Plenty of trades business owners didn't get into the game to waste hours doing marketing. You got into it because you're skilled at your craft — not because you enjoy chasing people for work.
But here's the thing: top-shelf workmanship won't fill your schedule on its own anymore. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it comes in waves - mostly when the market slows.
What are the busy tradies doing differently? Below are a few straightforward strategies that shift the needle - without a fancy agency.
Get Your Online Footprint
When someone Googles "plumber near me" - can they find you? Heaps of tradies still don't have even a basic website.
You don't need a $10k custom site. A straightforward page that shows photos of your work, lists where you work, and makes it dead easy to call or message - that's where you start.
Even a single-page site showing your work and how to reach you outperforms most of your competition.
Your Google Listing - Free and Underrated
If you haven't claimed your GBP, you're invisible to local searchers. It's completely free.
That map pack that shows up at look at this the top when someone searches for a trade - that's where you want to be. And getting there is mostly about not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Put up photos of your work - not stock images
- Ask satisfied customers for reviews - this is massive for trust
- Respond to reviews, good and bad - it makes a real
difference
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
This stuff compounds over time. The ones who keep it updated consistently outrank those who filled it out once and walked away.
Facebook and Instagram - Keep It Simple
You don't need to become a content creator. The tradies who get results from social media keep it dead simple.
Grab a shot when you finish a job. Transformation shots perform better than anything. A finished bathroom reno - that's all you need.
Write a line or two about the job and move on with your day. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. Each post builds your credibility.
Homeowners respond to photos of real work. An honest before-and-after beats any amount of fancy marketing - because there's no faking it.
Google Ads - Not a Magic Bullet
Paid advertising can absolutely work for tradies - but it needs to be done with a plan. Where most people waste their budget 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 through. Paying for eyeballs is pointless to a site that doesn't load properly.
Test with a modest spend. Measure results, not just impressions. Put more behind what works and kill the duds quickly.
Customer Reviews - More Powerful Than Any Ad
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: most people will read your reviews before they pick up the phone. A tradie with 50 genuine reviews beats the competition over the bloke with no online presence - every single time.
Build it into your process to ask for a review after every job. Most customers are happy to help - they just need a nudge. 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 - your response to complaints is just as important as the positive ones.
The Bottom Line
Getting more work as a tradie isn't a second full-time job. The tradies who stay booked aren't marketing geniuses - they got the fundamentals right and stuck with it.
Sort out your web presence. Share what you do. Ask happy customers to back you up online. And if you go the paid route, do it with a plan, not a prayer.
Your skills aren't the problem - the marketing side just needs a bit of attention to start working for you.