A lot of tradespeople didn't get into the game to spend half the day on the phone quoting. You got into it because you're skilled at your craft — not because you enjoy chasing people for work.
Here's what nobody mentions though: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it comes in waves - mostly when things get quiet.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? Here are a few no-BS things that shift the needle - and none of them need massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Sort Out Your Digital Presence
If a homeowner Googles "plumber near me" - do you show up? A surprising number of trades businesses still don't have any real web presence.
You don't need something complicated. A simple page that displays what you actually do, lists where you read full article work, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's where you start.
Even a single-page site showing your work and how to reach you puts you ahead of most of your competition.
Google Maps - Free and Underrated
If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile, you're invisible to local searchers. It costs nothing.
That map pack that appears first when a homeowner needs a tradie - those spots get the most calls. Ranking in the map pack is mostly about not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - real before-and-afters from site
- Get your happy clients to leave a review - this is massive for trust
- Engage with what people write - it makes a real
difference
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
This stuff builds up quietly. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this consistently outrank those who filled it out once and walked away.
Posting Your Work Online - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become an influencer. 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 are absolute gold. A finished bathroom reno - that's content.
Add where the job was and what you did and move on with your day. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. Every photo you share shows potential customers you're the real deal.
Homeowners respond to what they can see with their own eyes. An honest before-and-after outperforms any amount of fancy marketing - because it's real.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Paid advertising can absolutely work for tradies - but it's not a set-and-forget situation. The common mistake 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. There's no point driving traffic if your site looks like it was built in 2005.
Start with a small budget. Pay attention to what generates real enquiries. Scale the campaigns that convert and pull the plug on anything that's just burning cash.
Customer Reviews - What People Check Before They Call
One thing worth paying attention to: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A trades business with strong reviews will win the job over a tradie with none - even if their prices are higher.
Make it a habit to send a quick message asking for feedback. People generally don't mind - they just don't think of it. Make it as easy as possible and most will do it on the spot.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - how you handle criticism says more about your business than you'd think.
The Bottom Line
Marketing your trades business shouldn't be complicated. The busy ones aren't marketing geniuses - they set up a few things properly and keep showing up.
Lock in your Google listing and a basic site. Let your jobs do the talking. Ask happy customers to back you up online. When you put money into advertising, be strategic about where the budget goes.
You're already great at what you do - getting found online doesn't take as much as you'd expect once you get the ball rolling.