Plumbing Marketing vs. Doing Marketing In-House
Plumbing companies often face an important decision when it comes to marketing:
Should marketing be handled internally, or should the company work with a marketing agency?
There isn't one answer that works for every plumbing company.
The right choice depends on your team, budget, goals, and the amount of marketing expertise available internally.
Here's how to compare the two approaches.
What Does In-House Marketing Mean?
In-house marketing means your plumbing company handles marketing internally.
This might involve:
An owner
Office staff
A dedicated marketing employee
Multiple employees sharing responsibilities
The company controls the strategy and execution.
What Does Outsourced Marketing Mean?
Outsourced marketing means working with an external marketing company or specialist.
Depending on the provider, they may handle:
SEO
Web design
Google Ads
Content
Local SEO
Reporting
Overall strategy
Advantages of In-House Marketing
One advantage of in-house marketing is direct control.
Your team may already understand:
Your customers
Your services
Your service area
Your company culture
Your goals
Communication can also be straightforward when everyone works within the same organization.
Challenges of In-House Marketing
Marketing requires specialized knowledge.
A plumbing company may need expertise in:
SEO
Google Ads
Website development
Analytics
Content
Local search
Conversion optimization
One employee may not have deep expertise in every area.
Advantages of Outsourcing
A marketing company may provide access to people with experience across multiple disciplines.
Instead of hiring separate specialists for every channel, a plumbing company may work with one provider that manages multiple parts of its digital strategy.
This can include:
SEO
Web design
Google Ads
Marketing strategy
Consider the Cost of Time
Marketing doesn't only cost money.
It also requires time.
Someone needs to:
Research keywords
Create content
Monitor campaigns
Review analytics
Update websites
Manage advertising
Track leads
Adjust strategies
Business owners should consider whether these responsibilities are taking time away from running the plumbing company.
Consider Your Marketing Goals
Your decision should depend on what you're trying to accomplish.
If you're only maintaining a basic online presence, limited in-house marketing may be enough.
If you're trying to aggressively grow search visibility and lead generation, specialized outside expertise may be more useful.
Consider SEO
SEO can involve many ongoing activities.
Learn more about the work involved in SEO for Plumbing Companies: Complete Guide.
If you don't have someone internally who understands SEO strategy, outsourcing may be worth considering.
Consider Google Ads
Google Ads also requires ongoing management.
Campaigns need to be monitored for:
Search terms
Negative keywords
Conversion data
Geographic targeting
Budget
Ad performance
Learn more in How to Manage Google Ads for a Plumbing Company.
Consider Your Website
Your website affects almost every digital marketing channel.
If your current website is outdated or difficult to manage, professional web design may provide significant value.
Learn more in How to Redesign an Outdated Plumbing Website.
A Hybrid Approach Can Work
You don't necessarily have to choose one approach exclusively.
A plumbing company might handle some activities internally while outsourcing specialized work.
For example:
In-house:
Customer communication
Photos
Company updates
Review requests
Outsourced:
SEO
Website development
Google Ads
Marketing strategy
This can allow the company to maintain control while getting specialized support.
Compare Results, Not Just Costs
The cheapest marketing option isn't necessarily the best.
Consider:
Leads generated
Qualified leads
Customers acquired
Revenue
Time required
Marketing expertise
Long-term growth
A strategy that costs more but produces substantially more qualified customers may provide better value.
Choose Based on Your Business
A small plumbing company with limited marketing needs may be comfortable managing some activities internally.
A growing plumbing company that wants to scale lead generation may benefit from specialized marketing support.
For help building a complete marketing strategy, visit Plumbing Marketing.
Final Thoughts
Plumbing marketing can be handled internally, outsourced, or divided between the two.
The important thing is making sure the strategy is actually being executed consistently.
Consider:
Your goals
Your internal expertise
Your available time
Your budget
Your growth plans
The complexity of your marketing
The best approach is the one that allows your plumbing company to consistently attract and convert qualified customers.