Tradie Promotion - Tips to Land More Jobs and Half the Runaround
A lot of tradespeople didn't pick up a tool to spend half the day doing marketing. You went solo because you're skilled at your craft — not because you love chasing people for work.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Mates recommending you hasn't died, but it's unpredictable - mostly when the market slows.
So what actually works? Here are some practical strategies that get results - and none of them need a fancy agency.
Get Your Online Footprint
If a homeowner searches for "electrician in your suburb" - are you anywhere to be seen? A surprising number of trades businesses still don't have a proper online profile.
It doesn't need to be anything over the top. A clean page that has real job photos, covers your service area, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's the baseline.
A one-page setup with your services, contact details, and a few photos already beats the tradies who have nothing.
Google Business Profile - Free and Underrated
If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile, you're handing work to your competition. It costs nothing.
The map listings that shows up at the top when a homeowner needs a tradie - those spots get the most calls. Showing up there starts with having a complete, active profile.
- Add pictures from actual jobs - real before-and-afters from site
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - people read these before they call
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - Google notices and so do customers
- Make sure your phone number and service area are correct
All of this adds up month after month. Tradies who stay on top of their profile consistently outrank the ones who set and forget.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become an influencer. What works for trades businesses online keep it dead simple.
Snap a photo before you pack up and leave site. Transformation shots perform better than anything. A new deck or pergola - that's content.
Write a line or two about the job and you're sorted. Even once or twice a week is plenty. Every photo you share is another piece of proof.
People trust photos of real work. An honest before-and-after does more for your business than any amount of fancy marketing - because there's no faking it.
Paid Ads - When They Make Sense
Spending money on online ads is effective for trades businesses - but you can't just throw money at it. The tradies who get burnt is running ads with no clear target.
Before putting budget behind anything: ensure there's a clear way for people to contact you when they click related site through. All the clicks in the world won't help to a site that doesn't load properly.
Test with a modest spend. Pay attention to what generates real enquiries. Double down on the winners and kill the duds quickly.
Your Online Reputation - What People Check Before They Call
A fact that doesn't get talked about enough: the majority of homeowners checks reviews before making contact. A tradie with 50 genuine reviews will win the job over someone with zero social proof - every single time.
Get into the routine to follow up with a review request. 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.
Don't ignore or argue with bad feedback - the way you deal with a negative review tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
What It All Comes Down To
Marketing your trades business shouldn't be overwhelming. The tradies who stay booked aren't marketing geniuses - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Sort out your web presence. Let your jobs do the talking. Collect reviews. And if you go the paid route, be strategic about where the budget goes.
You're already great at what you do - getting found online just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.