Let’s be honest: most tradies didn’t get into the game to become marketing gurus. You signed up to get on the tools, not spend hours fiddling with Facebook posts or figuring out how Google ranks websites. But in today’s competitive climate, getting found by clients is just as important as doing a top-notch job once you’re on site.
If your phone’s a bit quiet or you're sick of quoting jobs that go nowhere, chances are you’re making one (or more) common marketing mistakes. The good news? Most of these are easy to fix—and once you do, you’ll likely see a big boost in enquiries, leads, and paid gigs.
Here are the top marketing mistakes Aussie tradies make that cost them work, and how to fix them.
It’s 2025—if a homeowner can’t find you online, you may as well be invisible. Whether they’re looking for a sparkie, plumber, painter, or gardener, most people start their search on their phone. If you’re not showing up, they’re calling your competitor instead.
Even worse? You are online, but your profile hasn’t been updated since 2018. A half-empty job listing or a website that looks like a dodgy flyer from the servo won’t instil trust.
Fix it:
Get listed on ServiceSeeking.com.au, where thousands of Aussies search for local tradies every day. With a paid plan, you can boost your visibility and get in front of customers actively looking to hire—without needing to build a whole website from scratch.
You might do brilliant work, but if there are no photos to show it, clients won’t take your word for it. People want to see that you know your stuff—before they hand over their hard-earned cash.
Blurry shots, bad lighting, or worse—stock images—won’t cut it. It makes clients wonder if you’re hiding something.
Fix it:
Start snapping before-and-after shots of every job. Use natural light and take clean, clear photos of your handiwork. Then upload them to your online profile so potential customers can see the quality for themselves.
On ServiceSeeking, top-rated tradies often win jobs because their photo gallery tells a compelling story.
Reviews are today’s word of mouth. A tradie with ten glowing reviews will always beat one with none—even if their skills are identical.
But many tradies shy away from asking for feedback, or forget to follow up once the job’s done.
Fix it:
Make it part of your routine to ask for a review as soon as you wrap up a job. A simple, “Hey mate, if you were happy with the work, I’d appreciate a quick review on my ServiceSeeking profile” goes a long way.
And if you do get a negative review? Don’t panic. Reply politely, offer to fix the issue, and show potential customers that you take pride in your work and your reputation.
Speed matters. When a job goes up on a marketplace, the first few quotes usually get the most attention. If you’re still thinking about what to charge while someone else has already responded, you’re missing out.
Or worse—you’re not quoting at all, hoping the “right jobs” will magically appear in your inbox.
Fix it:
With a plan on ServiceSeeking, you’ll get instant notifications of new jobs that match your trade and location. You can set quoting templates so it takes 30 seconds to fire off a response and stay ahead of the pack.
More quotes = more chances to win work. Simple as that.
It’s tempting to go it alone. Maybe you’ve set up a Facebook page, fiddled with some Google Ads, or tried to build a site using a free tool. But unless marketing is your full-time job, the results often fall flat—and cost more time (and cash) than they’re worth.
Fix it:
Outsource your lead generation to a platform built for tradies. ServiceSeeking takes the guesswork out of finding new clients, with a steady stream of jobs, customer reviews, and profile tools to help you stand out.
All you have to do? Show up, quote quickly, and deliver great work.
Marketing doesn’t have to be hard—but ignoring it will cost you jobs. From updating your profile and photos to quoting faster and collecting reviews, small changes make a big difference.
And if you’re tired of chasing leads or relying on word of mouth alone, it might be time to level up your game.
With a ServiceSeeking.com.au plan, you’ll get access to quality leads, priority listings, and the kind of support that helps tradies grow their business without needing a marketing degree.
So stop leaving money on the table. Start getting noticed, getting hired, and getting paid.