How to Get Plumbing Leads Without Wasting Money

If you’re a plumber, you’re an expert at fixing leaks. But what about the leak in your business where good jobs seem to dry up? Let’s fix that right now.

Getting a steady stream of plumbing calls isn’t about fancy, confusing stuff. It’s about building a simple system—a “lead machine”—that works for you 24/7, even while you’re sleeping. And guess what? You can totally do this.

Stop Waiting for the Phone to Ring. Build a Lead Machine.

We’re going to show you how to be the first plumber people find—and the one they call—when a pipe bursts. No more waiting and wondering.

It all starts with a great website design built to do one thing: make your phone ring. From there, we’ll use local SEO so you pop up on Google Maps when customers are searching. Then, we’ll add some fuel to the fire with simple Google and Facebook ads that bring in customers who are ready to hire you.

This simple combo turns your business into a non-stop lead machine.

The opportunity here is huge. The U.S. plumbing world is expected to be a $169.8 billion market in 2025. That’s a lot of leaky faucets and clogged drains! Even a small boost in your online game can grab a nice slice of that pie.

To get the inside scoop on your local area, check out this ultimate guide to local SEO for plumber domination.

The goal isn’t just getting clicks; it’s getting phone calls. You want homeowners in your town with a real problem you can solve today. That’s what a real lead machine is all about.

This picture shows exactly how a simple system—website, Google Maps, and ads—works together to bring you a steady flow of plumbing jobs.

This is your first step to going from invisible to always busy.

These aren’t just ideas. They are the exact steps we use to build powerful lead machines for plumbers every single day. You have the skills to fix any plumbing problem—and with these simple tools, you’ll have the power to keep your schedule full. It’s easier than you think, and we can help.

Build a Website That Actually Gets You Calls

Think of your website as your best employee. It works 24/7, never calls in sick, and its only job is to get you more calls.

But most plumbing websites are like dusty, forgotten business cards. They’re confusing, hard to use on a phone, and make a homeowner with a burst pipe work way too hard just to find a number. That’s a lost job.

Let’s fix that. Your website needs to be a lead machine. This is way simpler than you think. You don’t need a bunch of fancy stuff. You just need a clean, simple site that gets people to call you.

Stop thinking of your website as a boring brochure. It’s a giant billboard that screams, “Call me! I can fix your problem right now!”

Your Phone Number Is the Hero

When someone’s basement is flooding, they aren’t looking for your life story. They’re panicking! They need a phone number, and they need it five minutes ago. Your website has to give it to them instantly.

Make your phone number huge and impossible to miss. Put it at the very top of every single page. On a phone, that number must be a “click-to-call” button. One tap, and they’re calling you. Easy peasy.

Key Takeaway: Don’t make people hunt for your number. The easier you make it for someone to call you, the more calls you get. It’s that simple. Your phone number is the most important thing on your website.

Create a Page for Every Service and Every Town

This is the secret sauce for good local SEO. Google doesn’t rank your whole website at once; it ranks individual pages. If you want to show up when someone in Springfield searches for “drain cleaning,” you need a page just about drain cleaning in Springfield.

Most plumbers mess this up. They list everything on one page and wonder why the phone is so quiet. That just confuses Google. Instead, build a simple page for each thing you do.

• A page for “Water Heater Repair.” Talk about why water heaters break and why you’re the one to call.
• A page for “Emergency Plumbing.” Talk about how fast you are and that you’re available 24/7.
• A page for “Drain Cleaning.” Explain how you clear the toughest clogs.

Then, do the same thing for every town you work in. If you serve Springfield, Centerville, and Oakwood, you need a page for each town. This tells Google exactly where you work, which is how you show up on the map and get good, local leads. To really sharpen your game, learn how to find low competition keywords that other plumbers are missing.

Design for Phones First

Did you know most people search for plumbers on a smartphone? The person calling you is probably standing in a puddle, looking you up on their phone. If your website is a mess on that small screen, they’ll just call the next guy. Game over.

Your website has to be “mobile-first.” This just means it must look great and be super easy to use on a phone.

• Big Buttons: Make buttons big enough for a thumb to tap easily.
• Simple Menus: Keep it simple. Services, Service Areas, About, Contact. That’s all you need.
• Fast Loading: Your site has to load in a few seconds, or they’re gone.

Building a website this way isn’t hard. It’s about being clear, direct, and helpful. You can do this!

We help plumbers do this every day. Our whole goal is to turn your website into a lead machine that does the hard work for you, so you can focus on the jobs.

Dominate Google Maps with Your Business Profile

When a basement is flooding at 2 AM, nobody’s looking in the Yellow Pages. They’re grabbing their phone and searching “plumber near me.”

This is about making sure you’re the first name they see on the Google Map.

Let’s make this simple. Your Google Business Profile is your best free tool for getting plumbing leads. Think of it as your digital sign right on Google Search and Maps—and it costs you nothing.

This isn’t complicated local SEO. It’s just filling out a form to tell Google, “Hey, I’m a plumber here, and I’m ready for work!” Honestly, you can do this on your lunch break. It’s that simple.

Be the Obvious Choice on the Map

Your goal is to show up in the “map pack”—that little box with a map and three businesses at the top of Google. Being in that box is like having a giant billboard on the busiest road in town. It shows people you’re the real deal.

To get there, you just need to give Google what it wants: complete and correct information. The more details you give it, the more Google understands what you do. This helps it show your business to the right person at the right time.

You’re just telling Google your story. The more details you provide, the clearer that story is.

The Secrets to a Perfect Profile

So, what stuff actually matters for getting plumbing leads? It’s just a few key things that take minutes to update but make a huge difference.

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Pick the Right Categories: Your main category must be “Plumber.” But don’t stop there. Add others like “Water Heater Installation & Repair” and “Drain Cleaning Service.” Be specific!
• Add Your Service Areas: This is super important. List every single town, city, and even neighborhood you work in. This is how you show up in searches like “plumber in Springfield.”
• Upload Lots of Photos: This builds trust fast. Post photos of your team, your clean truck, and you on a job (with permission!). It proves you’re a real pro.

A complete Google Business Profile isn’t just a good idea; it’s a must. Businesses with full profiles get 70% more visits and are seen as 50% more trustworthy. It’s the fastest way to build trust before you even answer the phone.

Tell Google Your Story

Your business description is another chance to shine. Don’t overthink it. Just write a simple paragraph that tells people who you are.

For example:
“Your friendly local plumber in Springfield, Centerville, and Oakwood. We fix everything from leaky pipes and clogged drains to new water heaters. With 24/7 service, our team is here to solve your plumbing problems fast. Call us today!”

See how it includes services and city names? That’s simple, powerful local SEO at work.

The plumbing world is growing, with jobs expected to grow 6% by 2033. With over 132,000 plumbing businesses in the U.S., a great profile is what makes you stand out and get the calls.

Setting up your profile is a simple, one-time job that pays off forever. For a more detailed guide, check out how to optimize Google Business Profile. We can help you turn your profile into a real lead machine that brings in calls day after day.

Turn Happy Customers into 5-Star Reviews

You know you do great work. Your customers know it, too. But unless they tell everyone else online, it doesn’t help you get the next job. A steady flow of good reviews is pure gold for getting plumbing leads because it builds trust faster than anything else.

Think about it. When you’re looking for a restaurant, do you pick the one with zero reviews or the one with 100 awesome five-star ratings? Your customers are the same way.

The secret isn’t being pushy. It’s about making it super easy for a happy customer to leave a review right after you’ve fixed their problem. That constant flow of good feedback turns your business into a 5-star review generation machine.

The One-Two Punch for Getting Reviews

Getting a review from a customer should take them less than a minute. If it’s hard, they just won’t do it. Here’s a super simple “one-two punch” system that works.

First, you send an automatic text. This sounds fancy, but it’s not. It’s just a message that goes to your customer right after the job is done. The best time to ask is when they’re feeling happy and relieved that you fixed their plumbing.

Second, that text message needs a direct link. This is key. The link takes them straight to your Google review page. No searching. No messing around. One click, and they’re there.

Why This Works: Studies show that 88% of people trust online reviews as much as a friend’s recommendation. By making it this easy, you get tons of great reviews that act like little salespeople for your business.

This simple, automatic process is a huge part of building a true lead machine. It works in the background, building your reputation so more customers find you and trust you right away.

The Perfect (and Not Awkward) Script

So, what does the text say? Keep it short and friendly.

Here’s a script you can use:

“Hi [Customer Name], this is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. Thanks again for having us out today! If you have a moment, we’d love it if you could share your experience on Google. It helps us a lot! Here’s the link: [Your Direct Review Link]”

That’s it. It’s polite, personal, and it gives them the link. You’re not begging; you’re just making it easy. This is so simple to set up, and you can do it.

Turning Reviews into More Leads

Every new 5-star review you get does powerful things for your local SEO.

• Boosts Your Map Ranking: Google loves to see fresh, positive reviews. It’s a sign that you’re a trusted business that should be shown to more people.
• Builds Trust: When a new customer sees dozens of happy reviews, their decision to call you gets a lot easier.
• Gets More Clicks: A high star rating gets more clicks from the search results. More clicks mean more calls.

You can set this system up and let it run on its own. We can even build this review system right into your lead machine so it works perfectly with everything else. This isn’t complicated; it’s a simple, powerful way to keep your schedule full.

Okay, your website is ready, your Google profile looks great, and the 5-star reviews are coming in. Your lead machine is working!

Ready to pour some gas on the fire and make the phone ring right now?

That’s where simple, smart ads come in.

Don’t let the words “Google Ads” or “Facebook Ads” scare you. You don’t need to be a computer whiz to make these work. Think of them as a tool to put your business right in front of the exact people who need you, the moment they need you. It’s like putting a giant, flashing sign in front of a homeowner whose pipe just burst.

We’re not talking about confusing charts or numbers. We’re just talking about getting your ad in front of people who are looking for a plumber in your town. This is how you go from waiting for calls to booking jobs whenever you want.

The Two Types of Ads That Matter for Plumbers

Forget everything else. For a local plumber, there are only two kinds of ads you need to know about.

1. Google Local Services Ads (LSAs): These are the best. When someone searches “emergency plumber near me,” LSAs show up at the very top of Google. They show your picture, your 5-star rating, and a “Google Guaranteed” badge. It’s basically Google saying, “This plumber is legit.”
2. Facebook Ads: These are great for reaching people in certain neighborhoods before they have an emergency. You can show an ad for a special on water heaters to homeowners in a certain zip code. It’s perfect for planting a seed for future work.

That’s it. One ad is for catching people in a panic, and the other is for getting in front of them before the panic starts. It’s that simple.

Expert Tip: Start with Google Local Services Ads. Why? Because you only pay when a customer actually calls you from the ad. You don’t pay for clicks, just real leads. It’s the closest thing to a sure thing in advertising.

Keeping It Simple

The biggest mistake plumbers make with ads is making them too complicated. They try to run ten different ads, get lost in the numbers, and end up wasting money.

You don’t need that. You need a simple system that works.

Your goal with ads is simple: get a homeowner with a problem to call you. That’s it. Your ad should be simple, your message should be clear, and the button should say “Call Now.”

While leaky faucets at home are your main thing, don’t forget the bigger jobs. Over two-thirds of the plumbing industry’s money comes from commercial projects like offices and schools. With smart ads, you can also reach business owners and property managers. You can find more ideas on ServiceTitan.com.

To help you decide where to start, here’s a simple look at the two main ad types.

Which Type of Ad Is Right for You?

The takeaway? Start with Local Services Ads for the “hot” leads, then add Facebook Ads to build a steady stream of future work.

Ads Are the Turbo Button for Your Lead Machine

Think of your website, Google profile, and 5-star reviews as the engine of your business. They work all the time to bring you jobs.

Ads are the turbo button you push when you want to go faster.

• Got a slow week? Turn on the ads.
• Want to get jobs in a new town? Run ads in that area.
• Hired a new guy and need to fill his schedule? Ads are the answer.

You are in complete control. You set the budget, you pick the area, and you can turn them on or off with a click. It’s a powerful feeling to know you can get new jobs whenever you need them.

This isn’t something you have to figure out on your own. We specialize in running simple, effective ad campaigns that get plumbers’ phones ringing. If you’re ready to see how easy it can be, you can learn more about how local businesses can turn on ads that actually bring in customers. It’s time to take control and get more leads.

Your Top Plumbing Lead Questions, Answered

Alright, you’ve seen the simple plan for building a real lead machine—a smart website, a great Google profile, and lots of 5-star reviews.

But it’s normal to have a few questions. Let’s answer them. No fluff, just straight answers so you can get started.

How Much Does It Cost to Start Getting Leads Online?

It’s cheaper than you think.

Your best tool, the Google Business Profile, is 100% free. It costs you nothing but a little time to set up, and it can start bringing in jobs right away.

A simple, effective website is a smart one-time purchase that pays for itself over and over again.

For ads, you don’t need a huge budget. Start small with what you’re comfortable with—even a few hundred dollars a month. You only spend more once you see it’s making you money.

The key is to start with the free and cheap stuff first. Only add fuel with Google Ads or Facebook Ads when you’re ready to grow.

How Long Until I Start Seeing Results from Local SEO?

With local SEO—which is mostly your Google profile and website—you can see results surprisingly fast. Sometimes in just a few weeks.

Just filling out your Google profile and getting a few new 5-star reviews can give you a quick boost on the map. It’s often the fastest way to get more calls.

Paid ads are instant. You pay, you show up. SEO is like building a great reputation—it gets stronger over time. If you need jobs tomorrow, use ads. If you want to build something that keeps bringing in jobs for years, focus on SEO.

A little work today can bring you leads for years. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can do this!

Do I Really Need a Website if I Have a Facebook Page?

Yes. Absolutely. 100%.

Think of it like this: your Facebook page is like renting a booth at a market. It’s useful, but you don’t own the space or control the rules. Facebook could change something, and your page could disappear.

Your website is your own store. You own it. You control it. Its whole job is to turn visitors into paying customers.

It’s the center of your whole lead machine. It’s where you send people from your ads, your Google profile, and even your business cards. Don’t build your business on someone else’s property.

What Is the Single Best Thing I Can Do Today for More Leads?

If you do only one thing after reading this, do this: Go claim and completely fill out your Google Business Profile. It’s free, and it’s the #1 way local customers find you when they have an emergency.

Here’s your checklist for right now:

• Add all of your services.
• List every single town you work in.
• Set your correct hours.
• Upload at least 10 photos of your team, your trucks, and your work.

This takes less than an hour and can make you show up for more local customers almost right away. It’s the biggest, fastest win in the game of how to get plumbing leads.

You can do this. And if you need a hand, we’re here to make it even easier.

At The Cherubini Company, we don’t just talk about getting leads—we build the simple, powerful systems that make it happen. If you’re ready to stop worrying about where the next job is coming from and start growing your business, let’s talk. We’ll show you exactly how to turn your plumbing business into a non-stop lead machine. Learn more about our approach.