Plenty of trades business owners didn't pick up a tool to spend half the day on the phone quoting. You started your business because you're skilled at your craft — not because you wanted a career in digital advertising.
But here's the thing: being great at your trade isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it dries up - particularly when work drops off after a busy run.
So what actually works? These are some no-BS things that get results - no massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Set Up a Proper Online Presence
If a homeowner searches for "local carpenter" - are you anywhere to be seen? Heaps of tradies haven't set up a proper online profile.
You don't need a $10k custom site. A straightforward site that has real job photos, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's your minimum.
A one-page setup that covers the essentials already beats the tradies who have nothing.
Your Google Listing - Still the Easiest Win
If you haven't claimed your Google Maps listing, you're missing the easiest free leads going. Zero dollars to set up.
Those three local results that pops up before everything else when a homeowner needs a tradie - that's prime real estate. Showing up there is mostly about not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - not stock images
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - this is massive for trust
- Reply to every review - it makes a real
difference
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
These small things adds up month after month. Tradies who stay on top of their profile end up above those who filled it out once and walked away.
Social Media - Keep It Simple
Nobody's asking you to be some social media expert. The tradies who get results from social media is a lot more basic than you'd think.
Snap a photo when you finish a job. Side-by-side comparisons get the most engagement by far. A fresh switchboard - that tells the story on its own.
Write a line or two about the job and move on with your day. You don't need to post every day. Every photo you share is another piece of proof.
Homeowners respond to what they can see with their own eyes. A genuine job photo does more for your business than paid ads nine times out of ten - because there's no faking it.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Spending money on online ads gets results when it's set up properly - but it needs to be done with a plan. Where most people waste their budget is running ads with no clear target.
If you're going to invest in ads: make sure your website actually converts. Paying for eyeballs is pointless to a site that doesn't load properly.
Don't go all-in on day one. 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
A fact a lot of tradies underestimate: most people useful resource checks reviews before making contact. A trades business with strong reviews will win the job over the bloke with no online presence - regardless of price.
Get into the routine to send a quick message asking for feedback. Most customers are happy to help - they just don't think of it. Make it as easy as possible and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - your response to complaints tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
What It All Comes Down To
Growing a trade business isn't a second full-time job. The busy ones aren't doing anything magical - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Get your online profile in order. Post your work. Build your reputation with real feedback. And if you go the paid route, be strategic about where the budget goes.
You're already great at what you do - the marketing side just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.