ideas
So, after the bad experience with strictly plumbers, I'm trying to find ideas to grow my business again any ideas?
Forum Discussion
You didn't like Strictly Plumbers? I've seen them advertised since I started my company. I had no interest in their services other than their PlumbLine phone answering service, but I was curious what all they offer and their rates.
As for your question, the first and most obvious step is to work on your Google My Business profile, website, and social media profiles. 90% of our customers find us online.
I've joined BNI groups with moderate success but they're so needy it's not worth it.
I've done the email campaigns. Out of hundreds I got two property management companies. But they were big clients! Accounted for over $300k in revenue last year. So it can pay off but it's all about the right time. Will your email land in front of them just as they need it or will they move it to spam?
PPC Ads are hit or miss. You need to do your research on PPC marketing if you're doing it yourself. If you're paying someone, you could hit gold or waste your money. It's expensive and marketing companies can drain your budget quickly.
Radio/TV/OTT ads are only good for brand recognition in my opinion. I spent $2,750 a month for a year with Cumulus and I couldn't tell you if we got even one customer from it. Being a new company, It did help to lend some credibility to our brand. We were able to use our OTT commercials on our Google, youtube, and website. I never received any kind of KPI reports to justify the cost.
I'm still learning myself and will follow this discussion.
I always think of marketing as building referral pipelines. Every HOA, Realtor, property manager, contractor, insurance agent and local business group is a potential long-term customer source. One relationship can lead to dozens of jobs.
Instead of focusing only on finding your next customer, think about building relationships with businesses that already serve the customers you want to reach.
Places to Network for Service Businesses
Real Estate & Property Management
- HOAs (Homeowners Associations)
- Property management companies
- Apartment complexes
- Realtors
- Real estate investors
- Home inspectors
- Mortgage brokers
- Commercial property owners
- Facility managers
- Storage facilities
Construction & Home Services
- General contractors
- Remodeling contractors
- Roofers
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- HVAC companies
- Landscapers
- Pest control companies
- Cleaning companies
- Painters
- Flooring companies
- Restoration companies
- Window and door companies
Related Businesses
- Insurance agents
- Hardware stores
- Lumber yards
- Local nurseries and garden centers
- Self-storage operators
- Warehouses and industrial parks
Business & Professional Networks
- Chamber of Commerce
- BNI networking groups
- Rotary Club
- Kiwanis Club
- Lions Club
- Business expos
- Home and garden shows
- City business events
- Economic development offices
Community Connections
- Neighborhood associations
- Senior centers
- Churches
- Schools
- Youth sports leagues (sponsorships)
- Community festivals
- Facebook community groups
- Nextdoor
- Local Reddit communities
Local Government Connections
- Building departments
- Code enforcement offices
- Local economic development agencies
The goal isn't to contact everyone on this list. It's to identify which businesses regularly encounter customers who need your services.
Start with five. Build genuine relationships. Learn what their customers need and look for opportunities to refer business both ways.
A single property manager might oversee dozens of properties. One contractor might work with homeowners throughout the year. Those connections can create opportunities long after your initial introduction.
Marketing brings attention to your business. Referral pipelines help create a steady path for new opportunities.
Sometimes growing your business isn't about spending more on advertising. It's about being connected to the right people.