What do you think is the best way to advertise?

I think it all depends on the specific market. I've watched a ton of videos that say Facebook is the way to go but I don't get much from the ads I run on there other than exposure. I've done them myself, copied successful cleaning companies from across the country (far away from my market and from early mentor's company's), and paid people to run them -- all with very little ROI. Nextdoor has been crickets.
We have a local classifieds that prints weekly that I get most of my business from, next would be Google/SEO. Google Local Services works great and I turn it on and off depending on our needs at the time. It can get overwhelming quickly so I can't run them non-stop.

Vehicle wrap works well, yard signs placed near the street when we work in higher-income areas also do well for us.

Hi Grant,

I run a framing company ( lpdmcontruction.ca ) and mortgage brokerage service ( bussieremortgages.ca ) in Ottawa, Ontario. I just reviewed your website, and it looks great. However, I’d recommend a few quick fixes that could help you significantly.

1. Since you’re a plumber and not a remote service provider, clients should know the moment they land on your website what city or area you serve. For example: Meet Grant, Ottawa’s friendly plumber and all-around nice guy.
2. If you offer emergency services, I’d mention that on the landing page as well.
3. Regarding local advertising, I recommend networking with renovation companies, general contractors, electricians, and realtors.
4. If you’re willing to invest a bit of money without much risk, I’d also suggest using Bark. You only pay for the lead if it fits your criteria, and you should be able to close at least 1 in 5.

That’s it for now! Keep us posted on your success.

Cheers for now,
Armand Bussiere

My area is a very rural. There are roughly 18,000 people in a four-county stretch. You have to "wear" a few hats to make it. I am a handyman with construction experience and farm/ranch background who provides facilities maintenance inside and outside the building. Most of what we do is janitorial, but I have done everything from repair gutters to putting patio furniture together. I started 7 years ago as a window cleaner and that is most of our residential side. I would say my best advertising is #1 My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ blesses me with abundance.

#2 Word of Mouth. #3 Work Vehicle (Do not go cheap with outside vehicle display- get it wrapped and make big words.) #4 Google (larger commercial clients are a blessing as they become the bread and butter that stabilizes the business. My advice with that is to use jobbers website and keep info online simple. Arm yourself with brochures and business cards to give or send to people who are really interested. #5 Personal Appearance. Mandate covered tattoos, mandate a sharp and practical company uniform and your standards on drinking, smoking...etc. #6 Be personable. My wife sends out company cards with a family photo. This is also a highly effective way to grab the attention of residential customers in our rural Montana area.

85% of my clientele is commercial. Of the residential would say 95% of my customers are 50+. Jobber has been difficult to encourage them to use because of those 50+ most are retired or 60+.

The best way to advertise is to build out your ideal customer avatar and do market research/analysis, prior to spending ANY money.

From there you can look at each sales channel and maximize your marketing dollars by leveraging a well built funnel for each channel. That takes time and testing, but once completed, you know you're spending your dollars in the right place and not wasting time nor money. 

EX:
Social media might be great to only gain brand awareness in your specific location due to competitors, but not for finding customers.

Hey, GBPlumbing! Social media, billboards, and local sports sponsorships sound like a great mix.

Different methods reach different audiences—social media might be perfect for younger homeowners, while billboards can grab attention from a wider age range. Local sports sponsorships also build trust and familiarity within your community.

Out of curiosity, who would you say is your main target demographic? Knowing exactly who you want to reach can really shape your advertising strategy. Sometimes, certain channels work better for different audiences, and refining as you grow can make a big impact!

Just some personal experience here. 

I spent tons of money on ads over many platforms. I spent a 1/4 of the money on Facebook ads with 10x the hits (x10 is exaggerating but it really felt that significant)

Right now we use a growth partner that only charges us per qualified call from homeowners. We don’t have to pay for ads, an ad manager, direct mail, word of mouth, door to door or any other time consuming methods anymore. It’s kind of nice to just pick up the phone, book an appointment and focus on the actual work.