December 2024
Yeah, I hear this a lot. And it's true — word of mouth is gold. Nothing beats a recommendation from a mate.
But here's what happens next: they Google you.
They want to see what you've done. They want to know you're legit. They want a phone number that works and maybe some photos of your work.
If you don't show up? They move on to the bloke who does.
A Facebook page is fine. But it's not yours. Facebook decides who sees your posts. Facebook can shut you down tomorrow. And good luck finding that one photo from three years ago when a customer asks.
Your website is your turf. It works 24/7. It shows up when people search "electrician Bairnsdale" or "plumber Lakes Entrance." It's yours.
You don't need to be. That's literally my job.
You tell me what you do. You send me some photos. I build you something that works. You don't need to touch code or learn WordPress or any of that rubbish.
When it's done, you get a site you can point people to. That's it.
It doesn't need to be complicated:
Homepage — Who you are, what you do, where you work. Takes 10 seconds to read.
Services — List out what you actually do so people know to call you.
Gallery — Before and afters. Job site photos. Proof you know what you're doing.
Contact — Phone number, email, maybe a form. Make it easy.
Google Reviews — Pull in your best reviews so people see you're legit.
That's five pages. Not a big website. Just enough to do the job.
The tradies I work with aren't tech guys. They're sparkies, chippies, plumbers, landscapers. They just got sick of missing out on work because some customer couldn't find them online.
Take Scallywags — not tradies, but same deal. Grant was running a busy restaurant with basically no online presence. Now they're #1 on Google for "Mallacoota restaurants" and phone bookings dropped 70% because people just book online.
Same principle applies. Show up. Make it easy. Get out of the way.
Here's the thing most web designers won't tell you: not every tradie needs a website right now.
If you're a one-man operation booked out six months ahead and you're not looking to grow — maybe you just need a better Google Business Profile. That's free.
If you're turning work away and happy with your current setup — don't let anyone convince you to spend money you don't need to spend.
I'll give you a straight answer. If you need a site, I'll tell you what it would cost. If you don't need one, I'll tell you that too — even if it means I don't get the job.
I'm not here to sell you something you don't need. I'm here to help you make a good decision.