Most tradies didn't start out on their own to waste hours doing marketing. You went solo because you're bloody good at your trade — not because you enjoy digital advertising.
Here's what nobody mentions though: being great at your trade doesn't guarantee a full calendar. Mates recommending you still matters, but it comes in waves - mostly when things get quiet.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? These are some straightforward moves that shift the needle - and none of them need thousands of dollars.
Get Your Web Footprint
When someone searches for "local roofer" - can they find you? A surprising number of tradies still don't have a proper online profile.
Nobody's saying you need anything over the top. A straightforward website that has real job photos, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's where you start.
A basic landing page with your services, contact details, and a few photos already beats the blokes relying on Facebook alone.
Google Maps - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you haven't claimed your Google Maps listing, you're handing work to your competition. It costs nothing.
Those three local results that appears first when people look for local
services - that's prime real estate. Showing up there comes down to filling out your listing properly.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - not stock images
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - reviews are everything for local
search
- Engage with what people write - Google notices and so do customers
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
This stuff adds up month after month. Tradies who stay on top of their profile end up above the competition that ignores it.
Facebook and Instagram - It's Not Rocket Science
You don't need to become a content creator. What works for trades businesses online aren't doing anything fancy.
Grab a shot before you pack up and leave site. additional information Before and afters perform better than anything. A new deck or pergola - that's content.
Post it with a short caption and you're sorted. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. Every photo you share is another piece of proof.
Customers believe what they can see with their own eyes. An honest before-and-after outperforms paid ads nine times out of ten - because there's no faking it.
Google Ads - When They Make Sense
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 paying for clicks that go to a dodgy website with no clear call to action.
Before you spend a dollar: ensure there's a clear way for people to contact you when they click through. Paying for eyeballs is pointless if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Don't go all-in on day one. Measure results, not just impressions. Scale the campaigns that convert and cut what doesn't.
Customer Reviews - More Powerful Than Any Ad
Here's something worth paying attention to: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. Someone with a stack of real feedback will win the job over someone with zero social proof - even if their prices are higher.
Build it into your process to follow up with a review request. People generally don't mind - they just need a nudge. Send them a direct link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
If you get a bad review, reply calmly and factually - how you handle criticism is just as important as the positive ones.
What It All Comes Down To
Marketing your trades business doesn't have to be complicated. The tradies who stay booked aren't marketing geniuses - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Lock in your Google listing and a basic site. Share what you do. Ask happy customers to back you up online. When you put money into advertising, be strategic about where the budget goes.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - the marketing side just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.