Dan Pollard
Whether you’re an electrician working solo, or you own an plumbing company with staff out on the tools, getting new customers is a huge driver when it comes to the success of your business.
You may be a tradesperson who earns a lot of new customers through referrals, which is great if you have an established reputation.
But what else can you do to drive even more business your way?
In our experience of helping over 20,000 tradespeople across the UK grow their trades business, we’ve seen a lot of marketing tactics tradespeople can use to stand out from the crowd.
Have a look through our list below and see how many of these marketing tactics you are using for your trades business.
1. Establish a Strong Online Presence
In 2024, a professional website is your business card.
So don’t give off the wrong impression.
Instead, ensure your site is user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and updated with your services, contact information, and customer testimonials.
As a bonus, consider using a digital designer to make it look professional, as first impressions are everything.
2. Leverage Local SEO
While on the topic of your website, you should consider optimising it for local search terms.
When somebody Google’s ‘electricians in [Your Area]’, you want your business website to be as high up in the search results as possible.
That’s where SEO (or ‘search engine optimisation') comes in.
To get this right, you should include location-based keywords in the text on your website, and make sure your register with Google My Business.
For many tradespeople, this process may seem either difficult to get your head around, or too time-consuming, which we completely understand.
If so, consider hiring a specialist to get you up and running.
3. Invest in Paid Advertising
One way to bypass SEO is to get the credit card out.
Consider pay-per-click advertising on Google.
This will instantly put you to the top of search results for your selected keywords.
Targeted ads on social media are also a good idea if you want to reach potential customers who are actively searching for electrical services.
The handy thing about social ads, such as Facebook, is you can narrow your search down by age, location, interests and other factors to really hone in on your target customers.
4. Utilise Social Media
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can be powerful tools for building your brand over a sustained period of time.
Posting consistently can generate a following and an active audience who can become advocates for your brand.
To do this effectively, you could share engaging content such as educational posts, time-lapse videos of your work, before and after pictures, etc.
It’s your chance to get creative, have fun with it, and show off your good work on the tools!
Doing this not only showcases your expertise but also helps to build a community around your brand, and most importantly, bring in leads.
5. Offer Referral Incentives
Word-of-mouth is powerful, but a lot of tradespeople just sit back and hope this happens naturally.
If that’s you, don’t worry, there’s a simple fix.
You can kickstart word-of-mouth referrals by encouraging your satisfied customers to refer friends and family by offering discounts or service upgrades.
Don’t forget to ask each happy to customer to leave a review, whether it’s on Google or Facebook, as this serves to strengthen your reputation.
6. Offer discounts
Everybody loves a good deal, so why not give them one?
This can be a great tactic for when business has dried up, or if you are expecting any seasonal slow periods.
You can create a flyer to deliver to homes in your local area, offering a new customer discount, and don’t forget to share the offer across social media too.
7. Partner with Local Businesses
If you have an offer ready to go, who better to spread the word than your contacts in the trades industry?
Networking is something you should always be doing to expand your reach and grow your business.
To get your business partnerships game moving, get in with local suppliers, DIY stores, tools shops, and home improvement services to cross-promote each other’s services.
Attend trade shows, wear a smile, and chat with as many people in the trades as you can.
By implementing these tactics, tradespeople can spark interest and generate more business.
But remember, consistency is key – make marketing a part of your regular routine and keep your efforts ongoing to increase your chances of getting more customers.
