Boost Your Trade Business Revenue: Leveraging Online Platforms for Maximum Profit in 2024

In today’s digital age, trade businesses have an incredible opportunity to expand their reach and increase revenue by utilizing online platforms. Whether you're a plumber, electrician, landscaper, or any other trade professional, embracing these tools can help you connect with more customers, streamline operations, and ultimately drive growth. That means you can spend more time doing your work, then actually looking for it. Here’s how you can leverage online platforms to boost your trade business revenue.

1. Expand Your Reach with Online Listings

One of the simplest ways to attract more customers is by listing your services on popular online platforms. Websites like Gumtree let you list your business for free with the option of paying extra to get your company featured. There are also online directories like truelocal and yellowpages and which are great, but sometimes charge a fee.

• Create a Compelling Profile: Include high-quality images, a clear description of your services, and your contact information.
• Optimize for Local SEO: Use relevant keywords related to your trade and location to enhance visibility in search results.

2. Utilize Social Media for Marketing

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even Tik Tok are powerful tools for promoting your trade business. These platforms allow you to showcase your work, share customer testimonials, and engage with your audience. They are all free to join and easy to use, so you won’t be any worse off if you at least give it a go!

• Post Before-and-After Photos: Highlight your completed projects to attract potential clients.
• Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments and messages promptly to build a loyal community.
• Consider purchasing ads: Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram) as well as Tik Tok are a great way to promote your business outside of your inner circle. You can choose how much to spend, your exact target audience and location. Be warned though, this can get expensive and you need to put in the time to learn how it all works to get maximum bang for your buck.

3. Leverage On-demand Booking Platforms

On-demand booking platforms streamline the process for customers seeking tradespeople. By joining these platforms, you can tap into a ready-made customer base actively looking for services. This option is especially great for finding work opportunities quickly. By utilizing an on-demand platform like Blinkn, you can list your business for free and be notified whenever a customer is looking for the service you provide.

• Instant Access to Clients: Receive requests for services in real-time, making it easier to fill your schedule.
• Built-In Marketing: Many platforms have their own marketing strategies to promote your services.
• Instant payment: Platforms like Blinkn offer payment facilitation services, meaning you get paid a soon as a booking is complete.

4. Implement Online Booking and Payment Systems

Make it easy for customers to book your services by implementing online booking systems. This convenience not only enhances customer satisfaction but can also lead to increased bookings. This could be a booking link on your website or social media account that lets customers easily book you. If that is a bit to technical for you, why not leverage other platforms that already have a payment system? A service like PayPal could be great as it is relatively easy to set up and allows credit card transactions. Alternatively, you can sign up to Blinkn for free and take advantage of the easy-to-use and built in payment system to accept bookings.

This may seemingly be hard from some service providers, as often the work is not that straight forward, however you could get creative. If your business does a lot of quotes, then why not charge customers for your time? It may be awkward to ask, but if you make it as easy as clicking a button, then you could see yourself getting reimbursed for your time. Does your company offer services that are repetitive and predictable? Are you a Carpenter those hangs doors, or installs skirting? Are you an Electrician that installs downlights or changes power points? Are you a painter that charges by the hour? If you think about your trade and what you do, you will find there are dozens, if not hundreds of smaller subtasks that you could easily offer up to customers who would be more than willing to book online. I mean, just think about other services such as hairdressers, accountants even doctors and lawyers, they all offer a range of services which have upfront costs listed for all to see. Most, if not all of them can be booked online with little to no friction. So why not do the same?

• 24/7 Availability: Customers can book your services anytime, even outside of your business hours.
• Simplified Payment Processing: Accepting online payments can reduce the hassle of cash transactions and make it easier to manage finances.
• Modern approach: Customers will love this more modern approach, as almost everything these days can be booked online, so why not do the same?

5. Encourage Customer Reviews and Referrals

Positive customer reviews are vital for building trust and attracting new clients. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your online profiles and even consider implementing a referral program. Say offer customers $100 for every new client they give you, or even offer new clients a discount for their first booking? People love to save money and feel like they are getting a win, so while you may sacrifice a few dollars, the compounding effect of getting new referrals will make it worth it!

• Ask for Feedback: Follow up with customers after a job is completed and request reviews. People love it when you show some interest!

• Ask for Reviews: Don’t be afraid to ask for a review after you have completed a booking, remember almost everyone will choose the person with more reviews over the person who has little to none.

• Offer Incentives: Provide discounts or rewards for customers who refer new clients to your business.

6. Analyse and Adapt Your Online Strategies

Regularly monitor your online presence and assess what’s working and what isn’t. Use analytics tools provided by platforms to understand customer behaviour and preferences. There are plenty of tools out there depending on what platforms you are using to advertise your services, find the one most relevant to you and start from there. Don’t be afraid if it seems overwhelming at first, take it step by step and learn the basics, after a while you will be able to see which strategies are worth investing money in and which are not.

• Track Your Leads: Identify which platforms are generating the most leads and focus your efforts there. Make sure to keep a record of how much you spend and what results you are getting, otherwise it can quickly become convoluted.
• Adjust Your Marketing Strategies: Experiment with different types of content and promotions to see what resonates best with your audience. Don’t be afraid to try new things and remember, there is no such thing as failing! Also, don’t be emotional if things don’t work, or even if they do, treat it like a science experiment, analysis, iterate, adjust and if needed move on and try something else. You will never learn unless you try!

Conclusion

Embracing online platforms is essential for trade businesses looking to increase their revenue in today’s competitive market. By expanding your reach, utilizing social media, leveraging on-demand booking systems like Blinkn and encouraging customer reviews, you can create a sustainable and profitable business model. By taking advantage of these digital tools, you’re not just enhancing your customer experience—you’re positioning your business for long-term success. So, start implementing these strategies today and watch your trade business thrive!