Most tradies didn't start out on their own to sit around chasing leads. You got into it because you're skilled at your craft — not because you wanted a career in digital advertising.
Here's what nobody mentions though: doing quality work isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth still matters, but it dries up - mostly when the market slows.
So what actually works? Here are a few practical strategies that shift the needle - without a fancy agency.
Get Your Web Profile
When someone Googles "plumber near me" - are you anywhere to be seen? A surprising number of tradies are running without even a basic website.
It doesn't need to be a $10k custom site. A simple website that shows photos of your work, lists where you work, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's the baseline.
A basic landing page with your services, contact details, and a few photos outperforms the tradies who have nothing.
Google Business Profile - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you're not on your GBP, you're invisible to local searchers. It's completely free.
Those three local results that pops up before everything else when someone searches for a trade - that's prime real estate. Ranking in the map pack starts with filling out your listing properly.
- Upload real photos - not some generic handshake pic
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - people read these before they call
- Engage with what people write - it makes a real
difference
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
These small things builds up quietly. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this consistently outrank those who filled it out once and walked away.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
Forget about being an influencer. The tradies who get results from social media is a lot more basic get the facts than you'd think.
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.
Add where the job was and what you did and that's it, done. Even once or twice a week is plenty. Each post shows potential customers you're the real deal.
Homeowners respond to photos of real work. A genuine job photo does more for your business than paid ads nine times out of ten - because it's real.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Paid advertising gets results when it's set up properly - but you can't just throw money at it. The common mistake is paying for clicks that go to a dodgy website with no clear call to action.
If you're going to invest in ads: make sure your website actually converts. All the clicks in the world won't help if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Don't go all-in on day one. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and cut what doesn't.
Reviews and Reputation - What People Check Before They Call
One thing worth paying attention to: the majority of homeowners looks at what other people have said about you first. Someone with a stack of real feedback will win the job over a tradie with none - every single time.
Get into the routine 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 most will do it on the spot.
If you get a bad review, reply calmly and factually - your response to complaints is just as important as the positive ones.
Wrapping It Up
Marketing your trades business doesn't have to be a second full-time job. The tradies who stay booked aren't doing anything magical - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Lock in your Google listing and a basic site. Post your work. Ask happy customers to back you up online. 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 marketing side is easier than most tradies think.