How do I track whether Google Ads, LSAs or Yelp bring profitable plumbing jobs?
Some sources bring calls. Others bring jobs that make money. Only tracking to the job shows which.
- Which lead source makes us money?
- Is Yelp worth it?
- How do we track phone calls?
Record the source on every job, use call tracking numbers for each channel and import job revenue back to each source. Then compare revenue and gross margin per source, not just leads. Some channels bring small, low-margin jobs; others bring water heaters and repipes. Decide budgets quarterly on that data.
The report
| Source | Booked jobs | Revenue | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | |||
| Local Services Ads | |||
| Google Business Profile | |||
| Yelp / HomeStars | |||
| Referrals |
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We set up tracking and a quarterly report. Our UTM guide and local SEO reporting guide cover the setup.
- Reports that stop at leads.
- Source left blank.
- Revenue without margin.
- Monthly budget swings.
- Source on every job.
- Call tracking per channel.
- Margin by source.
- Quarterly decisions.
What plumbers and researchers say
Here is what plumbers say.
LSA charges per lead, so tracking booked jobs per lead matters.
Read Google's help page →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll set up tracking that ties marketing to job profit.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Does call tracking hurt our Google listing?
Not if set up correctly, with your main number as additional.
How do we track referrals?
Ask at booking and record the referrer.
How long until data is useful?
A full season gives a reliable picture.