Building and trades
Digital marketing for trade businesses that keeps the diary full.
I help builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers and other trades win more of the jobs they want, through Google Ads, a website that earns trust and tracking that shows where every enquiry came from.
Marketing for tradesmen
Marketing that fits around the job
People used to find a tradesperson by asking a neighbour. Now they search for an electrician near them, compare a few websites, check the reviews and then call. If you do not show up at that point, the job goes to someone who does.
I work with trade businesses as a freelance specialist, from sole traders to growing teams. You deal with me directly, and I judge success by quote requests from the right postcodes, not clicks.
Trades I work with
The challenges
Why marketing for tradesmen is different
Three things make trades unlike most businesses I work with.
Local or nothing
A click from 50 miles away is money wasted. I target the towns and postcodes you cover, exclude the ones you do not, and adjust the area as your patch changes.
The wrong sort of job
Not every enquiry is worth a site visit. I build campaigns around the work you want more of, such as extensions over small repairs, and filter out DIY searches, job seekers and suppliers.
No time to chase leads
You are on site all day, and a missed call often goes to the next name on the list. I set up call tracking and simple enquiry forms so every lead is logged, and you can see which ones came from your marketing.
Quote requests
More of the jobs you want, in the areas you cover
Word of mouth is still the best lead you can get, but you cannot turn it up when the diary has gaps. Paid search can be turned up, down or off to match your workload.
How I bring in better enquiries
- Google Ads built around specific jobs and locations, so you show up for a roof repair in your town and not for every search in the country.
- Negative keywords that cut out DIY guides, training courses and job seekers.
- A website with photos of your work, reviews and a clear way to ask for a quote from a phone.
- Tracking for calls and forms, with a simple report showing enquiries and cost per lead.
Reviews do a lot of the selling. Most people check reviews before they call a tradesperson. I help you set up a simple way to ask happy customers for a Google review, and put the best ones where visitors will see them.
How I help
Digital marketing services for tradesmen
Most trade businesses start with one of these and add others as the enquiries come in.
Google Ads
Local search campaigns that reach people ready to book, from emergency call-outs to full renovations.
Website design
A clean, mobile-friendly site that shows your work, builds trust and makes it easy to ask for a quote.
Meta Ads
Facebook and Instagram campaigns that show finished projects to homeowners in your area and keep you front of mind.
CRO
Small changes to forms, buttons and pages so more of the visitors you already get turn into quote requests.
Results
Work for trade businesses
A first website, built to bring in estimate requests
Their first website, designed to generate estimate requests and establish the brand, and optimised for local search.
A site that stands out from other trades
A new website for a Plymouth plasterer focused on residential work, with a clean, professional design, followed by Google Ads to generate more leads.
"I have used Ascend for support with building a new website, SEO and running Google Ads. The results from the work that they have done have been clear to see and they have shown an ambitious approach to wanting to help me grow my business."
BB's Plastering
Get in touch
Let's talk about your marketing.
Choose whichever is easiest. I’ll tell you honestly where I can help.
Send me a message
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FAQ
Digital marketing for trade businesses: common questions
How much should a tradesman spend on digital marketing?
It depends on your trade, the area you cover and how much competition there is. Many local trade businesses spend £300 to £800 a month on Google Ads. I will suggest a starting budget based on what a typical job is worth to you.
How quickly will I start getting enquiries?
Google Ads can bring enquiries within days of going live. It usually takes a few weeks of data to see which searches and areas bring the best jobs, and to tune the account around them.
Is digital marketing better than word of mouth?
Word of mouth is valuable, but you cannot predict it. Digital marketing puts you in front of people at the moment they are searching for your trade, which gives you a steadier flow of enquiries that you can turn up or down.
Do I need a website to run ads?
Yes. A professional, mobile-friendly website is what turns a click into an enquiry. If you do not have one, I can design and build it before the campaigns go live.
Can you target specific towns or service areas?
Yes. I set campaigns to show only in the towns and postcodes you cover, so no budget goes on areas you would not travel to.
How do you measure results?
I track phone calls and form submissions back to the campaign that produced them. You get a clear report showing clicks, enquiries, cost per lead and the return on what you spent.