Most tradies didn't get into the game to waste hours doing marketing. You got into it because you're good at what you do — not because you wanted a career in marketing yourself online.
Here's what nobody mentions though: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Referrals is still gold, but it dries up - particularly when things get quiet.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? Below are a few no-BS strategies that shift the needle - no massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Set Up a Proper Digital Profile
If a homeowner Googles "local builder" - are you anywhere to be seen? Heaps of trades businesses haven't set up a proper online profile.
You don't need a $10k custom site. A clean page that displays what you actually do, lists where you work, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's the baseline.
A basic landing page showing your work and how to reach you already beats the blokes relying on Facebook alone.
Google Maps - Still the Easiest Win
If you're not on your Google Maps listing, you're invisible to local searchers. Zero dollars to set up.
The map listings that pops up before everything else when a homeowner needs a tradie - those spots get the most calls. Showing up there starts with filling out your listing properly.
- Put up photos of your work - not stock images
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - people read these before they call
- Reply to every review - Google notices and so do customers
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
This stuff builds up quietly. Tradies who stay on top of their profile beat out those who filled it out once and walked away.
Facebook and Instagram - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being some social media expert. The tradies who get results from social media aren't doing anything fancy.
Grab visit this a shot before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters perform better than anything. A finished bathroom reno - that tells the story on its own.
Add where the job was and what you did and you're sorted. Even once or twice a week is plenty. All of it builds your credibility.
Homeowners respond to what they can see with their own eyes. Real work on display outperforms a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - When They Make Sense
Spending money on online ads gets results when it's set up properly - but it needs to be done with a plan. Where most people waste their budget is running ads with no clear target.
If you're going to invest in ads: have a landing page that works. Paying for eyeballs is pointless if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Don't go all-in on day one. Measure results, not just impressions. Scale the campaigns that convert and cut what doesn't.
Reviews and Reputation - More Powerful Than Any Ad
Here's something worth paying attention to: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A trades business with strong reviews beats the competition over a tradie with none - every single time.
Get into the routine to send a quick message asking for feedback. Satisfied clients will do it - they just need a nudge. Make it as easy as possible and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
If you get a bad review, reply calmly and factually - how you handle criticism says more about your business than you'd think.
What It All Comes Down To
Marketing your trades business isn't overwhelming. Blokes with full schedules haven't cracked some secret code - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Sort out your web presence. Post your work. Collect reviews. And if you go the paid route, make sure the numbers add up before you scale.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - the growth stuff is easier than most tradies think.