Plenty of trades business owners didn't get into the game to waste hours chasing leads. You went solo because you're skilled at your craft — not because you wanted a career in digital advertising.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it comes in waves - mostly when work drops off after a busy run.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? These are a few no-BS things that get results - no thousands of dollars.
Sort Out Your Online Footprint
If a potential customer searches for "electrician around your suburb" - can they find you? A surprising number of owner-operators are running without even a basic website.
You don't need anything over the top. A clean page that shows photos of your work, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's your minimum.
A basic landing page showing your work and how to reach you outperforms most of your competition.
Google Maps - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile, you're missing the easiest free leads going. It costs nothing.
The map listings that shows up at the top when someone searches for a trade - those spots get the most calls. Ranking in the map pack comes down to not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - not some generic handshake pic
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - this is massive for trust
- tradie best marketing Engage with what people write - it shows you're active and approachable
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
These small things compounds over time. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this beat out those who filled it out once and walked away.
Social Media - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being an influencer. What works for trades businesses online aren't doing anything fancy.
Snap a photo when you finish a job. Side-by-side comparisons get the most engagement by far. A new deck or pergola - that's all you need.
Write a line or two about the job and that's it, done. Even once or twice a week is plenty. All of it shows potential customers you're the real deal.
Customers believe actual results over polished ads. Real work on display outperforms paid ads nine times out of ten - because it's real.
Google Ads - Worth It If Done Right
Paid advertising can absolutely work for tradies - but it needs to be done with a plan. The common mistake is boosting random Facebook posts.
Before you spend a dollar: make sure your website actually converts. Paying for eyeballs is pointless if people can't find your phone number.
Test with a modest spend. Measure results, not just impressions. Double down on the winners and cut what doesn't.
Reviews and Reputation - The Stuff That Actually Sells
Here's something a lot of tradies underestimate: the majority of homeowners looks at what other people have said about you first. A trades business with strong reviews 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 need a nudge. Send them a direct link and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - how you handle criticism is just as important as the positive ones.
What It All Comes Down To
Getting more work as a tradie shouldn't be overwhelming. Blokes with full schedules haven't cracked some secret code - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Sort out your web presence. Post your work. Collect reviews. When you put money into advertising, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
Your skills aren't the problem - getting found online doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.