Due to great demand for housing services, housing will account for over a third (37%) of the UK’s total annual construction output between 2014 and 2018. This includes plumbing services.
According to recent studies, plumbers are set to be in high demand across the UK in the near future, as the construction industry will need to employ over 180,000 new recruits by 2018.
Check out this featured infographic about Online Marketing for Plumbers:
People are now looking for plumbing services online.
As more and more people need the services of plumbers, their means of locating plumbing contractors have changed dramatically through the years. Gone are the days of Yellow Pages and brochures. Today, customers are increasingly turning to the Internet to find plumbing contractors.
According to GE Capital Retail Bank, as much as 81% of customers conduct online research before purchasing a product or service. Brafton, on the other hand, revealed that 89% of customers use search engines to acquire services.
Does your plumbing services come up in the search engines?
Many plumbers are still unaware of what online marketing can do for them.
With most customers now turning to search engines to find and hire contractors, Yellow Pages and local newspaper listings are no longer making the cut. Unfortunately, a lot of plumbing contractors do not know this.
O*NET OnLine found that almost half, or 45% of plumbing contractors never go online and use email to contact customers.
Will customers be able to contact your plumbing services online?
Get A Mobile-Friendly Website Now.
Sure most of your prospective customers are searching online, but the thing is, they aren’t just performing searches on desktop computers. When finding and acquiring services, a growing number of customers perform searches on mobile devices.
In one study, comScore concluded that 61% of digital consumption takes place on mobile and tablet. Marketo revealed that 74% of buyers searched on mobile using a search engine before making a purchase, and 50% of mobile device users reported making a purchase in a browser on their mobile. Companies that design their website specifically for mobile gained tangible benefits, with 62% saying they had increased sales after getting a mobile-friendly business website, according to Econsultancy.
Is your website mobile-friendly? Do you have a website to begin with?
Take Advantage of Online Local Searches.
Businesses that target a specific geographical area, like plumbing services, can maximise the full potential of online local searches.
Collective data from Google, Ipsos Media CT, Purchased, TMP Directional Marketing, and 15 Miles, indicate that the number of buyers doing local search increased from 70% in 2010 to 80% in 2014. Additionally, BrightLocal found that as much as 54% of searchers include a local modifier (such as a city or zip code) in their search, and 71% of searchers value the information they find in local search results.
Do you have a strong presence in local listings, maps, and directories?
Include Video in Your Online Marketing Mix.
Because of its engaging visual format, videos can effectively transform visitors to customers.
comScore discovered that visitors who view videos stay on websites an average of 2 minutes longer than those who do not. Moreover, 64% of consumers are more likely to buy a product or service after watching a video about it. ReelSEO, on the other hand, reported that homepage videos are shown to increase conversion rates by 20% or more. Almost 40% have called a vendor or service provider after watching a video, according to Forbes.
Can customers watch videos about your services online?
Make Use of Customer Reviews.
When deciding whether to purchase or not, potential customers rely on reviews and testimonials they find online. Recent studies suggest that 59% of online searchers consider customer reviews to be more valuable than expert reviews.
Seventy percent of online searchers say they look at online reviews before purchasing a product or service. The same percentage of global consumers trust online consumer reviews, making it the second most trusted form or advertising behind earned media. Additionally, 92% deemed customers reviews as “extremely” or “very” helpful.
Are there positive reviews about your plumbing services online?
Expand your visibility online and reach more customers who need your plumbing services. Fill out the form or give us a call at 020 8834 4795 to schedule a free consultation.