You post on Facebook sometimes but are not sure if it is worth the effort compared to Google. Google captures intent ('plumber near me now'). Facebook builds awareness and retargets — different jobs, different platforms. Below is a practical playbook Perth tradies can run this month — no agency retainer required.
Why most tradies struggle with this
You post on Facebook sometimes but are not sure if it is worth the effort compared to Google.
If you are a tradies owner, you already know the craft. The friction is everything around it: enquiries going cold, quotes sitting in draft, jobs overlapping, and admin eating your evenings. Google captures intent ('plumber near me now'). Facebook builds awareness and retargets — different jobs, different platforms.
Left unchecked, this costs you booked jobs, slower payments, and the Sunday-night admin sessions nobody signed up for. Fixing it is less about working harder and more about removing friction from the parts customers never see.
What moves the needle
Use Google for people actively searching for your trade. Use Facebook and Instagram for portfolio content, social proof, retargeting website visitors, and community presence — not as your only lead source.
The tradies who rank well locally do not chase every algorithm rumour. They keep their Google profile active, publish useful pages for the suburbs they serve, and ask for reviews after good jobs. Consistency beats hacks.
You do not need to rebuild your entire business this week. Start with the first step below, run it on your next job, and adjust from there.
A practical approach you can start this week
1. Prioritise Google for high-intent lead capture
When someone's pipe bursts, they Google — they do not scroll Facebook. Win that moment first.
2. Use Facebook for proof and retargeting
Before-and-after posts, team culture, and customer testimonials build trust for later decisions like renovations.
3. Post completed jobs consistently, not randomly
One post weekly beats ten posts one month and silence the next. Batch photos on site.
4. Measure leads by platform separately
Ask every enquiry 'How did you find us?' and track in your CRM. Gut feel lies; data does not.
Quick tips for busy tradies
- Boost posts only to your service area postal codes
- Retarget website visitors who did not submit a form
- Join local Perth community groups — helpfully, not spammy
- Keep business and personal profiles separate
- Respond to Facebook messages as fast as phone calls
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on Facebook alone for emergency trade services
- Buying followers or engagement pods — zero commercial value
- Arguing in public comment sections on community posts
How Automate Leads can help
Automate Leads tracks lead sources so you know whether Facebook, Google, or referrals drive your booked jobs — and adjust spend accordingly. You stay in control of how you run jobs — the platform just removes the repetitive admin.