You’ve probably asked yourself this question more times than you can count. You’re great at your trade—whether it’s plumbing, landscaping, electrical, or HVAC—but when it comes to marketing, it feels like a frustrating maze of buzzwords, shifting strategies, and unclear results.
You’re not alone. Let’s break down why marketing your business feels so hard—and what you can do to make it easier.
1. You’re Great at Your Craft—Not at Marketing (And That’s Okay)
You didn’t start your home service business to become a marketing expert. You started it to provide great work. Marketing is a different skillset entirely. Most business owners don’t have the time to learn SEO, Google Ads, social media, content creation, and email campaigns on top of running their company. Trying to juggle all that without guidance can make marketing feel overwhelming.
2. There’s Too Much Conflicting Advice
One day it’s “Post every day on Instagram.” The next it’s “TikTok is the key.” Then someone says SEO is dead, and another swears it’s all about Google reviews. There’s a LOT of noise out there. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—and chasing trends without a strategy leads to burnout. 47% of small businesses say that implementing the right marketing tactics is a hurdle.
3. You’re Not Tracking What’s Actually Working
One of the biggest mistakes? Not using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). KPIs are how you measure if your marketing is doing its job. Without them, it’s just a guessing game.
Think of KPIs as your marketing dashboard. Instead of wondering why leads slowed down, you can look at the numbers and pinpoint where things dropped off.
4. You’re Relying Too Much on Referrals
Referrals are great, but they’re unpredictable. You can’t scale them. When they dry up, what’s your backup plan? Marketing helps you build a system that consistently brings in new leads—so you’re not crossing your fingers for word-of-mouth to do all the work.
5. Your Website or Online Presence Might Not Be Doing Its Job
Maybe you have a website, but it’s outdated. Or maybe you have a Google Business Profile, but no reviews. If potential clients can’t find you—or if what they see doesn’t impress them—they’ll call your competitors. Today’s consumers judge fast and research thoroughly.
6. You Only Market When Sales Are Slow (or When You Happen to Have Time)
A common trap for home service pros is marketing in short bursts. You focus on it when business is slow or you happen to find a spare hour—but then it falls off when you get busy again. This inconsistency creates a cycle of feast and famine.
Marketing isn’t something to do only when you need leads. It’s something to do consistently so your pipeline stays full year-round. That consistency compounds—each effort builds on the last.
So, What Can You Do?
- Start by defining your business goals
- Choose a few KPIs to track (like quote requests, Google profile views, or 5-star reviews)
- Regularly review those numbers to see what’s helping and what needs fixing
- Invest in marketing strategies that fit your business and your audience
- Ask for help when needed—just like your clients trust you with their plumbing or roofing, you can trust a pro with your marketing
Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Hard—It Just Has to Be Intentional
You don’t need to do everything. You need to do the right things.
And it starts with understanding what’s working.
Want your digital marketing to run on auto-pilot? Contact us to help.
