For plumbers, sparkies, air con, mechanics, cleaners, pest control and removalists
Before anyone rings you, they want to know they can get hold of you, and that you'll turn up.
When the hot water goes or the car's due for a service, people look for someone nearby on their phone. I fix up your website and Google listing so you've got the best chance of being the one they ring.
Or email luke@streetgrow.au
What your customers judge you on
In about 390 Google reviews of local plumbers, sparkies, mechanics and cleaners, the same three things keep coming up.
Getting hold of you, and you turning up
Customers praise the tradie who came out straight away. A no-show, or a call that never came back, is one of the things they complain about most. So I look first at how easy you are to reach.
No surprises on the bill
Price comes up in almost half the bad reviews. You quote, so prices don't need to go on your site. One line on how quoting works, like a quote before any work starts, helps with that worry.
Your reviews, and where you show up on the map
Google says reviews are one of the things it looks at for local results. So I look at how many recent reviews you've got, and whether each one has a reply.
What the audit checks for you
For a business people ring when something needs doing, these come first:
- Whether someone on their phone can ring you in one tap, from your website and from Google.
- Whether your Google hours match when you really pick up the phone.
- How many recent reviews you've got, and how many have a reply, next to the businesses showing above you.
- Whether your site names the suburbs you work in, and matches the areas on your Google listing.
- Photos of your van, your team and real jobs, since you're often going into people's homes. For a workshop, photos of the workshop.
- Whether your site says how quoting works, in plain words.
The rules for your trade, done right
- Plumbers, electricians, gasfitters and air con. NSW Fair Trading says the licensee's name and licence number must be shown in all advertising, with the right category of work. Your website is advertising, so I put both where people look.
- Air con. You also need your refrigerant trading authorisation (RTA) number in your advertising. The Australian Refrigeration Council says that includes web pages.
- Mechanics and panel beaters. Your licence number has to be on the workshop sign. I haven't found a rule for the website, but I add it there too, because it's one more thing a customer can check.
- Any price you show. If your site shows a price, like a call-out fee, Fair Trading says the total has to be shown just as clearly. A price that's only part of the cost can't stand on its own.
- Pest control. The EPA tells customers to check a pest controller's licence on its public register. I haven't found an EPA rule that says it goes on your website, but I put your number there so they can.
- Cleaners, removalists and detailers. I haven't found a rule that says you have to show a number on your site, so I won't make you add one.
I don't have a plumber, mechanic or cleaner as a client to show you yet. So here's a sample audit for a made-up plumbing business in Randwick. It's an example, not a result.
Yours is about your business only, searched from around where your customers are.
What it costs
Setup is $400 to $800, then $200 a month.
Your audit shows which one fits, and I'll tell you why.
- Tune-up, $400. Your website is fine, but your Google listing isn't.
- Fix-up, $500. Your website works, but needs real work.
- Full build, $800. You have no website, or one you can't control.
All three include your Google listing fully filled in, more reviews with every one answered, and your details matching everywhere you're listed.
The $200 a month starts a month after setup. It covers the audit each month, your website kept up to date, a new post from photos you send me, small changes (up to about an hour), and a short report with a 10-minute call if you'd like one.
- No lock-in and no fee to cancel, so you can stop any month.
- You own everything, and there's no GST to add.
- You and a friend each get a free month. A friend sent you? Tell me who.
Questions tradies ask me
Most of my work is word of mouth. Do I need this?
If you're booked out, maybe not, and the audit will tell you that. It also shows what someone sees when a mate gives them your name and they look you up.
I've already got heaps of good reviews. What's left to fix?
Good, that's the hardest part done. The audit looks at the rest: whether people can ring you in one tap, whether your hours are right, and how your site works on a phone.
Should my Google listing say open 24 hours?
Only if someone really answers the phone at 2am. Otherwise, set the hours you actually pick up. Google shows people whether you're open right now, so it needs to be true.
I already pay a website to send me jobs. Is this the same thing?
No. Those sites sell you leads. This is your own website and Google listing, and they stay yours.
I'm a mechanic. Is this for me?
Yes. Your customers judge you much the same way: can they reach you, do you explain what the car needs, and is the bill what they expected. Since people drive to you, I check your address and hours too.
Want to see what a customer finds when they look you up? Text me your business name and you'll have your free audit within a week.
Text Luke for a free auditor call 0402 263 305
Or email luke@streetgrow.au