Author Archives: Plumbing Webmasters

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How To Get Water Damage Leads By Phone With Pay Per Call

Water Damage Leads By Phone

Do you want water damage leads by phone with pay-per-call?

As a plumber, your business depends on quality leads. It would help if you had leads to create a steady customer base. The problem for many plumbers and marketers alike is that it is notoriously tricky to drum up leads. 

However, the advantage that plumbers have is that they offer an essential service. People won’t wait around and decide whether they want a water leak fixed – they will pick up the phone and call a plumber immediately. 

For this reason, water damage leads are some of the most coveted for plumbers. But how do you get more water damage leads? One option is pay-per-call advertising. Pay-per-call works a lot like pay-per-click, only with phones. 

Getting water damage leads by phone becomes infinitely easier when you opt for a pay-per-call advertising campaign. In the following post, Plumbing Webmasters will explain the basics of pay-per-call for plumbers and show you how to get more water damage leads by phone. 

The Basics of Pay-Per-Call

Say you want to advertise your water damage service. You create an advertising campaign and go to a pay-per-call advertising service to publish and manage it. 

Once your campaign is live, the publishers (sometimes called affiliates) give your campaign a unique tracking number to monitor which calls came from the ad campaign. Suppose the call lasts a certain amount of time. In that case, if the customer makes a specific qualifying action or if the caller is in a particular area, you pay the publisher. 

You pay the publisher for every qualifying call. However, if the call does not meet specific criteria, you don’t have to pay. As a result, you only pay for quality leads, which makes this option so viable for getting water damage leads by phone. 

When the caller has met specific qualifying criteria, it typically signals a customer ready to pay for your service. At this point, however, you may be wondering how these criteria are determined.

Pay Per Call Basics

What Determines a Qualifying Call?

The criteria on what makes a “qualifying call” (in other words, a call that you have to pay for) takes place before the ad campaign launches. Different affiliate services will have different models, but you can discuss the criteria with them before starting their services. 

For pay-per-call advertising campaigns, the criteria are usually the length of the phone call, where the caller is calling from, or what numbers they press during interaction with an automated routing system. 

The criteria will vary from service to service. Still, the good news is that there are a lot of affiliates to work with out there, so you don’t have to settle for the first one or two you speak with if you don’t like what they’re telling you about their qualifying calls. 

What Determines a Qualifying Call

Why Pay-Per-Call Works for Plumbers

If you take phone calls to connect with customers, pay-per-call advertising will help because it will effectively increase your inbound call volume.

Think about this: when a person calls a plumbing company, how likely do you think they are to pay for a service? Probably pretty likely, right? People who make an effort to pick up their phone and call a plumbing company are very likely to have what’s called purchasing intent.

In other words, they are ready to hire someone for plumbing services. However, when a person gets on their phone or computer and searches for “plumbers near me,” they are much more likely to have what’s called research intent. In these cases, they are not necessarily ready to hire just yet and are much more likely to be researching their options.

Pay-per-call works for plumbers – it will get you a higher call volume, and for plumbers, a phone call is almost certainly money in the bank. 

Why Pay-Per-Call Works

How to Get More Leads With The Pay-Per-Call Method

Pay-per-call isn’t magic. You still have to practice discernment if you want more water damage leads by phone using a pay-per-call ad campaign. However, here are some tips for ensuring a profitable pay-per-call campaign:

  • Choose the Right Service: We can’t stress this one enough. Talking at length with a prospective publisher or affiliate, asking questions, and looking at their track record is infinitely important. These people will be handling your calls, so you need to make sure that any affiliate you are considering working with puts a high emphasis on customer experience.
  • Track Results: The good news is that it’s easy to track the results of your pay-per-call campaign because each caller that yours generates will have a unique number. Keep a sharp eye on how many calls you are getting through your campaign.
  • Pressure the Pain: If you are trying to get more water damage leads specifically, then take time to craft your ad campaign. One surefire method is to pressure the pain. Explain the headache of water damage and how your service can alleviate the burden. 

To get started with water damage leads, contact Plumbing Webmasters today. Our agency provides pay-per-call advertising services for water damage professionals and plumbers. 

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5 Plumber SEO Changes for 2022 (Podcast Episode)

Plumber SEO Changes Podcast

As an SEO company that has served the plumbing industry for over a decade, Plumbing Webmasters has devoted its business to helping plumbers thrive. We’ve already written the ultimate guide for Plumber SEO based on our decade-plus experience working with plumbers, but we also understand that the SEO algorithms consistently evolve. With this in mind, here are five plumber SEO changes for 2022 and how to respond.

1) Quality Content Over Thin Blogs

Google’s patience for thin content is growing ironically thin. In 2022, Google prefers not to index thin content or trash blogs from plumbing websites. Here’s the reality; most plumbing websites don’t provide great blog posts for their users. Instead, they publish short and ineffective posts with the idea of keeping their website fresh.

This mentality is obsolete, and plumbers should avoid publishing worthless content. Instead, focus on creating service pages for each one of your services. Google prefers to rank service pages as individual pages rather than bullet points from a single page. So focus on creating great service pages for each one of your plumbing services in 2022.

As for blog posts, only publish long-form blog posts that target high-volume keywords. While blog posts are unlikely to deliver customers directly, they can capture leads at the top of the funnel, which many eventually convert into customers. Additionally, long-form posts can strengthen your service pages with tactful interlinking and attract external links from reputable 3rd-party websites.

2) Reviews & Reputation Are Even More Important

For years statistics have provided that reputation directly influences a company’s success online. For example, when users find a plumber, they want to verify their reputation from 3rd party review platforms like Google My Business and Facebook. In 2022, reviews and reputation are even more critical.

As more companies put resources into acquiring reviews, customers have grown to expect a certain level of social proof. Software apps like DataPins and Podium have made showcasing feedback more manageable than ever before. DataPins, in particular, takes things a step further by allowing plumbers to publish geo-pins on their website along with schema markup.

Showing that you’ve performed jobs in a specific location and having reviews and schema to validate those jobs is a great way to separate your plumbing company from local competitors. The reputation game has gotten support from apps and software, but it’s also more competitive. Plumbers must take their reputation seriously in 2022.

3) Auto-Changed Title Tags

Google recently implemented a mechanism that auto rewrites title tags on particular web pages. For the longest time, title tags were the most important SEO factor, as they told Google what your pages’ topic was in 50-60 characters. While Google says they’ve only changed about 20% of title tags and still use the traditional title 80% of the time, the results have been controversial.

Plumbers can ensure their pages display a solid title regardless by producing high-quality content with relevant H1 tags. In many cases where Google auto rewrites the title, they are taking the H1 and attaching the company brand name or website brand name. So if you correctly write your H1s to describe the page’s topic and subsequently content, you put yourself in a great position to maintain your click-through rate on SERPs.

The initial results of Google’s change upset many in the industry as some of the titles displayed made no sense to users. However, Google has since improved the process, and many of those horrible-looking titles are now eliminated. Nevertheless, the moral of the story remains the same, produce great content with a sound and logical structure to protect your website from any updates to title tags.

4) Hyper-Changes in The Algorithm (Stay The Course)

Google’s algorithm has reached a point where noticeably updates now occur daily and sometimes hourly. Loopholes that once existed to get your page to #1 on SERPs have been closed and replaced with a more dynamic selection process. Our research shows that websites are not staying cemented in their position but moving around more regularly.

The good news is that staying on page one remains very achievable with the proper SEO framework. That’s why we encourage our clients to stay the course so that they can maintain visibility on page one. While directly impacting your exact position is now basically impossible, you can still ensure impressions and clicks by following the best SEO practices.

For a reason, Google is the top search engine and provides more relevant results than other search engines like Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. While the results are less predictable than they once were, you can still provide significant signaling from your plumbing website. By following best practices, you will see your Google Analytics and Search Console Data maintain or improve traffic in 2022.

5) Logic + Consistency Wins

In 2022, plumbers can’t outsmart the algorithm with manipulation. So instead, provide the customer and Google the most relevant information about your company (reviews, social proof, social signals, etc.) so that people trust your business as legitimate. 

In addition, follow the best practices like site speed, web design, mobile responsiveness, etc. Google’s Page Experience Update placed a premium on user experience and website performance. You can use plugins like WPRocket to boost site speed, which is a logical choice for plumbing companies.

Google values consistency, so producing a systemized SEO process is your best chance of ranking on Google SERPs. Instead of looking for the silver bullet to manipulate search results (which no longer works in 2022), you should focus on showing Google that you can remain consistent with your web work and SEO process.

The Bottom Line for Plumbers in 2022

SEO is constantly evolving, so maintaining your top results requires your company to pay attention to industry changes. The best opportunity for plumbing companies is hiring an SEO company to stay on top of the latest changes. Plumbing Webmasters works with hundreds of clients to ensure consistent traffic and high-quality lead generation in 2022 and beyond. We look forward to working with your company to produce those results.

Posted: | Updated: Jun 21, 2023 | Categories: Podcast
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The 7 Best Plumbing Software Apps in 2023

Plumbing Software

Plumbing software can streamline your day-to-day business operations and increases efficiency. Let’s face it, your days as a plumbing company owner are probably hectic. Between dealing with customers, dispatching your crew, and providing on-site assistance, you don’t have much free time on your hands. 

But whether you are looking to upgrade your business processes or free up time to attend to other matters, your solution is the same: plumbing software. The right plumbing software will ultimately make running your plumbing business (and your life) easier. 

The question is: what is the right plumbing software for your business? In the following post, we will be talking about how software for plumbers, in general, can improve your day-to-day operations. Then, we run down some of the best plumbing software suites currently on the market.

What is Plumbing Software?

Plumbing software typically refers to an app or program that automates billing, dispatching, and scheduling for your plumbing business. However, it may also allude to apps that automate marketing tasks like online review requests.

What Can Plumbing Software Do for Plumbers?

Plumbing software is all about enhancing productivity. Automating certain tasks (the ones that can be automated) will save precious human resources for more important things. Plumbing software benefits include:

  • Organization: By knowing who is on which job, you will organize service calls more effectively. It also allows you to get the most use out of the hours you pay your crew. 
  • Automation: Plumbing software allows you to automate specific tasks without spending your time on them. It frees up your time to focus on more critical aspects of your business. 
  • Customer Service: Plumbing software isn’t only about benefiting you; it’s also about helping the customer. By making it easier to pay, schedule, and contact personnel, the customer has a better experience. Of course, in the end, better customer service does benefit you. 

The Best Plumbing Software Apps in 2023

1) ServiceTitan

ServiceTitan tops our list because it helps plumbers with one of the most challenging aspects of running a business: organizing your workforce. It’s a field management system that offers crucial tools to dispatch your team, create invoices, and much more.

It also gives your crew the power to process payments in the field. Imagine sending a crew member to a job, having them finish it, and processing payment all from a centralized dashboard. That’s what ServiceTitan offers. 

Pros:

  • It also has marketing tools like an ROI calculator
  • Compatible with Mac and Windows
  • It uses cloud storage so that it won’t slow down your company network

Cons:

  • The pricing can vary pretty widely depending on the services you need

2) DataPins

DataPins automates local SEO and reputation management for plumbers. While it is not considered a field service management app, it does help with dispatching. More importantly, it helps your plumbing website rank on Google search and Google Maps for highly relevant terms.

Just as significantly, DataPins optimizes your review generation process by sending an automated request via text and email. No other SEO tool on the market rivals what DataPins provides for plumbing contractors globally.

Pros:

  • The only software that directly helps plumbers rank on Google
  • Assists with reputation management tasks through SMS and email
  • Boosts conversion rate from on-site social proof (via schema pins)

Cons:

  • Not a prototypical Field Service Management software

3) Service Fusion

Service Fusion is a great software suite to have in your arsenal because it helps prepare you for project success. For example, it has an excellent estimate creation tool that allows you to enter all pertinent information while drawing up an estimate for yourself and the customer.

There are also excellent customer management services like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), so your customers can contact you as needed. 

There are also great scheduling and dispatching tools along with GPS fleet tracking so you can see who is on the job at any given time. Overall, Service Fusion provides great pre-project management tools that will help you get jobs done better and faster. 

Pros:

  • Service Fusion offers a free trial
  • Every plan level allows for unlimited users
  • Includes a robust inventory management tool

Cons:

  • It doesn’t have the most user-friendly interface

4) Vonigo 

Vonigo is an excellent plumbing software suite to use if you want to start digitizing things to make your life and customers’ lives easier. It’s mostly a digital business management software suite that allows you to process bills and invoices, process signatures electronically, and handle quotes and estimates digitally.

Vonigo is a solid and straightforward option if you start to switch over to digital for some of your plumbing business’s operational procedures. 

Pros:

  • It’s available on many platforms
  • It gives you an online time clock tool
  • The features are not overwhelming

Cons:

  • It lacks some marketing features

5) SimPro

SimPro makes our list because it is the ideal software suite for plumbers who typically tackle large, multi-stage projects. SimPro is the best software suite to help you manage the minute details of substantial plumbing projects, including inventory management, creating quotes for long-term projects, and communicating with people inside and outside your company. 

The only thing is that the software can be pretty complex. However, it does offer training to help you get accustomed to it. 

Pros:

  • Great for companies that handle large plumbing projects
  • Great for commercial plumbers

Cons:

  • It can be a bit overwhelming at first

6) Service M8

Number 4 on our list features plumbing software that was suited for large plumbing companies. But what about smaller operations? For smaller plumbing companies, we recommend Service M8. Service M8 can be integrated with QuickBooks and Xero, so the transition is a bit easier. In addition, service M8 is excellent for handling everyday tasks like drawing up estimates, generating invoices, and creating schedules. 

A handy routing and dispatch tool will also allow your servicemen to get to your customers quicker. If you are starting to have trouble with scheduling as your business grows, this is a great solution. 

Pros:

  • It’s affordable
  • Service M8 offers 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • It doesn’t offer a live communication platform

7) Jobber

The great thing about Jobber is that it provides you with tools that not only automate customer service but ones that will help your business grow. For example, with Jobber, you get a handy email marketing tool that schedules correspondence with your customers.

There is even a client reminder function that will handle your service reminder duties for you. There are even online appointment scheduling tools and a customer self-service hub. So jobber not only allows you to automate some of your marketing and project creation tasks, it helps you drum up more business. 

Of course, there are still essential tools like online dispatching, service schedule, and invoice creation. However, Jobber is especially handy for mid-size plumbing companies that are looking to scale their business. 

Pros:

  • It offers helpful marketing features
  • There are many packages to choose from
  • You can use it on desktop and mobile

Cons:

  • The mobile version could use some work

Take your Plumbing Business to the Next Level

All of these plumbing software suites are great for various reasons. Some of them even offer helpful marketing tools; however, if you are ready to take your plumbing business to new heights, you need to get in touch with us. 

Marketing tools are great, but nothing compares to having an entire team of seasoned digital marketing pros in your corner. That’s what we offer here at Plumbing Webmasters, so scale your business with us today.

Posted: | Updated: Feb 23, 2023 | Categories: Business
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How To Brand Your Plumbing Company in 2024


Plumbing branding is more than logos and color schemes; it’s about establishing a branded online presence through E-E-A-T and reputation. However, branding is also about establishing trust with your target consumers.

A branded plumbing company is the company someone calls in an emergency and the company they think of when a more significant plumbing issue arises.

But how does branding for plumbers work? And how do you build an established brand for your plumbing business?


Here are some tips from Plumbing Webmasters, along with examples. 


Plumbing Branding (Blog Cover)


Key Takeaway

Plumbers can build a brand by demonstrating experience, expertise, authority, and trust (E-E-A-T) through their online presence (website, business listings, and social signals).


What is Branding for Plumbers?

Branding for plumbers is a marketing concept aiming to develop a plumbing company’s perception as consumed by potential customers and the public.

For example, a well-developed brand can reflect trustworthiness, popularity, and specialization.


Example of Branding on Plumbing Website


Managing Your Plumbing Brand’s Reputation

Trust is perhaps the most crucial commodity for building a brand.

Sure, you want a name, logo, or slogan everyone can recognize. But more importantly, you want a reputation for quality work/service to accompany that logo, name, or slogan. 

Online reviews are the best way to build up your reputation in the digital age. Did you know that 56% of consumers read at least four online reviews before purchasing a product or service?


It’s clear that your online reputation is an essential form of branding for plumbers, and here are some examples of how you can bolster and manage yours:



Get Listed

First, list your plumbing business on all major business directories. The most prominent ones include Google Business Profile, Yelp, Angi’ and HomeAdvisor.

Your GBP and Yelp listings will likely show up directly on Google search results for your brand name.


Ask for Reviews

If asked, most people will leave a review after a job is done. Remember to request feedback from your customers both online and in person.

Use a software tool like DataPins to automate requests through SMS and email, but don’t stop asking in person.


Respond to Reviews

These days, people expect a reply to business reviews. Over 68% of polled consumers say they expect responses within three days.

Replying to reviews (good and bad) shows customers that you care about their experience and helps build trust. 

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is one of your brand’s most visible representations.


Google Reviews for Plumbing Company (Screenshot)


Establishing Digital Brand Signals

In the era of AI content, Google has sought new ways to distinguish legitimate plumbing companies from spammers and marketers.

One of the most effective methods they’ve found is judging websites based on E-E-A-T criteria, which stands for expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.

Below, we’ll outline some of the most impactful ways to increase your plumbing website’s E-E-A-T through digital branded signaling.


Showcase Recent Plumbing Jobs

Providing evidence of real plumbing work in specific communities is one of the most innovative ways to showcase experience and expertise.

Our software tool, DataPins, helps plumbers achieve this through pins, which consolidate various digital signals like schema markup, geo-coordinates, job images, and mini-maps onto your web pages.

When Google and its users see tangible proof of your services, it acts as a digital hand raise for your brand.


Include Award Badges and Business Affiliates

Your website should include award badges your plumbing business has earned from credible institutions, such as PHAA and Yelp.

Institutions like these usually email you a link to their badge in HTML form so your web developer can embed it into your website’s header or footer.

Linking to credible business affiliates or partners, such as suppliers or manufacturers, is another way to demonstrate credibility through association with these trusted platforms.


Earn Branded Searches

Google and other search engines track how frequently users search for your brand name on their platforms and use this information to assign value to brands.

For example, if your customers and prospects search for [Jim Bob’s Plumbing Services] after hearing about your company from another source (like social media or word-of-mouth), it can increase your rankings for plumbing keywords like [plumbing services].

Diversifying your promotional strategy through social media platforms and community engagement can increase these branded searches, resulting in robust digital signals.



Immersing Your Brand in The Community

If possible, get involved with the community. Being present among the people you service (and want to service) is perhaps the best strategy for branding plumbers.

It goes hand-in-hand with building a good reputation but is more hands-on than review management.


For example, you could sponsor:


Local Sports Teams

Plumbers all over the country use this tried-and-true method.

Sponsoring Little League sports in some capacity (uniforms, equipment, food, etc.) is a great way to make yourself known in the community and network with people who need your services. 


Local Charities

Some communities are built around shared beliefs. As a plumber, you can become involved and start building your brand by donating to popular charities in your area. 


Local Activity

Getting involved isn’t just about giving your money. A person’s time is just as valuable, if not more.

By being active in local activities, you stand to make a great impression on your community members.

This could mean being on the PTA, school board, or chambers of commerce or participating in local leisure activities. 


Crafting a Brand Persona

This step involves naming yourself or having your logo become synonymous with something that resonates with the members of your community. 

We’re not suggesting you try to portray yourself as something you’re not. However, highlighting a commonality with the local market can go a long way in branding plumbers.


Here are some examples of what we mean:


The Metro Plumber

If you operate in a densely populated metropolitan area, become the “Big City Plumber.”

Your business name, logo, or slogan should convey that you understand what it takes to deliver premium plumbing service in a hectic, fast-paced environment. 


The Religious Plumber

You can build an entire customer base based on shared beliefs. Some plumbers opt to share their faith through their brand.

Consider including a religious symbol in your logo, a bible verse in your slogan, or a spiritual reference in your business name. 


The Athletic Plumber

Oklahoma is a big college football state.

People there are passionate about their teams, and some contractors in the area have capitalized on this by using popular team colors in their logos or otherwise referencing sports teams.

If you live in a big sports town, consider taking the “local team” approach to plumbing branding. 



Establishing Brand Values

Many companies rely on nothing more than the merits of their service to build a solid brand.

Think about what you are good at or what your company does that no other plumbing company does.

Consider what you bring to the table for the customer or what makes you stand out from the competition.


Here are some examples:


Responsiveness

Do you pride yourself on responsive service? Highlight this fact in your plumbing branding.

If consumers need to fix their plumbing services fast, you will be the brand to call every single time.


Luxury

If you specialize in cosmetic plumbing services, consider touting yourself as the plumber who can glamour kitchens and bathrooms.

A fancy font, regal colors, and an elegant-sounding name can convey to the customer that you do beautiful plumbing work. 


Versatility

Some plumbers pride themselves on their ability to do extensive commercial and residential work. If that sounds like you, then you have an excellent branding angle.

Consider a memorable plumbing slogan like “Big or Small, we do it All!” 


Final Thoughts on Plumbing Branding Strategies

Building a plumbing company brand cannot be achieved overnight, but there are steps you can take to begin the process immediately.

For example, utilizing DataPins, The Map Ranking App, to showcase recent jobs on your website and validate them through schema and geo-coordinates is an outstanding way to build your online brand.

As you consistently engage in good branding habits over time, you will begin to receive credit for your collective efforts.


While the old-school definition of branding still applies in part to local plumbing companies, today’s plumbing brand must expand to digital signaling to achieve engagement on search engines and social media.


Posted: | Updated: Dec 2, 2024 | Categories: Business
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5 Fantastic Ways to Get More Online Plumbing Reviews

Get More Plumbing Reviews

The best way to get more plumbing reviews in 2023 is to use a tool like DataPins to automate review requests via text and email. While technology can help plumbers get more reviews, it works best when combined with a more personal approach of asking for reviews in-person. You must do both.

HVAC-Plumber SEO Webmasters (Logo)

Key Takeaway

Getting more plumbing reviews requires a combination of utilizing reputation management software and asking your customers in person.

Why Plumbers Need More Reviews

Let’s take a look at the facts. Nine out of ten consumers read an online review before they make a purchasing decision. 62% of consumers report that they will not buy a product or patronize a service without reading an online review first. 

Three out of every four consumers say that they trust online reviews as much as word-of-mouth recommendations from their friends and family. The statistics validate the importance of reviews for plumbing companies, and trying to get more should be part of every plumber’s marketing strategy.

Tips to Get More Online Plumbing Reviews

Still, the question remains: how do you get more plumbing reviews for your business? It’s a question with which lots of contractors and plumbing business owners struggle.

Today, Plumbing Webmasters will outline the most effective tips for getting more plumbing reviews. 

1) Claim Profiles on Industry Review Sites

Of course, everyone knows about Yelp. It’s one of the largest online review platforms. As a plumber, you certainly need to claim your listings or profiles on the extensive review sites; but you can’t forget about the industry-specific sites as well. 

A lot of people in the plumbing business don’t even know about some of these sites. Take a look at some of the home-service-oriented review sites that offer listings:

  • Houzz: Houzz is a site that helps homeowners get ideas for remodeling and renovating, introduces them to products that can help, and connects them with home-service professionals in their area. It also allows patrons of home service providers to leave reviews. 
  • Nextdoor: Nextdoor operates like a social network site for people in your neighborhood. It allows them to discuss local businesses and provides them with a forum to recommend home-service professionals to neighbors. They can leave comments and reviews about your business if it is listed. You can also see a map that indicates Nextdoor users that have recommended your company to others. 
  • Angi’: Angi’ started explicitly to help people find and review local contractors. They have over 5 million unique users, making them one of the most popular contractor review sites on the internet. 

2) Register your Business on Google My Business

Google My Business is outstanding for getting more reviews but makes those reviews more visible. GMB is one of the most viewed review platforms on the internet simply by merit of being a Google service. Since Google owns the lion’s share of the search engine market, more people see Google My Business listings and read Google reviews than most other platforms. 

If you have not already claimed your business on GMB, you should claim your business ASAP. To help you get more GMB reviews, make sure you retrieve your Google review short link and include it in your email correspondence with customers. Include it on your website and social media posts as well. Visible links will make it easier and more likely that people will leave a review. 

Plumbing GMB Listing

Google My Business, AKA Google Business Profile, is the best platform to collect customer reviews for plumbing companies.

3) Reply to Reviews

People will be more responsive to companies that value their input. To get more plumbing reviews, be sure to respond to the ones you already have. Responses will help gain the trust of more new customers, generate leads, and earn new customers who can, in turn, provide your company with more reviews. 

Don’t just reply to the positive reviews, either. Responding to negative reviews is as, if not more, important. Keep it professional.

4) Use Online Reputation Management Software

Replying to reviews from multiple platforms can be a burden. That’s why online reputation management software can help get more plumbing reviews. When you can effectively manage your reviews and leverage them to generate more leads, you can earn more business and more reviews. 

An excellent online reputation management software suite like DataPins can help you manage and display your reviews from multiple websites and even show them on your own. It makes it easier for you to garner more reviews and leverage them for search engine optimization. 

5) Ask Outright

Our last tip is the simplest and possibly, most effective. You have to ask your customers to leave a review. There are effective ways to go about this, though:

  • Ask in Person: If you feel that you have a satisfied customer on your hand, don’t leave until you have asked them face-to-face for a review. It’s best to ask for a review as soon as you complete a job.
  • Follow Up: You won’t always have face-to-face contact with your customers – especially if you do commercial work. If you can’t physically speak to your customer after completing the job, be sure to follow up with them in an email. Follow-ups not only show that you care about their experience; it offers you the opportunity to ask for a review while your service is still fresh in their minds. Be sure not to wait more than two days to follow up.
  • Mention the Importance of Their Reviews: Whether you can ask in an email, text, or in person, it helps to let the customer know how much their review means to your business. People like to know that their input is valuable to let your customers know that their review is important to your business. 

Get More Plumbing Reviews

To get more plumbing reviews, you have to increase your online visibility. That’s something we have extended expertise in here at Plumbing Webmasters. Our digital marketing and reputation management services will not only help you get more plumbing reviews, but they will also help you land more business. Call us for more reviews and more customers!

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How Dallas Plumbing Companies Can Use Plumber SEO in 2023

Plumber SEO Dallas

As a local Dallas plumbing contractor, you can rank for local keyword terms like dallas plumberdallas plumbing companyplumber in dallas, etc. The challenge is that hundreds of other DFW-area plumbing companies target the exact keywords and invest in plumber SEO to achieve desired results. So what ultimately determines which local plumbing company ranks at the top of search results? Let’s examine.

Website Authority

Google’s most significant ranking factor is website authority which measures how established a website domain is compared to others targeting the same topics, keywords, and search rankings. Though Google conceals its exact ranking factors, experts can approximate website authority using 3rd party metrics from MOZ and Majestic. The strength of a website’s backlink profile, along with the age of the domain and the average traffic per month, influence a website’s authority.

MOZ Website Authority

Google My Business

Google provides Dallas-based plumbers with multiple ways of ranking on its search engine. Ranking on traditional results requires optimizing your website on its exclusive domain. In contrast, Dallas plumbers can rank on Google Maps by optimizing only your Google Business Profile.

Dallas Google My Business

Local plumbing companies can claim their business listing and complete the profile for further optimization—the local algorithm judges listings based on prominence, relevance, and proximity. Local plumbers can generate reviews by sending customers a shortlink leading to Google’s review page.

Keyword Research

Some local plumbers believe that keywords with no search volume aren’t worth targeting on their websites. Using tools like SEMrush, and MOZ Keyword Explorer, plumbing contractors, can find search volumes for various keywords, including local terms like plumbing companies in Dallas.

Plumbing Keywords Dallas

Even when these terms show no volume, they still hold value for plumbers. Keyword research tools don’t pick up exact search volumes for local terms. Once your website is live, you will find that you start generating clicks for these types of terms through Google Search Console.

On-Page Content

Producing high-quality on-page content gives plumbers an essential advantage over competitors. Search engine crawlers can grade content quality algorithmically, and factors like grammar, structure, and readability make a difference.

Robust plumbing websites create separate pages for each service type and service area by producing unique content for each page.

Dallas Plumbing Content

Every content page should satisfy the user’s needs and help visitors navigate to other related pages. Including calls to action (CTAs) within the content can encourage more lead generation.

URL Structure

Building a URL hierarchy can help your plumbing website rank in Dallas more quickly. For instance, your main services page can be a top-level page, while your emergency plumbing services page can be a sub-page of the main services page.

The same can be true of other specific service pages like sewer line repair, burst pipes repair, etc. Search engines can crawl websites with hierarchical site structures more efficiently, while users can easily navigate them. In both cases, the plumbing company earns trust that can produce more leads in 2023.

URL Structure Dallas

Local Citations

Local plumbing companies should submit their contact information across various online directories, including Yelp, HomeAdvisor, and Angie’s List. Other local directories can also help establish your plumbing company’s information.

NAP Citation Platforms

Submitting consistent contact information across directories can help solidify your business for search engines. Citations also build a collection of nofollow links. While such links don’t count as a direct ranking factor, Google does view them as ranking hints.

DataPins Local SEO Tool

One way to separate your Dallas, TX plumbing company is to use an SEO tool called DataPins. For those unaware, DataPins allows plumbers to perform check-ins that showcase recent jobs and corresponding reviews. The tool even formulates schema markup that validates a plumbing service to Google and other search engines.

Utilizing DataPins helps plumbers rank on both traditional search results and Google’s Local Map 3-Pack. Aside from its local SEO benefit, DataPins allows plumbers to send automated review requests to generate more reviews on Google, Facebook, and their company website.

Dallas Plumbing SEO Services from Plumbing Webmasters

Plumbing Webmasters offers Plumbing SEO services in Dallas, TX. Our SEO strategy includes website design, on-page SEO, local SEO, and reputation management. We will break down each of these tactics and summarize how they equate to a comprehensive SEO overhaul for Dallas plumbers. 

Posted: | Updated: Jan 30, 2023 | Categories: SEO
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Digital Marketing for Plumbers: The Ultimate Guide for 2024


What is Digital Marketing for Plumbers?

Digital marketing for plumbers promotes a plumbing company or brand to connect with current and future clients through digital means.

A digital marketing campaign can include SEO, PPC, web design, email, social media, SMS, and more. Most modern plumbing companies exercise some form of digital marketing.


HVAC-Plumber SEO Webmasters (Logo)


Key Takeaways:


  • Digital marketing is a general term for a wide variety of marketing techniques
  • Most plumbers are currently using some form of digital marketing
  • There are various ways to improve digital marketing regardless of your business size


Digital Marketing for Plumbers Guide


Types of Digital Marketing for Plumbing Companies

Digital marketing is as expansive as the digital marketplace, which means that its limits are unknown.

However, plumbers can focus on some of the most common forms of digital marketing when launching their campaigns.

While new marketing techniques emerge daily, creating a process to scale and expand your plumbing business is a good place to start.


Take a look at some of the most common types of digital marketing for plumbing businesses:



Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is a popular digital marketing service for contractors because it can help you get free business through Google.

Unlike paid ads, organic search results require no payment to Google.

Ranking #1 in your local service area requires time and resources, as SEO requires patience and execution.


Some plumbers prefer advertising because it works faster, but SEO provides a better long-term ROI.


Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC)

PPC is very popular among local businesses because it can generate fast leads. However, PPC comes at a high cost to plumbers.

Unlike SEO, PPC requires a payment for each click on Google, and even a substantial budget can disappear quickly.

While PPC delivers quick results, the long-term ROI is less than expected.


If you choose to invest in a PPC campaign, ensure that you properly allocate your budget for maximum cost efficiency.


Website Design

Generating leads without a plumbing website is difficult and unsustainable in the modern age.

Investing in website design can enhance your lead quality and volume.

Some plumbers still pay third-party brokers for their leads, but having your own branded website stimulates company growth and encourages repeat business.


When consumers find your plumbing business online, they are more likely to trust your business and become regular customers moving forward.

Robust websites have appealing graphics, logos, calls-to-action, and fast loading speeds.


Email Marketing

Getting prospects in your sales funnel is great, but email marketing allows you to use your contact list by promoting services through email.

It is important to follow regulations to avoid getting banned from inboxes, but creating appealing and urgent offers through email will usually deliver results.

Consider promoting discounts or specials based on seasonal needs, and don’t be afraid to set up automated emails based on responses and behaviors.


Social Media Marketing

Most of your current and future customers are on social media in some capacity, and you should aim to meet them there.

Whether advertising on Facebook or posting an Instagram Story, you can connect with your customers on their preferred platforms.

Facebook Ads are similar to Google Ads in that you must pay people to click on your page or website, and the money can add up quickly.


That said, strategic ad campaigns can deliver fantastic results on Facebook.


SMS Texting

Consumers expect immediate responses when seeking services.

You should set up a chatbox on your website and be able to respond immediately through SMS text messaging, whether automated or manually.

As we know, texting is the preferred form of communication for most Americans, and it feels more personal to your potential clients.


They must voluntarily submit their phone number through your chatbox so you know that their interest is genuine.


Internet Marketing

Internet marketing for plumbers is often used interchangeably with “digital marketing” but focuses exclusively on online promotion through search engines, social media platforms, and websites.

As a plumbing company, you can use these internet-based opportunities to grow your business.

A lot has changed since the onset of Internet marketing back in the early 2000s, and plumbing contractors are wise to adapt to the times.


However, many of the foundational principles of online marketing remain integral to promotional success.


digital-marketing-for-plumbers


Measuring Digital Marketing Results for Plumbing Contractors

Every digital marketing campaign should have a purpose, and you should measure results.

Using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, you can document your digital growth and appropriately attribute campaigns to leads.

But before measuring anything, you must first identify your goals as a plumbing company.


For example, you want to generate x amount of leads per month while spending x dollars.

The ROI will be x, and the quarterly revenue will be y.

Also, the best digital marketing agencies will provide these reports on demand.


Google Analytics Results


Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free tool that allows plumbers to track website visitors, behavior, and engagement.

You can learn how to set up Google Analytics 4 here, which every plumbing company should do immediately.

Once you set up your GA4 account, you can create goals and track your success over time.


For SEO, it is essential to wait at least six weeks before reacting to the accumulated data.

Google Search Console

Search Console is Google’s other free tool to track search engine performance and monitor technical errors with your website.

Through GSC, plumbers can see which queries attract the most traffic to their website and which pages are most common for search engine users.

Based on GSC data, plumbing companies can adjust their website content to better meet user intent.

For example, if a query has many impressions but few clicks, you may want to change your page’s title to attract more clicks.


Google Business Profile Insights

Google Business Profile Insights (Formerly GMB Insights) gives plumbers an in-depth portrait of how Google Maps users find their business.

For example, it shows which queries (ex., plumber near me) lead users to click on your Google Business Profile and how frequently the user calls your business through the GBP listing.

You may want to enhance your GBP listing with more pictures, Q&As, and Google Posts, depending on your results.


Facebook Audience Insights

Facebook Audience Insights provides plumbing companies with detailed information about followers and general Facebook users.

Based on the data, plumbers can create more relevant content for their Facebook page, increasing engagement and contributing to sustainable business growth.

The insights from this platform can also help plumbing companies grow their social media presence and gain more followers.


Digital Marketing Cost for Plumbing Businesses

A typical digital marketing budget for plumbers ranges from $30,000 to $150,000 per year, which comes out to between $2,500 and $12,500 per month.

While this may seem like a lot for a plumbing company, more and more businesses are treating digital marketing as a necessity.

The good news is that some digital marketing agencies provide more affordable plans.


For example, HVAC-Plumber SEO Webmasters offers full-service digital marketing at an affordable monthly rate.


Posted: | Updated: Jul 1, 2024 | Categories: Marketing
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The (Ultimate) Google Search Console Guide for Plumbers


Google Search Console is a valuable free tool for plumbers that allows you to monitor your clicks from Google Search, the queries users use to find your website, and various technical SEO reports.

Plumbers should familiarize themselves with GSC as much as possible, as it will help them fix serious problems that may keep your site or pages from being indexed.

In the following post, HVAC-Plumber SEO Webmasters will guide you through the Google Search Console and provide you with a guide to help you utilize it to benefit your plumbing website. 


Google Search Console for Plumbers (Guide Cover)

What is the Google Search Console?

The Google Search Console is a tool provided by Google to help your site optimize visibility on its platform. Google must approve every page on every website before it can be indexed (or displayed) on Google. 

The Google Search Console allows your website to be indexed on relevant SERPs or Search Engine Results Pages. It also enables you to increase visibility and provides you with analytical data on your website. 

It can be a valuable tool when climbing the rankings with a handful of primary keywords. The problem may be technical or related to Google’s Terms of Service.


The Google Search Console will help you sort out the situation and provide information to improve your SEO.

One or more of your plumbing website pages may not be getting indexed at all. The Google Search Console will help you figure out why.

Of course, you must know how to use it, so we have compiled this helpful Google Search Console guide.


Plumber Search Console Graph (Screenshot)

Setting up Your Website

First, you must register your site on the Google Search Console.

The setup process is self-explanatory and intuitive, even if you have never done it before.

The setup wizard will walk you through each step and help you answer any questions. Here are a few things you can expect, though:



Verification Process 

Once you enter your URL in the appropriate field, you must verify your website.

You can do this by uploading a piece of HTML code to your website’s homepage code, an HTML file, or adding a unique name.


Targeting Process 


Google will need to know which geographical area your site will be targeting. To set your target country:


  1. 1) Navigate to the “International Targeting” tab under the Search Traffic menu.
  2. 2) Click the “Country” tab.
  3. 3) Click the “Target Users In” box that appears, then select your target country from the drop-down menu provided. 

The basic setup process is only the beginning of our Google Search Console guide. In the following section, you will learn how to troubleshoot the most common problems in the Google Search Console, so read on. 


Resolving Issues

Resolving some issues in the Google Search Console is pretty intuitive. For example, to fix security issues, click “Security Issues,” and the console will let you know if any security issues need addressing.

If so, they are good about walking you through how to resolve them. Some other problems, though, need a bit more explanation.


Search Console Technical Report (Screenshot)

Index Coverage Report Problems

The index coverage report in the Google Search Console allows you to see which, if any, of your pages aren’t being indexed.

Go to the Index Coverage section to see if anything appears in the “Error” tab. If there are, scroll down to see what they are.

They could be server errors (your server crashing or out of commission), redirect errors, or 404 errors. Web admins can resolve 404 errors by entering the URL into the Inspection field.


Most error messages in the Index Coverage Report can be analyzed and resolved by entering the URL in the inspection field. 


Excluded Pages

Sometimes, your pages aren’t being indexed because they have accidentally been added to the “Excluded” page list in the Google Search Console.

Click the “Excluded” tab on the Index Recovery Report page to check.

You will see a list of pages with a general explanation of why they have been excluded. It could be because the page is duplicate or redirects to another site.


You must address these problems by making your content more unique or fixing technical issues. 


Using Google Search Console to Your Advantage

Now that some of the basics are out of the way, let’s explore a few ways to use the Google Search Console to improve the performance of your plumbing website


Low Performing Keywords

You can use the new Performance report in the Google Search Console to identify underperforming keywords.

The “Pages” tab allows you to see all the pages on your site ranking for these low-performing keywords. 


Check Back in 10 Days

Once you have changed the content to improve the keyword performance, check back with the Performance Report to see if your changes improved your ranking for that keyword or if it hurt it. 


Find New Keywords

The new performance report makes it easy to get new ideas for keywords that you are underutilizing.

Set the filter to “Last 28 days,” set the filter to “Greater than 7.9,” and sort by impressions.

You will be greeted with a list of keywords for which you are currently ranking 8th or higher.


These keywords are an opportunity to bolster your keyword list and increase traffic. 


Fixing Internal Links

Not everyone gets internal linking right, but the new Google Search Console makes it easier to improve your internal links for a smooth user experience.

To get started, click the “Links” option in the sidebar.

You will see a list of pages on your website along with the number of internal links linking to them.


This tool helps if you want to promote a specific page on your site because it allows you to see if you have weak internal linking for particular pages on your site. 


Final Thoughts on Google Search Console

While third-party tools like SEMRush and Ahrefs are powerful and informative, they cannot match the accuracy of Google’s own SEO tool, Google Search Console.

It’s better to collect information directly from the source (Google) than to rely on third-party data.

In addition, Google Search Console is free. It requires plumbers to set up the tracking code on their website, but the process is simple and allows plumbers to monitor their Google clicks and technical issues from that point forward.


Every plumbing website should set up Google Search Console to track website performance on Google search and discover new opportunities to attract search engine users.


Posted: | Updated: Dec 2, 2024 | Categories: Uncategorized
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The (2024) Guide to SEO Competitor Analysis for Plumbers


SEO competitor analysis for plumbers is one of the fastest ways to identify marketing opportunities.

Through competitor research, plumbing companies can discover overlooked opportunities for keywords, links, and conversions.

Make no mistake: the most successful companies are taking cues from their direct competitors to increase sales. 


Keeping a close eye on your competition can help you emulate their success, find opportunities in their SEO strategy, and exploit their weaknesses.

In the following post, HVAC-Plumber SEO Webmasters will discuss SEO competitor analysis, why it is essential, and how to use it to your advantage.


SEO Competitor Analysis for Plumbers (Blog Cover)

Key Takeaway

Using tools like SEMRush, plumbers can reverse engineer the best qualities of their competitors’ websites.


Perspective on SEO Competitor Analysis 

Focusing solely on your own plumbing website’s keywords, content, and backlinks can cause tunnel vision, resulting in missed opportunities for plumbing leads.

When restricting analysis to your own keywords and rankings, you lose objectivity.

Soon, all that exists is your plumbing website and your unchallenged beliefs about its effectiveness.


The key to dominating your market through plumbing marketing and SEO is to understand what your competitors are doing and why they are doing it.


SEO competitor analysis provides a fresh perspective that allows plumbers to identify areas for improvement and close the gap between keywords and website authority.

Competitor analysis for plumbers allows you to look at the market as a whole and see where you stand instead of where you think you stand. 

Analyzing competitors’ SEO campaigns is essential, even if you currently rank well for target keywords, as it can help you stave off new local companies vying for those positions.



Identifying Competitor Strategies

Identifying your competitors is the basis for analyzing them. For example, choose the top three to six plumbing websites targeting your general service area.

Using a tool like SEMRush, Ahrefs, or Moz, search for your primary keyword [plumber (city,st)] and find the top 3 positions in Google’s Map 3-Pack and traditional organic results.

Some of these companies may overlap (meaning they rank in the map 3-pack and organic), while others may only rank in one of these areas.


Once you find your main competitors, you can analyze their entire websites using SEMRush, Ahrefs, or Moz.

You can also directly compare your keyword rankings to theirs to see who is ranking higher for specific terms or whether they are ranking for terms you are not.

Identifying keywords your website is not ranking for (but competitors are) is known as keyword gap analysis, a subtopic of competitor analysis.


For example, the plumbing company ranking #1 on organic search results for [plumber] may also rank for subcategories like [slab leak repair], [hydrojetting], and [burst pipe repair].


Analyzing the Competition

Any effective competitor research will require a keyword research tool such as Moz, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.

Each platform helps identify various components of a website’s SEO campaign, including ranking keywords, estimated website traffic, and backlink profile.

Once you have all your analysis tools fired up, check for the following:


MOZ Competition Analysis (Screenshot)

Source: MOZ Keyword Explorer


Missing Keywords

Most tools will allow you to see your competitor’s ranking keywords and compare them to yours.

The comparison reveals if you have any keyword gaps or keywords that you have omitted but could still earn you traffic. It may also inform what new pages or content you must add to your site. 


Backlink Profile

Backlinks are the number one driver of website authority, often measured by third-party metrics such as Domain Authority (DA), Domain Rating (DR), and Authority Score.

You can compare your website’s metrics to those of your competitors and identify which domains link to competitor websites.

You may find domains from highly relevant sources (like plumbing suppliers or chambers of commerce) that would also be willing to link to your website.


While closing the backlink gap between your site and your competitors is almost always a positive development, it’s essential to understand that these metrics are merely estimates and are not used by Google for rankings.

However, Google likely has an internal scoring mechanism similar to the ones utilized by these third-party tools.

As a result, follow the best link building practices for plumbing websites based on your competitor analysis findings.


Page Traffic

Examining which pages on your competitor’s site are the most popular is also essential, as these often accumulate the most backlinks.

Some popular pages rank for more than one keyword, which indicates that the page satisfies a broader user intent such as [plumbing services].

Comparing these pages to yours can help you understand which subtopics you might have overlooked and how you can better meet the user intent of the primary term.


Consumer Opinion

Asking your customers and site visitors for feedback is another way to accumulate research data for competitor analysis.

If you have an email subscriber list, send out a questionnaire about your site’s user experience.

Feedback can provide valuable consumer insight into your website’s strengths and weaknesses. 


Long-Tail Discrepancies

Even if it seems like your competitor lacks weaknesses, they likely have some vulnerabilities related to long-tail keywords.

Plumbing websites that rank well for primary terms like [plumber] and [plumbing company] might rest on their laurels for long-tail terms that drive traffic on the margins.

The keyword research tools will not pick up all long-tail keywords, but Moz Keyword Explorer is the best at tracking them.


Content Quality

It is also essential to compare your competitors’ sites’ written and video content to your own. 

Google will penalize you for low-quality content, so you may be ranking lower for specific keywords purely because of content.

Mass-producing low-quality blog posts can weaken your site-wide signals, negatively affecting service pages and your homepage.


Navigability

Sometimes, technical issues may hamper your rankings, so studying the user experience of your competitor’s websites can also provide valuable insight.

Navigate your top competitor’s sites through the eyes of a potential customer and then compare that experience to your own website.

Do they have any dead links? Is their site easy to navigate? Does every page link to another? Now, does yours?


Answering these questions can lead to quick wins in improving your website’s user experience and conversion rates.



Final Thoughts on Competitor Analysis

Monitoring competitor websites for new opportunities is part of digital marketing.

While creating original content with unique insights is always great, analyzing competitors’ sites can provide a roadmap to dominating your local search results.

While keywords and content topics are the most obvious things to analyze on a competitor’s website, evaluating their site’s user experience and design is also helpful.


While you won’t use everything you consume from other websites, they will help you maximize the value of your own company’s website.


Posted: | Updated: Dec 2, 2024 | Categories: Uncategorized
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Schema Markup Guide for Plumbers

Schema Markup for Plumbers

What is Schema Markup for Plumbing Websites?

Schema markup refers to semantic code that plumbers can place on their websites to better communicate with search engines and provide more relevant results for users. Implementing schema markup can help plumbing websites generate enhanced SERP features, such as rich snippets, on search results.

Nolen Walker, Owner of Plumbing Webmasters

Expert Analysis from Nolen Walker

At Plumbing Webmasters, we were an early adopter of schema markup for client websites, and we’ve seen the positive results it can have first-hand.

Why Plumbers Need Schema Markup

Position zero refers to the top website indexed on search engine results pages. Position zero is where you want to be if you own a plumbing business (or any business, for that matter). In digital marketing, it is the most coveted piece of online real estate. 

For the past few years, marketers have concluded that schema markup is significantly practical for earning position zero. The numbers don’t lie.

At least one study has demonstrated that websites with schema markup rank better by four positions on search engine results pages on average than websites that don’t utilize schema markup. 

While digital marketing experts agree that the increase in ranking isn’t solely due to schema markup, it’s clear that it certainly helps. Schema markup has become a high priority in SEO (search engine optimization)

The bottom line is that if you are a plumber looking to move up in your local rankings, schema markup should be part of your strategy. In the following article, we will be giving all of you plumbers a crash course in schema markup.

What Does Schema Markup Convey?

So, what type of information can schema markup provide online searchers? Pretty much anything. Schema markup is especially helpful for plumbers because, in it, you can make sure that people can see things like

  • The areas you service
  • Your hours of operation
  • The types of services you offer
  • A map showing where you are located
  • A list of the pages on your website
  • Your star ranking on review websites
  • Current promotions you’re running

Schema markup is all about conveying the information that people are looking for more quickly and prominently than other search results to increase the likelihood of clicking on your site. 

How to Get Started with Schema Markup

Google provides a structured data testing tool to help developers make sure that the schema code can be displayed on their site. So this is the first thing you should do once you get your schema code. Here is a breakdown of the steps you will need to take to get your code:

  • Go to the schema.org website and look up the kinds of code you want to implement. We have already covered the types of data you can convey with schema, so it’s really up to you what you want to have displayed. 
  • Implement the code on the various pages of your website
  • Test your new schema code using Google’s structured data testing tool
  • Run a test by simply searching for your plumbing website on Google and seeing if the schema markup shows up

Schema Coding

Once you have your various schema codes, they can be implemented directly onto a WordPress website page and other formats. But you are responsible for filling in the parent data. In many cases, your schema code will start with this:

<span

Then the specifics of the data you want to be displayed go after that in the code. The specific data could be your company name, location, a link to a map, or an image. That part is up to you. It depends on what you want the structured data to display. 

It’s important to note that you will have to implement this code and its variations for every piece of schema markup you want to display. If you are a busy plumbing contractor, you may not have a lot of time to do that. Y

ou may need to work with a developer or a marketing team to help you develop your schema code, implement it and design your plumbing website around it. It’s also important to note three basic schema markup formats: JSON-LD, standard schema microdata, and RDFa. 

RDFa will work for most of the types of schema markups you want to use and most websites. JSON-LD uses JavaScript and tends to be less complicated to implement than standard schema microdata. Standard schema microdata is HTML-based, and it is the most common format.

It’s also the easiest to learn how to use. So if you are handling your schema markup yourself, we would recommend starting with standard schema microdata. 

Common Schema Problems

If your schema markup isn’t displaying properly, some likely suspects should check first. Some of the most common schema markup problems include:

Copy/Paste Rendering

If you are using Microsoft Word or Excel to copy your schema code, the rendering may cause problems. It’s best to use the Notepad application when copying/pasting your schema code. 

Google Violations

In some cases, Google may not display your markup because it violates Google guidelines. Just like everything else, Google has strict rules for what it showcases on its SERPs.

Errors in Syntax

Schema code is particular. An errant semicolon or quotation mark can mess up the entire snippet. Go through the code carefully and make sure everything is in the right place. 

Final Thoughts

Schema helps plumbers stand out in search results and generate new customers online. Whether you utilize schema to communicate business information to search engines or to achieve SERP features on search results, the benefits are clear.

If you require assistance implementing the right schema into your plumbing company website, feel free to reach out. At Plumbing Webmasters, we’ve been proponents of schema since its original release and have developed systems and processes to integrate it into all of our client’s websites.

Posted: | Updated: Jun 28, 2023 | Categories: Web Design