How Does Automated Text Messaging Help in Plumbing Marketing?

Keeping the plumbing business alive is not an easy task. Often, you’re stuck between emergency call-outs, managing your field technicians, fixing leaky faucets, and plumbing marketing. You’re working hard to grow your plumbing business while juggling tight margins, staffing issues, and constant competition, but the question here is – how can you make sure local homeowners find you when they need you? The simple two-word answer to this is – SMS plumbing.

Generally, plumber’s communication strategy revolves around reaching existing or potential customers and managing appointments. In that, text message marketing can help attract more leads and expand business. Using SMS, you can connect with your customers quickly, effectively, and efficiently. In this article, we will discuss what automated text messaging is, how it helps in plumbing marketing, and how to get started with SMS plumbing.

What is Automated Text Messaging?

Suppose you don’t need to manually type out messages to customers or follow up on appointments. Instead, your system does it for you. That’s automated text messaging. You can use platforms like Textdrip to schedule and send personalized SMS messages to hundreds of contacts automatically. By using an automated text messaging platform, you can send appointment reminders, follow up with leads, share service updates, or ask for reviews. You don’t need any extra effort or have to deal with stress. You can watch this Textdrip demo video to understand how easy it is to create an automated SMS campaign for your plumbing business using an automated SMS marketing platform.

Let’s visualize how SMS marketing can fit into your plumbing business. Here are a few example messages that can help you get started.

1. Appointment Reminders

2. Payment Reminders

3. Appointment Scheduling

4. Send Invoices

5. Communicate Delays

6. Vendor Requests

Why Text Messaging Works in Plumbing Marketing?

Plumbing problems are urgent. When someone’s basement is flooding or their sink is not draining, they’re obviously not going to browse through dozens of websites because they need help now. Here is where SMS plumbing can be helpful.

Text messaging offers instant reach. It’s open rate is 98%, and messages are read within 3 minutes. Besides, you don’t need to open any apps or log in somewhere. In short, SMS offers high engagement. So, if you’re still relying on Facebook ads, emails, or postcards, you’re missing out on leads who need help right now.

A quick text message that says, “Hey John, we’re available for emergency plumbing today. To book a slot, click here [Link]” could be all it takes to win a job.

In short, plumbing marketing services that use SMS always stand out. You can use Textdrip’s bucket feature for smarter lead management. Also, you can close more deals with it’s pipelines feature.

What are the Benefits of Automated Text Messaging for a Plumbing Business?

When it comes to traditional communication methods, they often fail to provide the speed and responsiveness required. The main goal of SMS plumbing is to convince customers why they should choose you over others, not if they need you. Using SMS marketing, you can give them better transparency, which helps build trust. You can easily inform a customer that, due to a traffic jam, your arrival at a job could be delayed. Additionally, through SMS, you can inform your employees that a customer with a burst pipe should be their priority over the regularly scheduled service. Besides speed and convenience, there are other benefits of automated texting.

1. You Can Easily Integrate SMS With Other Tools

It is quite easy to integrate SMS with your existing CRM and other scheduling tools. Through this integration, you can automatically send a text message whenever a new quote is issued, an invoice is delivered, an appointment is set, etc. It will not only save you valuable time but also help you automate your administrative tasks to keep you organized and free from human error.

2. No Need to Download Any App

Various messaging services require people to download an app for communication. Your clients and coworkers won’t always do it willingly. However, with text messaging, there is no need to download any extra app. You only need to get permission from your customers to send them a message. There is no other communication channel that gives you this much convenience and a guaranteed high engagement level. It is what makes texting invaluable for your plumbing business’s communication strategy.

3. It Helps You Save Time on Follow-Ups

It takes hours to follow up with leads or missed calls. However, with SMS automation, you can send a text message like this, “Still need help with that leak?” without lifting your finger.

4. SMS Can Cut Down No-Shows

Appointment reminders can help you reduce no-shows. You can set automated text messages to ping clients 24 hours and 2 hours before the visit. Here is how you can set and send reminder messages using our automated texting platform.

5.  You Can Collect More Reviews

Do you want 5-star ratings? You can send a post-service review request via text message.

Hey [Customer Name]! Thank you for choosing [Business Name]! We would love your feedback: [Link].

You can easily automate review requests using an automated texting platform.

6. It Helps You Boost Repeat Business.

You can run seasonal SMS campaigns. Send your customers an SMS like this during winter – 

Cold Weather Alert! Get a pipe inspection before the freeze. Book now for 20% off.

7.  24*7 Lead Nurturing

Through SMS automation, you can capture leads even while you sleep. How? You can set a welcome SMS to be sent to people who visit your site at midnight or at any other time. This way, they can get the welcome text instantly.

How to Integrate SMS into Plumbing Marketing Services?

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to start using SMS in your overall marketing strategy. You need to follow the steps below to integrate SMS into plumbing marketing services.

1. Select the Right SMS Marketing Platform

You need to select the SMS tool that is specially designed for service-based businesses. In that, Textdrip is the top choice because it offers impressive features such as scheduling, quick responses, personalization, drip campaigns, automation, opt-out handling, and more.

2. Import Your Contacts

Once you’ve decided on the platform, it’s time to import your customer data like name, mobile number, last service date, type of service used, etc. Here is how you can import contacts using our SMS marketing platform, Textdrip.

You can also use the STP marketing approach and segment your contacts into new leads, past clients, commercial clients, residential clients, and so on.

3. Set Smart Triggers

You can set up SMS based on the actions.

For example,

• Whenever a lead fills out your website form, send them an intro SMS.
• Two days after the job, you can send a review request.
• Every 6 months, you can send a maintenance reminder.

4. A/B Test Your Campaigns

You can experiment with different messaging styles. Also, try sending messages at different times to determine which messaging style and timing yield the best response. Automated texting platforms also let you track open rates, response rates, delivery rates, spam rates, message failure rates, etc.

5. Stay Compliant

Ensure each message you send includes an easy-to-follow opt-out request, like Reply “Stop” to unsubscribe. It keeps you within TCPA and 10DLC SMS compliance and helps you build trust.

Let’s Compare SMS With Other Plumbing Marketing Methods

Here is how SMS offers better engagement and results compared to other popular marketing methods for your plumbing business.

In all plumbing marketing services, automated SMS stands out for being fast and attention-grabbing. Also, SMS marketing pricing is low compared to other marketing methods, so it is affordable. If you’re looking to get an immediate response, minimize no-shows, and stay on top of mind with clients, SMS is an ideal marketing channel.

Tips and Tricks for Plumbers New to SMS Marketing

If you’re new to SMS marketing, here are some beginner-friendly tips that you need to keep in mind.

• Keep your text messages conversational because nobody wants robotic messages. So, be warm and human.

Hey [Customer Name], just confirming your pipe inspection at 4 PM today. Want to reschedule? Reply ‘RESCHEDULE’.

• If you’re adding a booking or review link, use the short links to keep your message neat.
• You should automate your message, but personalize messages. Textdrip’s merge field feature let’s you do it easily. Watch this video to learn how you can merge fields to run an effective personalized SMS campaign on Textdrip.

•   Avoid irritating your subscribers or customers by sending excessive text messages. Send 1-2 texts per week unless it’s a service update or confirmation.
•   You can encourage prospects/customers to join your SMS list by offering a discount. Those who join the list can even do priority scheduling. For example,

Text ‘PLUMBER’ to 15151 and get 15% off your next repair.

Modernize Your Plumbing Marketing With Textdrip

The plumbing industry is highly competitive. Customers expect quick answers, transparent communications, and a smooth experience when their pipes are not working properly. Automated text messaging makes your plumbing business more responsive, organized, and customer-centric. Using tools like Textdrip, you can easily launch SMS campaigns, send reminder messages, and even run promotions, everything from one dashboard. Through text messaging, you can build a good relationship with your customers by promoting your business that prioritize empathy and transparency. Click here to explore Textdrip for free today!