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With over 132,000 plumbing businesses in the country, even the best plumbers can struggle to stand out. You need to be visible to homeowners who are ready to hire, and smart plumbing advertising makes the difference. The right ads help you get noticed, win more jobs, and build trust with homeowners in your community.
The best part? You don’t need a huge budget or a marketing degree to create plumbing ads that work. This guide covers affordable marketing tactics for new businesses, advanced ad strategies for established companies, and tips for tracking results. You’ll also learn how Housecall Pro makes it easier to convert those ad clicks into real jobs.
Key takeaways
Here’s how you can get the most out of your plumbing ads:
Mix ad types: Combine traditional, community, and digital ads to reach more local customers.
Track performance: Monitor cost per lead, conversion rates, and revenue to see what drives results.
Follow up fast: Respond quickly to new leads to boost your booked plumbing jobs.
Automate your workflow: Use tools like Housecall Pro to handle follow-ups, scheduling, and reviews so you can turn more leads into paying customers.
Jump ahead
Types of plumbing ads
Plumbing ads come in several forms to reach potential customers in different places. To grow your plumbing business, consider the ad options below.
Traditional advertising
Traditional ads use conventional media to get your name in front of local homeowners where they already spend time. Here are some examples you can try:
- Flyers and direct mail: Create professional plumbing flyers and business cards to hand out at local events or mail directly to neighborhoods to drum up brand awareness.
- Print ads and radio: Advertise in local newspapers and radio stations that residents already trust for information.
- Billboards, posters, and transit ads: Place eye-catching ads along busy roads, in bus shelters, or at other popular public spots to increase your visibility.
- Vehicle wraps: Turn your work van into a mobile billboard with your logo, business name, phone number, slogan, and website URL.
Emily Demirdonder, director of operations and marketing at Proximity Plumbing, says traditional advertising was key to the company’s growth. “I printed 10,000 flyers and delivered them myself. Before spending any money on ads, we got Google reviews from actual locals.” Only after they established credibility in the community did they expand to digital, but with some smart planning, you can target both print and online ads at once to reach customers faster.
Digital advertising
When you advertise your brand online, you can reach highly targeted audiences, track results in real time, and adjust your campaigns instantly to maximize ROI. Here’s how to get started:
- Google Ads and Local Services Ads (LSAs): Both of these ads allow you to appear at the top of search results when customers Google terms like “plumber near me,” but they work differently. Google Ads charge you each time someone clicks and visits your website, while LSAs charge only when a customer contacts you directly through the ad. Running both helps you get more visibility, website visits, and calls from people ready to hire.
- Paid social media campaigns: Run sponsored posts on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. You can target your audience based on age, location, keywords, interests, and online behavior to zero in on homeowners most likely to hire you.
- Paid directories: List your business on online directories like Angi and Yelp. These platforms help potential customers find your business quickly, read reviews, and contact you.
- Video ads: Share customer testimonials or short clips of your team in action. These ads are especially effective because they build trust quickly and show potential customers exactly what to expect from your services.
- Geo-fencing ads: Target people near job sites and local hardware stores with ads that appear when they’re nearby. These hyperlocal campaigns help you reach customers in your exact service area and avoid wasting budget on irrelevant locations.
- Hyperlocal landing pages: Create location-specific pages so your ads appear in local search results, such as “HVAC Repair in Austin, TX.” If you serve multiple areas, build a separate page for each city or neighborhood.
Community-based advertising
When you’re active in the community, you become more than a listing online—you become the plumber people remember and trust. This can be especially helpful in smaller markets where reputation is everything.
Here are some community-focused plumbing advertising examples:
- Local sponsorships: Support youth sports teams, community fairs, and other local events. Putting your logo on banners or jerseys keeps your business top-of-mind and shows you invest in the community.
- Referral programs: Encourage happy customers to spread the word by offering discounts or rewards for every new client they refer to your business. Danny Wilcox, marketing manager at Carini Home Services, has seen the success of this firsthand: “When it comes to getting those first customers, nothing beats local trust and referrals.”
- Trade partnerships: Team up with HVAC pros, electricians, remodelers, or real estate agents to offer bundled service packages. Vance Morris of Deliver Service Now recommends regularly visiting their offices in person to keep the relationships strong. “Drop by with something useful—tips, small gifts, updates,” he says. “No email replaces that face-to-face trust.”
- PR and local media outreach: Share your company’s stories with neighborhood magazines or local radio. For example, highlight a project where you helped a local school or community center.
- Workshops or free classes: Host workshops on homeowner plumbing basics, like preventing clogs or saving water. Providing value positions your business as a trusted local expert.
Pro tip: Great marketing strategies mix digital, traditional, and community strategies. Omnichannel marketing—combining several types—can boost customer conversions by up to 287%.
Cost-effective plumbing advertising ideas
Stretch your ad budget further with these tips:
- Complete your Google Business Profile: Fill in your name, address, phone, and service areas. Upload real photos of your team and jobs to build trust.
- Post consistently on social media: Experts recommend posting on social media three to five times per week. Share finished projects, customer testimonials, or quick videos to keep your brand top of mind.
- Request reviews: Ask happy customers to post on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Use their feedback in your ads to attract new leads.
- Capture leads with chat tools: Set up Facebook Messenger or a chatbot on your plumbing website to reply instantly to questions and capture new leads, even after hours.
- Follow up with past customers: Send short, friendly texts or emails reminding them about annual maintenance or seasonal checks.
No matter your budget, keep an eye on which tactics bring calls and bookings. Invest more where you see results, and cut what doesn’t perform.
Advanced plumbing advertising ideas
When you’re ready to take your plumbing business to the next level, these strategies can help you reach more high-value leads:
- Retargeting ads: Stay in front of potential customers who visited your website but didn’t book. Platforms like Google Display and Facebook Pixel let you show reminder ads to these “warm” leads, increasing your chances of winning their business.
- Seasonal campaigns: Offer seasonal offers, like water heater flushes before winter or drain cleanings ahead of holidays when guests arrive. These campaigns help keep your crew booked during the slow months.
- Bundled service offers: Highlight packages (for example, drain cleaning plus sewer inspection) with clear pricing details in your plumbing brochure.
- Mobile-first advertising: Run click-to-call Google Ads, after-hours text promotions, or SMS follow-ups for quotes and appointment reminders. Mobile campaigns make it easy for customers to reach you the moment they need help.
- Lookalike audiences: Use Meta or Google Ads to find new customers who share traits with your best clients. Lookalike targeting boosts the odds that your ads reach people ready to book.
- Membership or service contract promotions: Promote annual safety checks, discounted repairs, or VIP customer perks. These programs create predictable revenue and help lock in customer loyalty.
Pro tip: Use Housecall Pro to set up automated recurring service plans that remind customers when it’s time to book and keep your schedule full year-round.
How to advertise your plumbing business step-by-step
Follow these steps to get the most out of your plumbing commercials and generate more booked jobs:
1. Set clear advertising goals
Decide what you want to achieve from the ad campaign, whether it’s more leads, repeat business, or brand awareness. Make your goals specific and measurable, like “generate 20 service calls a month” or “boost Facebook visits by 30%” so you can track your progress.
2. Identify your ideal customers
Figure out who you want to reach, where they live, and what plumbing problems they face. This helps you craft ads that speak directly to their needs. For example, homeowners with older properties might respond to a message like, “Save on energy bills with a new tankless water heater.”
3. Choose advertising platforms and channels
Select two or three advertising channels that match your audience and budget. Think Google, Facebook, Instagram, or even your local newspaper. Start small and see which platforms drive the best leads before you scale up.
4. Set your budget and timeline
To avoid overspending, choose a budget and timeframe for each campaign. Use your average job size and close rate to guide your spend. Start with short test campaigns (like new service launches), then adjust based on what works.
5. Create ad messaging
Write clear, direct ad copy and use visuals that build trust. Use clear language, highlight promotions (like “$99 drain cleaning”), and include real photos of your team, trucks, or projects to boost your credibility.
Free download: Use Housecall Pro’s customizable plumbing advertisement template for a consistent, professional look.
6. Set up tracking, follow-up, and lead capture
Use dedicated phone numbers, campaign-specific URLs, or unique landing pages to trace where leads come from. New Era Plumbing & HVAC president Danny Penn recommends responding promptly to all inquiries. “Customers hire the plumber who answers first …pick up the phone no matter what, even if you’re on a call under the sink.”
Use Housecall Pro’s CRM tools to automate SMS and emails so no potential customer slips through the cracks.
7. Launch, monitor, and optimize
Once your plumbing ads are live, track key metrics and shift your budget to focus on the best-performing campaigns. Here are performance metrics to track:
- Cost per lead (CPL): Total ad spend ÷ number of leads. This tells you how much each new lead costs, helping you see which campaigns are most cost-effective.
- Conversion rate: (Booked jobs ÷ total visitors) × 100. This shows the percentage of visitors who become paying customers so you can understand how well your ads turn interest into action.
- Return on ad spend (ROAS): Revenue ÷ ad spend. This measures how much revenue each dollar of advertising generates, helping you understand overall profitability.
Continue testing different ad copy, visuals, and offers to see what drives conversions.
Pro tip: Housecall Pro’s reporting dashboard helps you monitor campaign results and job costs so you can make data-backed adjustments.
8. Nurture unbooked leads with drip campaigns
Not every prospect will book immediately, but you can turn hesitation into action with a drip campaign. Send a series of helpful emails or texts with seasonal tune-ups, plumbing maintenance tips, or exclusive discounts. Make it easy for customers to act by including clear links and call-to-action (CTA) buttons.
9. Analyze results and plan your next campaigns
Regularly review what’s working and what isn’t. Look at lead volume, conversion rates, and costs. Scale up the best-performing ads, drop the rest, and keep refining your approach to get better results with each campaign.
Common plumbing ad mistakes to avoid
Even experienced plumbing businesses can lose money on ads when campaigns miss the mark. Watch out for these pitfalls, and use these quick fixes to stay ahead:
- Over-relying on one channel: Don’t put all your ad dollars in one place. Spread your budget across multiple platforms (Google, Facebook, direct mail) to reach more potential customers.
- Not targeting by location: Showing ads outside your service area wastes money. Use geo-targeting tools in Google or Meta Ads to make sure you’re reaching only the neighborhoods you serve.
- Forgetting mobile optimization: Over 60% of online searches happen on mobile. Use vertical images and bold, easy-to-read fonts so your ads look good and work well on any phone.
- Not tracking ad spend or ROI: Without proper tracking, you’re guessing which ads are profitable. Housecall Pro’s reporting tools help you see what’s working and turn those insights into action.
- Copying competitors instead of standing out: Generic plumbing ads blend into the noise. When you highlight your competitive edge—like “24/7 emergency response” or “no weekend fees”—you can catch customers’ attention.
- Ignoring unbooked leads: Not every prospect books right away, and ignoring them means missed revenue. Make a habit of calling or texting unbooked leads within 48–72 hours. That quick follow-up can turn hesitation into a booking.
How Housecall Pro’s plumbing software can help
Advertising gets the phone ringing, but winning the job is what really counts. Housecall Pro’s plumbing software helps you convert leads into loyal customers without extra admin work.
Take Harold Case and Sonlight Services as an example. Before switching to Housecall Pro, Case’s team struggled to follow up with customers and track repeat business. With automated emails and texts, Sonlight Services turned more leads into jobs, expanded its fleet to five trucks, and grew from under $9,000 to $1.8 million in annual profit. The company’s Google review count also grew from 50 to over 800.
Housecall Pro can help you replicate that success with features like:
- CRM tools to manage leads
- Automated follow-ups to keep prospects engaged
- Online booking to make scheduling seamless
- Review requests after each successful service
If you’re ready to improve your booking rates and grow your plumbing business, try Housecall Pro free for 14 days.
FAQs
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What’s a good plumbing slogan?
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The best plumbing advertising slogans are short and memorable. Keep it to four words or fewer and make it benefit-driven. You want your brand to be memorable at the moment a homeowner needs help.
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Does Google Ads work for plumbers?
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Yes, Google Ads are a great way for plumbers to reach audiences searching for services right now. The key is targeting local keywords that your ideal customers would search for when looking for a plumber. Then, drive that traffic to a mobile-friendly landing page with a clear CTA.
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How do I market myself as a plumber?
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To market yourself as a plumber, start by creating brand awareness in your community. Share flyers, create referral programs, and advertise in local media platforms. Then, create a strong online presence by advertising your brand on Google, social media, and service directories.
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How much should a plumbing company spend on advertising?
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Most plumbers start by spending 8%–15% of their monthly revenue on advertising. As you see what works, scale up for even better results.
