How to Get More Jobs Without Spending a Dollar on Ads

Most trades business owners think getting more jobs means spending more on ads.

Google ads. Facebook ads. Yard signs. Truck wraps.

All of that costs money. And most of it is hard to track.

Here is what actually works better and costs nothing.

Your best source of new jobs is sitting in your phone

A study by Nielsen found that 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family over any form of advertising. Word of mouth is not just free. It is the most powerful marketing that exists.

The problem is most trades businesses leave it completely to chance.

How to get more referrals on purpose

Step 1: Ask every happy customer. Right after the job. "Hey if you know anyone who needs this kind of work done we would really appreciate the referral." Simple. Direct. Most people are happy to help if you just ask.

Step 2: Make it worth their while. Offer a referral reward. $50 off their next job for every customer they send your way. You only pay when it works. That is the best ad spend you will ever make.

Step 3: Stay visible to past customers. Send a text every 90 days. Not to sell anything. Just to check in. "Hope everything is still holding up from the work we did. Let us know if you ever need anything." When their neighbour asks for a recommendation you will be the first name they think of.

Step 4: Build relationships with related trades. A plumber and an electrician are not competitors. They serve the same customer at different times. Build a referral relationship with trades that complement yours. Send them jobs. They will send you jobs back.

Step 5: Make your Google profile worth visiting. When someone gets referred to you the first thing they do is Google you. If your profile has no photos, no reviews, and incomplete information they will move on. Spend one hour filling it out properly. It will pay off for years.

The simple version

You do not need ads to get more jobs. You need happy customers who talk about you and a system to make sure they do. Most of your best jobs will come from people who already know you. Make it easy for them to send more.