A few friends of mine are self-employed tradesmen/contractors, think plumbing, electrical, that kind of thing. Anyway, they've been asking me for marketing advice, as they know I build websites. The trouble is, they don't have the budget to hire someone to take care of marketing for them, so I wanted to point them in the right direction.
I know some trade associations, such as The CPA in the UK, provide members with sales and marketing support, along with other benefits like insurance and stuff. But there's usually a joining fee that may be out of reach for a small startup. So I want to suggest some low-budget strategies they can try out.
I've suggested the basics:
Have a clear picture of the ideal customers you want
Find places where they hang out and be active there, i.e. social media, Facebook groups, online forums
Buy a basic domain name for your business website, and set up a professional email address. Google Business Suite is good for this. (I helped a couple of them with this already)
Set up a basic free website using Wix or Squarespace, make sure you write about what services you provide and what local areas you cover. Don't forget contact details.
Claim a Google Business Profile listing; it's free and can help when people near you are searching for your services. Sign up for as many free business listings as you can, but make sure the business name, address, and phone number are consistent - track the listings in a spreadsheet, in case you ever need to update them
Can anyone suggest more low-cost best practices/tips on marketing for tradesmen?
I agree – definitely make the most of Google My Business.
For websites, Odoo is a good free builder (I use it for mine).
They should also keep an eye on Facebook groups where people ask for local help (sometimes called dark social) and post in community groups.
Another option is listing on service sites like Trusted Trader or TaskRabbit (small cost, but can be worth it).
And honestly, just get loads of Google reviews from past clients and post simple before/after pics on a Facebook page. Easy to do and it builds instant trust.
I agree – definitely make the most of Google My Business.
For websites, Odoo is a good free builder (I use it for mine).
They should also keep an eye on Facebook groups where people ask for local help (sometimes called dark social) and post in community groups.
Another option is listing on service sites like Trusted Trader or TaskRabbit (small cost, but can be worth it).
And honestly, just get loads of Google reviews from past clients and post simple before/after pics on a Facebook page. Easy to do and it builds instant trust.
