Plenty of trades business owners didn't get into the game to sit around doing marketing. You started your business because you're good at what you do — not because you enjoy chasing people for work.
Here's what nobody mentions though: doing quality work isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth still matters, but it's unpredictable - especially when things get quiet.
So what actually works? These are a few straightforward moves that shift the needle - without a fancy agency.
Set Up a Proper Web Presence
If a homeowner Googles "local builder" - can they find you? A surprising number of trades businesses are running without even a basic website.
You don't need something complicated. A straightforward website that has real job photos, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's your minimum.
A basic landing page that covers the essentials puts you ahead of most of your competition.
Google Maps - Free and Underrated
If you're not on your Google Business Profile, you're handing work to your competition. It costs nothing.
Those three local results that appears first when a homeowner needs a tradie - that's where you want to be. And getting there is mostly about filling out your listing properly.
- Put up photos of your work - not stock images
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - people read these before they call
- Reply to every review - it makes a real
difference
- Update your info when anything changes
All of this builds up quietly. Tradies who stay on top of their profile end up above the ones who set and forget.
Social Media - It's Not Rocket Science
Forget about being a content creator. The tradies who get results from social media is a lot more basic than you'd think.
Take a quick pic of a completed project. Before and afters perform better than anything. A fresh switchboard - that's all you need.
Post it with a short caption and that's it, done. You don't need to post every day. Each post shows potential customers you're the real deal.
Homeowners respond to actual results over polished ads. A genuine job photo beats a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - Not a Magic Bullet
Paid advertising gets results when it's set up properly - but you can't just throw money at it. The tradies who get burnt is boosting random Facebook posts.
If you're going to invest in ads: make sure your website actually converts. There's no point driving traffic to a site that doesn't load properly.
Start with a small budget. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and kill the duds quickly.
Your Online Reputation - The Stuff That Actually Sells
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: the majority of homeowners checks reviews before making contact. A trades business with strong reviews beats the competition over someone with zero social proof - regardless of price.
Get into the routine to ask for a review after every job. People generally don't mind - 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
Growing a trade business shouldn't be overwhelming. The tradies who stay booked aren't doing anything magical - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Lock in your Google listing and a read this basic site. Post your work. Collect reviews. And if you go the paid route, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - the growth stuff doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.