Marketing Strategies for Plumbers to Get More Jobs

You’re running Facebook ads about your low price and high service quality, sponsoring the local baseball team, hiring a hot-shot web agency to get you a fresh new website, and even rolling out a new CRM. These are all part of a typical marketing plan many plumbers follow to promote their services and grow their business. You’re taking tips from the playbook, but something's still not working.

Sound familiar?

Focusing on your positioning and what matters to your customers can help you build a reputation as the plumber people want to call. To stand out, developing a unique marketing strategy for plumbers that goes beyond usual tactics and truly connects with your target audience is essential.

The Problem with Plumbing Marketing

Most plumbing campaigns are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Generic stock photos of smiling technicians and bland promises that center around pricing are outdated marketing strategies that fail to connect with customers.

But plumbing isn't boring. It's dramatic, often heroic, and always essential. Your plumbing marketing needs to reflect that. A plumbing marketing strategy should tell your audience the real, dramatic aspects of the work to engage them.

Don’t be like the others!

Market The Hero

Your best marketing doesn't happen during business hours. It happens when someone calls at 11 PM because of an overflowing toilet, or when a restaurant owner discovers a burst pipe flooding the kitchen at 6 AM. Market your availability, not your affordability, and let your customers know that you're there for them when it matters most. Providing outstanding customer service during these emergencies sets you apart and leads to better reviews and increased credibility.

Market Your Availability, Not Your Affordability

• List your hours as 24/7 (and mean it)
• Have someone answer the phone, not voicemail
• Respond to online inquiries within seconds, not hours
• Show up in local search when emergencies happen

While other contractors compete on price and convenience, plumbers compete on availability and competence during a crisis. It’s your superpower. Market it.

Market Peace of Mind 

You shouldn’t sell plumbing. You should sell the feeling of having problems solved by someone who knows what they're doing.

• Someone who picks up the phone
• Someone who understands the urgency
• Someone who shows up when they say they will
• Someone reliable
• Someone who fixes it the first time

Notice what's not on that list? The cheapest price.

Be the Local Legend to Customers

Local legends are known and trusted in the community to show up, do the work, and do it right. But, you don’t become a legend overnight, you need to build trust - and to do that, authenticity beats polish every time. If you're the straight-talking, no-nonsense type, be that. If you're the patient educator who explains everything, lean into that. Customer referrals and word of mouth are crucial for becoming a local legend. Positive experiences shared by satisfied customers can quickly build your reputation.

Put your picture on your website, social media, and business cards. Collect real stories instead of generic testimonials and highlight people in your local service area. Participate in community events to increase your visibility as a local business and connect directly with potential customers. Bring them along to grow your business; it will make all the difference. 

Be Online, But Not Robotic: Build Your Online Reputation

Online marketing for plumbers isn't about being fancy; it's about being found and trusted. It's always important to have a well-designed plumbing website and invest in SEO to improve your visibility on Google Search and Google Maps.

Local SEO That Matters:

• Google My Business profile that's complete and accurate 
• Photos of your actual work
• Reviews that mention specific problems you solved
• Local keywords that match how people actually search
• Listings in reputable online directories to help your business appear in more local searches

Optimizing your Google Business Profile ensures your business appears in local search results and on Google Maps, making it easier for customers to find you.

Before you publish any marketing, ask yourself: Would I call this person to be my plumber?

Always ensure that you understand your target audience and keep your content tailored to attract potential clients who are searching for plumbing services in their area.

Build Something That Lasts

Your phone will ring. Your reputation will spread. Your business will grow.

It all starts with being there when people need you, showing up when it matters most, and doing your best work. Don’t follow the crowd - be true to yourself, build a community, and the work will follow.