, deliver a better result, and enhance the value that you provide to the end client.

We hope to gear these tips for mostly everyone no matter where they are in the industry, from a somewhat humble outfit to a larger, multi-state operation that can attend many houses or commercial buildings rain or shine. In this respect, we can more competently understand how to move forward and deliver the full weight of our productivity going forward:

Offer Aftercare Services

Of course, it’s important to note that the work we commit to is not always the work that will remain. This isn’t to say that your quality assurance is lacking or that you should be expected to make continual repairs ad nauseum, but an aftercare service can be essential. Perhaps, after fully servicing a roof, you find it worthwhile to come back and inspect it after five years, making adjustments and repairs where necessary as part of your bargain.

This kind of longevity of service not only ensures that your client feels they can trust you in the long term, but it helps them refer to you as their only port of call if other issues take place. Not only that, but coming back to inspect or repair within your acceptable window is often seen to as a mark of trustworthiness, and it’ll keep your repairs or installations looking as good as possible for as long as possible. This can help emphasize yourself not only as a trade or construction service but that of a craftsman who may gain new clients via word of mouth alone.

Use Trustworthy Contractors

It’s very important to use trustworthy contractors where appropriate. This might involve hiring the best concrete contractors https://www.keflatwork.com/ to sort out a commercial building project’s drive-in area or foundations, or it might mean utilizing a service to come and finish off your structure with decorations and the installation of various utilities.

Trustworthy suppliers are also essential. Make sure you inspect the quality of your materials used, and services rendered. This might involve the kind of wood you use to implement fixtures, or it may mean investing in worthwhile safety equipment to protect your staff from difficult conditions. Ultimately, the services and tools we use to help deliver our product speaks to the competence and coherence of our brand, and that’s going to be a large part of what you have to offer.

Repeat Project Discounts

Of course, the only thing better than a new customer is a returning customer. For this reason, it’s a good idea to try and figure out how to make this a possibility. For instance, you might decide that if they return to you the next time they need their driveway servicing, you’ll offer them a 20% discount.

This can be achieved by simply having your client recorded on your books, or offering discount codes and seasonal promotions where necessary, using your website as a key instance. That kind of approach can be tremendously useful.

Promotions, Offers, Marketing Possibilities

Of course, all businesses are having to inspire further consumer confidence after Covid-19 has rocked many homeowner’s spending power. For this reason, getting the word out there is important. This can involve the use of promotions, offers, and additional marketing possibilities. The latter, for instance, might involve knocking off a certain price from work conducted if they advertise using a sign in their garden or driveway.

This way, the whole neighborhood can see the extent of a job well done, while also becoming aware of once again aware of your services in the local community. That may help drum up additional business, or simply give you the justification you need to begin opening those possible conversations.

Utilize SEO Techniques

Utilizing SEO techniques to help build your brand and become seen as the ‘default’ entity in your local area can be a great use of your time. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is a process of moderating your content and web presence to ultimately be favored by Google’s search algorithm, raising you higher in the search term rankings of your local area.

It’s perfectly safe and completely legal if done right, in fact, Google actively encourage this approach and industries have spawned around it. Companies can utilize the services of SEO firms, or they can help their own stature by methods such as running a business website blog with informative articles. Through writing their landing pages well, having essential information on hand and using keywords, they can also make sure their actual website pages raise higher in the search term rankings, too. This means that you’re much more likely to be seen by others when they’re searching for services like yours in the area, as simply being one search ranking above another service could potentially secure you the client, and vice versa.

As such, service-oriented businesses like yours could prosper in their marketing strategy provided they’re willing to utilize the best SEO practices and habits geared at getting them there.

Attend Trade Events & Shows

It’s good to be seen as a face of and in your industry, and that means attending trade shows and events can be a great idea. This might involve showing off a product you have designed, or your portfolio, giving a talk, or just being a presence there, promoting your business and talking to other players in your field. It might be, for instance, that you’re an officially approved vendor of a certain product, and as such, it’s a good idea to be there to discuss its very many applications. 

Not only is this a good place to network and be seen, but you may learn more about the movers and shakers in your industry, the standards they set, and more. As such, industry trade events are more than worth your time.

Become Licensed With Certain Manufacturers

Of course, contractors, builders and construction outfits work hand in hand with manufacturers to make sure that adequate services are rendered and the best products are installed. From proprietary driveway resin materials to certain double glazing options, manufacturers may require official approval before you are entitled to order or install their products.

It’s not uncommon for our potential clients to be aware of this arrangement, or at least the brand name of a certain product they would like, and so investing in our firm to be able to install those products is essential. This might involve sending your staff to training seminars, completing qualifications yourself, or perhaps entering into an exclusivity deal with such a manufacturer. Then, and perhaps only then, may you be able to adequately provide the manufacturer’s product as required. It can’t hurt to follow this process, as it both could and should raise your attractiveness to particularly informed clients.

With this advice, you’re sure to make your trade firm that much more competitive. After a year like 2020 and the first half of 2021, that’s more important than ever.

Plumbing is one of those industries that will always be needed. People are always going to need plumbing services for their homes, offices and other premises. Yet it is also so important to know how to promote and market yourself. Without having a voice and putting yourself out there you could be missing out on a whole host of prospective clients who need you to do some work on their home. Whether people are looking for someone to fit a new vacuum generator or sort out a blocked sink, you want to show that you can help. Here are just a few ways that you can market your plumbing business.

Sort out Google my business

Google My Business is vital for anyone looking to market themselves. By adding yourself to Google my Business it means you will be more likely to show up in Google searches. It also means that you will have a more comprehensive search result for those that find you. You can show your details such as your website, phone, photos and reviews. It will also recommend you in local search results so people in your area will see you first. This helps you to get local jobs and for locals to find you too.

Have a great website

A great website is vital for marketing your plumbing business. It is essentially your shop front and therefore needs to show potential clients all the information they need. It needs to be easy to navigate, have all the relevant services that you offer and all of your contact details. It is a good idea to have some attractive imagery and ensure that it fulfils its purpose.

Get an SEO strategy

Once you have your website sorted, you need an SEO strategy. Without this you might have the best website that has ever been created, but no one will find it. You can build up your SEO a number of ways. You need to ensure you have a quick loading speed – this can be improved by reducing your image sizes and having a CDN. By having a good website host and by having guest posts published on other websites.

Ask customers to leave testimonials

Word of mouth will always be a very successful way to get new business. Asking customers to leave testimonials is a great way to show others how past customers have been pleased with what you’ve done. This works as an addition to word of mouth and helps to spread the word of your services. You can have these testimonials on your website, on an external review site and also on your Google my Business listing.

These are just a few top tips for how you can effectively market your plumbing business. By doing this you will find that it is much easier to generate new business and attract new customers. This leaves you to do what you do best – plumbing. What are some top ways that you have found work for attracting new customers? Let us know!