The first 5 marketing moves for new contractors

Before you spend a dollar on paid ads or worry about going viral — get these five things right. They're not glamorous, but they work.

1. Build a One-Page Website It doesn't need to be pretty. It needs to exist. Your name, what you do, where you work, and how to contact you. That's it. A simple one-pager tells the world you're a real business. Do it this week.

2. Claim Your Google Business Profile This is free money sitting on the table. When someone searches "electrician near me" or "HVAC contractor in [your town]," Google Business Profiles show up first. Fill it out completely, add photos, and start asking happy customers for reviews. This single move will drive more leads than almost anything else.

3. Wrap Your Truck (or At Least Your Doors) Your vehicle is a moving billboard that works 24/7. Go as big as your budget allows — full wrap, partial wrap, magnetic door panels — something. People notice. People talk. A professionally branded truck says "I'm legit" before you ever shake a hand.

4. Put Yard Signs at Every Job Site Your job sites are in neighborhoods full of homeowners with the same problems you're solving. A clean yard sign with your name and number planted at the curb is hyper-local advertising at its best. Don't leave a job without one.

5. Ask for Referrals — Out Loud Most contractors wait and hope satisfied customers will tell their friends. Don't wait. After every good job, look your customer in the eye and say: "If you know anyone who needs this kind of work, I'd really appreciate the referral." Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool in the trades — but only if you ask for it.

You don't need a massive marketing budget to get started. You need a presence, a brand people can see, and the discipline to ask for business.

Build the foundation first. Scale later.

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