Unleashing Your Inner Promoter: Nate Santos of Santos Bros Plumbing on Courageous Business Growth

Hey everyone, Tyler Williams here from Mammoth Marketing for Plumbers! I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with a truly inspiring client of ours, Nate Santos, the owner of Santos Bros Plumbing. Now, Nate isn't just your run-of-the-mill plumber; he's a natural-born promoter, a skill that honestly takes any marketing efforts we do for him and launches them into the stratosphere. Seriously, I wish every plumbing business we worked with had even a fraction of his knack for putting himself and his company out there.

So, I wanted to pick Nate's brain a bit and delve into what makes him tick. He’s got this incredible ability to connect with people, and it’s clearly a massive driver of his success. Let's dive into the conversation and see what golden nuggets we can extract!

From Center Stage to Service Calls: The Genesis of a Natural Promoter

I kicked things off by asking Nate about the roots of his self-promotion prowess. He mentioned that he kind of considers himself a natural promoter, but where did that come from? It’s a fascinating story, and it really sets the stage for understanding his unique approach.

Nate credits a lot of it to his upbringing. His dad is a performer – a mariachi singer who does this incredible show singing on horseback while the horse dances! Growing up in that environment, Nate’s dad instilled in him the importance of being outgoing, saying hello to people, and shaking hands. From a young age, around 11 or 12, Nate was even MCing events like weddings, introducing his dad and the happy couple. He even sang on stage at church as a little kid! So, for Nate, it wasn't a conscious decision as much as it was a learned behavior, a "muscle memory" as he put it. His dad pretty much forced him to develop those skills! There was even this hilarious story about his dad making him learn a Spanish mariachi love song about a boy missing a girl with a blue backpack when he was just five or six years old and performing it for the family. Talk about getting comfortable being uncomfortable early on!

Most plumbers I know aren't exactly social butterflies or performers by trade. It’s just not the typical background. But Nate is definitely an exception, and it’s clearly a superpower for his business.

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Advice for the Bashful Plumber

Last year, I had the chance to do some photos and videos with Nate, and it was truly eye-opening to watch him interact with people. We were in the downtown square, circling his van for footage, and even when we were just parked, getting shots of him in the van, he just drew people in! It wasn't something I prompted; he just seemed to instinctively seize the opportunity. It was pure improv, but it gave us fantastic content.

I asked Nate what drives him to be so outgoing and what advice he’d give to someone who wants to be like that but struggles with shyness. His key takeaway? You've got to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It's about pushing past your comfort zone.

One of his top recommendations is to attend different networking events. Make it a goal to shake hands and talk to at least ten different people and get at least five phone numbers. Then, gradually increase that number. He also suggested Toastmasters, a fantastic organization focused on public speaking and communication. Even though Nate is already a natural, he’s attended a few meetings because he enjoys conversing with people. I’ve always been curious about Toastmasters myself – it definitely sounds like a great way to build that "speaking in front of people" muscle.

Lights, Camera, Action! Embracing Social Media with Confidence

Speaking of muscles, I’ve noticed Nate really ramping up his social media game lately, especially with short videos. I was curious if he has any pre-camera rituals to get himself pumped up.

His answer was pretty interesting! He actually got a tip from a buddy of his, Austin Yro of Central Coast Moving. Austin suggested doing 10-20 push-ups right before hitting record to get the blood flowing and the energy up. Nate admitted he gets shy sometimes despite his natural tendencies, so this little trick helps him get into the right headspace. He’ll do the push-ups, catch his breath, and then boom – "What's up everybody? Nate Santos here!"

What’s impressive is that he doesn’t do a million takes. He’s usually good within two or three, and sometimes he nails it on the first try! You can see these videos on his business’s Facebook and Instagram pages – Santos Bros Plumbing.

Nate even shared a funny story about how he initially got his social media content rolling. His brother, Jared (who runs a coaching program), was on a podcast talking about using memes for his business. Nate literally went to Jared’s Instagram and screenshotted his content for his first few weeks, just putting his own logo on it! Eventually, his own creative juices started flowing, and he began incorporating movies and quotes he liked into his memes. It’s all about tapping into the current conversation and making it fun, not just salesy.

I also asked him if he ever records something and then gets cold feet about publishing it. He said he hasn’t really experienced that. He uses an app called CapCut for editing, which he learned about at a Tradewinds event. He raved about its features, especially the ability to sync audio to text that pops up on the screen. There are also other cool apps out there like Captions, which does transcriptions, animations, and even AI edits to add B-roll – the technology these days is incredible!

Beyond the Wrench: Building Community Connections That Count

We then shifted gears to community engagement. I think a lot of business owners, especially plumbers, can be hesitant to start community events. So, I asked Nate about what Santos Bros Plumbing does to maintain that local connection.

Again, Nate’s dad’s influence shines through. His dad has been performing at local community events for years, and Nate wanted to bring that same community spirit into his business. He believes it’s worked incredibly well for them.

One of the first things he touched on was branding. He’s a big advocate for getting away from the plain white truck with a generic logo. He was stoked that when he came to us, his truck was already fully branded with colorful logos and avatars. He even pointed out how our advice about having eyes and a smile on the avatar really resonated with him because he already had that going on. This vibrant branding helps them stand out. Kids love the trucks, and as Nate wisely pointed out, if the kids like you, the parents are more likely to call you! He even makes a point to give kids fist bumps and engage with them.

Then, there’s the whole horse thing. Before his plumbing business, they were already participating in local parades with their dancing horses. Nate cleverly incorporated this into his business by having their branded work truck haul a flatbed trailer with live music (mariachi bands!) and their dancing horses during parades. Because they’ve been known as "those guys with the dancing horses" for years, when people see their branded truck, there’s an instant recognition and positive association. It’s like a transference of goodwill. People know they’re a part of the community and plan to stick around.

Nate also emphasized the importance of being authentic when participating in community events. Don’t just do it for the business; genuinely care about your community. He mentioned another event he’s involved in, the Stacy Strong Golf Tournament, which raises funds for cancer patients. Being present at these events, setting up your truck, doing demos, or participating in home shows are all great ways to connect. People can sniff out insincerity, and a genuine connection to the community can give you a real edge over competitors.

Turning Missed Connections into Golden Opportunities

I remember listening to one of Nate’s calls where a woman called looking for a different plumber but ended up booking with Santos Bros Plumbing. It’s a common scenario with online advertising, and I think a lot of businesses drop the ball in these situations. Their CSR might just say, "Oh, we're not them," and hang up. But Nate capitalized on that opportunity beautifully.

His mindset is simple: if someone calls you for plumbing help, why wouldn’t you try to convert them, even if they were initially looking for someone else? When someone calls asking for another plumber, Nate is honest but immediately pivots to how he can help them. He focuses on exceptional customer service, being kind, and genuinely listening to their needs. By engaging in a conversation, he can often schedule the service right then and there. In the specific call I’m thinking of, the woman was so impressed with Nate’s demeanor that she decided to go with him! Plus, he collected all her information for future retargeting. It was a masterful conversion!

It’s about keeping the conversation going, taking care of the person on the other end, and realizing that every call is an opportunity. And as Nate pointed out, a happy customer like that can be a loyal client for years to come.

The Human Touch: The Heart of a Successful Plumbing Business

Ultimately, what shines through with Nate is his genuine ability to connect with people on a human level. He even shared a funny anecdote about being at the gym and taking a call, and the lady at the front desk was blown away by his friendly demeanor. He makes a point to find little things to connect with people on, like complimenting their name or even singing a song if it fits the situation! It injects fun into the interaction and creates a memorable experience.

At the end of the day, as Nate wisely said, while we’re plumbers there to fix problems, what customers truly care about is how we make them feel. It’s about the interaction. And Nate has truly mastered the art of being a human to other humans, which is the heart of any successful business.

Final Thoughts from a Courageous Plumber

As we wrapped up our chat, I asked Nate if he had any parting words of wisdom. He reiterated the importance of getting involved in networking events and making a conscious effort to connect with people. He also recommended the classic book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," a timeless guide to building relationships.

If you want to see Nate’s approach in action and maybe even adapt some of his style (with your own flair, of course!), you can find him on Instagram and Facebook at Santos Bros Plumbing, and you can follow him personally on Instagram at The Real Nate Santos.

Nate, thank you so much for sharing your insights! Your approach is truly valuable, and I think a lot of people can learn from your courageous and human-centered approach to building a plumbing business.

Want to take your plumbing business to the next level? If you'd like the Mammoth Marketing for Plumbers crew to take a look at what you need to focus on to grow your business, schedule a consultation with us today at https://tylerwilliams.net/. We'd love to help you unleash your inner promoter!