Trades Marketing - How to Land More Jobs and Half the Hassle
Plenty of trades business owners didn't start out on their own to waste hours doing marketing. You went solo because you're good at what you do — not because you wanted a career in digital advertising.
The reality is: top-shelf workmanship isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Mates recommending you hasn't died, but it's unpredictable - particularly when work drops off after a busy run.
So what actually works? These are some straightforward things that get results - without massive budgets or marketing degrees.
Set Up a Proper Digital Presence
If a homeowner Googles "local roofer" - are you anywhere to be seen? A surprising number of tradies still don't have any real web presence.
You don't need a $10k custom site. A clean site that shows photos of your work, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and has a clear way to get in touch - that's your minimum.
A basic landing page showing your work and how to reach you outperforms the blokes relying on Facebook alone.
Google Maps - Costs Nothing, Does a Lot
If you haven't claimed your GBP, you're missing the easiest free leads going. It's completely free.
The map listings that pops up before everything else when someone searches for a trade - that's where you want to be. Ranking in the map pack is mostly about not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Upload real photos - not stock images
- Build up your review count with genuine feedback - people read these before they call
- Engage with what people write - it makes a real
difference
- Update your info when anything changes
All of this builds up quietly. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this end up above the ones who set and forget.
Posting Your Work Online - Don't Overthink It
Nobody's asking you to be a content creator. The tradies who get results from social media keep it dead simple.
Grab a shot before you pack up and leave site. Side-by-side comparisons perform better than anything. A new deck or pergola - that tells the story on its own.
Write a line or two about the job and you're sorted. You don't need to post every day. Each post shows potential customers recommended site you're the real deal.
People trust photos of real work. A genuine job photo outperforms a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - Worth It If Done Right
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 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 to a site that doesn't load properly.
Start with a small budget. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and cut what doesn't.
Customer Reviews - What People Check Before They Call
A fact that doesn't get talked about enough: nearly every potential customer checks reviews before making contact. A trades business with strong reviews gets the call over someone with zero social proof - regardless of price.
Build it into your process to follow up with a review request. Most customers are happy to help - they just don't think of it. Make it as easy as possible and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - how you handle criticism says more about your business than you'd think.
Wrapping It Up
Marketing your trades business shouldn't be a second full-time job. Blokes with full schedules haven't cracked some secret code - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Sort out your web presence. Post your work. Build your reputation with real feedback. And if you go the paid route, make sure the numbers add up before you scale.
You're already great at what you do - the growth stuff is easier than most tradies think.