Trades Advertising - Tips to Book More Jobs and Less Runaround
Plenty of trades business owners didn't pick up a tool to waste hours doing marketing. You went solo because you're skilled at your craft — not because you enjoy digital advertising.
Here's what nobody mentions though: being great at your trade doesn't guarantee a full calendar. Word of mouth hasn't died, but it comes in waves - mostly when work drops off after a busy run.
So what actually works? These are some no-BS moves that actually make a difference - no a fancy agency.
Sort Out Your Digital Presence
If a homeowner searches for "local builder" - 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 a $10k custom site. A clean page that has real job photos, mentions the suburbs you operate in, and doesn't make people hunt for your number - that's the baseline.
A basic landing page that covers the essentials puts you ahead of most of your competition.
Google Business Profile - Still the Easiest Win
If you're not on your Google Maps listing, you're handing work to your competition. It's completely free.
That map pack that shows up at the top when people look for local
services - that's where you want to be. Ranking in the map pack comes down to not leaving your profile half-empty.
- Upload real photos - real before-and-afters from site
- Build up your review count with genuine feedback - people read these before they call
- Engage with what people write - Google notices and so do customers
- Keep your hours and contact details up to date
This stuff builds up quietly. Blokes who put 20 minutes a month into this beat out those who filled it out once and walked away.
Social Media - Don't Overthink It
Nobody's asking you to be a content creator. The ones actually winning work from Facebook and Insta aren't doing anything fancy.
Take a quick pic before you pack up and leave site. Before and afters are absolute gold. A freshly painted room - that's content.
Write a line or two about the job and that's it, done. Consistency helps but don't stress about a schedule. All of it builds your credibility.
People trust photos of real work. An honest before-and-after does more for your business than paid ads nine times out of ten - because it's real.
Paid Ads - Worth It If Done Right
Running Google Ads gets results when it's set up properly - but you can't just throw money at it. Where most people waste their budget is boosting random Facebook posts.
If you're going to invest in ads: 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 learn how and pull the plug on anything that's just burning cash.
Your Online Reputation - More Powerful Than Any Ad
A fact that doesn't get talked about enough: the majority of homeowners 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 - regardless of price.
Make it a habit to follow up with a review request. Most customers are happy to help - they just don't think of it. Text them the Google review link and the reviews will stack up faster than you'd expect.
Respond to negative reviews professionally - how you handle criticism tells potential customers as much about you as the good reviews do.
The Bottom Line
Marketing your trades business doesn't have to be a second full-time job. The tradies who stay booked aren't doing anything magical - they've just covered the basics and stayed consistent.
Lock in your Google listing and a basic site. Let your jobs do the talking. Collect reviews. If you run ads, make sure the numbers add up before you scale.
The quality of your work speaks for itself - getting found online is easier than most tradies think.