Most tradies didn't get into the game to spend half the day doing marketing. You started your business because you're good at what you do — not because you wanted a career in chasing people for work.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Mates recommending you still matters, 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 straightforward strategies that get results - no massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Get Your Online Profile
If a homeowner searches for "plumber near me" - do you show up? Too many trades businesses still don't have even a basic website.
Nobody's saying you need something complicated. A straightforward page that has real job photos, covers your service area, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's where you start.
A one-page setup that covers the essentials puts you ahead of the tradies who have nothing.
Google Business Profile - Free and Underrated
If you've been sleeping on your Google Maps listing, you're invisible to local searchers. It costs nothing.
That map pack that pops up before everything else when a homeowner needs a tradie - that's where you want to be. And getting there is mostly about filling out your listing properly.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - not stock images
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - reviews are everything for local
search
- Engage with what people write - it shows you're active and approachable
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
These small things builds up quietly. The ones who keep it updated end up above the ones who set and forget.
Facebook and Instagram - Don't Overthink It
You don't need to become some social media expert. The ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta keep it dead simple.
Take a quick pic before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters perform better than anything. A finished bathroom reno - that's all you need.
Add where the job was and what you did and you're sorted. Even once or twice a week is plenty. All of it shows potential customers you're the real deal.
Homeowners respond to photos of real work. Real work on display does more for your business than any amount of fancy marketing - because it's real.
Paid Ads - Worth It If Done Right
Running Google Ads is effective for trades businesses - but it needs to be done with a plan. 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: ensure there's a clear way for people to contact you when they click through. Paying for eyeballs is pointless if people can't find your phone number.
Start with a small budget. Track which ads bring actual calls. Double down on the winners and pull the plug on anything that's just burning cash.
Reviews and Reputation - The Stuff That Actually Sells
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: most people checks reviews before making contact. A tradie with 50 genuine reviews gets the call over a tradie with none - every single time.
Get into the routine to send a quick message asking for feedback. Most customers are happy to help - they just need a nudge. Make it as easy as possible and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - your response to complaints tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
The Bottom Line
Getting more work learn how as a tradie isn't complicated. Blokes with full schedules aren't doing anything magical - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Get your online profile in order. Post your work. Build your reputation with real feedback. When you put money into advertising, be strategic about where the budget goes.
Your skills aren't the problem - getting found online doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.