Short answer: post your jobs. Before and afters, work in progress, the finished result, and the people you did it for (with their say-so). Two good posts a week of real work beats seven posts of quotes and stock photos.

Your work

  • Before and after, side by side
  • The finished job, one good wide shot
  • Halfway through, with a line about what’s next
  • The detail nobody else would notice
  • A tricky problem you sorted
  • The worst thing you found when you opened it up
  • A time-lapse or short video of the job going in

Your customers

  • A new Google review, screenshotted
  • A thank-you message from a customer, with permission
  • A repeat customer: ‘third job for this family’
  • Where you’ve been working this week: ‘busy in Wishaw and Law’

Answers to common questions

  • How long does a job like this take?
  • What does it roughly cost?
  • When’s the best time of year to get it done?
  • What should you look for in a good tradesman?
  • What’s the difference between two common options?
  • Something customers often get wrong

You and your business

  • Your van, freshly signwritten
  • A new bit of kit
  • Your team, with names
  • A training course or qualification
  • Why you started the business

Local stuff

  • Sponsoring a local team
  • The gala, the games or a local event
  • Holiday dates and when you’re booking up

How to make it take a minute

Take the photo before you pack up. Write one line about what you did and where. Post it from the van. That’s genuinely all most posts need. Or send the photos to me and I’ll do the rest. That’s what the social media plans are for.

Quick answers

How often should a trade business post on Facebook?

Two or three good posts a week is plenty. Consistency matters more than volume.

Should I post prices on Facebook?

Rough guides can help filter enquiries. Exact quotes are better done privately.

What time should I post?

Early morning before work and early evening after tea both tend to work well for local audiences.

Written by Tony Flynn, who runs Toflin from Carluke and works with trades across Lanarkshire. Want a hand with any of this? Call 01698 598763 or see the prices.