Most tradies don't have a lead problem as much as a follow-up problem: the phone rings while you're on a job, a quote goes quiet, a happy customer never leaves a review. Good marketing for tradies is a few things done in the right order: get found, answer fast, follow up, and ask for the review. This guide covers where jobs really come from in Australia, what each channel is good for, and which parts you can automate in GoHighLevel so they happen without you.
1. Where tradie work comes from
- Referrals and repeat customers. Usually the best jobs, and the cheapest.
- Google and Google Maps. People searching "electrician near me" are ready to book. See SEO for tradies.
- Your own website, as the place Google and customers check before they ring.
- Google Ads (search). Paid, fast, and good for urgent services. It only works if calls are answered and tracked.
- Lead marketplaces such as hipages. They bring enquiries, but a consumer-advice site reports that fees tend to run higher than other tasker sites, and the same enquiry may go to several tradies. Oneflare was reported to have closed on 30 June 2026 with its traffic going to Airtasker, which I could only confirm from secondary sources, so check before relying on it.
- Facebook and Instagram, mainly for showing work and staying in front of past customers.
- Relationships: builders, real estate agents and property managers who need a reliable trade.
- Signage and the van, which still work for local jobs.
2. Fix the leaks before you pay for more leads
Buying more leads while calls go to voicemail is the most common waste. Check four things first:
- Missed calls: a text sent within seconds of a missed call keeps the job. See missed-call text-back.
- After-hours calls: an AI receptionist can answer, book or pass on an emergency. See AI receptionist Australia.
- Quotes that go quiet: a polite follow-up at 2, 5 and 10 days wins jobs that would otherwise be forgotten.
- Reviews: asking every customer soon after the job builds your Google profile, which feeds back into getting found.
3. What to automate in GoHighLevel
| Automation | What it does | Why it pays |
|---|---|---|
| Instant reply | Texts a new enquiry or form fill straight away and asks for the suburb and job | The first tradie to respond often gets the job |
| Missed-call text-back | Replies to a call you couldn't take | Keeps the job that would have gone to the next number |
| Quote follow-up | Gentle reminders until they accept, decline or reply | Most quotes are lost to silence, not price |
| Booking and arrival texts | Confirmation, reminder and "on my way" | Fewer no-shows and wasted trips |
| Review request | Asks after the job is marked complete | More reviews without chasing. See Google review automation |
| Past-customer reminders | Seasonal or service reminders, such as hot water, air-conditioning or switchboard checks | Repeat work from people who already trust you |
For a build order and the CRM side, see CRM for tradies. For why quotes and calls both matter, look at the building and pest inspection case study, built for an Australian business.
4. The rules for texting in Australia
- Under the Spam Act, commercial texts and emails need the recipient's consent, must say who you are and must offer a working way to opt out.
- A reply to a customer's own enquiry is different from a bulk promotion, but keep a record of how each person got on your list.
- Check the SMS Sender ID rules that apply to business names. Details are in the Spam Act and SMS in GoHighLevel.
5. A simple budget order
- Free first: your Google Business Profile, reviews and your referral network.
- Make sure calls and enquiries are answered and followed up before spending more.
- Add a website that matches what people search, with one page per main service.
- Then test paid: start small with Google search ads or a lead marketplace, track every call back to its source, and keep only what books jobs.
Judge every channel by the cost of a booked job, not the cost of a lead. If you can't tell where a job came from, you can't tell what is working.
6. Common mistakes
- Paying for leads and not answering the phone.
- Sending one text and giving up on a quote.
- Ignoring reviews, or only asking once in a while.
- Spending on ads without call tracking.
- Texting a bought list without consent.
For the review rules and wording, see how to get more Google reviews in Australia.
For how to compare answering options and costs, see answering service in Australia.
For the rules and setup, see SMS marketing in Australia.
Details on two channels: websites for tradies and Google Ads for tradies.
Automating the follow-up? See marketing automation in Australia.
Want your enquiries answered and followed up automatically?
I'm Arslan Mumtaz, a software engineer who builds GoHighLevel systems for service businesses, and I work Australian business hours. I can set up the instant replies, missed-call text-back, quote follow-up and review requests. Start with a $97 audit, see GoHighLevel expert for Australian businesses, or check pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best marketing for tradies?
Start with what is free and works: a complete Google Business Profile, reviews and referrals. Make sure missed calls and quotes are followed up, then add a website that matches what people search, and test paid Google ads or lead marketplaces while tracking the cost of each booked job.
Is it worth paying for leads on hipages as a tradie?
It can be, but check the fees and how many tradies get the same enquiry, and track which leads turn into booked jobs. A consumer-advice review reports that its fees tend to run higher than other tasker sites. Fix call answering and quote follow-up first so you do not waste paid leads.
What can a tradie automate in GoHighLevel?
Instant replies to enquiries, missed-call text-back, quote follow-up, booking confirmations and arrival texts, review requests after a job, and seasonal reminders to past customers. Commercial texts need consent under the Spam Act.