Most tradies didn't pick up a tool to spend half the day doing marketing. You went solo because you're bloody good at your trade — not because you wanted a career in marketing yourself online.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Referrals is still gold, but it's unpredictable - mostly when the market slows.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? Below are a few no-BS strategies that get results - and none of them need a fancy agency.
Get Your Online Footprint
If a potential customer searches for "plumber near me" - can they find you? A surprising number of trades businesses still don't have even a basic website.
Nobody's saying you need something complicated. A straightforward website that displays what you actually do, lists where you work, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's your minimum.
Even a single-page site showing your work and how to reach you already beats the blokes relying on Facebook alone.
Google Maps - Still the Easiest Win
If you've been sleeping on your GBP, you're handing work to your competition. It's completely free.
The map listings that appears first when people look for local
services - that's prime real estate. Showing up there comes down to having a complete, active profile.
- Put up photos of your work - not some generic handshake pic
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - reviews are everything for local
search
- Reply to every review - it shows you're active and approachable
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
This stuff builds up quietly. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this beat out the ones who set and forget.
Social Media - Don't Overthink It
You don't need to become a content creator. The ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta is a lot more basic than you'd think.
Grab a shot before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters perform better than anything. A fresh switchboard - that's all you need.
Post it with a short caption and that's it, done. Even once or twice a week is plenty. Each post shows potential customers you're the real deal.
People trust actual results over polished ads. Real work on display outperforms paid ads nine times further reading out of ten - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - Not a Magic Bullet
Spending money on online ads can absolutely work for tradies - but it's not a set-and-forget situation. The common mistake is paying for clicks that go to a dodgy website with no clear call to action.
Before putting budget behind anything: have a landing page that works. All the clicks in the world won't help if people can't find your phone number.
Test with a modest spend. Pay attention to what generates real enquiries. Put more behind what works and cut what doesn't.
Customer Reviews - The Stuff That Actually Sells
A fact that doesn't get talked about enough: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. Someone with a stack of real feedback gets the call over a tradie with none - regardless of price.
Make it a habit to follow up with a review request. 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.
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 isn't complicated. The busy ones aren't doing anything magical - 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, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
You're already great at what you do - the marketing side is easier than most tradies think.