Where Customers Find Tradesmen
Not that long ago, finding a tradesman usually meant asking a neighbour, checking a noticeboard, or flicking through a local directory. That still happens sometimes, but for most people today, the first place they look is online.
Even if a recommendation comes from a friend, customers will usually check you out online before they get in touch. They want to see that you’re real, local, and professional. Where they find you, and what they see when they do, often decides whether they call you or move on to the next name.
Google is usually the starting point
When someone needs a tradesman, Google is often the first stop. They’ll type something simple like “electrician near me” or “plumber in my area” and scan the results.
This is where your online presence matters more than adverts. Customers aren’t looking for the biggest company, they’re looking for someone nearby who looks reliable. They’ll glance at reviews, check opening hours, and often click through to a website to see what services you offer.
If you don’t appear here at all, or if your details are missing or outdated, you’re invisible to a lot of potential work.
Google Business Profiles do a lot of heavy lifting
One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) places customers find tradesmen is through a Google Business Profile. This is the box that shows your business name, phone number, reviews and location in search results and on Google Maps.
It’s especially important for local work. Customers can see at a glance where you’re based, what others think of your work, and how to contact you. For many people, that’s enough to make a decision.
Having this set up properly helps you compete with larger businesses without paying for adverts. It’s also something we can set up and manage as an optional extra, saving you the hassle and making sure it’s done properly.
Facebook still plays a big role
Facebook hasn’t gone anywhere, especially for local trades. Customers use it to ask for recommendations in community groups, check business pages, and look at photos of recent work.
A Facebook page doesn’t need constant posting to be useful. Even a simple page with your services, contact details and a few real photos helps customers feel confident that you’re genuine. When someone sees your name recommended, they’ll often search for you on Facebook to see what comes up.
If they can quickly find your page and it looks active and professional, that trust builds fast.
Your website ties everything together
Social media and Google might be how customers find you, but your website is where they usually decide whether to contact you.
A good tradesman’s website doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to clearly show who you are, what you do, where you work and how to get in touch. When that information is easy to find and looks professional, customers feel reassured.
This is why having a proper website still matters, even if most enquiries come from Google or Facebook. Those platforms lead people to you, but your website does the job of explaining your services and turning interest into enquiries.
Our subscription-based web design is built around this exact idea: simple, clear websites that work for tradesmen without big upfront costs or unnecessary features.
Recommendations still matter, but they’ve gone digital
Word of mouth hasn’t disappeared. It’s just moved online.
Reviews on Google, comments on Facebook and shared recommendations in local groups all play a part. Even when someone is recommended to you directly, they’ll often look you up online to double-check before making contact.
What they find doesn’t need to be flashy. It just needs to look legitimate and up to date.
Bringing it all together
Customers today find tradesmen in a few key places: Google searches, Google Business Profiles, Facebook, and websites. You don’t need to be everywhere or spend money on advertising to compete. You just need a solid presence in the places people already look.
A clear website, a properly set up Google Business Profile and a basic social media presence can make a huge difference to how many enquiries you receive, and how confident customers feel about choosing you.
At The Tradesman, we focus on helping tradesmen get these basics right with affordable, no-fuss website subscriptions and optional extras like Google Business Profile setup. It’s about being visible, professional and easy to trust, without jargon, pressure or big marketing budgets.
If you’re looking to improve your online presence but don’t know where to start, focusing on the basics can make a big difference. A clear, professional website, a strong local reputation and a simple digital marketing strategy can help your trade business attract more enquiries and stand out from the competition.
At The Tradesman, we build affordable, no-fuss websites designed specifically for tradesmen. If you want a site that looks professional, works on mobile and helps you win more work, you can find out more about our website packages here: https://thetradesman.online/services/
You can also explore our other guides on improving your online presence, local visibility and customer enquiries to keep strengthening your business over time, by visiting our Blog.