A lot of tradespeople didn't pick up a tool to spend half the day chasing leads. You started your business because you're bloody good at your trade — not because you wanted a career in digital advertising.
Here's what nobody mentions though: doing quality work isn't enough to keep the phone ringing. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it's unpredictable - particularly when work drops off after a busy run.
How do the blokes who are always booked solid pull it off? These are a few straightforward things that shift the needle - and none of them need a fancy agency.
Set Up a Proper Web Footprint
When someone Googles "plumber near me" - do you show up? A surprising number of trades businesses haven't set up any real web presence.
It doesn't need to be a $10k custom site. A straightforward page that displays what you actually do, covers your service area, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's the baseline.
A one-page setup showing your work and how to reach you already beats the tradies who have nothing.
Google Maps - Still the Easiest Win
If you've been sleeping on your GBP, you're handing work to your competition. It's completely free.
The map listings that appears first when people look for local
services - those spots get the most calls. And getting there is mostly about 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
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - Google notices and so do customers
- Update your info when anything changes
This stuff builds up quietly. The ones who keep it updated beat out the competition that ignores it.
Social Media - Keep It Simple
Nobody's asking you to be an influencer. The ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta keep it dead simple.
Take a quick pic before you pack up and leave site. Side-by-side comparisons are absolute gold. A new deck or pergola - that's all you need.
Add where the job was and what you did and that's it, done. Even once or twice a week is plenty. Every photo you share is another piece of proof.
Customers believe actual results over polished ads. Real work on display beats a professionally designed ad campaign - because it's proof.
Online Advertising - Worth It If Done Right
Running Google 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 boosting random Facebook posts.
Before putting budget behind anything: have a landing page that works. There's no point driving traffic if people can't find your phone number.
Test with a modest spend. Measure results, not just impressions. Scale the campaigns that convert and cut what doesn't.
Your Online Reputation - More Powerful Than Any Ad
One thing worth paying attention to: nearly every potential customer will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A tradie with 50 genuine reviews will win the job over the bloke with no online presence - regardless of price.
Get into the routine to ask for a review after every job. People generally don't mind - they just don't think of it. Text them the Google review link and you'll be surprised how many follow through.
If you get a bad review, reply calmly and factually - how you handle criticism tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
What It All Comes Down To
Getting more work as a tradie doesn't have to be a second full-time job. The busy ones aren't doing anything magical - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Get your online profile in order. Post your work. Ask happy customers to back you up online. When you put money into advertising, be strategic another source about where the budget goes.
You're already great at what you do - the growth stuff is easier than most tradies think.