Marketing for tradies, outside Google
Plumbers, electricians and builders get most new work from people who already trust them or have seen their name. These are the channels outside a Google search, ranked by what they cost a small trade business in 2026.
By the Desk editorLast checked 3 October 20262 min read
The short answer
Start with what is free: ask every happy customer for a Google review and a referral. Then put your name where your next job is: signage on the ute (from about $500 for logo and lettering) and a letterbox drop around current jobs ($85 to $195 per 1,000 homes). Lead platforms such as hipages start at $139 a month plus GST, before lead credits.
What it costs, channel by channel
| Channel | What it costs (2026) | What it is good for |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for Google reviews | Free | Trust, and the click from the map |
| Referrals from past customers | Free, or a thank-you gift | The cheapest jobs you will ever win |
| Vehicle signage | From about $500 for logo and lettering; partial wraps from about $2,250; full commercial wraps from about $4,950 (one Perth shop's prices) | Every job and every drive is an ad |
| Letterbox drop near your jobs | About $85 to $195 per 1,000 homes to deliver, plus printing | Neighbours of the job you are on |
| Lead platforms (hipages) | From $139 plus GST a month, plus credits for each lead | Filling a quiet calendar fast |
| Facebook ads, local radius | Median about $14 per 1,000 impressions in Australia | Testing an offer in your area |
1. Reviews: ask every time
Google allows you to ask customers for reviews; it does not allow incentives for reviews, or asking only the happy ones. Send the link by text when you finish the job, while the customer is pleased. The rules on reviews.
2. Referrals: make them easy
Most tradies get referrals; few ask for them. Leave two cards, say you would welcome a referral, and thank whoever sends one. How to build a referral habit.
3. The ute and the van
Signage is the one ad you pay for once. Name, trade, phone and licence number (where your state requires it on advertising) are enough; a full wrap is a brand choice, not a necessity. What wraps and signage cost.
4. Letterbox drops around your jobs
A drop of 500 to 1,000 flyers in the streets around a job you are on reaches the neighbours who have just seen your ute. Some distributors take runs from 1,000 homes. What a letterbox drop costs.
5. Lead platforms: count the cost per job
hipages sends each lead to up to three businesses, and you spend credits to accept a lead whether or not you win the work. Its plans start at $139 plus GST a month on a six-month introductory term. Track the cost per booked job, not per lead, before you renew.
6. Facebook ads, if you have an offer
A local radius and one clear offer ("Hot water system replaced this week") is the version that works for trades. What Facebook ads cost.
Common questions
What is the best marketing for tradies?
Reviews and referrals first, because they are free and the most trusted. Then signage and local letterbox drops near your jobs. Paid leads and ads suit filling gaps.
How much does hipages cost?
Plans start at $139 plus GST a month, with credits included; leads cost credits that vary by trade, location and job size.
Do tradies need a licence number on ads?
In several states, yes, for licensed trades. Check your state regulator's advertising rules for your licence class.
Sources
- Vinyl Wrapz (Perth), Vehicle branding prices: spot graphics from $500, partial from $2,250, full commercial from $4,950, updated 1 October 2026
- Gibson Promotions, Letterbox distribution pricing guide, Sydney
- Services Victoria, Letterbox distribution pricing, Melbourne
- hipages, Membership costs (from $139 plus GST a month)
- hipages, How does hipages work (credits, up to 3 tradies per lead)
- Google Business Profile Help, Prohibited and restricted content (review rules)