21 Marketing Tips for Moving Companies to Attract Leads Through the Year

Moving companies tend to be very seasonal, making it difficult to maintain consistent lead flow throughout the year.

There are no significant barriers to entry into the moving business, making it a highly competitive industry, at least for small movers, cargo taxis, and small-time couriers.

This guide was written to keep your business competitive in the industry, and help you keep a continuous flow of leads & business while building a reputation that converts prospects into loyal customers and word-of-mouth advocates.

This guide was written with the support of Move123.gr, a modern directory & marketplace for moving companies in Greece.

Build a Strong Digital Foundation

Your online presence serves as the cornerstone of all marketing efforts. Many consumers start their research online, look for reviews, utilize dark social channels (asking in private communities & chat with friends), or visit a company’s website and social before choosing to work with them.

1. Your Website

Your website isn’t just a digital business card, it’s your hardest-working salesperson. It should include up-to-date information about your business and be equipped with everything you need to win a customer:

• Testimonials
• Price
• Phone number
• Contact form
• Social media links
• Pictures of your work / employees / team

A well-built website can be the reason a customer chose to contact you.

2. Local SEO

A website alone is not enough. You need to be found online as well.

Local search optimization delivers some of the highest ROI for moving companies. You need to create pages that speak to the local clients you are serving.

That is usually done by creating location pages like:

• Cities you serve (e.g. Movering company in Athens)
• Areas (e.g. Greater metropolitan area)
• City to City (e.g. Athens to Thessaloniki)

Then, you would need to write pages around your services:

• Moving company
• Moving heavy objects (e.g. piano, fridge, washing machine etc.)
• Courier services (packages, envelopes etc.)

To SEO optimize your page, you will need a well-written page, optimized for the keywords you want, and include images, meta-information (title, description), and include them in your website ideally on the menu or footer.

Tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, Keyword Planner etc. can help you identify how your clients are searching and create pages to bring them to your website.

Pro Tip: Implementing local business schema can help boost your SEO efforts. Local business schema is an advanced tactic and requires programming help, I do suggest you ask your website developer or SEO agency on how to implement it.

3. Google Business Profile (GBP)

Your Google Business Profile serves as your digital storefront, often creating the first impression before prospects even reach your website. Profiles with high-quality images receive more clicks than those without visuals, so add professional photos of your team, trucks, and completed moves.

Respond to all reviews—positive and negative—within 24 hours, as response rates directly impact your local search ranking.

Leverage Paid Advertising

While organic strategies build long-term value, paid advertising provides immediate visibility and leads. A balanced approach delivers both quick wins and sustainable growth. If you have a small budget, it’s better to run the campaigns yourself, but if you can afford a freelancer or an agency, they can help create the right ads for you!

4. Google Local Service Ads (LSAs)

Local Service Ads appear at the very top of search results—above both organic listings and traditional PPC ads. The key advantage: you only pay for direct inquiries from potential customers, not clicks. The Google Guaranteed badge that appears with these ads also builds instant trust with potential customers searching for reliable movers.

5. PPC Campaigns

Strategic pay-per-click advertising helps you capture high-intent moving prospects. Bid on keywords like “last-minute movers,” “weekend moving service,” or “office relocation specialist” that indicate immediate need. Geo-target your ads to your specific service area to avoid wasting budget on unreachable customers.

For maximum effectiveness, pair each ad with dedicated landing pages that match the specific service advertised. For example, link “Local Moving Services” ads to pages specifically about short-distance moves rather than general service pages.

You can start your PPC campaigns by advertising on the following networks:

• Google Ads -> directly target people looking for your service at Google and its properties.
• Meta (Facebook, Instagram) -> broadly advertise your company. Meta is great at matching you with potential clients as long as you chose your area and include some details about your target clients. You can also create carousel ads showcasing your services, or promote special offers for first-time customers to generate immediate leads.

Social Media & Content Marketing

Effective content marketing positions your moving company as trustworthy industry experts while expanding your digital footprint beyond traditional search.

6. Platform-Specific Strategies

Each social platform requires a tailored approach. On Facebook and Instagram, share team photos, packing tips, before-and-after moving transformations, and video testimonials. These visual platforms deliver excellent results and can build up an audience around your niche that creates trust and repeat visits.

Regular posts featuring real team members humanize your brand and build trust before the first interaction.

LinkedIn offers valuable B2B opportunities, especially for moving companies seeking corporate clients or real estate partnerships. Share content about office relocations, develop case studies of successful commercial moves, and proactively connect with real estate professionals who can become valuable referral sources.

YouTube is also a great way to advertise your company, show before and after videos, give tips & create explainer videos to assist people moving to a new home, appartment, or how to prepare for it.

7. Educational Content

Publishing helpful moving-related content serves dual purposes: it improves your search visibility while positioning your company as an industry authority. Create comprehensive resources like “Pre-Move Decluttering Guide,” “Moving with Pets Checklist,” or “Office Relocation Timeline” to rank for long-tail keywords while demonstrating expertise.

This content also provides valuable social media material, email marketing content, and can be reused on your blog for attracting people through SEO (organic traffic).

Email & SMS Marketing

Owned channels like email and SMS deliver exceptional ROI for moving companies, especially when used for nurturing leads and generating repeat business.

8. Post-Move Nurturing

SMS messaging achieves an impressive open rate – everyone checks their SMS – making it ideal for time-sensitive communications like scheduling updates and delivery confirmations. Implement a post-move SMS survey system to gather immediate feedback and identify potential issues before they become negative reviews.

10. Email Campaigns

Email marketing is one of the highest-ROI channels available. Use segmented lists to deliver targeted content: referral offers for satisfied customers, storage promotions for recent movers, and seasonal moving tips for prospects still researching options.

Implement automated email sequences triggered by specific actions, such as requesting a quote or scheduling an estimate.

Strategic Partnerships & Referrals

Leveraging existing relationships creates a sustainable, low-cost lead generation system that delivers high-quality prospects.

11. Real Estate Collaborations

Real estate agents represent an outstanding partnership opportunity, as each agent works with dozens of moving clients annually. Offer agents a 10-15% referral fee for successful bookings, and provide co-branded moving checklists and resources they can share with clients.

The most successful moving companies host quarterly lunch-and-learns with local real estate offices, providing valuable moving insights agents can share with their clients while building personal relationships that lead to consistent referrals.

12. Customer Referral Program

Word-of-mouth remains powerful in the moving industry. Incentivize satisfied customers with $50 discounts on future services or storage units when they refer friends and family. Structured referral programs generate more leads than passive approaches that rely on spontaneous recommendations.

Pro Tip: My favourite customer referral method is simply asking satisfied customers if they have any friends or acquaintances moving soon. Referrals have the highest conversion rates than any other method of marketing, and can easily lead to increased sales if done correctly!

Online Reputation Management

Your online reputation directly impacts conversion rates and customer acquisition costs across all marketing channels.

13. Review Generation

Moving companies with reviews across platforms are more likely to be discovered by potential clients. Implement a systematic approach to review collection: send automated follow-up emails three days after completed moves, offer small incentives for honest feedback, and train your team to tactfully request reviews at service completion.

If possible, ask for pictures while moving, or a video review later on. Be shameless (but polite) while asking for reviews, one customer offering a good video review can skyrocket your business!

14. Testimonial Showcase

Feature video testimonials prominently on your homepage and service pages. Companies that showcase video reviews get higher engagement than those using text testimonials alone. Create a dedicated “Customer Stories” section featuring diverse moving scenarios that address common concerns and showcase your problem-solving abilities.

Consider the following:

Video Reviews > Image + Text Reviews > Text Reviews

Visuals & images can make a big difference in reviews for your moving business!

Local Listings & Marketplaces

Presence on industry-specific directories and marketplaces expands your visibility beyond traditional search channels.

15. Essential Directories

Beyond a Google Business Profile, ensure complete, consistent listings on Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, FindPro, and Move123.gr. Each platform has unique audience demographics, so customize your messaging accordingly. For example, Yelp users tend to be more price-sensitive, while Angi customers often prioritize quality and reliability.

16. Lead Aggregators

Platforms like Thumbtack and Trustpilot provide lead generation opportunities through their marketplace systems. When bidding on these leads, ensure your profile prominently displays insurance certificates, business licenses, and service badges.

Offline & Community Tactics

While digital channels dominate modern marketing, strategic offline approaches still deliver excellent results for local moving businesses.

17. Vehicle & Uniform Branding

Your moving trucks function as mobile billboards. Wrap your trucks with clear contact information, your website, and compelling service offers. Branded uniforms for your team further reinforce professionalism and create consistent brand recognition.

A well-designed uniform, and a uniquely designed truck that attracts attention can be the best marketing tactic for a local company, and increase phone calls to your office.

18. Community Events

Local engagement builds trust while generating leads.

• Sponsor school move-in days,
• participate in home shows,
• partner with apartment complexes,
• support local non-profits,
• work with local government.

These events also provide opportunities to create social buzz and positive word of mouth opportunities.

Operational Efficiency

Consider your pricing, experiments, and try to optimize for the best profitability.

19. Pricing Strategy

Strategic pricing maximizes profitability while remaining competitive. Consider the following strategies:

• Charge 5-10% premiums for weekend moves, last-minute bookings, or peak-season services when demand exceeds capacity.
• Discount pricing for off-season, and in the early days of your business.
• Differentiate from competitors with either premium pricing (going the extra mile) or discounted pricing with add-on pricing on a case-by-case scenario.

Track & Optimize ROI

Continuous measurement and optimization ensure your marketing budget generates maximum returns.

20. Key Metrics

Monitor essential performance indicators: cost per lead (CPL) by channel, review response rate, website conversion rate, and PPC quality scores. Monitoring how much your customer acquisition costs are can help you scale your business and plan your marketing investment for the next year/season.

But, keep an open mind to have discretionary budget for non-measurable activities. Those are the ones that move the needle!

21. A/B Testing

Regularly experiment with different approaches to identify what resonates with your specific audience. Test various ad copy variations (“Stress-Free Moves” versus “Affordable Rates”), different call-to-action placements, and service package structures.

Conclusion

Implementing these strategies creates a comprehensive marketing system that delivers consistent leads while building a sustainable competitive advantage. Remember that success comes from consistent execution rather than occasional marketing efforts.

Start with strengthening your digital foundation and Google Business Profile, then gradually implement additional strategies as resources allow.

For moving companies seeking growth in today’s competitive landscape, the most successful approach combines digital marketing fundamentals with strategic partnerships and exceptional customer experience. By focusing on these data-backed strategies, you’ll build a marketing engine that delivers consistent results regardless of seasonal fluctuations.