Why Your Customers Are Better at Selling Than You Are
I’m going to be blunt: Most small business owners in Brisbane spend far too much time trying to come up with the 'perfect' thing to say on the internet. You worry about the lighting in your photos, you stress over the captions, and you wonder why nobody is calling after you spent three hours editing a video.
Here’s the truth: Your potential customers don’t really care what you have to say about your business. They expect you to say you’re the best. What they actually care about is what other people say about you.
Think about the last time you booked a plumber in Coorparoo or looked for a new restaurant in the Valley. Did you read the owner's 'About Us' page, or did you head straight for the photos and comments left by real customers?
When your customers share a photo of the renovation you just finished, or a video of them using a product they bought from your shop, that is pure gold. In the marketing world, people call this 'User Generated Content,' but let’s just call it what it is: Digital Word-of-Mouth.
This isn't just about 'likes.' It’s about building enough trust so that a stranger feels comfortable picking up the phone and giving you their credit card details.
The Problem with Most Business Social Media
I see it all the time with local businesses. They post stock photos of people smiling or generic 'Happy Monday' graphics. It’s a complete waste of time. If you want to stop wasting time on things that don't bring in money, you need to start showing real people getting real results from your business.
A grainy photo taken by a happy customer on their iPhone is worth ten professional studio shots. Why? Because it’s believable. It shows that you actually do the work you say you do.
How to Get Your Customers to Send You Content
You might be thinking, "My customers are busy, they aren't going to take photos for me." You’re right—they won't do it unless you make it easy, rewarding, or part of your process.
Here is how you actually get these photos and videos without being a pest.
1. The "In the Moment" Ask
This is the most effective way for tradies and service businesses. When you finish a job—whether it’s a new deck, a clean carpet, or a fixed tap—and the customer says, "Wow, that looks great!", that is your window.Say this: "I’m so glad you’re happy with it! I’m trying to show more local families the kind of work we do. Would you mind if I took a quick photo of the finished result, or better yet, could you send me the one you just took? It helps us out a lot."
Most people in Brisbane are legends and are happy to help a local business if you just ask.
2. Make Your Business "Instagrammable"
If you run a physical shop, cafe, or salon, you have to give people a reason to pull out their phones. It could be a funky mural, a specific way you package your goods, or even a sign that says "Tag us to be featured on our page."When people take a photo at your location and tag you, they are essentially recommending you to every single one of their friends. This is how you borrow other people’s customers to grow your own reach without spending a cent on ads.
3. Run a Monthly Giveaway
This is a classic for a reason—it works. Put a small sign at your counter or send an email to your list saying: "Win a $50 voucher every month! Just post a photo of your purchase, tag us, and you're in the draw."For the cost of one $50 voucher, you might get 20 or 30 high-quality photos of real people using your products. That’s much cheaper than hiring a photographer.
What to Do Once You Have the Content
Getting the photo or video is only half the battle. Now you need to use it to make money. Don't just let these photos sit in your 'Downloads' folder.
Put them on your website: Put a section on your homepage called "Our Work in the Wild" or "What Our Customers Are Saying." Use them in your quotes: If you’re a builder sending out a quote for a bathroom reno, include a photo a previous customer sent you of their finished bathroom. It proves you can deliver. Show the 'Before and After': These are the highest-converting posts for any service business. People love seeing a problem getting fixed.
Is This a Waste of Money?
Setting up a system to collect customer photos costs you almost nothing but a bit of time and perhaps a small prize for a giveaway.
In terms of results, you’ll start seeing the impact as soon as you start sharing them. We’ve seen Brisbane businesses see a massive jump in enquiries just by swapping out their boring stock photos for real customer shots. It makes you look like a real person rather than a faceless corporation. This is a key part of how you stop being a commodity and start getting paid for being the local expert people trust.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't over-edit: If a customer sends you a photo, don't put ten filters on it. Keep it raw and real. That’s where the trust comes from. Don't forget to ask permission: Always send a quick text or email asking, "Hey, do you mind if I share that photo on our Facebook page?" Most will say yes, and it keeps you out of trouble. Don't be a perfectionist: A blurry photo of a happy customer is better than no photo at all.
Your Action Plan for This Week
You don't need a marketing degree to do this. Here is what I want you to do over the next seven days:
1. Identify your top 5 happiest customers from the last month. 2. Send them a personal text or email. Say: "Hey [Name], I'm updating our website with some of our recent work. Do you happen to have a photo of the [product/service] we provided? We'd love to show it off!" 3. Post the best one on your Facebook or Instagram page with a simple caption: "Loved helping [Name] with their [Project] in [Suburb]!" 4. Watch the engagement. I bet you’ll get more comments and likes on that one photo than anything you’ve posted in the last month.
Need Help Growing Your Brisbane Business?
At Local Marketing Group, we don't care about fancy buzzwords or 'going viral.' We care about getting your phone to ring. If you're tired of shouting into the void and want a marketing strategy that actually puts money in the bank, we should talk.
We help local legends across Brisbane—from tradies in Chermside to boutiques in Bulimba—get more customers without the headache.
Ready to grow? Contact us at lmgroup.au/contact and let’s get to work.