SOCIAL SHARING BUTTONS ON PLUMBING WEBSITES. WORTH ADDING OR WASTED SPACE?
Should your plumbing website have social sharing buttons? The honest answer might surprise you. Here's when they help and when they're just clutter.
Nobody Is Sharing Your Drain Cleaning Page on Facebook
I need to be honest with you.
When was the last time you saw someone share a plumber's website on social media?
"OMG you guys, check out this AMAZING sewer line repair page! Link in bio!"
said nobody, ever
And yet, I see plumbing websites covered in social sharing buttons. Little Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest icons cluttering up every page.
On the homepage. On the services page. On the contact page.
Nobody is clicking them. And I can prove it.
The Data Doesn't Lie
We've audited hundreds of plumbing websites. Here's what the data consistently shows:
- Social sharing button click rate on plumbing service pages: 0.02% to 0.1%
- Social sharing button click rate on plumbing blog posts: 0.1% to 0.5%
- Average number of shares per plumbing page: Less than 1
Let me put that in perspective. If you get 1,000 visitors to your website, maybe 1 or 2 of them will click a share button. Maybe.
That's basically nobody.
When Social Buttons Are Just Clutter
On most plumbing website pages, social sharing buttons are pure clutter. They add visual noise, create confusion, and distract from the one action you actually want people to take: calling you.
Here's where they definitely don't belong:
- Homepage (you want them to call, not share)
- Service pages (same thing, the goal is a phone call)
- Contact page (seriously, why would they share your contact page?)
- About page (not share-worthy content)
Every button on your page that isn't "Call Now" is a potential distraction. And distractions cost you calls.
The One Exception: Blog Posts
There's one place where social sharing buttons can earn their keep.
Blog posts.
If you're writing genuinely helpful content (like "How to Winterize Your Pipes" or "5 Signs You Need to Replace Your Water Heater"), there's a small chance someone might share it. Check out our blog topic ideas for content worth creating.
A homeowner reading your article about frozen pipes might text it to a neighbor. Someone researching water heater costs might share it on a local Facebook group.
The share rate is still low. But it's not zero. And for a blog post, the primary goal isn't a phone call anyway. It's providing value and building authority.
So if you want social sharing buttons on your blog posts? Go for it. Keep them minimal. Maybe just Facebook and a "Copy Link" button.
But on your service pages and homepage? Ditch them.
What You Should Have Instead
Instead of social sharing buttons, put things on your pages that actually drive action:
- A click-to-call button (big, bold, always visible)
- A "Get a Free Estimate" button (leads to your contact form)
- A star rating badge (shows your Google review score)
- A trust badge (licensed, bonded, insured)
These elements directly lead to phone calls and form submissions. Social sharing buttons don't.
But What About My Social Media Profiles?
There's a difference between social sharing buttons (which let visitors share YOUR page on THEIR social media) and social profile links (which link to YOUR social media pages).
Social profile links (usually small icons in the header or footer) are fine. They let people find and follow your business on Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Just keep them small and in the footer. Don't make them the star of the show. Your phone number is the star.
The Bottom Line
Social sharing buttons on a plumbing website are like a screen door on a submarine. Technically functional. Practically useless.
Your website has one job: make the phone ring. Everything on the page should serve that goal. Read more about conversion rate optimization to maximize calls. If an element doesn't contribute to getting a call or form submission, it's taking up space that something more useful could occupy.
Keep it lean. Keep it focused. Keep it converting.
Want us to audit your plumbing website for conversion killers? We'll identify every element that's distracting visitors from calling you and show you exactly how to fix it.
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P.S. Here's a quick gut check. Go to your website right now and count the number of clickable elements on your homepage above the fold (the part you see before scrolling). If your phone number and "Contact Us" button aren't the most prominent ones... you've got a priority problem. Let us help you sort it out.