[Hidden-tech] Plumber recommendation?

[Rob Laporte]

Hi All,

It’s haunting that this email thread happened when for the last three days I’ve been calling my plumber who has not returned my call. 

Google has long been trying to get more small local businesses on the web with free and really cheap websites and hosting, Google "My Business" pages, AdWords Express, and other services, as part of a complete package. Google discovered it’s not cost-effective to reach out to individual businesses much beyond some traveling seminars, so Google tries to get partner firms like mine to reach out for Google. But it’s not cost-effective for firms like mine either—sales time plus work time for small budget. About three years ago I suggested to a Google rep that Google create packages for the likes of Chambers of Commerce, who could market the packages efficiently. Maybe no connection, but a year and a half later they introduced such a package (see https://www.gybo.com <https://www.gybo.com/>, which will often redirect to a URL ending in the city or big town nearest you). This has promise, though I believe Google should give Chambers the ability to offer ample and exclusive discounts and coupons. I’ve pushed GYBO and related ideas in my board meetings at the Greenfield Business Association and Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, with a good reception, but we need more time to articulate a package that motivates more members to join the Chamber. Even with the efficiencies and value of such a program organized by Chambers and the like, there’s often too little financial incentive involved to support the needed time.

One way or another, local businesses absolutely most do Local & Map SEO, with or without a website (a Google My Business page will do). This page explains the why and how: http://www.2disc.com/services/local-search-marketing/ <http://www.2disc.com/services/local-search-marketing/> .  Don’t buy those services, often robo-called and spam emailed, that charge you several hundred dollars per year for this. It’s one time, no charge, only (and here’s the rub) skilled labor to do it right.

In short, there are cost-effective web marketing channels for small local businesses, but, sadly, the people who really know what those channels are, and who would be honest in saying how much is not worth doing, are usually too busy with bigger fish. It’s not greed; it’s survival—good web marketing agencies spend a lot on research to stay current with what really works, and they need to support that unpaid time by focussing on reasonably well-paid work. 

That all said, I’ve always recommended doing no more marketing than is needed to achieve one’s goals, and I often get the sense that most plumbers, or at least the good ones, stay plenty busy with almost no website and no marketing beyond what Google pulls into maps and local results from third party business databases like Axiom.  

Back to the plumbing matter: anyone have a spare steam heat radiator kicking around, or know where I can get one? People often convert to hot water, putting many steam radiators in garages or junk yards, but I like the humidification of steam, and one of my radiators started leaking through rust. Plumber-schlumber—YouTube and a friggin’ huge wrench, and I’ll do the darn thing myself!

Best Regards,

Rob Laporte
Founder & Managing Partner
DISC, Inc. - "Making Web Sites Make Money"
413-584-6500
Rob at 2disc.com
www.linkedin.com/in/2disc
www.2disc.com

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> On Apr 13, 2016, at 12:53 PM, Kiernan Gulick-Sherrill <kiernan at greenearthpc.us> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Michael,
> 
> Question for you perhaps...or maybe everyone here. Why is it that 90% of home service contractors (plumbers, electricians, handymen, etc) still seem to not have websites.
> 
> Looking for plumbers, have the time I have to hunt down their contact info even after I find the company name. And finding out any company info...completely at a loss.
> 
> Am I too modern into the digital age? Or what?
> 
> Kiernan Gulick-Sherrill
> Green Earth Computers
> www.greenearthpc.us <http://www.greenearthpc.us/>
> kiernan at greenearthpc.us <mailto:kiernan at greenearthpc.us>
> 413-282-8324
> -----------------------
> 
> See what people are saying -- Check us out on Yelp: http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP <http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP>
> On Apr 13, 2016 12:30 PM, "Michael Muller" <tech at montaguewebworks.com <mailto:tech at montaguewebworks.com>> wrote:
> MSD Plumbing.
> 
> http://www.montaguema.net/directory.cfm?gpt=34&g=210&ID=273 <http://www.montaguema.net/directory.cfm?gpt=34&g=210&ID=273>
> Mik Muller, owner
> Montague WebWorks
> (413) 320-5336
> http://MontagueWebWorks.com <http://montaguewebworks.com/>
> Powered by ROCKETFUSION
> On 4/13/2016 9:05 AM, Kiernan Gulick-Sherrill wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> We have been trying to reach a good local plumber for the house with bad luck in getting calls back, wondering if you folks had any recommendations. In Leverett.
>> 
>> Kiernan Gulick-Sherrill
>> Green Earth Computers
>> www.greenearthpc.us <http://www.greenearthpc.us/>
>> kiernan at greenearthpc.us <mailto:kiernan at greenearthpc.us>
>> 413-282-8324
>> -----------------------
>> 
>> See what people are saying -- Check us out on Yelp:  <http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP>http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP <http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP>
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net <http://www.hidden-tech.net/>
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