How to Get More Customers as a Tradesperson — 15+ Actionable Tips

Finding customers is one of the biggest challenges for any tradesperson — whether you are just starting out or have been in the trade for years. The best tradespeople are not just skilled at their craft, they are also good at generating a consistent flow of enquiries. The good news is that you do not need a marketing degree or a big budget to make this happen. You need a combination of practical strategies that work together to keep your phone ringing and your diary full.

This guide covers more than fifteen actionable tips for getting more customers as a tradesperson in 2026, from building your online presence to making the most of word-of-mouth referrals.

1. Set Up and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

If you do one thing from this list, make it this one. A Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most powerful free marketing tool available to tradespeople. When someone searches "plumber near me" or "builder in Manchester", Google shows a map pack of local businesses — and your profile is how you get into that pack.

To set up and optimise your profile:

• Claim your profile at business.google.com if you have not already
• Complete every field — business name, address, phone number, website, hours, service area, and categories
• Add high-quality photos of your work (aim for at least twenty photos)
• Write a detailed business description using keywords your customers search for
• Add all your services with descriptions
• Post updates weekly — completed projects, tips, or seasonal offers
• Respond to every review within twenty-four hours

For a deeper guide, see our article on how to get more Google reviews.

2. Collect Google Reviews Consistently

Reviews are the currency of trust online. Homeowners check reviews before calling a tradesperson, and Google uses review quantity and quality as a ranking factor. The tradespeople who appear at the top of local search results almost always have the most reviews in their area.

Make asking for reviews a routine part of your process. After every job, send a text or WhatsApp message with a direct link to your Google review page. Time it well — ask when the customer is happiest, usually just after completing the work to a high standard. Aim for two to four new reviews per month. Over a year, that builds to twenty-five to fifty reviews, which is enough to be competitive in most areas.

3. Build a Simple Website

A website gives you credibility and a place to send potential customers for more information. It does not need to be fancy — a single page with your services, service area, a few photos, contact details, and a link to your Google reviews is enough. You can build a simple site on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress for under two hundred pounds, or pay a web designer five hundred to one thousand pounds for a professional build.

Key elements to include: your business name and logo, the services you offer, the areas you cover, photos of completed work, customer testimonials, your phone number prominently displayed, and a simple contact form.

4. Use Social Media to Showcase Your Work

Facebook and Instagram are the most effective social media platforms for tradespeople. They let you show before-and-after photos, time-lapse videos, and completed projects that demonstrate the quality of your work. You do not need to post every day — two to three posts per week is enough to stay visible.

• Facebook: Join local community groups and help answer questions (without being spammy). Create a business page and post completed projects regularly. Facebook Marketplace can also generate leads.
• Instagram: Focus on high-quality photos and short videos. Use location tags and relevant hashtags. Reels showing transformation videos perform well.
• TikTok: Short-form video content about your trade can reach a huge audience. Tips, tool reviews, and day-in-the-life content works well for tradespeople.
• Nextdoor: A neighbourhood-focused platform where local recommendations carry significant weight. Claim your business profile and respond to requests for tradesperson recommendations.

5. Respond to Enquiries Fast

Speed of response is one of the biggest factors in winning work. Research consistently shows that the first tradesperson to respond to an enquiry is most likely to win the job. When a homeowner sends a message or fills in a contact form, they are ready to act now. If you reply within fifteen minutes, you are far more likely to get the job than if you reply the next day.

Set up notifications on your phone for enquiry emails, website forms, and messages from trade platforms. If you cannot take a call, send a quick text acknowledging the enquiry and confirming when you will call back. Even a thirty-second response saying "Thanks for your message, I will call you at five o'clock today" keeps you in the running.

6. Send Professional Quotes and Proposals

The way you present your quote is often the deciding factor when a customer is choosing between tradespeople. A professional, well-structured proposal makes you look established, trustworthy, and competent. A vague text message or scribbled estimate makes you look unprofessional — even if your work quality is excellent.

A good proposal should include your business details, the customer's details, a clear scope of work, itemised pricing, a timeline, payment terms, and your terms and conditions. It should be branded with your business name and logo and delivered as a PDF that the customer can print or forward. QuoteSmith generates these proposals automatically — input your job details and costs, and AI builds the complete proposal for you in minutes. Read more about why professional proposals win more work.

7. Ask for Referrals

Word of mouth is still the most powerful source of new work for tradespeople. But most tradespeople leave it to chance rather than actively encouraging it. After every successful job, ask the customer directly: "If you know anyone who needs similar work done, I would appreciate a recommendation." It is a simple sentence that many tradespeople are too modest to say, but it works.

Leave a few business cards at every job. Send a follow-up message a few weeks later asking if everything is still good — this keeps you top of mind and often prompts a referral. Consider offering a small incentive for referrals, such as a twenty-five pound gift voucher or a discount on future work.

8. Join Trade Directories

Trade directories like Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Bark, and Rated People connect you with homeowners looking for tradespeople. They work best for trades with high demand — plumbers, electricians, builders, and kitchen fitters. Costs range from sixty to one hundred and fifty pounds per month depending on your trade and location. For our detailed analysis, see how to get on Checkatrade — is it worth it in 2026?

9. Network with Other Trades

Build relationships with tradespeople in complementary trades. A plumber who recommends you as a tiler, or a builder who refers bathroom work to you, can be a consistent source of quality leads. These referrals are often higher quality than cold enquiries because they come with a built-in trust transfer. Be generous with your own referrals and the favour will be returned.

10. Follow Up on Every Quote

Many tradespeople send a quote and then never follow up. This is a missed opportunity. A polite follow-up three to five days after sending a quote shows professionalism and keeps you in the conversation. Many customers are comparing multiple quotes and a follow-up can tip the decision in your favour. For practical follow-up templates, see our guide on how to follow up on a quote.

11. Use Google Ads for Local Searches

Google Ads lets you place your business at the top of search results for specific keywords in your area. For example, you can target "kitchen fitter Nottingham" or "emergency plumber Bristol". You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, and you can set a daily budget to control costs. A budget of ten to twenty pounds per day can generate two to five quality leads per week for most trades. Start small, track which keywords convert to actual jobs, and increase your budget on the ones that work.

12. Brand Your Van

Your van is a mobile billboard that drives around your service area every day. Professional van signage costs three hundred to eight hundred pounds and is one of the best-value marketing investments you can make. Include your business name, trade, phone number, website, and logo. Keep the design clean and readable from a distance. A well-branded van also signals professionalism to customers when you arrive at their property.

13. Photograph Every Job

Get into the habit of photographing every job — before, during, and after. These photos are invaluable for your website, social media, Google Business Profile, proposals, and trade directory profiles. Good photos of completed work are the most persuasive marketing material a tradesperson can have. Use your phone camera in good lighting, tidy the area before shooting, and take photos from multiple angles.

14. Offer a Guarantee

A written guarantee on your work gives customers confidence and differentiates you from competitors who offer nothing. This does not need to be complicated — a simple statement like "All our work is guaranteed for twelve months against defects in workmanship" is enough. Include it in your proposals and mention it when discussing the job with potential customers. For advice on what to include, see our guide on how to write terms and conditions for trade work.

15. Keep in Touch with Past Customers

Past customers are your warmest leads for future work. A homeowner who had a great experience with you for a bathroom renovation will naturally think of you when they want a kitchen done. But only if they remember you. Send a brief message at Christmas or New Year. If you drive past a property you worked on, send the owner a quick text asking how everything is holding up. This keeps you top of mind and often leads to repeat work and referrals.

16. Specialise and Become Known for Something

Generalist builders compete on price. Specialists compete on expertise. If you become known as the go-to tradesperson for a specific type of work in your area — whether that is Victorian restorations, luxury bathrooms, or energy-efficient extensions — you can charge premium rates and attract customers who value quality over cost. Specialisation makes your marketing more focused and your reputation stronger.

17. Invest in Your Appearance and Communication

First impressions matter. Arrive on time, in branded workwear, in a clean van. Communicate clearly and promptly. Keep the customer informed about progress, timescales, and any changes. Leave the site clean and tidy at the end of every day. These basics sound obvious, but the tradespeople who do them consistently get far more repeat work and referrals than those who do not.

Putting It All Together

No single strategy will transform your business overnight. The tradespeople who consistently win work use a combination of these approaches. Start with the fundamentals — Google Business Profile, reviews, and professional quoting — then layer in additional strategies as you build momentum. The compound effect of doing multiple things well creates a sustainable flow of enquiries that grows over time.

For more business growth strategies, see our guide on how to grow your trade business and our article on how to market your trade business online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do tradespeople get more customers?

The most effective strategies are optimising a Google Business Profile, collecting Google reviews, building a professional website, using social media to showcase work, joining trade directories, responding quickly to enquiries, sending professional proposals, asking for referrals, and networking with complementary trades. Consistency across multiple channels generates the most reliable flow of enquiries.

What is the best way to advertise as a tradesperson?

The best combination is Google Business Profile (free, essential for local visibility), Google Ads (paid, targets active searchers), and social media (free/low cost, showcases your work). Google Business Profile and Google Ads put you in front of people actively searching for your services. Facebook and Instagram build awareness and trust through photos and videos of your work.

Is Checkatrade worth it for tradespeople?

Checkatrade can be worthwhile for tradespeople who need to supplement their enquiry sources, especially when starting out. Typical cost is eighty to one hundred and twenty pounds per month. The main benefit is access to homeowners seeking vetted tradespeople. The drawback is competition from other listed tradespeople. It works best combined with other marketing and when you have strong platform reviews.

How many Google reviews do tradespeople need?

Aim for at least twenty to thirty reviews to be competitive. Top-ranking tradespeople typically have fifty to one hundred or more. Collect two to four new reviews per month from completed jobs. Detailed reviews mentioning specific work are more valuable than generic five-star ratings. Always respond to every review professionally.

Do tradespeople need a website in 2026?

Yes, a website provides credibility and a professional home base you control. A simple one-page site with services, photos, testimonials, and contact details is sufficient. It supports Google ranking and gives potential customers confidence. Build one for under two hundred pounds on Wix or Squarespace, or pay five hundred to one thousand pounds for a professional build.

How can I get more word-of-mouth referrals?

Deliver excellent work consistently. Ask satisfied customers directly for referrals. Leave business cards at every job. Send a thank-you message after each project. Offer referral incentives like a gift voucher. Stay in touch with past customers through occasional check-ins. The most powerful driver is simply being reliable, tidy, and communicative.