A lot of tradespeople didn't get into the game to waste hours doing marketing. You got into it because you're bloody good at your trade — not because you wanted a career in chasing people for work.
Here's what nobody mentions though: being great at your trade doesn't guarantee a full calendar. Referrals still matters, but it's unpredictable - especially when the market slows.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? These are some practical strategies that shift the needle - and none of them need a fancy agency.
Sort Out Your Digital Footprint
When someone searches for "electrician in your area" - can they find you? Heaps of trades businesses haven't set up any real web presence.
You don't need something complicated. A straightforward site that shows photos of your work, covers your service area, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's where you start.
A one-page setup showing your work and how to reach you already beats most of your competition.
Google Business Profile - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you're not on your GBP, you're invisible to local searchers. It costs nothing.
That map pack that appears first when people look for local
services - those spots get the most calls. Ranking in the map pack comes down to not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - not stock images
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - people read these before they call
- Reply to every review - it makes a real
difference
- Update your info when anything changes
All of this compounds over time. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this end up above those who filled it out once and walked away.
Social Media - Keep It Simple
Forget about being an influencer. What works for trades businesses online is a lot more basic than you'd think.
Snap a photo before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters perform better than anything. A fresh switchboard - that's all you need.
Add where the job was and what you did and move on with your day. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. Each post is another piece of proof.
Homeowners respond to what they can see with their own eyes. A genuine job photo outperforms any amount of fancy marketing - because it's real.
Paid Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Spending money on online ads is effective for trades businesses - but it's not a set-and-forget situation. The tradies who get burnt is running ads with no clear target.
If you're going to invest in ads: make sure your website actually converts. All the clicks in the world won't help 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.
Customer Reviews - The Stuff That Actually Sells
A fact a lot of tradies underestimate: nearly every potential customer will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A trades business with strong reviews gets the call over a tradie with none - every single time.
Get into the routine to follow up with a review request. Most customers are happy to help - you just have to ask. Text them the Google review link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - your response to complaints recommended reading says more about your business than you'd think.
Wrapping It Up
Getting more work as a tradie shouldn't be overwhelming. The tradies who stay booked aren't marketing geniuses - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Sort out your web presence. Let your jobs do the talking. Build your reputation with real feedback. And if you go the paid route, make sure the numbers add up before you scale.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - getting found online doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.