Make it easy to be found
- A complete Google Business Profile with your services, areas, hours and photos
- A simple website with a call button and a WhatsApp button
- The same name, number and details on everything
- A van that clearly says what you do and how to reach you
Turn every customer into a source of work
- Ask every customer for an honest Google review, once, with one polite reminder
- Ask who else they know who might need your trade
- Leave a few cards, or a small leaflet, at the end of the job
- Stay in touch with past customers: a short note before winter for heating, or spring for gardens, can bring repeat work
Use local groups and communities
Community Facebook groups and neighbourhood sites are full of recommendation requests. Join the ones in your area, read the rules, and be useful. A helpful answer, a photo of a recent job and a polite offer to help does far more than a hard sell.
Build relationships with people who send work
- Letting agents and property managers
- Estate agents and surveyors
- Other trades who do not do what you do
- Builders' merchants, who often get asked who to recommend
- Local businesses that need regular maintenance
Local groups: do and do not
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Read the group rules before posting anything | Post the same advert in every group |
| Answer questions helpfully, even when it is not your trade | Argue with other tradespeople in the comments |
| Post a finished-job photo when the rules allow it | Name customers or show house numbers without permission |
| Reply promptly when someone tags you | Pretend to be a customer recommending yourself |
Asking for referrals
Referrals are the most valuable source of work, and most people are happy to help if you ask. After a job: "If you know anyone else who needs a [trade], I'd really appreciate you passing on my number. Here's a card." For partners: "I do [what you do] in [area]. If you ever have a customer who needs it, I'd be glad to help, and I'm happy to send work your way too."
A simple local flyer
If you use flyers, keep them honest and clear: your name, trade, area, phone number and website, a line such as "Working on [street] this week" and one clear offer, like a free quote. Check any local rules about leaflets and put them only through letterboxes that do not display a no-leaflets sign.
Track where work comes from
A simple spreadsheet with a row per enquiry makes the difference between guessing and knowing. Useful columns: date, customer name, how they found you, the job, quote given, won or lost, and the value. After three months you will see which sources really bring work.
Be visible locally
- Van signage and a tidy appearance
- Boards at job sites, where the customer and planning rules allow
- Local flyers in the streets around a job you have just done, saying you are working nearby
- Local sponsorship, such as a youth team shirt, if it suits your budget
A simple weekly routine
| When | Task | Time |
|---|---|---|
| After every job | Ask for a review and a recommendation | 1 minute |
| Monday | Reply to any new enquiries and reviews | 10 minutes |
| Midweek | Post a photo of a recent job, or help in a local group | 10 minutes |
| Friday | Contact one past customer, agent or partner | 10 minutes |
| Monthly | Check your Google profile and website for updates | 15 minutes |
Common questions
Are lead sites ever worth it?
They can be, if the cost per job won is well below your profit on a job. Track it for a few months and decide with real numbers.
What is the cheapest marketing for a trade?
Happy customers who recommend you, a complete Google profile and a clear van. They cost little and compound.
How long does it take to work?
Referral and review habits build over months. Expect a slow start and steady growth if you keep them up.
Should I use flyers?
They can work if targeted, for example streets near a recent job. Keep them simple, honest and compliant with local rules.
Is it worth joining local Facebook groups?
Often, yes, if you are genuinely helpful and follow the rules. They are full of people asking for recommendations.
Should I put leaflets through doors?
It can work when targeted near a job you have just done. Respect no-leaflet signs and local rules.
How do I stop relying on one source?
Use two or three routes, such as referrals, Google and local groups, and track which work.
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