Plumbing isn’t often on top of home maintenance checklists, but most American homeowners encounter an issue at some point. Shockingly, almost half a million households in the US miss out on basic indoor plumbing.
Even if you are not among these unfortunate ones, you may still have to deal with common issues at some point. Statistics show that 15% of homes have a water leak, contributing to the growth of the plumbing repair market. The demand for plumbers is projected to grow at 4% per annum from 2019 to 2029.
Despite the encouraging numbers, plumbing businesses face stiff competition. If you are in the industry, you will know the challenges of acquiring and retaining clients. While a robust online presence is the mainstay of success, positive reviews can fuel your business with trust and credibility. Surveys show that 86% of consumers check reviews before hiring a local business.
Getting positive reviews for your business takes more than delivering top-notch services. You cannot expect every client to be proactive about posting them. Here are a few ways to do your bit to maximize the benefits of positive reviews for your plumbing service:
Table of Contents
Go Above and Beyond with Availability
Plumbing delays can cause extensive damage to properties. Homeowners may end up spending thousands more to rectify delay-induced damage. As a provider, you don’t want to be the reason for such delays. Every time you fail to reach a customer on time, you may mess up your relationship with them. It means you lose your revenues and reputation, with the risk of a negative review.
Going above and beyond with availability does the opposite. A few measures can help you win the availability factor. Consider your current client base and local demand to build a team with enough people to address their needs. Have emergency resources at hand to fulfill on-the-fly orders. You can use scheduling software for plumbers to stay on top of appointments.
Workiz notes that organizing schedules with a software solution can enhance the productivity of plumbing teams. While customers can use it to seek appointments online, employees get quick views to be available at the right location on time.
Ask for a Good Word
The simplest way to get a positive review for your plumbing business is to ask for it from a happy client. If they are satisfied with your service, they will be keen to share a good word. Capitalize on positive moments in your relationship, such as:
- After closing a project at a cost lower than the initial estimate
- After finishing a job quicker than expected
- When clients state they are impressed with your services
Make the most of the moment and politely request them to spread the word. Get them to post a review right away because they will likely not do it later.
Kickstart Your Review Stream
According to surveys, 36% of consumers share their customer service experience, with more than one-third of them posting on Facebook. Instagram is the next most popular channel they use to share opinions.
The probability of getting your customers to share their reviews boils down to the ease of the process. No one wants to struggle to write a line about your service, no matter how much they like it.
You can do your bit to kickstart the review stream to convince or remind your customers to post them. Try nudging happy clients to share the word at the time of service completion. You can even incentivize them with discounts and special privileges for posting a positive review.
Ensure Good Visibility
Just getting positive reviews from happy clients will not get you anywhere. You need to ensure that everyone can see them so that potential customers have good reasons to consider your services. Optimize your Google Business Profile to get it to the top of local searches. The more people access your listing, the more likely they will check your reviews.
Increase your social media following through compelling posts. A greater following means more people see your reviews on these channels. Feature positive reviews and testimonials on your website prominently. Having them on the home page is a good idea. You can even create a banner to make them more eye-catching.
Respond to Reviews
Did you know that replying to customer reviews leads to better ratings? Think beyond just getting maximum positive reviews. You may get a few negative ones, no matter how great your plumbing service quality is. Having a response plan enables you to deal with both positive and negative reviews.
Responding to positive reviews is a breeze. Drop a quick line thanking clients for the good word and request them to use your service again. Conversely, negative reviews can get tricky as you need to use your tone and words cautiously. Take critical feedback positively and ensure that you will improve the problem areas.
Closing Thoughts
Positive reviews are like a catalyst for service-focused businesses. Getting them for your plumbing company requires high-quality services, professionalism, and availability. But that’s just the start because you must capitalize on the good word. These tips can help you make the most of positive reviews to enhance your reputation and credibility.
