SEO for Plumbers: A Local SEO Guide to Getting More Calls
The profession of plumbing is that of an emergency service. If an individual has burst pipes at 10 pm or has drain clogs on a Sunday morning, he is going to Google and searching for the nearest emergency plumber rather than going to a phone book.
Your plumbing company needs to rank in local searches to get the best leads for yourself.
Why Local SEO Is Critical for Plumbers
The scope of plumbing services varies from $150 calls to $15,000+ repiping projects. One lead from a natural organic listing can provide a huge return of investment, and unlike advertising listings that you pay for, organic listings continue providing leads even if you are not paying anymore.
Statistics: 90% of plumbing related searches occur on mobile devices during moments when help is needed instantly. The top listing in a pack (map featuring 3 local businesses) receives 84% clicks from these searches. Being ranked in the Local Pack is the most important factor for any plumbing business.
Google Business Profile: Your Most Important Asset
The Google My Business Profile drives the entire local pack display process. All other SEO processes feed into this main element.
Complete GBP Optimization for Plumbers
Business Name
Complete legal name of the business entity. No keyword stuffing.
Primary Category
“Plumber.”
Secondary categorization:
- Emergency Plumber
- Drainage Services
- Water Heater Installation Services
Description
Write 750 characters about your services, areas covered, years in business, licensing, and availability for emergencies. If you provide 24/7 service, mention this, it is highlighted in search results.
Services List
Enter all services with descriptions:
- Emergency Plumbing
- Drain Cleaning
- Water Heater Services
- Leak Detection
- Pipe Repair & Replacement
- Sewer Line Repair
- Toilet Services
- Faucet Repair
- Garbage Disposal Installation
- Sump Pump Installation
Service Areas
Enter all locations that you cover. This is important to make your listing visible to people searching outside your location.
Hours
For 24/7 emergency availability, indicate working hours. “Open 24 hours” makes your listing stand out in emergency searches.
Photos
Upload photos of your vans, crew, job done before/after, and your office (if any).
Plumber Website SEO
Your website helps your GBP with more keywords and credibility.
Homepage
Contact info needs to say:
- Plumber who is licensed and insured
- Your plumbing business’s location (city)
- Availability 24/7 for emergencies (if applicable)
- Large phone number at the top of your website
- Length of time you’ve been in business
Homepage Title Tag
“Plumber License [City] | 24/7 Emergency Plumber Service | [Business Name]”
“Best Plumbing Services in [City], Offered 24/7”
Service Pages
Create a unique page for each service offered by your plumbing company. These pages will capture keywords related to the particular service and convert visitors looking for it into customers.
Priority Service Pages
- Emergency Plumber [City]
- Drain Cleaning [City]
- Water Heater Repair and Installation [City]
- Leak Detection [City]
- Pipe Repair and Replacement [City]
- Sewer Line Services [City]
- Toilet Repair [City]
Per page: 400-600 words, keyword in title, service description, pricing information even with ranges, clear CTA with telephone number and a mobile-friendly quote form or calculator for after-hours web leads.
Service Area Pages
When you provide services to several cities/towns, make sure that you create separate pages for each:
/plumber-[city]/
/emergency-plumber-[city]/
The purpose of these pages is to capture searches from localities where you do not have any physical address.
Top Keywords for Plumbers
Emergency (Highest Intent)
- “emergency plumber near me”
- “emergency plumber [city]”
- “24 hour plumber [city]”
- “plumber near me open now”
Service-Specific
- “drain cleaning [city]”
- “water heater repair [city]”
- “pipe leak repair [city]”
- “sewer line repair [city]”
- “toilet repair [city]”
Informational
- “How much does a plumber cost?”
- “Why isn’t my water heater working?”
- “How do you unclog a drain?”
- “Signs of a burst pipe?”
Building Local Citations for Plumbers
Other than GBP, increase your visibility through plumbing directories.
General (Essential)
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- Yelp
- Facebook Business
- Better Business Bureau
Home Services Specific (High Value)
- Angi (formerly Angie’s List)
- HomeAdvisor
- Thumbtack
- Houzz
- Porch
- Nextdoor Business
Trade-Specific
Local plumbing association directories, licensing boards directories.
Generating Reviews for Your Plumbing Business
The power of social validation is embodied in reviews. In plumbing, with customers having limited connections with providers, reviews act as the key credibility indicator.
Best Review Generation Tactics for Plumbers
Text Immediately After Job Completion
After the job is finished and the client is satisfied, send the following message:
“Thank you for choosing [Company]! Should we have done a good job, your Google review will mean the world to us: [Link]!”
The most responsive period after providing services is up to two hours.
Train Your Technicians
The technician must always thank the client verbally and talk about the reviews.
“If you were satisfied with the service, your quick Google review will go a long way for our little business.”
Follow Up on Bigger Jobs
When it comes to big jobs such as repiping or water heater installations, a follow-up phone call from the owner personally results in great relationships and reviews.
Content for Plumbing SEO
The simplest of blogs will generate huge amounts of traffic and create credibility.
High-Value Content Ideas
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Plumber in [City]?
High intent researchers. Straightforward pricing structures limit unqualified inquiries.
10 Signs You Have a Sewer Line Problem
Informational content to generate backlinks from concerned homeowners.
Tankless vs. Traditional Water Heaters: Which Should You Choose?
Comparison content for commercial purposes, targeting homeowners in the buying stage.
What to Do When a Pipe Bursts (Before the Plumber Arrives)
Emergency content for ranking on relevant search terms and gaining trust.
Tracking Your Plumbing SEO
GBP Insights
Calls, visits to websites via clicks, requests for directions from your listing.
Call Tracking Number
A different number for GBP to track calls to local SEO.
Search Console
SEO Rankings & Traffic.
Ask New Customers
“How did you find us?”
Increased “Google Search” answers show that SEO is effective.
Conclusion
The SEO for plumbing offers one of the best ROIs among local SEO services due to the immediacy of intent, high value of jobs, and the winnable market conditions in most regions. With an optimized GBP and good website together with reviews, inbound calls will be produced without the need to continue spending on advertising. Put in the effort. You’ll reap the rewards.