Most tradies do not need more marketing thrown at them. They need clarity on what actually works.

In this episode, we strip digital marketing back to the essentials for service-based trade businesses. Because a lot of tradies are being sold flashy dashboards, rankings, traffic reports and fancy terminology, yet their enquiries are not increasing.

Nic is joined by Rhys Clay, Partner and Head Geek at Kaha Digital. Rhys grew up in a trade family on the Sunshine Coast and built his first website as a teenager for his dad’s joinery business. What started as helping out the family business eventually turned into a career helping small businesses create simple and effective digital solutions that actually generate leads.

One of the biggest myths we tackle is vanity metrics. Website sessions, time on site and even Google rankings can look impressive, but they do not pay the bills. For most service-based tradies, only two numbers truly matter: phone calls and contact form enquiries. If those are not increasing, the marketing is not working.

We also break down what a startup or small tradie actually needs online. A registered domain in your own name. A properly set up Google Business Profile. A handful of genuine, well-written reviews. Real photos of you and your work. For many businesses, that alone will generate consistent leads. A large, expensive website is often unnecessary, especially in the early stages. In many cases, a simple one-page site that clearly outlines what you do, where you work and how to contact you is more than enough.

Social media gets discussed too. It can help, but it is not essential if time is tight. Most clients are still going straight to Google when they need a tradie. Being visible there, with strong reviews and clear information, is far more powerful than chasing likes.

Rhys also shares practical advice for tradies who are already paying for marketing. Make sure your domain and digital assets are in your name. Make sure you understand what you are paying for. And most importantly, measure success by the quality and volume of real enquiries, not by a shiny monthly report.

Learn more about Rhys & Kaha Digital here:
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