Going self-employed as a tradesman is exciting and terrifying in equal measure. You know you can do the work. The hard part is finding people who'll pay you to do it. If you've just set up on your own somewhere in the North East, here's how to get those first customers through the door.
1. Tell everyone you know
This sounds obvious but it's where most tradesmen get their first few jobs. Tell your family, your mates, your old colleagues, your neighbours. Post on your personal Facebook. Change your WhatsApp status. You'd be amazed how many people need work done and just haven't got round to sorting it. A joiner we know in Chester-le-Street got his first three jobs from people he played five-a-side with.
2. Get on Facebook groups immediately
Every town in the North East has local Facebook community groups. Durham has them. Consett, Stanley, Seaham, Peterlee, all of them. Join the ones in your area and keep an eye out for people asking for recommendations. When someone posts "Does anyone know a good plumber in Stanley?", that's your chance. Don't spam. Just introduce yourself, mention your services, and offer to help.
Some of the busiest tradesmen in the region get regular work from nothing more than being active in three or four local Facebook groups.
3. Set up Google Business Profile on day one
This is free and it takes 30 minutes. Once you're verified, you'll show up on Google Maps when someone searches for your trade in your area. It's the single biggest free marketing tool available. Add your services, your phone number, a few photos, and start collecting reviews from anyone you do work for. Even your mam's kitchen tap counts.
4. Get a simple website early
A lot of new tradesmen think they should wait until they're established before getting a website. That's backwards. A website makes you look established. Even a clean one-page site with your services, your area, and a contact form tells potential customers you're the real deal. It also means your Google Business Profile has somewhere to link to, which helps you rank higher in searches.
We build affordable websites for tradesmen just starting out. No huge upfront cost, no long contracts.
5. Get listed everywhere with the same details
Register on Yell, Thomson Local, FreeIndex, and any other free directories. Make sure your business name, phone number, and address are exactly the same everywhere. Google cross-references these listings and consistent details help you rank higher.
6. Do brilliant work and ask for reviews
Your first ten customers are your most important marketing tool. Go above and beyond. Clean up properly. Be on time. And after every job, send a text asking for a Google review. A new tradesman in Newcastle or Sunderland with 15 genuine five-star reviews will get calls over an established competitor with none.
7. Print some basic materials
Business cards and A5 flyers are cheap. Leave them at local shops, cafes, and community centres. Drop flyers through doors on new housing estates around places like Wynyard, Great Park, or the new builds around Durham. New homeowners always need tradesmen.
Getting started is the hardest part. Once you've got your first few happy customers, the momentum builds. Focus on being findable, doing quality work, and making it easy for people to recommend you. The rest follows.