How tradespeople get jobs from Facebook

This works for plumbers, electricians, builders, painters, roofers, landscapers, pool companies and just about any trade that does visible work at people's homes or businesses. Here's how to do it, step by step.

1. Set up your Page so it turns visitors into calls

Most people who find you on Facebook will spend a few seconds on your Page before deciding whether to message you. Make those seconds count:

• Name and intro: say what you do and where. "Khumalo Plumbing, Durban North & Umhlanga" tells people more than "Khumalo Services".
• Profile photo: your logo, or a clear photo of you if you're the business.
• Cover photo: your best finished job, or your team with the van.
• Contact details: phone number, WhatsApp and a clear button, so people can reach you in one tap.
• Service area and hours: so people know you cover their suburb.
• Recommendations switched on: reviews from real customers are your best sales tool.

Use a Facebook Page rather than your personal profile. A Page can show reviews and business details, connect to Instagram, and work with scheduling tools.

2. Post real jobs, every week

Your finished work is your best advertising. Aim for at least two posts a week, and make most of them real jobs:

• Before and after: the burst pipe and the neat repair, the overgrown garden and the finished lawn.
• The problem you solved: "Tripping every time the kettle went on. Found a faulty plug circuit and fixed it the same day."
• The suburb, not the address: "Another geyser swap in Westville" tells locals you work nearby without exposing the customer.
• The customer, with permission: a quick photo or a quote from a happy client is powerful.

Not sure what to post in your trade? We've written guides for plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters, solar installers and more trades.

3. Show up in local community groups

Every area has Facebook groups where people ask, "Can anyone recommend a good plumber?" These posts are some of the warmest leads you'll ever get, because the person needs someone right now.

• Join the groups for the areas you work in, and read the rules. Many only allow business posts on certain days.
• Reply helpfully, not with a sales pitch. "We do this regularly in the area, happy to have a look. Here's a job we did last week" with a photo beats "BEST PRICES CALL NOW".
• Ask happy customers to tag you when someone asks for a recommendation. A tag from a neighbour is worth ten of your own comments.
• Don't spam. Posting the same ad in twenty groups gets you removed and remembered for the wrong reasons.

4. Ask for recommendations after every job

Most happy customers will leave a recommendation if you ask, and very few will think of it on their own. Make it part of finishing the job: send a WhatsApp message with a thank you and a link to your Page's reviews the same day, while they're still pleased.

5. Reply fast

When someone messages three tradespeople, the one who replies first usually gets the job. Turn on notifications for Messenger and WhatsApp, and if you're on a roof or under a sink, a quick "Thanks, I'm on a job, will call you at 3pm" keeps the lead warm.

6. Make it a routine, not a project

The tradespeople who get steady work from Facebook aren't marketing experts. They've made it part of the job:

• Take three photos on every job: before, during and after.
• Post twice a week on the same days.
• Check local groups once a day, over coffee.
• Send a review request when you send the invoice.

What about Facebook ads?

You don't need ads to get started. Once you have a few weeks of real posts, boosting your best-performing job post to people within a few kilometres of your area can be a cheap way to reach more homeowners. Start small, run it for a week, and see whether enquiries come in before spending more.