12 Proven Marketing Strategies for Tradies to Get More Leads & Clients
- March 2, 2025
- 8:40 am
Want more leads and clients for your trade business? You need the right marketing strategies!
In this guide, we’ll share 12 proven tactics to help tradies like you get more calls, bookings, and repeat customers. From SEO and social media to AI tools and Google Ads, these simple yet powerful strategies will help you grow your business fast.
Let’s get started! 🚀
Table of Contents
Hyper-Local SEO: Own Your Suburb & Surrounding Areas
AI-Powered Chatbots to Convert Website Visitors into Leads 24/7
YouTube Shorts & TikTok: Free, Viral Video Marketing for Tradies
SMS Marketing: 98% Open Rate & More Repeat Clients
Local Facebook Community Domination
Google Ads Call-Only Campaigns: The Fastest Way to Get Bookings
Direct Mail & Letterbox Drops: Old-School Tactic, New-Age Strategy
Google Guaranteed: The Secret Weapon for Trust & More Bookings
Referral Partner Networks: Win Clients Without Ads
Voice Search Optimization: Preparing for the Future of Search
Hyper-Local SEO: Own Your Suburb & Surrounding Areas
Want to be the first tradie people call in your area? You need Hyper-Local SEO.
Instead of just targeting broad keywords like “plumber Sydney”, create location-specific pages like “Plumber in Parramatta”.
Google loves detailed, local content. Add your suburb name in your website title, headings, and service descriptions.
Don’t forget to optimize your Google Business Profile with:
âś… A clear business description with local keywords.
âś… Regular photo updates of your work.
âś… Client reviews (ask every happy customer to leave one!).
More visibility = more calls. Simple!
AI-Powered Chatbots to Convert Website Visitors into Leads 24/7
Ever lost a potential client because you didn’t answer their message fast enough? AI chatbots can fix that.
Chatbots like ManyChat or Tidio respond instantly, answer FAQs, and collect contact details while you’re busy on the job.
They can pre-qualify leads by asking:
- What service do you need?
- Where are you located?
- When do you need the job done?
This means fewer time-wasters and more real bookings.
YouTube Shorts & TikTok: Free, Viral Video Marketing for Tradies
Short videos are dominating online marketing. They’re free to post, easy to make, and can reach thousands of potential clients.
Try these video ideas for tradies:
đź“ą A quick before-and-after transformation of your work.
📹 A 30-second “DIY tip” (but remind them to call a pro if it’s too complex!).
đź“ą A timelapse of you completing a job.
Use hashtags like #SydneyPlumber #MelbourneElectrician #TradieTips to reach more people.
Potential clients love seeing real tradies in action!
SMS Marketing: 98% Open Rate & More Repeat Clients
Emails get ignored. Texts get read.
SMS marketing is a super effective way to stay in touch with past clients and get more repeat work.
Here’s how to use it:
📲 Send appointment reminders so clients don’t forget.
📲 Offer a discount on their next service (keeps them coming back!).
📲 Ask for a review after a job—happy clients are usually happy to help.
Automate your texts with tools like SimpleTexting or Podium and watch your bookings grow!
Local Facebook Community Domination
Your next customer is probably already in a local Facebook group looking for recommendations.
Here’s how to get free leads:
✔️ Join local groups in your area (“Sydney Homeowners”, “Melbourne Renovations”).
✔️ Share helpful tips without being too salesy.
✔️ Offer exclusive deals for group members.
Bonus tip: Reply fast when someone asks for a tradie recommendation. Being the first to respond increases your chances of getting the job!
Google Ads Call-Only Campaigns: The Fastest Way to Get Bookings
Don’t want to waste money on ads that don’t work? Try Google Call-Only Ads.
Instead of clicking to visit your website, potential clients call you directly from the ad. No forms, no waiting—just instant leads.
Here’s how to make them work:
📞 Use a strong headline like “Emergency Plumber – Call Now”.
📞 Target high-intent keywords like “24/7 electrician near me”.
đź“ž Run ads only during business hours to avoid missed calls.
This method filters out tire-kickers and brings in clients ready to book!
Direct Mail & Letterbox Drops: Old-School Tactic, New-Age Strategy
Think flyers don’t work anymore? Think again. Local print marketing still drives leads—if you do it right.
Here’s the trick:
📬 Use bold, eye-catching headlines (e.g., “Leaking Tap? Call Us Today!”).
📬 Offer an exclusive deal (“$50 off for new customers”).
📬 Add a QR code linking to your website or booking form.
Bonus tip: Drop flyers in new housing developments—homeowners always need tradies!
Google Guaranteed: The Secret Weapon for Trust & More Bookings
Want to stand out on Google? Get Google Guaranteed.
It’s a special green check badge that tells customers you’re verified by Google.
Why does it matter?
âś… It boosts trust (clients feel safer hiring you).
âś… Your business appears at the top of search results.
âś… You only pay for real leads (not just clicks!).
Apply through Google Local Services Ads, pass a background check, and get more high-quality leads!
Referral Partner Networks: Win Clients Without Ads
What if you could get leads on autopilot? That’s exactly what referral networks do.
Partner with other tradies who serve the same clients but don’t compete with you, like:
🔧 Plumbers & electricians
🔨 Builders & painters
🏠Real estate agents & property managers
Set up a win-win referral system: You send them clients, they send you clients. No ad spend, just more jobs!
Voice Search Optimization: Preparing for the Future of Search
More people are using voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to find tradies.
To show up in voice searches, follow these tips:
🎤 Use conversational phrases on your website (“Who’s the best plumber near me?”).
🎤 Answer common questions in your content (“How much does a plumber cost?”).
🎤 Make sure your Google Business Profile is updated—voice searches pull info from there!
Optimize now so you don’t miss out on future leads.
Free PR & Media Exposure: Get Featured in Local News
Getting featured in the news instantly boosts credibility—and brings in a flood of new leads.
Here’s how to do it:
đź“° Write a short press release about a community project or business milestone.
đź“° Send it to local newspapers, radio stations, and online news sites.
📰 Offer a free expert quote on trending topics (e.g., “How to prepare your home for storm season”).
A single news feature can bring hundreds of new visitors to your website.
The $1/Day Retargeting Strategy: Bring Back Lost Leads
Most people won’t hire you the first time they visit your website. That’s why retargeting is so powerful.
For just $1/day, you can run ads on Facebook and Instagram to people who already visited your site.
Here’s why it works:
🔄 Keeps your business top of mind.
🔄 Brings back visitors who got distracted.
🔄 Costs way less than regular ads!
Set it up in Facebook Ads Manager and watch more leads come back!
About Marketing LTB
Marketing LTB is a full-service marketing agency offering over 50 specialized services across 100+ industries. Our seasoned team leverages data-driven strategies and a full-funnel approach to maximize your ROI and fuel business growth. Discover how our expertise can drive revenue for your business>
About the author, Bill Nash
Bill Nash is the CMO of Marketing LTB with over a decade of experience, he has driven growth for Fortune 500 companies and startups through data-driven campaigns and advanced marketing technologies. He has written over 400 pieces of content about marketing, covering topics like marketing tips, guides, AI in advertising, advanced PPC strategies, conversion optimization, and others.
