Pipe Dreams
– A Plumber’s Journey To Digital Dominance
Journey with Luke, a London plumber, as he transforms his traditional business into a digital success. Learn how to carve a unique online identity, tap into customer needs, and nurture loyal relationships. If you’re ready to shine in the digital world, this book is your guiding light.
The book is a fascinating blend of friendly conversation and expert guidance as it walks you through the world of digital marketing in the shoes of a London plumber named Luke.
Chapter 4: Decoding the Customer Mind
Now armed with a fresh perspective, Luke eagerly anticipated his next meeting with Sam. He felt like an apprentice again, hungry for knowledge and bursting with questions.
The concepts of digital marketing were beginning to settle in his mind, not as abstract notions anymore, but as essential tools in his trade.
Each tool served a specific purpose, and Luke was eager to learn how to wield them to his advantage.
As he walked into the bustling café, he spotted Sam at their usual corner table, his laptop opened, his fingers dancing over the keys.
A quick handshake, a friendly pat on the back, and they settled down for their chat. Sam looked at Luke, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
Luke felt a surge of excitement. It was like standing on the precipice of a whole new world, one he was ready to dive into.
“Ready for the next lesson, Luke?” Sam asked, the corners of his mouth curving up into a knowing smile.
“Absolutely, mate!” Luke replied, his voice resonating with enthusiasm. “I’ve been tinkering with the tools you mentioned last time, and I must say, they’re quite the revelation.”
“That’s great, Luke,” Sam said, his smile widening. “Remember, understanding your customer is the cornerstone of any successful business, and that’s what we’re going to focus on today.
We’re going to delve into the customer’s mind.”
Luke leaned forward, his eyes focused on Sam, ready to delve into the next lesson of his digital journey – decoding the customer mind.
“Alright, let’s start with a question,” Sam began, pulling up a document on his laptop. “Luke, who do you think your customers are?”
The question was simple, but Luke found himself pausing to consider it. He knew his customers, of course, they were homeowners in London, who needed a trustworthy plumber.
But beyond that, what did he really know about them?
“Well,” he started slowly, “They’re people who need a plumber, obviously. But I guess they’re also people who value reliability, trust, and professional service.”
Sam nodded approvingly. “That’s a good start. But let’s go a bit deeper. The digital world, Luke, gives us access to more than just basic customer demographics.
It allows us to peek into their minds and understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. We can actually anticipate what they’re searching for, even before they know it themselves.”
Luke was intrigued. He had never considered this level of understanding about his customers before.
Sam settled back in his chair, a confident gleam in his eyes, as he embarked on his next lesson.
“Luke, in this digital landscape, the customer’s journey isn’t a straight line—it’s a winding road of discovery, with different stages of awareness at each bend,” he began.
“To effectively reach out to them, you need to understand these stages and how they impact a customer’s search phrases and intent.””Let’s start with the first stage —Unaware,” Sam continued. “These are people who have a problem, but they aren’t aware that a solution exists.
They won’t be typing ’emergency plumber in London’ because they don’t know that’s what they need. Instead, they might search for something generic like ‘leaky tap fixing’.
Here, your goal is to inform them about the possible solutions, your services being one of them.””Next, we have Problem-aware customers. They know they have a problem but don’t know how to solve it.
Their search keyphrases could be more specific, like ‘how to fix a blocked drain’.
You can attract this type by offering valuable, practical advice—showing them you’re an expert.””Then we have Solution-aware customers. These people are aware that there’s a solution, but they’re not aware of your services.
So, they’ll type in something like ‘drain cleaning services’. For them, you need to clearly communicate your unique selling proposition.””Product / Service-aware customers are familiar with your services but are still comparing. Their searches might include your brand name and words like ‘reviews’.
Here, you should emphasize your advantages, like 24/7 availability or decades of experience.””Lastly, the most aware customers already know your brand and services, these are brand-aware.
Their searches will be brand-specific, like ‘Luke’s plumbing service’. Your task here is simply to provide a seamless way for them to purchase your service. These are usually past customers””Understanding these stages and tailoring your keywords and content accordingly,” Sam finished, “is the secret to capturing the right audience at the right time.”
“So now that we know about the different stages of awareness, which stage do you think will be the most competitive Luke and the hardest to get in front of?” Sam probed.
Luke thought for a moment, “I guess it’s the product or service aware customers”
“Excellent Luke,” Sam beamed “these people are looking for a plumber and type in where they live, eg. ‘Emergency plumber London’ “
“And what did your website designers say would be a good phrase to rank for?”
A smirk grew slowly from Sam’s mouth. “Can you see why it’s so difficult if you don’t know any better?” Sam inquired.
Luke nodded slowly, deep in thought as the realisation of why no one had visited his website washed over him.
“OK” Sam quickly snapped to get Luke back focused. “let’s talk about ‘keyword research the right way’,” Sam continued, his fingers hovering over his keyboard.
“These are some phrases that people type into a search engine when they’re looking for services like yours.
It’s like… It’s like listening in on a phone call between your customer and their best friend, where they’re discussing their plumbing problems.”
Luke chuckled at the analogy but understood the gravity of what Sam was saying.
He was about to delve into a territory he hadn’t considered before – the inner workings of his customers’ minds.
It was a whole new perspective on his business, one that could potentially change everything. With a sense of anticipation, Luke leaned in closer, ready to decode the mind of his customer.
Sam’s fingers began to dance across the keyboard, typing in a series of phrases into a tool on his laptop. Luke watched, his eyebrows furrowed, trying to make sense of the results that started pouring in.
“These, Luke,” Sam said, pointing at the screen, “are the keywords potential customers in London use when they need a plumber. See, some use phrases like ’emergency plumber near me,’ ‘local plumber London,’ ‘best plumber in London,’ and so on.”
“Can you see how these phrases are in red, meaning very competitive, and lot’s of people are trying to rank for them” Sam stated.
“Now, when we type in some broad phrases that might be typed in from someone who is problem aware, can you see how many are in green, that’s a good sign Luke”
Luke studied the screen, his mind reeling with the insights. He could see a host of phrases he never thought people would use to find his service.
There were also details on how often these phrases were used, and the level of competition among businesses for these phrases.
“The trick,” Sam continued, “is to incorporate these phrases into your website. But it’s not just stuffing them anywhere. These phrases should be naturally woven into your content.
Your website content should be answering these queries, solving these problems. This way, you become the solution they are seeking.”
As he processed Sam’s words, Luke felt a sense of clarity. He had been approaching his business from his own perspective, offering what he thought was important.
But this… this was about tuning into his customers’ needs, their queries, and their concerns.
It was about addressing them directly and positioning his business as the best possible solution.
“Think of it as a toolbox,” Sam added, smiling at Luke’s apparent revelation. “In your regular work, you wouldn’t use a wrench to fix a problem that requires a hammer, right?
Each tool has a specific purpose. In the same way, each keyword addresses a specific customer need. Your job is to ensure you have the right tools – the right keywords – to solve your customer’s problems.”
Nodding, Luke stared at the laptop screen, the list of keywords, and phrases.
They were more than just words; they were the voices of his customers calling out to him, showing him what they needed.
The world of digital marketing was starting to unravel in front of him, and he was beginning to see the vast potential it held for his business.
It was a fascinating, enlightening experience, and he was eager to delve deeper into this new reality.
Luke’s mind was spinning with ideas. Each keyword, each phrase opened a door to a new potential customer. He wondered how he had missed this for so long.
“What about competition?” Luke asked, his eyes still fixed on the screen. “There must be other plumbers using the same strategy.”
“Ah,” Sam responded, with a knowing smile, “Competition is inevitable, Luke. But remember, it’s not just about using the right keywords. It’s about the quality of your response to those keywords.
It’s about offering value and demonstrating your expertise. The question is not just ‘how do I get found?’ but also ‘how do I prove I’m the best choice?’ ” Sam pointed out.
Luke mulled over this, realising the depth of the strategy Sam was explaining. It wasn’t enough to attract customers. He had to prove he was worth their trust.
“And that,” Sam continued, closing his laptop, “is something we will tackle as we progress. But remember, the foundation is understanding the customer.
It’s about knowing what they’re looking for and offering them the perfect solution.”
Luke felt a jolt of excitement. This was a whole new way of looking at his business. It wasn’t just about providing a service anymore.
It was about understanding his customers, their needs, and positioning his business as the solution to their problems.
As he left Sam’s house that day, his mind was brimming with ideas. There was a lot to learn, and he felt like he was back to being an apprentice, exploring the vast landscape of digital marketing.
But he also felt a renewed sense of hope. His business wasn’t dying. It was merely awaiting transformation. And he had taken his first steps on the path leading to that change.
Little did Luke know, the lessons were just beginning. There was much more to learn, much more to unravel. But for now, he had a firm grip on the starting point.
As he drove back to his house, he felt more empowered, more confident. The once dreaded world of digital marketing was now his new frontier, and he was ready to conquer it, one keyword at a time.