Running a plumbing business has a lot more to it than fixing leaks and unblocking drains. To keep your pipeline unclogged and flowing, you need a steady stream of plumbing leads and new customers. We all know standing out in a competitive market can be tough, especially when most customers only think of plumbers during an emergency.
That’s where lead generation comes in. A consistent flow of plumbing leads means more jobs, steadier cash flow, and room to grow your business. If you’ve ever wondered how to get more plumbing leads, this guide covers the proven strategies that work.
TL;DR
- Optimise your website and Google Business Profile to capture local searches.
- Use paid ads and local SEO to get found fast, especially for emergencies.
- Build reviews, referrals, and partnerships to win trust and repeat business.
- Automate lead capture and follow-up with AroFlo to close more jobs.
5 Types of Plumbing Leads and Why They Matter
Not all plumbing job leads are created equal.
Knowing the differences helps you focus your time and marketing spend on the right people with the right approach. By understanding which type of customer you want to reach, you can match each strategy to the audience that needs it most and increase your chances of turning interest into booked jobs. Have you ever asked yourself, "How can I get more leads and customers for my plumbing business?" This breakdown is a vital step toward answering that question.
- Residential Plumbing Leads – Homeowners needing repairs or installations (e.g. leaky taps, hot water system repairs).
How to Get Them: Local SEO, Google Business Profile, customer referrals. - Commercial Plumbing Leads – Businesses requiring plumbing for offices, shops, or facilities (e.g. bathroom installs, routine maintenance).
How to Get Them: Contractor networks, commercial directories, targeted email campaigns. - Emergency Plumbing Leads – Urgent jobs where speed matters most (e.g. burst pipes, blocked drains).
How to Get Them: Google Local Services Ads, 24/7 phone response tools. - Maintenance Plumbing Leads – Customers booking regular check-ups (e.g. pipe inspections, drain cleaning).
How to Get Them: Automated email reminders, loyalty discounts. - New Construction & Renovation Leads – Builders or homeowners needing plumbing for new builds or renovations.
How to Get Them: Partner with builders, property developers, and renovation specialists.
12 Proven Strategies to Generate Plumbing Leads
1. Optimise Your Website for Lead Generation
Your website is your digital shopfront. Recent studies show that around 81% of people research a business online before making a purchase decision (Zippia, 2023), and most say the quality of a website directly impacts their perception of credibility. If your site looks outdated or hard to use, customers may click away.
For even more insight, check out Unbounce’s Conversion Benchmark Report, which analyses how landing page design and performance directly affect lead conversion rates.
Must-haves for a plumbing website:
- Clear service pages (residential, commercial, emergency, maintenance).
- Lead-capture forms with quick turnaround promises.
- High-res photos of your team on the job.
- Reviews and testimonials.
- Click-to-call buttons for mobile users.
💡 AroFlo Tip: Integrate enquiry forms directly into AroFlo’s job management system. Every plumbing job lead request goes straight into your workflow, so you can respond quickly and never miss a job. Plus, AroFlo’s CRM integration ensures all customer details and interactions are tracked in one place, making it easier to nurture relationships and convert more leads into loyal clients.
For further inspiration, see our blog on the best plumbing apps for your business and how the right tools can help you stand out online.
2. Create and Optimise a Google Business Profile
Nearly 90% of Australians search Google before hiring a local service (Think with Google, 2023). If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, you’re invisible to those searches.
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Quick setup guide:
- Claim your Business Profile at Google Business.
- Add accurate business details (NAP: Name, Address, Phone).
- Upload photos of your team, vans, and completed jobs.
- Collect reviews consistently.
📌 Pro tip: Encourage every satisfied customer to leave a review. Here’s our guide on how to request a review on Google.
3. Run Google Local Services Ads
For plumbers, Google’s Local Services Ads are a goldmine. They appear above traditional ads and show “Google Guaranteed” next to your business name. This badge boosts trust instantly.
- Pay only for qualified plumbing leads, not clicks.
- Perfect for emergency services like “plumber near me.”
- Target by location and service type.
4. Invest in Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
While SEO builds long-term visibility, PPC gives you instant exposure and precise targeting. Platforms like Google Ads or Bing Ads let you bid for keywords such as “emergency plumber Sydney” or “blocked drain Melbourne.” You can also control budgets, set geographic and time-of-day targeting, and test different ad copy to see which messages convert best.
For plumbers, this means you can capture high-intent plumbing leads in the exact suburbs you want to serve and measure return on ad spend with real accuracy.
5. Leverage Local SEO Strategies
Local SEO is about making sure customers in your area find you first. When someone searches “plumber near me,” you want your business to be one of the first results they see. Strong local SEO helps you compete directly with bigger players because search engines prioritise proximity and relevance.
Steps to improve local SEO:
- Use geo-targeted keywords (e.g. “plumber in Brisbane CBD”) in your service pages and blogs.
- Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across directories, invoices, and social media profiles.
- Claim and optimising listings on AU/NZ directories like:
- hipages.com.au
- Fix-A-Tap
- Yelp
- plumber.com.au
- Apple Business Connect (free listing for Apple Maps & Siri searches).
- Regularly update your Google Business Profile with posts, offers, and photos to stay active and relevant.
By staying consistent and visible across local directories and search platforms, you’ll increase your chances of capturing high-intent searches from people ready to book a plumber right away.
6. Network with Other Contractors and Tradespeople
Word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective ways to generate plumbing job leads. Building partnerships with electricians, builders, and property managers can deliver a steady flow of referrals.
When builders take on kitchen or bathroom renovations, they often recommend plumbers they trust to their clients. Position yourself as that trusted plumber by building strong relationships and delivering reliable work.
7. Offer a Referral Program
Happy customers love sharing good service. Incentivise them to spread the word.
- Offer a discount on future services for referrals.
- Provide gift cards or free maintenance checks.
💡 AroFlo Tip: Did you know AroFlo also has a referral program? Mention it to your customers or peers, and you can both benefit. For businesses looking to grow steadily, this complements features like AroFlo’s reporting and analytics, which track how referral channels contribute to your overall lead generation.
8. Collect and Showcase Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the strongest forms of social proof, giving potential customers confidence that others have trusted you before – and liked the work you provided. A solid bank of positive reviews often makes the difference between a customer calling you or a competitor, and in many cases, it can even justify a higher price point or sway a decision when everything else looks equal.
Best practices:
- Ask for reviews immediately after a job, while the experience is fresh and satisfaction is high.
- Send follow-up texts or emails with direct review links to remove friction.
- Showcase top reviews on your website, Google Business Profile, and social media to build credibility.
- Respond to every review, positive or negative. A thoughtful reply shows professionalism and helps future customers see that you care.
- Use snippets of reviews in proposals or quotes to reinforce trust when closing new work.
📌 Pro Tip: Provide a customer review template to make the process simple, and check out our customer feedback guide for more ways to gather insights that improve your service.
9. Use Social Media to Stay Top-of-Mind
Most people won’t scroll Facebook looking for a plumber, but they will check your social profiles before hiring you. A dead account looks unprofessional, while an active one showcasing completed work or happy customer stories signals that your business is reliable, busy, and trustworthy.
Post ideas:
- Before-and-after plumbing jobs.
- Short tip videos (e.g. “3 signs your water heater needs replacing”).
- Customer shoutouts and team highlights.
Consistency matters more than perfection.
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10. Create Educational Content
Content marketing positions you as the expert. Blog posts, YouTube tutorials, or even quick Instagram reels can generate trust.
Content that uses specific search phrases customers might type, like “plumber for blocked drains in Melbourne,” often ranks better in Google because it matches exactly what people are looking for. Try to be mindful about creating content that adds value or teaches the customer something they might not have known. This also builds trust and credibility.
Examples:
- “5 ways to prevent blocked drains.”
- “What to do when your water heater leaks.”
- Case studies of past jobs.
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11. Tap into Partnerships
Builders, real estate agents, strata managers, and property managers all need reliable plumbers they can call on quickly. Establishing yourself as their go-to partner brings in repeat jobs and also positions you as part of their trusted supply chain. These partnerships often lead to long-term contracts, preferred supplier status, and a steady stream of higher-value work that goes beyond one-off emergency callouts.
How to get started:
- Join local business networking groups.
- Offer competitive commercial maintenance packages.
- Provide fast turnaround guarantees.
12. Automate Lead Capture & Follow-Up
Getting plumbing leads is only half the battle. The real difference comes in how quickly and consistently you follow up. Many plumbers lose work simply because they don’t respond fast enough or forget to call back.
💡 AroFlo Tip: With AroFlo, enquiries from your website or phone can be logged instantly, turned into jobs, and scheduled without manual data entry. That means faster follow-ups and more closed deals.
If you’re a smaller team wanting to dip your toes into digital job management, Aroflo Go is a great entry point.
Secure Plumbing Leads with Smarter Tools and Strategies
Plumbing leads are the lifeblood of a successful business. Consistency, visibility, and trust are what keep the phone ringing and the jobs flowing. Whether you’re just starting out or running an established team, combining smart marketing with reliable tools will give you the steady pipeline you need to grow.
AroFlo helps you capture every lead, track every job, and automate follow-ups without adding to your admin load. With the right system in place, you can spend more time on the tools and less time chasing paperwork. Check out our plumbing software to learn more.
Don’t just chase leads, close them!
Capture every plumbing lead, assign jobs instantly, and never let an opportunity slip away with AroFlo.
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