[Hidden-tech] Plumber recommendation?

[Anita Lockesmith]

Okay, I'll bite. As a small business owner offering local services, I have
created a basic website greenfieldperdiem.com. Very few people actually
google search 'handywoman' and mostly you'll find per diem nurses...
I also drive a truck with my business name on it. If someone were to google
my business name Greenfield Per Diem, Greenfield MA, they will not find me.
The only way to find my web is to know the exact address. I have a FB page
and i've signed up for various free options, like google web service, for
promoting my business. All I've generated from this are advertisers wanting
to help me "build" my visibility. (apparently they can find me but no one
else can) I think some of this has something to do with analytics which I
don't know anything about.

Fortunately, my business actually grows from direct referrals, rarely a
google search.

As for old radiators, try Eco Building Bargains in Springfield. (For a
while the price of steel was high enough that metal recyclers were actively
searching for old radiators to turn into cash)

Doug Mahon is one of those low tech, man with a truck, old school plumbers.
You can find him on FB

--Anita @ Greenfield Per Diem

On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 3:03 PM, Rob Laporte <Rob at 2disc.com> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> 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, 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/ .  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
>
> *NOTE:* Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you
> don’t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call.
>
>
>
>
> 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
> kiernan at greenearthpc.us
> 413-282-8324
> -----------------------
>
> See what people are saying -- Check us out on Yelp: http://bit.ly/GEPCYELP
> On Apr 13, 2016 12:30 PM, "Michael Muller" <tech at montaguewebworks.com>
> wrote:
>
> MSD Plumbing.
>
> http://www.montaguema.net/directory.cfm?gpt=34&g=210&ID=273
>
> Mik Muller, owner
> Montague WebWorks(413) 320-5336http://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
> 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
>
>
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-- 
Anita D. Lockesmith
27 Allen Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 773-3242
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