Social Media for Tradesmen: What Is Worth Your Time

Pick one platform to start

For local work, Facebook is usually the one. Local community groups and the older homeowners who book most trade jobs are there. Instagram suits visual trades such as landscaping, joinery, tiling and bathrooms. Add a second platform only when the first is running without effort.

What to post

• Finished jobsBefore and after photos with one line on what the job was and roughly where.
• Work in progressA short clip or photo from site. It shows you are busy and shows how you work.
• Useful tipsShort advice that answers questions customers keep asking, such as how to bleed a radiator or when to replace a fuse box.
• ReviewsA screenshot of a good review, with the customer's permission if their name shows.
• AvailabilityA quick note when you have gaps in the diary.

How often

Once or twice a week is plenty. Half an hour on a Sunday to schedule the week's posts from photos you took on the job beats a daily panic. Consistency matters more than volume.

Protect your customers

Ask before you post photos of someone's home. Do not show house numbers, street names, alarm panels, keys or valuables. Do not post a job's exact address while you are on site, and think twice about posting that a house is empty. Customers notice, and so do burglars.

Be a person, not an advert

Reply to comments and messages quickly, ideally the same day. Answer questions in local groups when you can help, and keep the sales pitch short. Do not buy followers or likes. They do not hire anyone, and they make your page look worse to those who can tell.

Check it is working

Ask new customers where they found you and write it down. If nobody mentions social media after three months, change what you post or spend the time elsewhere.