You need to grow your plumbing or electrical business, and everyone says, “Advertise!” But where?
Years ago, the biggest Yellow Pages ad drove the most traffic. Then came Google, shifting dollars toward websites and SEO. Now, even with significant SEO spending, the return on investment (ROI) often feels disappointing.
Understanding ROI in Marketing
A common rule of thumb in the plumbing and electrical industry was an 8:1 or 10:1 return—meaning for every $100 spent, you’d generate $1,000 in revenue. That level of return used to be possible with strong SEO. Unfortunately, many SEO strategies today are lackluster at best.
So, do you still need an online presence? Absolutely. But digital marketing alone isn’t enough.
Expanding Your Marketing Approach
To stay top of mind for customers, you need a mix of digital and traditional marketing strategies:
- Leverage Social Media
Engage with customers on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok by:
✔ Showcasing your team at work
✔ Offering helpful home maintenance tips
✔ Sharing fun, unexpected content (like a cookie recipe!)
The goal is to keep your brand in front of customers in a way that feels natural and engaging.
- Community Involvement & Guerrilla Marketing
Some of the most effective marketing strategies are simple and local:
- Use Your Work Vehicles as Mobile Billboards
- Park your branded truck in high-visibility areas and move it regularly.
- Place Yard Signs at Job Sites
- Offer an incentive: If a customer keeps your sign in their yard for 30 days, they enter a giveaway for a $100 gift card. Announce winners on social media.
- Attend Local Events with Branded Giveaways
- Get a white pop-up tent and a banner with your company’s name.
- Have a booth at craft fairs and community events.
- Give out useful kitchen items like jar openers, measurement conversion magnets, or chip clips—items people will actually keep.
- Sponsor Community Activities
- Sponsor Little League, youth soccer, or high school sports teams.
- Place company banners at local sports fields.
- Support the high school band.
- Host a First Responders Appreciation Event
- Organize a BBQ or partner with a food truck.
- Personally invite local police, fire, EMS, and sheriffs.
- Spread goodwill while increasing brand awareness.
The Power of Community-Based Marketing
Investing in your local community will pay off. It strengthens relationships and builds trust with your customers.
At the end of the day, marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. Use common sense, be present in your community, and make people feel good about your business. If it feels right to you, your customers will feel it too!