1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
This is the single highest-impact free thing you can do. Your Google Business Profile is what shows you in the local "map pack" and in "near me" searches. Fill in every field: services, service area (by towns and postcodes, not a radius), opening hours, and a few real photos of your work.
It's so important we wrote a full walkthrough: how to set up a Google Business Profile for your trade business.
2. Get a simple website you actually own
A profile and social pages help, but you don't control them. A simple one page website is land you own — it loads instantly, says exactly what you do and where, and sends customers straight to a WhatsApp or email button. It also makes you look more credible than a competitor with no site at all.
You don't need anything fancy. See what makes a good trade website and how much a trade website should cost.
3. Ask every happy customer for a review
Reviews do two jobs: they reassure new customers, and review activity helps you rank locally. The trick is steady momentum — a couple of fresh reviews every month beats a big pile that then goes quiet. Make it a habit to ask at the end of every job while you're still on site.
Here's a simple system that works: how to get more 5-star reviews for your trade business.
4. Show up for the searches people actually type
Customers search things like "emergency plumber [town]" or "electrician near me". Make sure your profile and website clearly name the trades you do and the specific towns and postcodes you cover. Being specific about your area is what gets you into local results.
5. Reply fast — speed wins jobs
Most trade enquiries go to whoever replies first and seems reliable. If a customer messages three tradespeople, the one who answers within minutes usually gets the job. Keep notifications on and reply quickly, even if it's just to say when you can call back.
6. Make it effortless to contact you
Every extra step loses customers. A big WhatsApp button and a clear email link mean a ready-to-book customer reaches you in one tap — no lost leads, no phone tag. This is exactly how we build every trade website: contact front and centre.
7. Show your work with photos
For visual trades especially — roofers, gardeners, tilers — before-and-after photos are the most persuasive thing you have. People can't judge the quality of a roof or a garden from words, but a clear photo gallery sells the job for you.
8. Get listed — but don't rely on lead-gen sites
Directories and lead-generation sites like Checkatrade and MyBuilder can bring work, but they charge ongoing fees, share your lead with competitors, and you never own the customer relationship. Use them if they pay off, but build your own presence too. We compare the options here: your own website vs Checkatrade and MyBuilder.
9. Ask for referrals and repeat work
Your existing customers are your cheapest source of new work. A quick message a few months after a job — "happy to help if you or a neighbour ever need anything" — keeps you front of mind. Builders especially win bigger jobs this way; credibility and word of mouth go a long way.
10. Be findable in AI search too
More people now ask ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews and similar tools to recommend a local tradesperson. The same things that help you in normal search help here: a clear website, consistent business details everywhere, and genuine reviews. Get the basics right and you show up wherever people are looking.
The short version
You don't need a big budget to get more local work — you need to be easy to find and easy to contact. Sort your Google Business Profile, get a simple website you own, collect reviews steadily, and reply fast. Do those four consistently and the rest follows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get more local work as a tradesperson?
The fastest free win is a fully completed Google Business Profile with recent photos and a steady stream of reviews — it puts you on the map and in the local results where people search. Pair it with a simple website you own and reply to enquiries quickly, and you will win more of the jobs you are already being found for.
Do I need to pay for ads to get local work?
No. Most tradespeople can win plenty of local work for free or very cheaply through a Google Business Profile, reviews, a simple one-off website and referrals. Paid ads can help once those basics are in place, but they are rarely the first thing you need.
How many reviews do I need to win more jobs?
There is no magic number, but steady momentum matters more than a big total. Getting two or three genuine reviews every month signals an active, trusted business and helps you rank locally — far better than 30 reviews from two years ago and silence since.
Want the website part sorted for you?
We build clean, fast one page websites for UK trades that make it effortless for local customers to contact you — £249 one-off, no monthly fees.
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