SiteNest"I get all my work through referrals."
We hear this every week. And it's usually true. You've been in the game long enough that people know your name. Your phone rings. You stay busy.
So why would you need a website?
Here's the honest answer: you might not. If you're happy with your current workload, your current rates, and your current customers, a website won't change your life.
But if any of these sound familiar, keep reading:
- "I'm busy, but I'm not making what I should be making"
- "I take whatever jobs come in, even the ones I hate"
- "I'd love to raise my rates but I'm scared I'll lose customers"
- "My referrals dried up last winter and I had nothing"
- "I want to grow but I can't seem to break through"
If you nodded at any of those, the problem isn't your skills. It's your visibility.
The difference between busy and booked
There are two types of tradies in every suburb.
Type A: Busy but reacting
- •Works on whatever comes in
- •Competes on price to win jobs
- •Quiet months feel stressful
- •Growth means working longer hours
- •Referrals are the only marketing
Type B: Booked and choosing
- •Picks which jobs to take
- •Commands higher rates
- •Has a 2-3 month waitlist
- •Growth means hiring, not hustling
- •Phone rings without chasing
Same trade. Same skills. Same suburb. Different game.
The difference? Type B tradies aren't just known by their network. They're found by everyone else.
Word of mouth has a ceiling. Google doesn't.
What happens when someone needs a tradie
Let's say Sarah's hot water system dies at 6am. She needs a plumber. What does she do?
Option 1: Call her neighbour, who knows a guy. Maybe. If she remembers his name.
Option 2: Google "emergency plumber Blacktown" and call the first result.
Option 2 happens more often. And the plumber who shows up first in that search gets the job. Not because he's the best. Because he was findable.
search online for local businesses¹
click the first Google result²
read reviews before choosing³
Even if someone gets your name through a referral, there's a good chance they Google you before calling. And if they can't find you, they wonder why.
The trust gap
The credibility factor
This one's uncomfortable to say out loud, but it's true: people judge you by your online presence.
A tradie with a clean website, good reviews, and photos of actual work looks professional. A tradie with just a phone number looks... like everyone else.
Which one do you think gets to charge more?
| Without a website | With a website | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer's first impression | Phone number on a van | Professional, established business |
| Price negotiation | "Can you do it cheaper?" | Less pushback on quotes |
| Commercial opportunities | Hard to get considered | Credible for larger contracts |
| Referrals that convert | They forget your name | They send a link |
What a website actually does for you
A website isn't about looking fancy. It's a tool that works when you're not working.
While you're on a job, your website is:
- Showing up when someone Googles your trade + suburb
- Showing photos of your work so people trust you before calling
- Collecting inquiries so you don't miss leads
- Answering FAQs so you don't waste time on tyre-kickers
- Making referrals stick (they send a link instead of "I think his name was...")
It's not magic. It's just always on.
But I don't need more work
Good. Then don't use it to get more work. Use it to get better work.
A website lets you attract the customers you want. The ones who pay on time. The ones who value quality over price. The ones who don't ask for a discount before you've even quoted.
You can filter at the door instead of on the job.
The selectivity play
The real risk
Referrals work until they don't.
Winters slow down. Builders go quiet. A mate retires. Your best referral source moves suburbs.
When that happens, you're starting from scratch. No pipeline. No visibility. No buffer.
A website is insurance. It runs in the background, building your presence, so when referrals dip, you're not panicking.
So do you need a website?
If you're genuinely happy with where you are, no. Keep doing what works.
But if you want to charge more, work less, pick better jobs, or just stop relying on luck? Yeah. You probably do.
The tradies booking 3 months ahead aren't luckier than you. They're just easier to find.
Curious what your website could look like? We'll build you a free mockup. No commitment, no call. Just a preview of what's possible.