Plenty of trades business owners didn't pick up a tool to waste hours doing marketing. You went solo because you're good at what you do — not because you love chasing people for work.
The reality is: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it dries up - especially when the market slows.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? Here are some practical things that actually make a difference - without thousands of dollars.
Sort Out Your Digital Profile
If a potential customer Googles "electrician around your suburb" - are you anywhere to be seen? Too many trades businesses are running without even a basic website.
It doesn't need to be anything over the top. A clean website that displays what you actually do, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's your minimum.
Even a single-page site showing your work and how to reach you puts you ahead of the blokes relying on Facebook alone.
Google Maps - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you've been sleeping on your Google Business Profile, you're invisible to local searchers. It's completely free.
The map listings that appears first when someone searches for a trade - that's prime real estate. Ranking in the map pack starts with not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - real before-and-afters from site
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - people read these before they call
- Reply to every review - it shows you're active and approachable
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
All of this adds up month after month. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this consistently outrank the ones who set and forget.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become some social media expert. The continue reading ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta aren't doing anything fancy.
Grab a shot before you pack up and leave site. Side-by-side comparisons perform better than anything. A fresh switchboard - that's all you need.
Post it with a short caption and that's it, done. Even once or twice a week is plenty. All of it shows potential customers you're the real deal.
People trust photos of real work. A genuine job photo does more for your business than a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Paid Ads - When They Make Sense
Running Google Ads can absolutely work for tradies - but you can't just throw money at it. Where most people waste their budget 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 to a site that doesn't load properly.
Don't go all-in on day one. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and kill the duds quickly.
Customer Reviews - More Powerful Than Any Ad
Here's something a lot of tradies underestimate: nearly every potential customer checks reviews before making contact. A tradie with 50 genuine reviews beats the competition over the bloke with no online presence - even if their prices are higher.
Get into the routine to send a quick message asking for feedback. People generally don't mind - you just have to ask. Send them a direct link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - how you handle criticism is just as important as the positive ones.
The Bottom Line
Growing a trade business doesn't have to be a second full-time job. The busy ones aren't marketing geniuses - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Get your online profile in order. Share what you do. Build your reputation with real feedback. When you put money into advertising, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - getting found online just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.