A lot of tradespeople didn't pick up a tool to waste hours chasing leads. You got into it because you're good at what you do — not because you love marketing yourself online.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth is still gold, but it dries up - especially when work drops off after a busy run.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? Here are a few practical things that get results - without massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Set Up a Proper Web Footprint
When someone searches for "electrician around your suburb" - can they find you? A surprising number of trades businesses still don't have any real web presence.
It doesn't need to be a $10k custom site. A straightforward website that has real job photos, lists where you work, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's the baseline.
Even a single-page site with your services, contact details, and a few photos outperforms the tradies who have nothing.
Google Maps - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you're not on your Google Maps listing, you're invisible to local searchers. It costs nothing.
That map pack that shows up at the top when a homeowner needs a tradie - that's prime real estate. And getting there is mostly about not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - not some generic handshake pic
- Build up your review count with genuine feedback - reviews are everything for local
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- Reply to every review - Google notices and so do customers
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
All of this adds up month after month. The ones who keep it updated beat out those who filled it out once and walked away.
Posting Your Work Online - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being an influencer. What works for trades businesses online keep it dead simple.
Snap a photo before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters perform better than anything. A new deck or pergola - that's all you need.
Write a line or two about the job and you're sorted. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. All of it is another piece of proof.
Customers believe what they can see with their own eyes. A genuine job photo outperforms paid ads nine times out of ten - because it's proof.
Paid Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Spending money on online ads can absolutely work for tradies - but it's not a set-and-forget situation. The tradies who get burnt is running ads with no clear target.
Before putting budget behind anything: have a landing page that works. All the clicks in the world won't help if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Start with a small budget. Pay attention to what generates real enquiries. Double down on the winners and cut what doesn't.
Customer Reviews - What People Check Before They Call
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A trades business with strong reviews gets the call over someone with zero social proof - regardless of price.
Build it into your process to ask for a review after every job. People generally don't mind - they just don't think of it. Send them a direct link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - the way you deal with a negative review is just as important as the positive ones.
Wrapping It Up
Growing a trade business shouldn't be a second check this out full-time job. The tradies who stay booked haven't cracked some secret code - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Sort out your web presence. Share what you do. Collect reviews. If you run ads, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
You're already great at what you do - getting found online doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.