BUSINESS AND TRAINING
9
How do I market new services?
By
Craig Lourens, business coach, Action Coach
Elijah asks:“ I have just added a new service to my offerings. How do I go about marketing this to existing and new clients?”
Hi Elijah. Great question— and awesome to hear you’ re expanding your services!
To get your new service out there, here are three priority tips based on the Ladder of Loyalty:
1. Start with Your Existing Customers(‘ Members’) These are the people who already trust your work. Reach out personally via WhatsApp, SMS or email and let them know about your new service. Use phrases like“ Because you’ re a valued customer …” and maybe even offer them an early bird discount or bonus. Make them feel like insiders.
2. Create Awareness Among Prospects and Shoppers For people who don’ t know you well yet, visibility is key. Post about your new service on your business’ s social media pages, update your website and boost a post in your local area. A short video showing the service in action or before-and-after pictures will build trust fast.
3. Turn Customers Into Advocates Ask happy clients who use your new service to leave a review and refer a friend. You could offer them a small thank-you( for instance, R250 off their next job) for helping you spread the word. Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful tools in the plumbing game.
Marketing isn’ t just about shouting louder— it’ s about saying the right thing to the right people at the right time. Keep climbing that Ladder of Loyalty, and your new service will soon be a core part of your business success.
Let me know if you ' d like help with a message template or promo idea— happy to help.
© Plumbing Africa
Craig Lourens, Business Coach, Action Coach
The best way to market your new service is by using a framework we shared in the June issue of Plumbing Africa magazine: From Garage to Greatness: How Plumbers Can Market Their Way to a Multi-Million Rand a Month Business. It’ s a powerful tool that helps you build stronger relationships with customers at every stage— from people who’ ve never heard of you, to those who become raving fans. PA
Please submit your questions for Coach Craig to tanya @ interactmedia. com with the subject Coach Craig.
Bringing positive vibes to plumbing
By
Tanya Olckers
Nomsa Mashaba’ s plumbing company services the south of Johannesburg, giving her a chance to educate communities and impact the economy in a positive way.
Mashaba started her own business after learning at a plumbing conference that there is a lack of skilled plumbers in South Africa. The conference revealed that plumbers from other countries were brought in to assist with the work on Medupi power station.
This revelation made Mashaba realise that the time had come for her to formalise her plumbing skills and start her own company. Knowing that she was just one of the 5.4 % licensed female plumbers in the country, she knew that this was her chance to make a difference.
Her wish for the plumbing industry is to see more women plumbers in work teams, particularly when it comes to female-headed homes.“ Some women don’ t feel comfortable with male plumbers in their house,” she points out,“ I would also like to give young women a chance to acquire plumbing skills and change the industry norm.” PA
© Plumbing Africa
“ I wanted to bring change in the plumbing industry by educating communities on how to manage and save water and keeping good sanitation, in turn positively impacting the economy,” she says.
Even though more women are entering the plumbing industry, some clients still find it difficult to trust a female plumber. This, Nomsa says, has been a challenge.“ Once you get a job as a female plumber, you have to work twice as hard as your male counterpart to prove that you are worth the task you are given,” she says.
Nomsa Mashaba
The craziest thing Mashaba has experienced on the job
Working on a construction site, I had to carry fire pipes and there was limited space to move around, but I just had to make it work and get the job done. Working on a high sloping roof while doing installation, one of the fittings I was working with rolled down the roof. I had to come up with plan B right there and then.
August 2025 Volume 31 I Number 06 www. plumbingafrica. co. za