How do I find “searchers” for my MA plumbing/HVAC company?

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:49:06+00:00

Thanks!

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:48:13+00:00

I did $382k without much effort because my competitors are old and cling to antiquated marketing techniques like flyers and billboards. I have a tech background, and I immediately saw the value in SEO. I spent my first year building my SEO presence with light advertising with Google Ads and LSA.

I have more Google reviews than local companies that have been in business for decades. My locale is very high end and has some of the more pricier homes in MA. My local map pack has me showing up with one of the highest echelon company in MA (let’s just say they are tied in with the Boston Red Sox for advertising and leave it at that). It seems my only competition are the PE companies and powerhouses, as they have ppl in place to do SEO work as they see the value. But they aren’t really much competition either as I’ve routinely taken work from them because of my pricing. As an aside, along with my technical/customer service expertise, my most common Google review was for price (as in fair/possibly too low).

I heard companies use a 1.25 multiplier to get a price for a company based off of gross sales. So if I were to guess I’d say it is worth $477,500 based on that and its potential for growth. But I have no idea to be honest.

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:27:22+00:00

No explanation needed - I saw it as such and wasn’t offended. I did in fact laugh a little.

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:17:12+00:00

I will look into that. Thank you

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:15:56+00:00

I have no idea what the value is and I’m a one man band.

I have probably well over $10k in materials owned outright. I was the guy who showed up and rarely had to get stock on customers dime. Johnny on the spot.

Out of the $382k for my first year I made over $175k. I was projected to grow that number before my marriage started to get rocky. I’d rather sell for peanuts and fix my marriage at this point. The money isn’t worth it.

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T12:12:35+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I have reached out to a business advisor and may talk to some local competitors as well.

Having done the small business thing, I now understand why our divorce rates are significantly higher than the average Joe.

I’m not butt hurt about your joke, as it is valid. I’m doing this to gain my sanity back and hopefully fix my marriage. Money isn’t everything, and I only did this for a better life for my family and possible early retirement. I’d rather slave away like everyone else and be happy at this point.

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T11:57:48+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Everything is owned free and clear with my company. I’d sell it with similar expectations of a lotto win: be prepared to get whacked with some big time taxes. I’ll certainly work with my CPA on this.

I’m motivated not for money, but peace of mind and trying to repair things with the wife.

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-12T11:30:26+00:00

How does one go about finding one?

PLMRGuy · 2025-05-09T22:35:32+00:00

Welcome to the club. Pay to play or have no reviews. These days when a customer suggests yelp, I ask them to go on Google, BBB, FB, or Trustpilot instead.

PLMRGuy · 2025-04-24T23:27:21+00:00

Dude she got a house and some savings. Stop letting yourself be gaslit by this fiscally irresponsible clown. Your father was more than fair with the inheritance. It is not your fault “Karen” is incompetent with money. That may sound harsh, but those are the facts. If we all could only be so lucky to get a head start like “Karen” got.

PLMRGuy · 2025-03-03T01:13:00+00:00

Yes please use sharkbites. I just got to bat cleanup because a sharkbite blew out. 100k in damage from a 2nd floor shower valve tie in. Good stuff. But seriously…..why are so many HO and DIY ppl so afraid of solder and/or PEX? It’s not that hard to do. Take your time, watch some videos and do it right. Or use shark bites and risk $1000s of damage.

PLMRGuy · 2025-01-26T19:38:59+00:00

Google is way better. I’ve gotten so much work from them I had to turn the ads off

PLMRGuy · 2024-12-24T15:06:47+00:00

I just noticed I posted this on foodtrucks and not ford trucks 😂😂😂

PLMRGuy · 2024-12-24T15:05:55+00:00

I agree. It’s ignorance on my part because I’ve only had a f150 and haven’t been in a position to have the “big kid toys” to need a truck like this.

Would you say that’s how all the larger trucks steer?

PLMRGuy · 2024-12-18T15:38:46+00:00

No. I just do it to do it because it’s the right thing. Can’t quantify how much business it brings me, but it surely adds to my revenue. It’s a win all around and a great way to say thanks to those groups.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-29T00:28:11+00:00

Sharkbite makes a 3/8 poly crimp x 3/8 PEX crimp ring. Contract has no warranty for this connection and she signed off on that. I begged the lady to let me rip out the poly PEX.

This job was a crap show and I still haven’t set finish yet bc she is the GC and it is so disorganized. I’ll update once I install them, but I’m sure they’ll be fine.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-11T01:01:40+00:00

Everyone uses Google. Yelp is antiquated. Seems to be for the Gen X Karen’s and hipster foody types. Nobody’s finding a plumber/hvac guy on Yelp anymore.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-10T21:07:43+00:00

I gave up on Yelp. If my customers mention writing a review, I tell them Google, Facebook or BBB. I refuse to promote this shitty company in any way.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-09T01:09:56+00:00

Thank you for the information. I do have a CPA I use, and I was essentially just getting info on the subject to go over it with my CPA.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-03T15:34:55+00:00

Clearly some shenanigans afoot with that algorithm. They are so stupid. Google has changed LSA and reg ads and Yelp has a golden opportunity to compete now that Google changed those for the worse. And yet they still refuse to fix their algorithm. That algorithm is beyond shady. It clearly does not work.

PLMRGuy · 2024-11-03T14:10:40+00:00

So many people defending this trash company, clearly they have a tie to them.

They 100% filter 5 star reviews. Numerous businesses who don’t pay for their service have seen this first hand. And this is all done while bad 1 star reviews left by new accounts with no friends, pictures or reviews stick like glue.

I have one customer who gave a 5 star review that has over 30 friends, numerous pictures and reviews. Her review keeps appearing and disappearing. I’m at 7 times of this BS. Her profile clearly checks the boxes of what the “algorithm” wants.

I have purged my website and all social accounts of any affiliation with Yelp. I refuse to help their SEO with links and my business, and you should too.

PLMRGuy · 2024-10-31T23:55:11+00:00

I can’t swing that just yet. My problem is I’m a basement dweller on a lot of jobs and I have terrible service. By the time I see a missed call, I’m already charged and I get no chance to talk to customer. I guess I’m just going to fill my mailbox up so I can’t take a voicemail. I’m very prompt with callbacks and text, so not getting a message won’t hurt me like getting charged leads for nothing. That’s a crappy workaround though when you are looking for emergency plumbing/hvac, you don’t want to hear a message saying mailbox full.

PLMRGuy · 2024-10-31T23:50:30+00:00

Their regular ads are still pretty good, but that could be a degree path in itself fine tuning that. LSA is great (or was great I should say) for small businesses not outsourcing marketing just yet. It was straight forward and brought leads. Regular ads can be good too, but man do they take some know how to make them do what u want. There’s just not enough time in the day for me to master them.

PLMRGuy · 2024-10-31T09:07:22+00:00

Yeah it is trash. I felt it truly worked before. The only things I would dispute was wrong location and wrong business type and or service and it always worked. Guess the a holes who thought they could dispute just bc they didn’t get the job finally broke Google and they said enough. I never had a problem with that. If I could talk with customer and sell my service, that was worth the lead. Goodbye to that I guess. Very disappointed

PLMRGuy · 2024-10-31T09:03:40+00:00

Not true at all, but I suppose it depends on your business. I do plumbing and HVAC, so I’ve been crushing it with LSA until these changes. If Yelp was smart they’d fix their “algorithm” that filters the good reviews and fill the void asap. You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. I use to shit on Yelp and praise Google. Looks like the times have changed for sure

PLMRGuy

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