How to modernise your trade marketing

As a skilled tradesperson who has been operating for a number of years, it is good to keep up with modern trends and digital technology. Modernising your marketing can help you reach new audiences and grow your business.

There’s no denying that the digital age has changed how we live, and it could be time for you to modernise your trade marketing.

Traditional methods of promotion are still valid, but it is worth doing an audit and bringing your efforts up to speed.

In this guide, we’ve put together some great ways for you to market your business in 2025. So, let’s get started…

Check you’re covering the basics

Before modernising anything, it’s a good idea to check that you’ve got the foundations in place. Especially for your trade marketing.

It is worth making sure you're covering some of the marketing basics. After all, you don't want to duplicate

• Promotional leaflets / flyers - Being able to give out a brief guide to your trade business is useful, outlining your details and service offering

• Print marketing - It is good to be present in local newspapers or magazines

• Website – Having a professional website gives all details and shows you in a good light online (make sure to avoid these common mistakes)

• SEO – If you have a website, make sure it shows up well in search results

• PPC - Paid ads can also help your website appear at the top of searches

• Google My Business – Helping you appear on local searches and maps

• Email marketing – Keep in regular touch with existing (and potential) customers

If you’ve gone through the list above and are happy you’re already ticking most of those boxes, great job!

Next, it’s time to start jazzing up your marketing with some more up-to-date approaches to help you reach more customers…

Modernising your traditional marketing

You don’t want to completely ditch traditional marketing methods. They can still be very effective.

Sometimes all that is needed with your promotional activity is a rethink, rejig or restructure.

For example, have you considered the following?

• Use QR codes on printed materials – QR codes on your business cards and brochures can link to your business website or promotion page

• Offer digital paperwork – Save paper and streamline your admin process at the same time with digital quotes and invoices (we can help with that)

• Take bookings online – Online bookings make it quicker and easier for you and your customers to schedule appointments (also in our app)

• Save time with a chatbot – A virtual assistant or chatbot for your website can answer common questions, provide quotes, or even schedule appointments

• Encourage video testimonials – Ask happy customers to create short video testimonials as they’re generally more engaging than written reviews

Beyond that, maybe something a bit more striking (such as an updated van wrap) could also do your business good? Updating a tired vehicle with a memorable and colourful design can also make you stand out.

These are just some of the ways you can modernise your traditional trade marketing activity to save time and win more work.

Teaming up with local businesses

They say there’s power in numbers, and that goes for local tradespeople and businesses too. And collaboration is the key.

By partnering with other local tradespeople and businesses you can cross-promote each other’s services.

• Start subcontracting - Need a hand? Got one spare? Be there to collaborate on larger projects as it helps broaden your audiences

• Networking groups - Local business breakfasts are a good way to introduce yourself

• Shop-based advertising - e.g. Getting the right advert on a local bulletin board

• Sharing space - Such as teaming up with other relevant trades to open a store

To start building your local network, try attending networking events in your area and joining local business groups.

Upping your game on social media

Got a Facebook page and not sure how best to use it?

Nowadays it’s no longer enough to post a couple of static photos from time to time to engage with your audience. Showing transformations with before/after shots can really highlight your skills.

But also, the age of video content is upon us. It has been regularly shown that people tend to engage more with video content online. Especially on sites such as TikTok and YouTube.

Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your social media accounts:

Show yourself in action with Instagram

If you're already using Instagram for your trade business, you may not have tapped into its full potential.

For example:

• Publishing short videos on Instagram Stories is a great way to share daily updates

• People love "behind-the-scenes" type content to see how things are done

• Charitable work, such as free jobs for pensioners or community gardens

You can then create Highlights for different projects or services you offer – making it easy for potential clients to see what you offer.

Get teaching on YouTube

Tutorials, top tips and how-to guides make for brilliant video content. They’re engaging and show you as an expert in your field.

A good place to start is making videos of you answering popular customer questions.

For example:

• "Why do you need to do [X] to a house every 12 months?"

• "How does [X] process work?"

• "How quick is it to [X] my house?"

Alternatively, you could try showing your audience how to fix common problems related to your trade.

How to get the most out of YouTube for your small business

YouTube videos aren’t just about cats doing funny things or clips of people falling over. And in case you’re wondering, a kid’s song is the most-watched YouTube video with over a billion views. But if you run a small business and you think that’s all YouTube is good for, then you’re missing out

Learn more

Go live on Facebook

Live streams can create a lot of buzz and excitement on socials. By doing real-time sessions, you can interact directly with your audience.

And, if you’re good, the word will hopefully spread and you’ll quickly build up a wider audience – which tends to lead to more work for you.

Here are a few examples of live content you might want to try:

• Live Q&A

• Review tools and materials

• A project walkthrough

• Quick fixes for common problems

Live streaming on Facebook does depend on good signal however. If you're filming live on site, make sure that the signal can cope with the required bandwidth.

Work smarter with digital tools

If you’re a busy tradesperson, chances are you don’t have a lot of spare time. And that means it’s even more important to use your time wisely.

There are so many digital tools out there that can save you time and effort with admin.

And using them leaves you more time to do your job…

• Project management software – Tools like Trello or Asana help with larger projects

• Virtual appointments – Video calls mean you could offer virtual quotes and consultations

• Social media scheduling – Tools such as HootSuite let you program posts ahead of time

Ready to work smarter? Check out our guide on ways to improve your business with technology.