off topic blogging

So google wants us to create valuable, unique content etc

how does this work for a small business like a plumber, where there is not much unique stuff to say?

and you can't expect a plumber to continually maintain and add content to a website

How can they win the SEO game?

also, if they want to blog - does the blog need to be about plumbing - can it be abourt random stuff like ecology? - will that still help, or do you need to blog in your niche?

thanks!

Of course you can make use of random stuff that is near to your niche in your SEO tactic .
Many websites are luck of content but ranking more than good!

Iravan,

In this situation I would say that if the plumber wanted things done right, they should hire someone to do the work for them. I doubt web marketers are installing their own toilets.

Also, the content produced and its subsequent quality all depends on how you approach it. Yes it may be hard for some people to come up with a continuous stream of content for a plumbing site however for a creative marketer, it's not that hard.

For example people search online every day for how to fix plumbing related issues. I could think of at least a months' worth of content around different do-it-yourself plumbing tasks that could each be a post of their own and optimized for a specific keyword phrase. In that regard, it would be about sharing a plumber's knowledge online so that people finding the site might be able to do repairs themselves. Throw in some images, diagrams, video and useful links and I think visitors would love the site because it would show them how to do something they otherwise wouldn't know how to do. Then the plumber's brand becomes authoritative and the minute there is something a visitor doesn't want to attempt, they will convert to a customer instead of a visitor.

Best,

Shawn

Hey OP read this post, totally related to using unrelated content to get your site ranked.

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/black-hat-seo/566970-black-hat-infinity-search-engine-optimization-case-study-method-steps-inside.html

There are plenty of things that plumbers can blog about. You could do posts with tips for unclogging drains, how to keep your toilet flushing properly, how to care for your pipes, how to prevent damage from pipes freezing during the winter, etc. You could also post interesting pictures of plumbing disasters or discuss press releases about plumbing products.