Digital marketing for tradesmen,
paid when the survey is booked.
Most trade marketing sells activity: ads, posts, a website, a monthly report. MyTradeBuddy runs the marketing and the follow-up, from the ad to the booked survey, and charges per booked survey. One business per trade per area.
What marketing works for trade businesses?
In order of return for a small trade business: answer every call, complete the Google Business Profile and collect reviews, follow up every quote, then buy demand only for survey-led work and only where someone can respond in minutes. Agencies sell the middle of that list; directories sell the top; MyTradeBuddy runs all of it as one system and bills per booked survey. The lead generation guide for UK trades covers each channel in depth.
How trade businesses pay for marketing in 2026
The cost models, side by side. Directory and marketplace figures are what tradespeople report to independent reviewers.
| Option | How you pay | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade marketing agency | Monthly retainer plus ad spend | Ads, content, website, reporting | Paid for activity; enquiries still need answering and chasing by you |
| Directories (Checkatrade, TrustATrader) | Monthly membership, £60–£500 a month reported | Profile, reviews, shared enquiries | Several members get the same homeowner; Checkatrade cost 2026 |
| Lead marketplaces (MyBuilder, Bark, Rated People) | Per lead or shortlist, £5–£40 reported | Contact details for posted jobs | Three to five firms buy the same job, win or lose |
| Job management software | Per user per month (Tradify from £34, Powered Now from £28; ServiceM8 by job volume from £25) | A place to run jobs you already won | Finding the work is still your problem; see best job management software for trades |
| MyTradeBuddy | Per booked survey; no retainer, no contract | Ads, AI receptionist, follow-up, reviews, website, CRM | Built for survey-led work; one business per trade per area. Pricing |
Software prices as published September 2026 and reported by DashLink and TradePlanr, ex VAT. Directory figures: Checkatrade cost 2026, Bark for tradesmen, MyBuilder fees 2026.
How it runs for any trade
1. Your trade, your area
Local ads for the survey-led work in your trade. One business per trade per area.
2. Every enquiry answered
The AI receptionist answers 24/7, qualifies and books. Web enquiries get a call back within seconds.
3. Every quote chased
Text and email follow-up until the customer says yes, no or stop.
4. Reviews and repeat work
Review requests after each job and reminders when service is due, from the CRM.
Trade marketing agency vs paying per booked survey
The same system, tuned per trade
Plumbing and heating: plumbing leads, boiler leads, heat pump leads, plumber marketing. Roofing: roofing leads, roofing marketing. Electrical: electrician leads. Building and renovation: builder leads, kitchen and bathroom.
If you want to do the marketing yourself first, how to get more work as a tradesman is the honest order of operations, and the AI receptionist page covers the one piece every trade needs regardless.
Marketing for trades FAQs
Agencies charge a retainer plus ad spend. Directories run £60–£500 a month by tradespeople's reports, marketplaces £5–£40 a lead, job management software £25–£35 a user a month. MyTradeBuddy charges per booked survey, quoted for your trade and area, with no retainer and no contract.
Plumbing and heating, roofing, electrical, building and renovation, heat pump and solar installers. One business per trade per area.
No. We generate all demand ourselves through our own ads and never buy enquiries from third parties.
No contracts and no minimum commitment. You can stop at any time.
Yes. Many clients keep a directory for reviews while the exclusive pipeline fills the survey diary.
Start here
Talk through your marketing
Book a call. We look at what you spend now, what a booked survey is worth to you, and whether your area is free.