The short answer
Facebook is a great place to show your work and stay in touch with past customers. But on its own, it misses most of the people actively searching for a tradie right now. For most trade businesses, the best setup is a simple website, a Google Business Profile and a Facebook page working together.
What Facebook does well
- It's free and quick to set up.
- It's easy to post photos of jobs from your phone.
- Past customers can share and recommend you to friends.
- Local community groups are a good source of word-of-mouth work.
Where Facebook falls short
People search Google, not Facebook
When someone's hot water dies, they type "plumber Ballina" into Google. Facebook pages rarely rank well for searches like that, so you miss the customers who need you today.
You don't own it
Your page lives on someone else's platform. Rules change, reach drops and accounts get locked. A website and domain are yours.
It's harder to look established
A clear website with your services, areas, licence details and reviews makes you look like a proper business. Many customers, especially for bigger jobs, check for one before they call.
It's messy for enquiries
Messages get buried, and there's no simple quote form that collects the details you actually need.
What a website adds
- Google visibility for your trade and the towns you cover
- A tap-to-call button on every phone
- A quote form that asks for the job details, photos and address
- Proof: real photos, reviews, licences and insurance in one place
- Ownership: your domain and your content, no matter what happens to social media
The setup that works best
- A simple, fast website with your services, areas and a clear way to get in touch.
- A Google Business Profile linked to your site, with photos and reviews. This is what shows on Google Maps.
- Facebook and Instagram for job photos, linking back to your website for quotes.
None of this needs to be expensive. A one-page site can do the job, and the monthly plan spreads the cost so there's no big upfront bill.
Not sure if your current setup is working?
Search your trade and town on Google from your phone. If you're not on the first screen, customers aren't finding you. Run the free speed test on your site, or see a free concept of what a new one could look like.