Most tradies didn't pick up a tool to sit around chasing leads. You started your business because you're bloody good at your trade — not because you enjoy marketing yourself online.
But here's the thing: being great at your trade won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Word of mouth is still gold, but it comes in waves - particularly when the market slows.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? Here are the practical moves that actually make a difference - no massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Get Your Web Presence
If a potential customer Googles "plumber near me" - do you show up? Heaps of trades businesses are running without even a basic website.
It doesn't need to be anything over the top. A clean page that shows photos of your work, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's your minimum.
A one-page setup showing your work and how to reach you puts you ahead of the tradies who have nothing.
Google Maps - Free and Underrated
If you haven't claimed your Google Maps listing, you're missing the easiest free view more information leads going. It's completely free.
That map pack that pops up before everything else when someone searches for a trade - that's where you want to be. Ranking in the map pack comes down to having a complete, active profile.
- Upload real photos - real before-and-afters from site
- Build up your review count with genuine feedback - people read these before they call
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - it makes a real
difference
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
This stuff compounds over time. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this beat out the ones who set and forget.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become some social media expert. The tradies who get results from social media is a lot more basic than you'd think.
Take a quick pic before you pack up and leave site. Side-by-side comparisons get the most engagement by far. A fresh switchboard - that's all you need.
Write a line or two about the job and move on with your day. You don't need to post every day. Each post builds your credibility.
Homeowners respond to what they can see with their own eyes. An honest before-and-after beats any amount of fancy marketing - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - Worth It If Done Right
Paid advertising gets results when it's set up properly - but it's not a set-and-forget situation. The common mistake is boosting random Facebook posts.
Before you spend a dollar: have a landing page that works. Paying for eyeballs is pointless to a site that doesn't load properly.
Don't go all-in on day one. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and kill the duds quickly.
Your Online Reputation - More Powerful Than Any Ad
One thing a lot of tradies underestimate: most people looks at what other people have said about you first. A trades business with strong reviews gets the call over the bloke with no online presence - even if their prices are higher.
Build it into your process to follow up with a review request. Satisfied clients will do it - you just have to ask. Send them a direct link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - the way you deal with a negative review is just as important as the positive ones.
Wrapping It Up
Getting more work as a tradie shouldn't be a second full-time job. The tradies who stay booked haven't cracked some secret code - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Get your online profile in order. Post your work. Build your reputation with real feedback. 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.