The Right Way to Grow Your Plumbing Business: Ads, SEO and Branding

Hey, I’m Tyler Williams, the guy behind Mammoth Marketing for Plumbers. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re trying to grow your plumbing business but aren’t sure where to start. Maybe you’ve tried throwing money at ads, dabbled in SEO, or hoped that your Facebook page alone would bring in leads. Spoiler alert: marketing doesn’t work like that.

I’m here to break it down for you in a way that actually makes sense—no fluff, no nonsense, just straight-up actionable advice. And yes, we’ll even throw in a joke or two, because let’s face it, marketing can be a grind, and we need some entertainment.

Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Build a Rock-Solid Foundation

Before you even think about running ads or boosting SEO, your business needs a solid foundation. That means your branding, website, and online presence have to be on point.

• Branding Matters: If people don’t recognize or trust your brand, your ads won’t convert, and your SEO won’t matter. You need a professional, memorable look and feel that separates you from the competition.

• Google My Business (GMB) & Social Proof: Your GMB profile needs to be optimized and loaded with positive reviews. When people search for plumbing services, they’ll check your reviews before anything else. Make sure they like what they see!

• Website & Conversion Optimization: If your website looks like it was built in 2008 (or worse, never updated since then), it’s time for a change. A high-converting landing page is key for turning visitors into leads.

Without this foundation, marketing is like trying to install a water heater on a shaky foundation—it might work for a while, but eventually, it’s going to leak (or worse, explode).

Step 2: Early Levers to Pull for Quick Wins

If you need leads NOW, here’s where you start:

• Local Services Ads (LSA): These are Google’s “pay-per-lead” option and tend to be a great way to get cost-effective leads. Get verified and start showing up in searches.

• Database Activations: If you have a list of past leads who never converted, now’s the time to reach out. Email, SMS, and even phone calls can turn those old leads into new customers.

• Canvassing & Referrals: Don’t underestimate the power of old-school marketing. Knocking on doors and asking for referrals can get you high-quality, warm leads.

• PPC to a High-Converting Landing Page: If your website isn’t great, send PPC traffic to a dedicated landing page optimized for conversions instead.

These tactics won’t fix long-term growth, but they will get the ball rolling while you work on the bigger picture.

Step 3: SEO vs. Ads – What’s the Real Deal?

Once your foundation is solid, you can start thinking about long-term lead generation. But should you go with SEO or paid ads? Let’s break it down.

SEO: The Slow and Steady Winner

• SEO leads are higher quality because they’ve already done their research and are more likely to match your service offerings.

• It takes time to see results—don’t expect to rank overnight.

• The long-term payoff is huge, but it requires a finely crafted strategy and patience.

Ads: The Speedy (But Expensive) Option

• PPC (Google Ads) is fast but pricey—great if you need leads quickly but requires ongoing optimization.

• LSA is cheaper per lead and a solid option for plumbers.

• Social ads (Meta, TikTok, YouTube) are great for brand awareness but not always instant lead generators.

Bottom line: SEO is like planting a tree that takes years to grow, but it’ll provide shade for decades. Ads are like renting an umbrella—quick relief, but you have to keep paying for it.

Step 4: Making Ads Work for Your Business

If you’re going to run ads, you need to do it right. Here’s what matters:

• Messaging & Trust: People won’t call you just because they saw an ad. They need to feel like they can trust you, so use strong branding and customer testimonials.

• Repetition Matters: Ads work best when they reinforce your brand over time. One-off ads rarely convert at high rates.

• Optimize, Optimize, Optimize: PPC isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it game. Keep tweaking your ads, keywords, and targeting to improve performance.

And one more thing: don’t expect miracles overnight. Ads are a process, and you need a pro (like my team at Mammoth Marketing) to make sure they actually drive ROI.

Step 5: Brand Awareness & The Long Game

Ads and SEO are great, but if people don’t know your brand, they won’t trust you. That’s why brand awareness campaigns are so important.

Ways to Build Brand Awareness:

• YouTube & Display Ads: Even if they don’t click, seeing your brand builds recognition.

• Social Media Engagement: Posting helpful plumbing tips, before/after photos, and funny relatable content helps create a personality for your brand.

• Community Involvement: Sponsor local events, join community Facebook groups, and get involved in your area.

When people recognize your brand, your PPC costs go down, your SEO works better, and your leads convert faster.

Final Thoughts: The Marketing Engine That Keeps Running

Marketing isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. The first few miles are tough, and you’ll feel like nothing’s happening. But keep refining, keep testing, and eventually, your marketing will turn into a well-oiled machine that brings in leads consistently.

So, what’s your next move? If you want my team to take a look at your plumbing business and map out the best strategy for you, schedule a consultation at https://tylerwilliams.net/. Let’s get your marketing engine roaring!

Now go out there and dominate your market (and maybe fix a few leaks while you’re at it).