HOW TO GET YOUR PLUMBING BUSINESS MENTIONED IN LOCAL NEWS (FREE PR)
Getting mentioned in local news gives your plumbing business credibility, backlinks, and exposure you can't buy. Here's how to make it happen.
Dear Plumber,
What if I told you there's a way to get your plumbing business featured on your local news station's website, get a powerful backlink that supercharges your SEO, and become the go-to expert plumber in your entire city...
...for free?
No ad spend. No marketing budget. No "guru" secrets.
Just a little hustle and a strategy that 99% of plumbers don't know about.
Why Local News Mentions Are Gold
Let me explain why this matters before we get into the how.
### The Backlink Value
Your local news station's website (think ABC7, FOX29, the local newspaper's site) has massive domain authority. We're talking DA 70 to 90+ on a scale of 100.
A single backlink from one of these sites is worth more for your SEO than 50 directory listings combined. Google sees a link from a trusted news source and thinks, "Okay, this plumber must be legitimate."
One local news mention can move your Google rankings more than months of other SEO efforts. You can check any site's domain authority using tools like Moz's Link Explorer.
### The Credibility Factor
"As seen on Channel 5 News" is the kind of trust badge money can't buy.
When a homeowner sees that you were featured as an expert on their local news station, you instantly jump from "random plumber I found on Google" to "the plumber that the news trusts enough to interview."
You can put that media mention on your website, your Google Business Profile, your social media, your van, everywhere. It's a credibility stamp that keeps working forever.
### The Exposure
Local news websites get hundreds of thousands of visitors per month. Even a brief mention with a link to your business can drive a meaningful spike in website traffic.
And unlike an ad that stops the moment you stop paying, a news article stays online forever. People will still find it years from now.
How to Actually Get Featured
Alright, here's the playbook.
### Strategy 1: Be the Expert Source
Local journalists need expert sources for stories. They write about burst pipes every winter, flood damage every spring, water quality issues, new building codes, and seasonal home maintenance.
They need a plumber to quote. That plumber should be you.
Here's how:
Step 1: Identify your local journalists.
Go to your local TV stations' websites and newspapers. Find the reporters who cover "home," "community," "consumer," or "weather" stories. Write down their names and email addresses.
Most stations have a "news team" page with contact info. If not, check their social media bios. Journalists almost always share their email.
Step 2: Send an introduction email.
Keep it short. Here's a template:
"Hi [Name], I'm [Your Name], a licensed master plumber in [City] with [X] years of experience. I know you cover stories related to home issues and community topics. I'd love to be a resource for you anytime you need a plumbing expert for a story. Whether it's frozen pipe prevention in winter, flood damage tips, or explaining new plumbing codes to homeowners, I'm happy to help. No strings attached. Just trying to be useful. Here's my cell: [number]. Thanks, [Your Name]."
That's it. No pitch. No ask. Just "hey, I'm here if you need me."
Step 3: Follow up once per season.
Don't be annoying. But every 3 months, send a quick note. Maybe tie it to the season:
"Hey [Name], with the freeze warnings coming this week, I wanted to let you know I'm available if you need a plumber to interview about frozen pipe prevention. I helped 15 homeowners with burst pipes during last year's cold snap. Happy to share tips for your viewers."
You'd be amazed how many journalists will take you up on this. They're always looking for reliable local experts.
### Strategy 2: Pitch Story Ideas
Don't wait for journalists to come to you. Give them stories.
Local news loves: - Seasonal angles ("This is the #1 plumbing mistake homeowners make before winter") - Consumer protection ("How to spot a plumbing scam before it's too late") - Local impact ("How [City]'s aging infrastructure is causing sewer backups in [Neighborhood]") - Human interest ("Local plumber donates free services to elderly residents") - Data-driven stories ("Emergency plumber calls up 40% this summer in [City]")
Send a brief pitch email:
"Hey [Name], quick story idea: I've seen a 40% increase in emergency calls this winter compared to last year, mainly due to [reason]. I'd love to share some tips with your viewers on how to prevent the most common cold-weather plumbing disasters. Happy to do an on-camera interview or just provide quotes. Let me know if you're interested."
Short. Specific. Useful. Easy for them to say yes to.
### Strategy 3: HARO and SourceOfExperts
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a free service where journalists post requests for expert sources. You sign up, and every day you get emails with queries from journalists looking for experts to quote.
Plumbing-related queries pop up regularly. "Looking for a plumber to comment on water quality concerns." "Need a plumbing expert for a home maintenance article."
Respond quickly with a short, quotable answer. Include your credentials and a link to your website. If they use your quote, you typically get a mention and a backlink.
Connectively (formerly HARO) and SourceOfExperts work similarly. Sign up for all of them. Takes 5 minutes. Backlinks from news sites are the most powerful kind. Read more about link building for plumbers to understand why.
### Strategy 4: Community Involvement That Makes News
This is the indirect route, but it works beautifully.
Do something newsworthy in your community:
- Offer free plumbing repairs for a veterans' organization or elderly residents
- Sponsor a community event and be present at it
- Organize a "Plumbing Safety Inspection Day" at a local community center
- Donate to a local charity drive and share the story
Then let the local media know. Send a press release or just email your journalist contacts.
"Hey [Name], our team just completed free plumbing repairs for 8 elderly homeowners in [Neighborhood] as part of our community giveback program. Thought it might make a nice story. Happy to connect you with some of the homeowners too."
Local news eats this stuff up. Feel-good stories about local businesses helping the community? That's exactly what they want to cover.
### Strategy 5: React to Breaking News
When there's a major weather event, water main break, or plumbing-related news in your area, react fast.
Post a helpful video on social media with tips. Send a quick email to your journalist contacts offering your expert perspective. Be the first plumber to speak up.
Journalists work on tight deadlines. The expert who responds first usually gets the quote.
After You Get Featured
Once you land that news mention, milk it. Respectfully, of course.
- Add the media logo to your website ("As Featured On...")
- Share the article on social media
- Include it in your Google Business Profile posts
- Mention it in your email signature
- Reference it on your About page
One media mention creates a ripple effect. Other journalists see it and are more likely to contact you for future stories. It compounds over time.
The plumber who's been quoted in 5 local articles is going to get called for article #6 before anyone else.
The Long Game
Getting your first news mention might take a few months of outreach. That's okay. This is a long game.
But once you build those journalist relationships, the mentions start coming more easily. Some of our plumber clients get contacted by local media multiple times per year without even reaching out. The journalists have them on speed dial.
That kind of credibility can't be bought. It can only be earned.
Get your free website audit and we'll help you build a website worthy of that "As Featured On" section. Because when the local news links to your site... you want visitors to see something impressive.
Check out our pricing and see what a professional plumbing website looks like.
P.S. You don't need to be a media personality to get featured in local news. You just need to be helpful, available, and willing to reach out. Send one email to one local journalist this week. Introduce yourself. Offer to be a resource. That one email could turn into the most valuable marketing move you ever make. And it costs exactly $0. Let's make sure your website is ready for the attention.