Most moving companies depend too much on one lead source. This playbook shows moving company owners how to diversify marketing, improve customer experience, track profit, and create more online visibility using ideas discussed by Joe Marshall of Extra Mile Moving on the Let’s Talk Moving Podcast.

Moving Company Marketing Beyond Google Ads: A Practical Playbook for Owners

Many moving company owners want more moving leads, but they rely on one source too much. Usually, that source is Google Ads, lead providers, or referrals.

In this podcast episode, Joe Marshall, co-owner of Extra Mile Moving in Michigan, shared a better way to think about growth: build a moving business that does not depend on one marketing channel, one location, or one person doing everything.

What Should You Focus on Before Spending More on Ads?

Before you spend more money on moving company marketing, get clear on what actually matters: profit, not just gross revenue.

A company with higher revenue is not always healthier. Costs can be very different depending on market, trucks, insurance, warehouse space, taxes, and staffing.

Profit-First Marketing Checklist

• Know what you take home: Do not judge success only by gross sales.
• Track where jobs come from: Google, referrals, Reddit, Facebook, LinkedIn, lead providers, or repeat customers.
• Compare lead quality: Some leads may look cheap but waste your sales team’s time.
• Watch when results change: If a channel stops working, start testing something else.
• Reinvest carefully: Extra profit can go into ads, website work, social media, or better systems.

How Do You Stop Depending Only on Google Ads?

Google is important in the moving industry, but it should not be your only plan. Joe’s main point was simple: diversify your marketing.

Think of your website as the center of your online presence. The more quality places that point back to your website, the more opportunities customers have to find you.

5 Free or Low-Cost Places to Build Visibility

• Listing websites: Add your moving company name, service area, phone number, and website link.
• Reddit: Join moving-related conversations and share helpful answers where appropriate.
• Facebook: Build your company profile and stay visible in local conversations.
• LinkedIn: Use it to reach professionals, homeowners, and business contacts in your market.
• Snapchat: Watch it as a growing platform, especially for future local attention.

The goal is not to spam links. The goal is to create more paths back to your moving company website and brand.

How Can Reddit Help a Moving Company Get Leads?

Joe mentioned that Reddit has become a real lead source for Extra Mile Moving. He created a Reddit presence, participated in moving-related subreddits, and had clients share their experiences.

This works because people often search online for real opinions before hiring a mover.

Simple Reddit Action Plan

• Step 1: Create a Reddit profile for your moving company.
• Step 2: Search for local and moving-related subreddits.
• Step 3: Answer questions about moving, packing, pricing, or planning.
• Step 4: Share your website only when it is useful and relevant.
• Step 5: Ask happy customers to share honest experiences where appropriate.

What Makes a Moving Company Easier to Market?

Marketing works better when the service is worth talking about. Extra Mile Moving uses the idea, “we don’t leave until you’re happy.” The point is to make the full customer experience feel supported from booking to final placement of items.

This is important because happy customers create reviews, referrals, and word of mouth.

Customer Experience System for Moving Companies

• Booking: Make the first phone call feel organized and helpful.
• Follow-up: Stay in contact after the customer requests an estimate.
• Confirmation: Confirm the job details before move day.
• Pre-move check-in: Ask how packing is going and whether they need help.
• Move day: Focus on crew quality, care, and communication.
• After the move: Resolve damage, pricing confusion, or service concerns quickly.

How Do You Know If a New Location Makes Sense?

Joe discussed the goal of opening more locations and eventually franchising. But the podcast also pointed out a key warning: another location does not always mean more profit.

A second location can create more online presence, better service coverage, more review platforms, and local landing pages. But it can also create more overhead and more problems.

New Location Decision Guide

• Do you already get leads in that area? Expansion is easier when demand already exists.
• Are you traveling there often? A closer location may improve service and pricing.
• Can you keep the same service quality? Growth should not damage the customer experience.
• Can your system be repeated? If you want to franchise later, you need a process that works in more than one place.
• Will profit improve? Do not expand just for bragging rights.

Why Must the Owner Get Off the Truck?

If the owner is always on the truck, it becomes very hard to build marketing, sales, systems, and future locations.

The podcast made this clear: you cannot run moves, answer every call, manage Reddit, optimize Google Ads, post on social media, and build the business all at the same time.

Owner Time Scorecard

• High-impact work: Marketing, sales systems, hiring, training, customer experience, profit tracking.
• Necessary work: Helping on a move when truly needed.
• Delegation opportunities: Phone sales, move coordination, social posting, listing updates, campaign management.
• Warning sign: You are busy every day, but the business is not growing.

Quick Win: Build 10 New Links to Your Website Today

Set a 30-minute timer and find free listing websites where you can add your moving company information.

• Add your company name.
• Add your phone number.
• Add your service area.
• Add your website link.
• Keep the information consistent everywhere.

This is simple, free, and helps create more online paths back to your moving business.

How to Apply This This Week

• 1. Review your lead sources: Write down where your last 20 booked jobs came from.
• 2. Check your profit: Look at what you kept, not just what you sold.
• 3. Add one new marketing channel: Start with Reddit, Facebook, LinkedIn, or listing websites.
• 4. Improve one customer touchpoint: Add a pre-move check-in call or text one week before the move.
• 5. Delegate one task: Choose one thing that keeps you from working on growth and hand it off.

The main lesson is simple: a growing moving company needs strong service, smart marketing, and an owner who spends time on the work that moves the business forward.

To hear the full conversation, watch Episode 131 - Let’s Talk Moving - Co-owner of a Moving Company and visit the Let’s Talk Moving Podcast YouTube channel.