Tag Archives: Local Mapping

Sunset West Plumber & Rooter | True Client Stories

With hundreds of clients across the United States, our team at Plumbing Webmasters hears some pretty fantastic stories. Naturally, we’re thrilled to listen when our clients call back with the latest revenue milestone or ranking triumph. Every once in a while however, a plumbing company delivers a truly awe-inspiring testimony of success.

Those are the stories we love to share the most!

Today, Jason and Nolen share the story of Jimmy, a king among California plumbers. This hardworking professional now sits at the top of search results for dozens and dozens of high-volume keywords in his community. It’s not just any community either; it’s the Westside of Los Angeles. Be sure to listen in and see what ideas you can take away!

Table of Contents

Learn Some Amazing SEO Tips for Plumbing!

While organic ranking takes time, local rankings can change quickly with the right tools!
Plumbers can rank high for hundreds of keywords, not just a couple dozen.
SEO grants opportunity for sustainable growth.
Organic SEO produces cheap, high quality results that would cost thousands in PPC ads.

A California Plumbing King

When it comes to SEO, success is often measured in keyword victories. It’s no mystery that ranking for the right plumbing key phrases can rapidly increase both leads and revenue potential. Four years ago, that goal seemed out of reach for Jimmy, a Los Angeles resident and plumbing professional.

Today, he sits atop of throne of hundreds of premium keywords! He is most certainly winning.

When Plumbing Webmasters founder Nolen Walker last spoke with Jimmy, the Californian enthusiastically shared that his business was adding a new truck and plumbing pro every year. New clients continue to pour in, while his existing client base thrives more than ever before. He’s living the dream and providing a reliable source of employment for local plumbers. Business only continues to grow.

Jimmy’s Journey Up the Ranks

So how did Jimmy go from fledgling plumber to enjoying map pack listings and page 1 organic results for hundreds of keywords? It all started with an enthusiastic marketing plan.

He needed a website. That much was obvious. But his website needed to overcome a substantial number of ranking competitors to earn real traffic and leads. That meant substantial search engine optimization (SEO) work from a seasoned team. So he turned to the Plumbing Webmasters for help.

Our Web Development & SEO Process

Service Pages

Organizing and Optimizing Service Pages

No matter what anyone says, Google isn’t omniscient. They don’t magically know everything there is to know about your services and operating community. Some well-meaning plumbing professionals believe that a simple bullet list of solutions on their homepage is enough to convey exactly what they do. That’s wrong.

Plumbers need to provide that information in the form of categorized service pages. Our team took Jimmy’s core list of services and constructed individual pages for every single one. Each service received tailored content describing the needs, circumstances, and benefits surrounding it. We poured in a swath of keywords, headers, original images, meta tags, and more. Our content writers delivered a healthy mix of short and long-tail keywords to enable both brand growth and immediate lead potential.

Citation Sources

Arranging Citation Sources

Jimmy would also require a reliable channel of reviews for his business. These are the lifeblood of SEO, accelerating growth (rankings, traffic, conversions, etc) across the board. Reviews sources, or citation sources, also provide verification of your services.

We got to work optimizing West Sunset Plumber & Rooter’s citations, including his Google My Business (GMB) listing. The GMB profile heavily influences local search performance, so it’s crucial to fully optimize the listing. We also ensured Jimmy’s other citation sources, such as his Facebook Business account, were aligned with the GMB information. Many plumbers don’t realize that even a slight difference between the profiles (such as an altered address abbreviation) can cause Google to doubt their legitimacy.

Geotagging Data

Geotagging: Check-ins & Reviews

We also embedded our Righteous Reviews reputation management software into the website. This enabled Jimmy to create check-ins whenever he left a job site, upload a short description and photo of the project, and tag it to the related service and city pages. The associated pages updated automatically to show the latest areas Jimmy provided service.

Google absolutely loves the geotagged data associated with these check-ins, seeing it as undeniable proof of activity!

The software also allows requests for reviews via text and email. Those texts and emails are also geotagged and uploaded to their respective pages for double the SEO power. Of course, this program only works when our clients faithfully use it. Jimmy is wholeheartedly embracing the technology for even stronger rankings!

Where is Jimmy Now?

Four years later, Jimmy’s plumbing business is still kicking butt all over the Westside of Los Angeles. While the hardworking team at Plumbing Webmasters certainly helped, it was Jimmy’s enthusiasm for faithfully marketing and embracing best SEO practices that have earned him such overwhelming results. He serves as a prime example for plumbers across the US what can happen when you invest in the right marketing solutions.

Want to learn more about West Sunset Plumber & Rooter’s journey to success? Talk with one of our seasoned SEO professionals today! We’d love to see your business earn the same outstanding results. Contact us for a free consultation at (877) 388-9884.

Additional Resources From Plumbing Webmasters

Related Articles and Podcasts
– How to Rank Your Plumbing Company for “Plumber Near Me” (Article)
– Brown Friday: Rockstar Plumber (Podcast)
– The Coolest Review Software Ever (Podcast)

Helpful SEO Services
– Local SEO Services
– Exclusive Plumbing Leads
– 50 Keywords for Plumbing SEO

Naming Your Business for the Best SEO | The Plumbing SEO Podcast

What’s more powerful than a name? Your plumbing company name not only establishes your identify to potential clients, it communicates who you are to search engines as well. That’s why originality, clarity, and conciseness are so crucial when it comes to choosing your brand name!

In our latest discussion with Jason and Nolen, they’ll explore some simple guidelines on choosing a brand identify that’s optimized for search. Following these guidelines could be the difference between steady traffic and none at all! Be sure to listen in if you’re rebranding or kicking off a new plumbing business!

Helpful Tips on Naming Your Business

Pick a name that’s very memorable!
Generic names do not rank well in local search.
Avoid using your city in the name.
If you have an interesting personal name, consider using it for your company.

Purple Monkey Plumbing

What do you say: is “Purple Monkey Plumbing” an effective company name? Believe it or not, your answer says a lot about how much you understand local search marketing! We’ll reveal this name’s effectiveness at the end of this short blog. Before we get there, let’s run over a few facts about your company name.

The Purpose of Your Company Name

No, it’s not just to sound cool! Your company name helps people identify your services and stand out from other businesses. Think of the dozens of contractors that operate in your city alone. In broader metropolitan areas, your business could be competing against hundreds of other trained professionals.

When a local homeowner’s water heater breaks down and needs repairs, will they remember your brand name?

Despite the size and prevalence of the search engine, even Google can have a challenging time telling businesses apart! Your company name allows the hardworking Google Search algorithm to separate your brand from other nearby players. Choose wrong however, and your website may never receive the traffic you need to earn leads.

Watch Out! Some Brand Generators Can Produce Extra Generic or Misleading Names.

How to Pick a Company Name

There are two key qualities your brand name needs to succeed in local search: distinctiveness and memorability. While there are a host of other traits that could aid your other marketing activities, these two qualities are non-negotiable. What do these two terms mean?

First, a company name should stand out from the crowd. We hate to say it, but “5 Star Plumbing” isn’t going to be easy to remember (for consumers or Google). Steer clear of generic terminology that could get your brand confused with another professional’s! A memorable company name also increases the likelihood of past clients searching for your brand directly in search. Direct searches enjoy a higher chance of converting into actual sales.

The Classic Naming Mistake

Ten years ago, it was common practice to take a common search term, such as “Plumbing Company in Dallas, TX” and adopt it for your business name. This practice was enormously successful, so everyone and their grandmother started choosing generic names for their plumbing companies. Then Google stepped in with an algorithm update. Countless professionals started dropping off the map.

City Based Names Will Likely Pit You Against Citation Companies and More Popular List Articles.

Today, choosing an (Insert City) Plumber company name makes it almost impossible for people to find your business. Even if someone searched your name directly, Google would think the consumer was looking for a list of plumbers in your service area. Your business profile won’t even show up!

Bottom line: stay away from generic brand names, even if they are optimized for your city.

Other Important Steps for Your Business

Once you’ve decided on a quality company name, there are still a few steps to take to start ranking in local search. First, you’ll need to register a domain that closely matches your new name. If you plan on expanding your business into other cities / states, make sure you don’t pick a domain with a location prefix.

Make Sure Your Hosting Company Registers Your Company as the Domain Owner. Image From Bluehost

Make sure that you own the domain, not the registrar. Too many plumbing companies have gotten screwed over by their host when their registration expired. Just play it safe and make sure you buy the name!

Next, you’ll need to register the company name and domain with Google My Business (GMB). Google will provide a verification method for you to complete, then your plumbing company will be eligible to start ranking in local search. Fill out as much of the information as possible. The physical address for your company should be exactly the same as the one you registered with Yelp, the BBB, etc.

Need Help With Your Branding?

By the way, yes! Purple Monkey Plumbing could be a very successful company name.

At Plumbing Webmasters, we support hundreds of professionals from around the country with professional web design, brand development, and organic SEO solutions. If you’ve been looking for a seasoned digital marketing team to partner with, we’d be thrilled to talk with you! Call us anytime at (877) 388-9884 for a free consultation.

Other Resources From Plumbing Webmasters

Podcasts and Articles
– Forced to Brand (Podcast)
– Plumbing Marketing With No Money (Podcast)
– 3 Ways to Leverage Your Facebook Business Page (Article)

Plumbing Webmasters Services
– Local Search Marketing for Plumbers
– SEO Competitor Analysis for Plumbing Companies
– Brand Strategy Development for Plumbers

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One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other… | The Plumbing SEO Podcast

What’s the mark of a successful plumbing company? Determination, adaptability, and earnestness. All these qualities make for a fantastic business, no matter what industry you operate in. When it comes to spreading your brand in search engine marketing, these characteristics will help you keep at it while those sweet, sweet leads start to trickle in.

Today, Nolen and Jason talk about what separates the top ranking plumbing companies apart from the rest. If your company doesn’t quite earn the rankings you’d like, be sure to listen in.

Key Lessons for Plumbing Professionals

Your top competitors work hard to earn their rankings in search engine marketing (SEM)!
Online success takes time and money, but anyone can win.
There’s no secret weapon to succeeding on Google Search.

Plumbing Search Winners

You know them well by this point: the top performers in your local market. Every time you run a Google search to see where your brand lands, these plumbing companies sit comfortably in the top positions on the front page. What do they do different? How did they get so lucky?

Search engine marketing champs don’t win by luck! They win because of determination.

So many plumbers break into the industry just to give up early in their online marketing efforts. Those top companies in your market however, kept at it and are reaping the rewards as a result. So what sort of qualities can they inspire to help you rank up?

Determination

Quick Tip #1: Keep at It!

Trial and error courses through every discipline of marketing, and business management in general. For plumbing professionals just getting into local search, earning high quality rank positions may feel like a daunting task. Keep at it!

Practical Applications

While your brand needs some time to start ranking for those primary keywords and phrases, you can use secondary keywords to supplement your leads. Keep producing that content that’s enriched with multiple keyword combinations. Some of our clients at Plumbing Webmasters are listed for over a thousand different words and phrases. If you stay determined and continue to release quality material, your overall brand ranking is sure to rise.

Adaptability

Quick Tip #2: Adapt as Needed

Finding success in online search engine marketing is something almost anyone can accomplish, with the right strategy. Staying at the top however, requires a continued commitment to studying and adapting that strategy. As Google releases, new algorithmic changes and/or new search-related products, learn to experiment with the changes.

Practical Applications

Moz, Search Engine Land, and Search Engine Journal are three great sources for hot industry news and strategies. Try taking a few hours each month to see what’s new in search engine marketing. You may find fresh opportunities to improve your rankings in local search, such as the rise of featured listings in SERPs (see our guide on Ranking #1 in Google).

Investment

Quick Tip #3: Get Invested

Marketing is simply a part of doing business these days. Traditional methods of spreading brand awareness – we’re looking at you, door knocking – simply don’t provide the same results they did a decade ago. That’s why search engine marketing is more essential than ever before for driving people towards your business and creating leads. Successful marketing requires investment: time, effort, and money.

Practical Applications

Learn where to invest your resources for maximum impact. While lead gen companies and PPC campaigns provide a more immediate return, dedicating resources to quality website design and plumbing SEO can generate a long-term supply of cheap, but high-quality leads. Figure out what works best for your business!

Finding a Quality SEO Partner

Most top ranking businesses don’t even try to handle their own online marketing, unless they’ve already grown into a huge enterprise. Small businesses have fewer options in the way of SEO management. Even a permanent employee can have a hard time keeping up with the demands of design updates, content production, advertising management, etc. That’s why most plumbing professionals eventually team up with a search engine marketing company to handle the load for them. Before we finish our discussion for the day, here’s a few tips on discovering a quality SEO team.

Where Does Your Search Engine Marketing Team Draw Traffic From?

Picking Your SEO Marketing Team

Look closely at their billing procedures. Try to avoid companies that only offer annual contracts or even longer-term agreements.
Ask what their clients have to say about their results.
Check their organic rankings in Google search. Then check their clients’ rankings.
See how well they communicate. Can they clearly explain their services, or do they talk incomprehensible jargon?
Determine how easy it is for them to make changes to their websites, ad campaigns, etc.

Follow these tips, and you’ll weed out the vast majority of the underperforming SEO companies out there. As always, our team at Plumbing Webmasters is happy to partner with you for your search engine marketing needs. Consult with a professional anytime at (877) 388-9884!

Other Resources from Plumbing Webmasters

Articles and Podcasts
– Plumbing Marketing With No Money (Podcast)
– Branded SEO for Plumbers in 2020 (Podcast)
– How to Craft a 5-Star Website User Experience (Article)

Related Services From Plumbing Webmasters
– Organic SEO for Plumbing Contractors
– Google Maps for Plumbers
– Citation Sources for Plumbers

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Forced to Brand | The Plumbing SEO Podcast

The way online marketing is progressing, plumbers will likely be forced into one of two paths: start developing your own company branding strategy, or pay another brand to feed your business with leads. It’s a tough situation to be in, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to grow your company online. In our latest podcast, Nolen and Jason discuss what company branding means today, and how to make the most of local search.

If your plumbing business has struggled with slow growth online, be sure to listen in!

Important Lessons for Plumbing Professionals

Online company branding requires dedicated SEO.
It takes more than a website to show up in local search.
You can start earning leads, or pay someone else for them.

Modern Company Branding

As a whole, marketing in the United States has shifted dramatically from its roots. While it changed only gradually over hundreds of years, the modernized internet causes tumultuous industry changes even in just a five year period. 5 years ago, any company with a decently written website could expect a favorable ranking on Google Search. Today, “decent” just doesn’t cut it. Google expects exceptional branding towards its search engine and towards potential customers.

What is branding when it comes to marketing your business online?

As a plumbing contractor works to establish their company identify with Google, they must add several more branding elements into the mix. These include: customer reviews, NAP listings, and content (just to name a few). Such elements create a general profile that helps the search engine understand who you are, where your business operates, and what sort of services you provide.

Crafting an online image might seem like a mundane task, but everything makes a difference in a world where the vast majority of consumers search for essential services online. To be successful, we ultimately must distinguish the things that shape consumer perception from those that shape Google Search’s perception. That’s where the “E-A-T factors” come into play.

Results of Heavy Company Branding in Local Search

The Best Listings Go to Experienced, Trusted Plumbers.

The E-A-T Factors

E-A-T: expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. The world’s number 1 search engine works hard to create dependable results for its user base. That’s why it only lists contractor websites it believes conveys these three attributes. What sort of activities and materials does Google use to gauge these qualities?

Expertise

Measuring Expertise in Branding

Think of the expertise factor as an industry qualification process for your company branding. To convey expertise, you need to provide insightful content specifically tailored to address popular consumer problems and questions. Flaunting your plumbing certifications also helps establish your expert status.

Below are some company branding tasks that help build your online industry expertise.

Writing well-structured (and organized) service pages
Consistently releasing insightful blog posts on popular questions
Earning featured listings for frequently searched plumbing topics
Producing social media posts with homeowner or business tips
Displaying your credentials on your website’s front page
Crafting FAQs and answering questions in your GMB account

Authority

Gauging a Brand’s Authority

While expertise is proof of your right to join the plumbing conversation, authority determines your place in the pecking order. Do other plumbing companies reference you content in their websites? Do consumer websites link back to your blog posts when diving into the hottest homeowner topics? If so, you likely have a fantastic authority rating.

New businesses may start out with a very low authority website score, but they don’t have to stay that way. Below are some popular ways to enhance your company branding for better perceived authority.

Find prestigious industry organizations, and see if you can provide a quote.
Build relationships with other local businesses, then see if they will provide links.
Ask for recommendations from your best clients!
Add social sharing buttons in your blog.
Create exceptionally shareable material in your content marketing (ex: videos, infographics)

Trustworthiness

Calculating Trustworthiness

It’s theoretically possible to get by without great expertise. It’s very possible to still achieve moderate results with low authority. But no business is going to survive long with a poor trustworthiness rating! Without trust, Google has no incentive to show your business, and consumers have no reason to take a chance on you (especially for expensive projects).

So what company branding activities can you perform to prove you’re business is worth the risk?

Ask for reviews! Consistently ask for reviews from every happy client (across multiple platforms).
Answer consumer questions on your website and social media profiles.
Turn angry customers into content ones with conflict resolution.
Keep your company office addresses exactly matched for every listing.
Finish your company Google My Business listing.

The Near Future of Company Branding

People simply don’t read Yellow Page-type listings anymore. More and more consumers look to local search for their essential services. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to start branding your company online and establish a steady influx of organic leads. Branding online takes time, money, and effort on your team’s behalf, but it’s so much more cost-effective than the alternative.

Company Branding Takes Off With Customer Reviews

Client Reviews Do Wonders for Your Local Search Results! Source: Dr. Drain

Alternatively, plumbers can sit back and pay other brands to supply leads for them. It’s sad to see businesses get locked into the cycle of buying leads, for multiple reasons:

The lead-selling service gets the brand recognition and website traffic.
Lead quality fluctuates wildly. You never know if you’re getting a buyer or a shopper.
PPC campaigns provide leads at a much higher cost than organic means.
Paid leads have a smaller chance of becoming repeat customers.

When it comes to organic company branding, a little help can go a long way. Our team at Plumbing Webmasters supports businesses all over the country with custom website development, content writing, PPC advertising, reputation management, and so much more. Clients earn exceptional traffic, better rankings, and wonderful lead quality. We’d love to partner with you too!

Contact us today at (877) 388-9884 to learn more about our plumbing SEO services!

Helpful Resources from Plumbing Webmasters

Articles and Podcasts on Company Branding
– Plumber Online Marketing Confusion (Podcast)
– PPC vs Organic SEO 2020 (Podcast)
– The Coolest Review Software Ever (Podcast)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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