In the competitive world of plumbing services, effective online advertising is crucial. The two giants in the digital advertising space, Google Ads and Facebook Ads, offer distinct advantages and challenges. Understanding which platform best suits your plumbing business can significantly impact your success.
Google Ads Captures Intent… but there’s a cost
When people need a plumber, they turn to Google. Google Ads capitalizes on this behavior by targeting high-intent customers who are actively searching for solutions to their plumbing problems. These individuals are ready to book a service, making Google Ads a powerful tool for driving immediate business. While the cost of Google Ads can be high due to competition, the return on investment is substantial. A well-optimized Google Ads campaign can achieve an impressive 90% booking to paid service rate. This high conversion rate is facilitated by encouraging direct calls rather than web form submissions. By making the phone number the sole call to action on the landing page, businesses can capture high-intent customers ready to book immediately.
Quick pitch: our pay-per-call service sends a new stream of customers with immediate service needs right to your business. There’s no time spent setting up, optimizing or learning.
Facebook Ads Gets Cheap Interest
On the other hand, Facebook Ads operate in a different realm. People do not use Facebook to find a plumber, but the platform excels at generating awareness and interest. Facebook Ads can reach a highly targeted audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors, making it possible to showcase your services to potential customers who might not yet realize they need a plumber. This approach is particularly effective for promoting services like drain cleaning, which can be positioned as a preventive measure. While the cost per lead on Facebook is typically lower, the intent is also lower, resulting in fewer direct calls and more web form submissions. To convert these leads, an aggressive follow-up system of phone calls and text messages is essential. Without such a system, the conversion rate may be as low as 5%. However, with effective follow-up, this rate can increase to 15-20%.
Start Where Your Audience Has A NEED
Given these distinctions, our recommendation is clear: start with Google Ads. The high intent and better conversion rates make it the ideal platform for generating immediate, high-quality leads. It’s much easier and more lucrative to capture market share from an audience that has a need for your service.
Once your Google Ads campaign is successfully driving business, consider supplementing it with Facebook Ads to build awareness and generate additional leads. This two-pronged approach leverages the strengths of both platforms, ensuring a robust online presence.