Plenty of trades business owners didn't start out on their own to sit around chasing leads. You went solo because you're skilled at your craft — not because you love marketing yourself online.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Referrals hasn't died, but it comes in waves - mostly when the market slows.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? Below are a few practical strategies that get results - no a fancy agency.
Set Up a Proper Web Footprint
If a potential customer searches for "local builder" - are you anywhere to be seen? Too many tradies are running without any real web presence.
Nobody's saying you need anything over the top. A straightforward site that shows photos of your work, covers your service area, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's where you start.
A basic landing page showing your work and how to reach you outperforms 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 leads going. It's completely free.
The map listings that pops up before everything else when people look for local
services - those spots get the most calls. Ranking in the map pack comes down to not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Upload real photos - not stock images
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - people read these before they call
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - Google notices and so do customers
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
This stuff adds up month after month. Tradies who stay on top of their profile end up above the competition that ignores it.
Posting Your Work Online - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being a content creator. What works for trades businesses online keep it dead simple.
Take a quick pic before you pack up and leave site. Side-by-side comparisons are absolute gold. A new deck or pergola - that tells the story on its own.
Write a line or two about the job and that's it, done. You don't need to post every day. Every photo you share 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.
Online Advertising - Worth It If Done Right
Spending money on online ads can absolutely work for tradies - but it needs to be done with a plan. The tradies who get burnt is running ads with no clear target.
If you're going to invest in ads: ensure there's a clear way for people to contact you when they click through. All the clicks in the world won't help if webpage your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Start with a small budget. Pay attention to what generates real enquiries. Put more behind what works and pull the plug on anything that's just burning cash.
Customer Reviews - More Powerful Than Any Ad
A fact that doesn't get talked about enough: the majority of homeowners will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. Someone with a stack of real feedback gets the call over the bloke with no online presence - regardless of price.
Build it into your process to send a quick message asking for feedback. Most customers are happy to help - they just don't think of it. Send them a direct link and most will do it on the spot.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - how you handle criticism tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
The Bottom Line
Getting more work as a tradie doesn't have to be complicated. The busy ones aren't marketing geniuses - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Sort out your web presence. Let your jobs do the talking. Build your reputation with real feedback. When you put money into advertising, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
Your skills aren't the problem - the growth stuff doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.