A lot of tradespeople didn't get into the game to spend half the day chasing leads. You got into it because you're good at what you do — not because you wanted a career in chasing people for work.
The reality is: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Referrals still matters, but it dries up - mostly when things get quiet.
So what actually works? These are a few no-BS strategies that get results - and none of them need thousands of dollars.
Get Your Web Footprint
When someone searches for "local carpenter" - are you anywhere to be seen? Too many tradies haven't set up any real web presence.
You don't need a $10k custom site. A straightforward site that shows photos of your work, covers your service area, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's the baseline.
Even a single-page site with your services, contact marketing for tradies details, and a few photos outperforms most of your competition.
Google Maps - Free and Underrated
If you haven't claimed your GBP, you're handing work to your competition. Zero dollars to set up.
Those three local results that appears first when someone searches for a trade - that's prime real estate. Ranking in the map pack comes down to having a complete, active profile.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - real before-and-afters from site
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - reviews are everything for local
search
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - Google notices and so do customers
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
These small things compounds over time. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this consistently outrank the competition that ignores it.
Social Media - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being a content creator. The tradies who get results from social media keep it dead simple.
Grab a shot when you finish a job. Side-by-side comparisons are absolute gold. A freshly painted room - that's content.
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 builds your credibility.
Homeowners respond to photos of real work. A genuine job photo outperforms a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's real.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Running Google Ads gets results when it's set up properly - but you can't just throw money at it. The tradies who get burnt 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. There's no point driving traffic if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Test with a modest spend. Track which ads bring actual calls. Put more behind what works and cut what doesn't.
Your Online Reputation - The Stuff That Actually Sells
One thing a lot of tradies underestimate: nearly every potential customer checks reviews before making contact. A trades business with strong reviews will win the job over a tradie with none - regardless of price.
Make it a habit to ask for a review after every job. 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.
If you get a bad review, reply calmly and factually - your response to complaints says more about your business than you'd think.
Wrapping It Up
Growing a trade business doesn't have to be complicated. The busy ones aren't marketing geniuses - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Get your online profile in order. Share what you do. Ask happy customers to back you up online. If you run ads, make sure the numbers add up before you scale.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - getting found online just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.