Too many tradespeople wrap up a job, shake the client’s hand and move on, never realising they’ve just missed a golden opportunity to market themselves….. for free.
Whether you’re a roofer, plasterer, landscaper, electrician, tiler, or joiner, every completed job is a chance to build trust, boost SEO, and attract future customers, without spending a penny on ads.
Think about it. You’ve just completed a project. The customer is happy. The work is fresh, the site looks great, and you’ve got full access for photos, testimonials, and location data. That single job can become:
But most trades finish a job, pack the van, and never speak to the customer again.
According to BrightLocal’s Local Marketing Survey 2024, 77% of consumers will leave a review if asked, yet less than 30% of tradespeople have a strategy for review collection. That’s a huge opportunity going untapped.
“Every completed job should give you 5 things: a review, a photo, a quote, a postcode, and a social media post. If you’re not capturing those, you’re doing the work twice.”
- Aimee Lycett, Website and SEO Expert at Local Trade Websites
Your work already speaks for itself, we’re just showing you how to get it to speak louder, and online.
These are marketing gold. Take pictures from the same angle before you start and once you’re done. Try to include things like:
Even a simple shot of a newly installed sash window or a neatly finished bathroom gets attention online, especially if paired with a caption like “Another happy client in Maidstone!”
Strike while the client is happy. Politely ask for a quick Google review and send them a direct link via text or WhatsApp. If they’re old-school, write a short testimonial and ask them to approve it.
tip: Show them a review someone else left, people are more likely to follow suit.
“We’ve found that clients are twice as likely to leave a review if you ask in person, show them a previous one, and follow up with a link.”
— Shane L, Marketing Strategist at Traditional Caprenty LTD.
Note the town, village or postcode area where the work took place. Later, you can create content like:
These are perfect for location-based landing pages or blog posts.
If the client is particularly pleased, ask if they’d be happy to give you a short quote for your website:
“We’re so happy with the finished wardrobes, it looks exactly how we imagined it. Highly recommend James and the team.”
Even a one-liner like that helps future customers feel confident booking you.
Snap a quick photo, jot a few notes, and schedule it when you’re home:
“Before and after of a full front door restoration in Whitstable. This original Edwardian door was repaired, repainted and sealed, ready for another 100 years! 👇”
You don’t need to be a content wizard, just be real, local and visual.
These five steps only take 10–15 minutes on-site but can generate days, weeks, even months of ongoing marketing reach. Done consistently, they create an ever-growing portfolio that ranks, builds trust and attracts more of the jobs you actually want.
So, you've captured before-and-after photos, a review, a location, and a client quote, great! Now what?
It’s time to turn those assets into long-term SEO value. This doesn’t mean slapping a picture on Facebook and forgetting about it. It means building searchable, trust-building digital content that brings in new leads long after you’ve left the job site.
Here’s exactly a method to do it:
Use job-specific content to create SEO-targeted pages like:
Each of these pages can rank in Google for location and service keywords. attracting people who are searching for exactly that kind of work in that exact area.
Include the following on each page:
These pages build trust, improve SEO and show up when someone Googles a similar job.
Too many tradespeople dump 200 unlabelled images in a gallery and think it's what customers want to see. Instead, create smart categories like:
Add alt text to every image - descriptions that tell Google what the photo shows, like:
“Bespoke alcove shelving installed by carpenter in Norwich”
Alt text boosts image SEO and can drive traffic directly from Google Image searches.
A single day’s work can become a 500-word blog post filled with the exact keywords your next client is typing into Google. Examples:
“We’ve seen trades get on page one of Google just from weekly case-study blogs. Real work. Real photos. Real locations. That’s what ranks.”
— Robert Gould, Website & SEO Expert at Local Trade Websites
Uploading those same photos and location info to your Google Business Profile helps with local map visibility and keeps your profile active, something Google loves.
Tag each image with the job’s location and add a short description. Even better? Add your client’s review directly to your Google profile as a reply.
Use your collected content for:
Done right, one completed job can become 10+ pieces of content. all pointing back to your business, your skills, and your contact form.
And the best part? You’re not creating content from scratch. You’re just documenting what you’re already doing and letting Google do the rest.
If were honest about tradesmen and business owners, you’re not going to write a blog post or upload five images after every job unless it’s part of a simple, repeatable routine.
The secret to turning completed work into free marketing is making it automatic. Not robotic or boring. just consistent.
Here’s how to build a habit that generates leads without taking up your evenings.
Have a short checklist on your phone or in your van. At the end of every job, tick off:
This can all be done in under 5 minutes!!!
Not a fan of typing? Just use your phone’s voice recorder to capture what you did:
“Installed made-to-measure wardrobes in Bromley. Client wanted shaker-style doors with oak veneer interiors. Took 3 days. She was thrilled, said it was better than what she saw online.”
Your marketing team (or Local Trade Websites, if you’re working with us) can turn this into:
All without you writing a word.
Right after finishing the job or when the invoice is paid, send a short WhatsApp message like:
“Thanks again for having us. If you’re happy with the work, would you mind leaving us a quick review here? It really helps local businesses like us.”
[Insert Google review link]
tip: Create a shortcut in your phone so you don’t type the same message over and over.
“When clients are asked in a friendly, no-pressure way, most will leave a review. You just need to make it easy.”
- Aimee Lycett, Website and SEO Expert at Sash Window Websites
You don’t need to do this daily. Set aside 20 minutes each week to:
If you’re working with Local Trade Websites, we can handle the entire process , from writing blog posts to optimising images, creating SEO-friendly pages, and keeping your site fresh.
Use basic analytics tools like:
You’ll start seeing:
And the best part? It compounds. Each page you publish, each review you collect, each photo you upload, it all builds a permanent footprint online that brings in leads for months and years.
If you take one thing from this article, let it be this:
Every job you finish is an opportunity to get more jobs for free.
Whether you're a carpenter fitting alcove storage, a roofer replacing slate tiles, or a tiler transforming a kitchen, the work you're already doing can become your most powerful lead generator.
You don’t need slick ads or viral videos. You just need:
And you don’t need to do it all yourself. You can build a simple system that captures the magic of what you already do best and turns it into content that works while you’re working.
With every photo, every review, every landing page, you’re building trust, proving your skills, and getting your name in front of more people.
And here’s the best part, it’s not temporary like paid ads. A £2,000 advert might last a week. But a well-written case study or glowing review? That can send you leads for years.
At Local Trade Websites, we help tradespeople turn everyday jobs into long-term digital assets. From SEO-optimised landing pages to blog posts, review integration, and photo galleries that actually get seen, we do it all, tailored to your trade.
Book a free consultation and let’s turn your next job into your next five enquiries.
