A lot of tradespeople didn't start out on their own to waste hours chasing leads. You got into it because you're good at what you do — not because you enjoy marketing yourself online.
But here's the thing: being great at your trade doesn't guarantee a full calendar. Mates recommending you is still gold, but it dries up - mostly when things get quiet.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? Here are a few no-BS moves that shift the needle - without thousands of dollars.
Sort Out Your Online Profile
When someone Googles "plumber near me" - are you anywhere to be seen? A surprising number of tradies are running without a proper online profile.
It doesn't need to be a $10k custom site. A straightforward website that has real job photos, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's the baseline.
A basic landing page with your services, contact details, and a few photos already beats the tradies who have nothing.
Google Business Profile - Still the Easiest Win
If you've been sleeping on your GBP, you're invisible to local searchers. It costs nothing.
That map pack that pops up before everything else when people look for local
services - those spots get the most calls. And getting there comes down to not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - real before-and-afters from site
- Build up your review count with genuine feedback - people read these before they call
- Reply to every review - it shows you're active and approachable
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
All of this adds up month after month. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this beat out the competition that ignores it.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become an influencer. The ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta keep it dead simple.
Grab a shot of a completed project. Before and afters are absolute gold. A new deck or pergola - 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 what they can see with their own eyes. A genuine job photo beats a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Running Google Ads is effective for trades businesses - but it needs to be done with a plan. Where most people waste their budget is boosting random Facebook related site posts.
Before putting budget behind anything: make sure your website actually converts. Paying for eyeballs is pointless if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Start with a small budget. Measure results, not just impressions. Scale the campaigns that convert and cut what doesn't.
Your Online Reputation - The Stuff That Actually Sells
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough: most people looks at what other people have said about you first. A trades business with strong reviews will win the job over someone with zero social proof - every single time.
Build it into your process to follow up with a review request. People generally don't mind - they just don't think of it. Text them the Google review link and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - your response to complaints is just as important as the positive ones.
Wrapping It Up
Marketing your trades business shouldn't be complicated. The tradies who stay booked aren't marketing geniuses - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Sort out your web presence. Share what you do. Build your reputation with real feedback. And if you go the paid route, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - the marketing side just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.