You don’t need to spend money on ads to find more work. The most effective ways for tradespeople to find new customers are free — they just take effort and consistency.
1. Ask for Referrals (Systematically)
Your past customers know people who need work doing. But they won’t mention you unless you ask.
Make it a habit: After every job that’s gone well, ask:
“If you know anyone else who needs this kind of work done, I’d really appreciate you passing my number on.”
Set a small target: Ask on every job for a month. Even if only a quarter of the people you ask actually mention you to someone, that’s steady work coming in for free.
2. Reactivate Old Quotes
Your phone, texts, and old notes have dozens of quotes you sent that never turned into a job. Not because the customer said no — but because you lost touch and neither of you followed up.
Action: Go through your last 12 months of quotes. Make a list of everyone who didn’t book the work. Call them.
You’ll be surprised how many say “Oh, I was actually still meaning to sort that” or “Funny you should call, we need someone now.”
3. Google Business Profile
If you take on local jobs, your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful free tools available to you.
Get it right: - Fill in every field, including the trades you cover - Add photos of finished jobs - Ask every happy customer to leave a review - Post an update or a recent job photo now and then - Reply to every review, good or bad
Profiles that are complete and have recent reviews consistently rank higher when someone nearby searches for your trade.
4. Local Facebook Groups and Trade Directories
Village, town, and estate Facebook groups are where a huge amount of local trade work gets found — people ask “does anyone know a good electrician round here?” constantly.
What works: - Join the local groups for the areas you cover - Answer genuinely when someone asks for a recommendation in your trade (even if it’s not you they’re asking about — being helpful gets noticed) - Post before-and-after photos of finished jobs occasionally - Keep your profile on Checkatrade, MyBuilder, or Rated People up to date if you use them, since reviews compound over time
What doesn’t work: Jumping into every post to plug yourself. Being genuinely useful gets remembered; constant self-promotion gets ignored.
5. Partnerships With Other Trades
Find tradespeople who serve the same customers but don’t compete with you directly.
Examples: - An electrician and a plumber refer each other on jobs that need both - A builder and a plasterer pass work back and forth - A landscaper and a fencing contractor recommend each other
Set up a simple agreement: “If you come across someone needing my trade, send them my way — I’ll do the same for you.”
6. Show Your Work
Sharing photos or a quick video of finished jobs builds trust with people who’ve never met you, and it costs nothing.
Free options: - Before-and-after photos posted to your Google Business Profile and local Facebook groups - A quick video clip of a tricky job done well - Asking a happy customer if you can photograph the finished work
You don’t need to be a content creator. A few honest photos of good work do more than any advert.
7. Follow Up on Every Single Quote
This isn’t really a way to find new work — it’s a way to stop losing work you’ve already found. And it’s the most impactful thing on this list.
The reality: Most tradespeople quote a job once, maybe chase it once, then forget about it. The customer gets busy, doesn’t reply, and the job never gets booked by anyone — not you, not the customer either.
The fix: Follow up on every quote at least two or three times over a couple of weeks. Then a check-in every month or so after that. The cost? Nothing. The return? Often the easiest jobs you’ll book.
The Common Thread
None of these cost money. But they all need one thing: consistent effort.
That’s the real currency for a trade business. Not advertising spend — persistence.
Pick two of these. Commit to them for the next 90 days. You’ll likely find more work than most paid advertising would bring in.
Never let a quote slip through the cracks. DailyDial reminds you which quotes and past customers to follow up with each day. Try it free for 14 days — no credit card required.
Related reading: How to Get More Referrals as a Tradesperson · How to Follow Up After Sending a Quote