12 Top Plumber Advertising Strategies for Plumbing Lead Generation in 2025

1. Google Search Ads

If you want to attract new customers right away, Google Search ads are perfect for the job. You see these text-based ads at the top of Google’s search results, like so:

These ads appear whenever customers enter search queries related to plumbing services, triggered by keywords like “plumber near me” or “24/7 emergency plumbing.” While bidding on these keywords decides when and where your ad appears, it’s your messaging that convinces someone to click on your link. 

With Google Search ads, you get results instantly. People who search for the above-mentioned keywords are ready to hire and have a strong intent to act, whether it’s fixing a burst pipe or scheduling a water heater installation. 

To effectively manage your Google Search ad campaigns, you need ServiceTitan. With its Google Ads integration, this solution: 

• Tracks exactly which terms generate booked jobs by recording every call and linking it back to the exact term. 

• Understands your true return on ad spend by tying the revenue from each job to its originating ad. 

• Optimizes your campaigns to cut out waste by raising bids on high-profit terms and pausing wasteful ones.

By streamlining your campaigns, you ensure every dollar you spend boosts your sales and maximizes ROI. 

2. Google Local Services Ads

These ads are similar to Google Search ads, but instead of being charged per click, they work on a pay-per-lead basis. This means you only pay when a potential customer actually contacts you via the ad that appears at the very top of local search results.

What’s important here is to have a Google Guarantee badge, perhaps the biggest trust signal your business needs to attract leads. This badge shows your business has passed Google’s background check and is insured, building immediate credibility with homeowners who want assurance. 

With ServiceTitan’s Marketing Scorecard, you can evaluate LSA profitability by measuring how many leads convert to booked jobs, and decide whether to scale your efforts based on real business impact. 

As a result, you can fine-tune your ad spend for maximum growth. 

3. Facebook & Instagram Ads

Facebook and Instagram ads do one thing right: getting in front of local homeowners and visually engaging them before they need to contact you. Their goal is to keep your business top-of-mind when that time comes.

Through visuals, you can show before/after shots of jobs like re-piping or drain cleaning, short video testimonials from happy customers, or seasonal tips like How to protect your pipes during the winter. You can also showcase your brand’s personality by sharing a plumbing-related meme. 

If you use Facebook ads, be aware of these two powerful features:

• Lead forms: Allows interested parties to request a quote or schedule a call without leaving the app.

• Retargeting: Shows follow-up ads to people who’ve already visited your site or watched a video. 

To track ad conversions, use ServiceTitan’s Dynamic Call Tracking. With this handy tool, you can link ad interactions to actual phone calls and service appointments and see which campaign brings revenue, eliminating guesswork and getting a clearer picture of ROI. 

4. YouTube Video Ads

YouTube is another powerful platform that local plumbers can use to earn trust, engage with potential customers before they call, and educate the audience (e.g., How to shut off your main water valve). 

Videos are great because they help you connect with potential clients emotionally, showcase your team’s expertise, and demonstrate authority via helpful tips. 

Plumbing ad content can include testimonials, team introductions, day-in-the-life of a plumber, etc. 

There are two main types of YouTube ads: skippable and non-skippable. Skippable ads are more cost-effective for brand-building and are ideal for telling a story, sharing tips, or promoting your services. You’ll only be charged when the viewer watches 30+ seconds or clicks on the ad. 

Non-skippable ads need to be quick (around 15 seconds max) so they are useful for short, bold, and high-impact messages. With them, you are charged per impression. 

It’s a lot, but to keep track of your YouTube ads, try ServiceTitan. 

With its Google Analytics integration, you can link video engagement to real business outcomes, refine your strategy based on ROI, and track ad viewers easily. 

5. Direct Mail Campaigns

You might think this method is old-school and outdated, especially since we have email.

But direct mail is a very effective method to target homeowners in your area. Not only does it help you target nearby neighborhoods, but it’s also visible—potential customers can put flyers on their fridges or bulletin boards for later, so it always sticks in their minds. 

Besides, a flyer feels personal, which can build trust and familiarity with your brand. Paired with an advertising slogan like Your Neighborhood Plumber—50% Off First Service!, direct mail can drive calls from new and repeat customers when needed. 

Unsure if you should invest in direct mail? Don’t be! ServiceTitan’s Direct Mail integration lets you send postcards to previous customers based on data and target high-value zip codes with the most bookings. It even has automated triggers based on behavior (e.g., after a quote wasn’t accepted). 

6. Email & SMS Campaigns

Want to stay top-of-mind with past customers? Email or SMS campaigns will help you do just that. 

Acquiring new clients is important, yes. But it’s your past customers who are your most valuable asset. With this marketing method, you stay connected and prompt repeat business without spending too much on new ads. 

Campaign topic examples include Spring Drain Clean Special, Annual Water Heater Check Reminder, or a quote follow-up via SMS. 

But an email or an SMS campaign can get overwhelming pretty quickly. If you’re busy, it gets hard to remember who to call when. Did you send the first email? What about the follow-up? Did you include the code?

ServiceTitan makes this easier by allowing you to set up campaigns only once and let automation do the rest. As a result, you can send automated service reminders based on job history, re-engage customers who haven’t booked in a while, or promote seasonal specials without too much manual effort.

7. Google Display Ads

You know those banners that appear on the side of a web page whenever you enter a site? Those are Google Display Ads, often appearing on news sites or blogs (unless you have an ad blocker). 

These are great because you’re putting your brand in front of potential customers wherever they happen to be browsing instead of waiting for them to search for a plumber. 

It’s the perfect way to: 

• Build brand recognition

• Retarget website visitors who didn’t book

• Promote seasonal offers to local homeowners

For maximum effectiveness, use compelling visuals and consistent branding (same logo, fonts, and color schemes). 

ServiceTitan’s Ads Optimizer helps you create the right messaging for best performance, prioritizes the audience most likely to book, and uses job data to help you see what drives ROI. 

8. Yelp and Online Directory Ads

A homeowner searching for emergency plumbing services might visit a site like Yelp, Angi, or other online directories to search for services. These are users actively looking for a service provider, often with urgency, so directory platforms are a high-intent space. 

People go there to read reviews, compare options, and hire fast, not browse. 

Since the competition is high in these spaces, here are tips for boosting visibility and performance: 

• Claim and optimize your profile: Add photos of your team, trucks, and work, fill out all services offered, and use a strong description. 

• Focus on reviews: Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show potential customers you care. 

• Upgrade your listing: Paid listing options place your business at the top of search results, which boosts conversions.  

Strong online reviews are critical to success on these platforms. 

ServiceTitan’s Review Generation helps you request reviews after completing jobs, build credibility across Yelp and other platforms, and track responses to see which techs or services earn the best feedback. 

It’s simple math: better reviews = better directory ranking = more leads and booked jobs.

9. Print Ads in Local Magazines or Newspapers

Digital marketing hogs the spotlight regarding advertising, but it doesn’t hurt to invest in print, too. 

These community-focused publications offer powerful brand exposure, especially for local businesses, as homeowners often flip through newsletters, lifestyle magazines, or other physical media looking for service providers. 

These formats help you build familiarity with homeowners (it feels ‘close to home’), establish your credibility because they are seen as trusted publications, and have a longer shelf life as coupons are often saved for weeks. 

Here are some plumbing advertising ideas: seasonal offers, coupons, and meet-the-team pieces. 

A good printed ad could look like this: 

10. Branded Vehicle Wraps

Service vehicles aren’t just a way to get from job to job; they are a moving billboard for your plumbing services, broadcasting your brand all over town, every single day. 

And let’s be honest: with a catchy slogan like Don’t Let Leaks Drain Your Wallet, who wouldn’t want to hire you? 

A branded vehicle wrap provides high visibility and local targeting. You’re advertising in the area where you work and want to grow, and the best part is that a high-quality wrap lasts up to five years. 

Just make sure to keep the design crisp with these tips: 

• Use a professional photo of your team. 

• Consider using an eye-catching graphic of a mascot or pipe wrench, for example.

• Keep your layout clean and readable even from a distance. 

11. Referral Program Ads

You know what they say: a happy customer is your best marketing tool. 

If you provide good service, a satisfied customer is more likely to spread the word to friends and family. People are more inclined to hire a plumber recommended by a neighbor than from seeing an online ad. 

Plus, referrals are low cost and high ROI. You can structure them like this: 

Refer a friend and if they book a service, you get a $50 coupon. 

These types of ads are also versatile: you can use referral program ads across email, socials, or even as physical handouts.

Managing referrals manually is a hassle; but with ServiceTitan Automated Workflows, you can make it a breeze. Automatically send referral invites after a job is complete, track them without extra admin work, and keep an eye on the whole process in a user-friendly dashboard. 

With ServiceTitan, you get more referrals, and your customers feel rewarded and appreciated. 

12. Website & Landing Page Ads

The last method of advertising for plumbing companies that works well involves website and LP ads, which drive traffic through compelling pages. For example, if you’re running a drain cleaning promo, you can send users to a special page (not the homepage) when they click on the ad, where they can find more information about the offer. 

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when creating your LP ads: 

• Have a clear CTA, such as Book Service Now, Request a Free Estimate, or Call 24/7 Emergency Line.

• Use online booking or web forms to make it easier for people to book an appointment.

• List service area information, such as specific neighborhoods, cities, or zip codes. 

• Include trust-builders like customer testimonials, team photos, badges, certifications, and guarantees. 

• Make sure it’s mobile-optimized for those who like to browse on their phone (and let’s be honest, most people do). 

Overall, website and landing page ads are great because they turn clicks into customers easily. Visitors decide in seconds if they want to contact you, but only if the landing page loads fast and offers a clear path to closing the deal. 

Choosing the Right Plumbing Ads for Your Business

As you can see, there are many ways to advertise your plumbing business. The one you choose highly depends on your preference, budget, and target audience. Maybe people in your area like to receive direct mail, while others prefer to contact you via a directory platform. 

Whether you’re trying to build brand awareness or encourage repeat business, choose a mix that suits your business to make the most of every marketing dollar. 

ServiceTitan is an all-in-one platform built for home service businesses of all kinds. With built-in tools like Google Ads integration, email automation, and a real-time performance dashboard, ServiceTitan makes it easy to run smarter, more profitable campaigns for plumbing companies. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s answer some of the most common questions asked by plumbing pros. 

What are plumbing ads?

Plumbing ads are any form of advertising used by plumbing companies to promote their services and products, attract new customers, and increase brand awareness. 

These ads appear in different forms and channels, depending on the business’s preference, goals, and budget. 

With ServiceTitan Plumbing Software, for example, you can gain insights into your campaign’s performance, allowing you to be more efficient and make better data-driven decisions. 

What makes a plumbing ad effective?

A plumbing ad is effective if it gets results. It should have: 

• A clear value proposition

• Local relevance

• A strong call to action

• Trust signals

• Targeted delivery

• Mobile-friendly design

What are the costs associated with running plumbing ads?

According to a Reddit user, plumbing companies invest 5% to 15% of their revenue in marketing. 

“A company bringing in $1 million+ in monthly revenue might spend 5% or more on marketing, while a smaller startup generating $10K a month could invest 10%+ to scale their business.” 

Generally, the price varies based on where and how often you advertise. For example, a Google ad in 2025 costs $5.26 per click. 

What are the benefits of running plumbing ads?

Here are the key benefits: 

• Helps acquire more leads

• Increases sales and revenue

• Builds a stronger local presence

• Boosts brand awareness

• Encourages repeat business

What are the drawbacks of running plumbing ads?

Running plumbing ads is not without risks: 

• Gets expensive quickly

• Requires testing and tweaking

• No guaranteed results

• Low-quality leads

• Short-term focus 

What platforms are best for running plumbing ads?

Here are the best platforms for running ads: 

• Google

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Direct mail

• YouTube