When we started Backflow Joe’s, we knew how to handle pressure—literally. We were experts in backflow prevention, repairs, and installations. What weren’t experts in? Showing up online when people search for help.
For years, our business relied on referrals, word of mouth, and a few local ads. But the digital world was changing. People weren’t asking neighbors who to call—they were typing it into Google.
And we weren’t there. That shift hit us hard. We knew we delivered great service. We just needed to be found.
The Turning Point: Google Maps Optimization
Our first step was getting serious about our Google Business Profile. Before, it was barely filled out. No photos. No reviews. Wrong hours. We were invisible.
That changed fast.
We worked with a digital growth partner Oastreck—who broke it down simply:
If you want to win locally, you must dominate the map.
Here’s what we did:
- Updated our business profile with real info, proper categories, and consistent NAP (name, address, phone number)
- Uploaded actual job photos—before and after shoots, vans, tools, happy customers
- Started collecting real reviews from customers after every job
- Added services, FAQs, geo-tagged updates, and location-specific posts
In less than 60 days, we went from barely showing up in search to being in one of the tops on Google Maps in multiple neighborhoods. Calls started coming in.
Building a Real Website That Converts
Maps brought attention. But if someone clicked to our old site? It was game over. So, we scrapped it.
Oastreck helped us build a lean, fast-loading site that turned visitors into customers. It wasn’t fancy. It didn’t need to be. It just needed to answer these questions:
- What do you do?
- Where do you work?
- How do I contact you?
- Why should I trust you?
The new site checked all those boxes. But more importantly—it was built for SEO, again credit goes to Oastreck’s services.
Each service we offered had its own page:
Backflow testing, backflow system installation, backflow repair—you name it.
Each city we served had its own content:
Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, even Manhattan.
Our website wasn’t just a business card anymore—it was a lead generator.
The Snowball Effect of Organic Leads
Once we started ranking locally on both Maps and organic search, things shifted. Suddenly:
- People found us without us spending a dollar on ads
- We booked jobs directly from online searches
- Our customer base started to grow outside of our original referral bubble
- Real estate companies, property managers, and other contractors started reaching out
Best of all? We were building digital equity. Unlike ads, SEO and Maps don’t stop working when you stop paying. The work we did months ago is still driving calls today.
Ongoing Growth, Month After Month
The cool part? We’re still growing.
Oastreck didn’t just “do the SEO and disappear.” They keep updating our pages, tracking keyword rankings, creating blog posts, and helping us stay ahead.
We now show up for:
- “backflow repair near me”
- “certified backflow tester Queens”
- “annual RPZ inspection Brooklyn”
- “affordable backflow installation NYC” and much more
And new areas are opening. We’ve started taking jobs in towns we didn’t even advertise in—because our website ranks there.
The Bottom Line
Backflow Joe’s was never a flashy brand. We’re working-class people solving real plumbing problems. But with the right digital strategy—Google Maps optimization + Local SEO—we now compete with the biggest names in the area.
We didn’t need a huge ad budget. We just needed a team that understood how local search works and how to position our business for real-world results.
That team was Oastreck.
If you’re a local service business and want to start showing up everywhere without spending thousands on ads, this is the move. Trust us—we live it every day.
