30 percent of small businesses fail within the first two years. Plumbing contractors are no exception.
But running a profitable plumbing business shouldn’t be a tough job. After all, literally every building has a plumbing system, and sooner or later, a problem is going to arise. A leaky pipe here, a running toilet there, clogged drains, low water pressure, dripping faucets…plumbing issues are very common.
Why, then, do a substantial number of plumbing businesses fail to pull in a profit? It comes down to your ability to attract and retain customers.
In this article, we’re sharing a few tips to keep your phone lines buzzing. Read on!
Word of Mouth Marketing Is King
The Information Age might have come along with powerful digital marketing tools, but in the plumbing industry, word of mouth is still king.
When you offer quality services to a customer, they’re likely to recommend you to a friend or relative who’s looking for a plumber. The more word spreads around your locality, the more the number of customers your business attracts.
This form of marketing is more effective than, say, social media advertising because word of mouth is a direct vote of confidence for your business. Social media advertising, on the other hand, only gives your business increased online visibility. It doesn’t necessarily tell a potential customer your services are top notch.
Build a Website That Converts
The fact that person to person marketing is king doesn’t mean you neglect your digital presence. It’s vital to build and maintain a business website that not only attracts but also converts.
You see, about 81 percent of internet users research a business online before making a physical visit. This means even if your business is getting personal recommendations, those potential customers won’t contact you right away. They’ll likely go online, look up your business, and guess where they will land?
Right. On your business website.
If the site isn’t attractive or mobile-friendly or generally does little to push the visitors deeper into your sales funnel, a revamp is long overdue. These plumbers in Plymouth have a perfect example of a quality website you should emulate.
Embrace Local SEO
Even with the awesome benefits of word of mouth marketing, it’s isn’t wise to ignore what local search engine optimization can do for your business.
This is especially crucial if you’re looking to attract millennial customers–folks who are more likely to go online and do a local search than phone a buddy and ask if they know any local plumbers. 92 percent of millennials conduct “near me” searchers when looking to buy a product or service.
To optimize your business for local search, begin by claiming your Google My Business listing. Next, run a business blog that’s focused on addressing plumbing issues facing the locals. This will ensure your business comes up on search engine results even when searchers are looking for DIY plumbing solutions.
Attracting Customers for a Plumbing Business Isn’t a Tough Ask
When your plumbing business is in a sales slump, it’s easy to feel you’re stuck in a rut. However, with a combination of quality service delivery to existing customers, a strong website and an effective local search marketing strategy, more customers will start coming your way.
Keep exploring our business resources to gain more marketing and service delivery insights.