Stop Wasting Time on Social Media and Start Getting Bookings
If you’re a sparky in Coorparoo, a cafe owner in North Lakes, or a bookkeeper in Milton, you’ve probably tried posting on your business Facebook page. You spend twenty minutes thinking of something to say, post a photo, and... nothing. Two likes from your mum and your cousin.
It’s frustrating because you know your customers are on Facebook. You see them every day in groups like "Northside Community Chat" or "West End Families." They are asking for recommendations, complaining about bad service, and looking for someone they can trust.
Most business owners get community groups completely wrong. They join, spam their flyer five times a day, and wonder why they get kicked out or ignored. If you want to get local customers without paying for ads, you need to stop acting like a salesman and start acting like a neighbour.
At Local Marketing Group, we’ve tracked the numbers for dozens of Brisbane businesses. When done right, community groups are the highest-converting free lead source available. Why? Because people buy from people they recognise.
The Reality of Community Groups: What’s in it for You?
Let’s talk numbers. Unlike a paid ad where you might pay $5 or $10 every time someone clicks on your website, community group marketing costs you $0 in cash. It costs you about 15 minutes of your time per day.
Here is what you can realistically expect: More phone calls: People in these groups are often in "emergency mode" (e.g., "My toilet is overflowing, who can help now?"). Trust by association: If Mrs Jones from down the street says you’re a legend, that’s worth more than a $5,000 billboard on the Story Bridge. Immediate feedback: You’ll know exactly what people in your suburb are annoyed about or looking for.
If you want to dominate your suburb, you have to be where the conversation is happening.
Step 1: Find the Right Groups (Quality Over Quantity)
Don't join 50 groups across Queensland. It’s a waste of time. You want to be a big fish in a small pond. Pick 3 to 5 groups that are physically close to where you work.
Look for: Active suburbs: Groups with at least 5-10 posts a day. Strict moderation: Groups that don't allow spam are actually better for you. It means when you do post something valuable, it won't get buried under junk. Buy/Swap/Sell vs. Community: Buy/Swap/Sell groups are okay for one-off items, but "Community Noticeboards" are where people go to find service providers.
Step 2: The "Search" Strategy (The Easiest Way to Get Leads)
Most business owners wait for a notification. Don't do that. Use the search bar (the little magnifying glass icon) inside the group once a day.
Search for keywords related to your business: Plumber: "leak", "blocked", "hot water", "recommendation". Cleaner: "bond clean", "reliable", "housework". Accountant: "tax", "BAS", "small business".
You will find posts from three days ago that you missed. Even if five other people have commented, reply anyway. Say: "Hey [Name], I’m a local based in [Suburb]. I can definitely help with that. Give me a buzz on [Phone Number] or send me a message."
Step 3: Stop Selling, Start Helping
This is where most Brisbane tradies and shop owners fail. They only post when they want money.
If you want to win local customers for less, you need to build "social capital." This means giving away free advice.
The Landscaper: Instead of saying "Book me for mowing," post a photo of a lawn and say, "With this Brisbane humidity, your grass is going to bolt this week. Set your mower one notch higher so you don't scalp it and kill the roots." The Mechanic: "Seeing a lot of cars overheating on the Gympie Rd commute lately. Check your coolant levels before you head out tomorrow!"
When you provide value without asking for a sale, people start to see you as the local expert. When they eventually need your service, they won't even look at your competitors. They’ll just call "that helpful guy from the Facebook group."
The Golden Rules of Community Groups
1. Read the Rules: Some groups only allow business posts on "Small Business Tuesday." Respect it. If you break the rules, the admins will ban you, and you’ve lost that audience forever. 2. Use Your Personal Profile: People want to talk to Peter the Painter, not PJP Painting Services PTY LTD. Make sure your personal profile has a professional-ish photo and mentions what you do in the bio. 3. Be Fast: In these groups, the first person to respond usually gets the job. If someone asks for a sparky at 8:00 PM, and you reply at 8:05 PM, you’ve probably won the work. 4. Don't Argue: You will see people complaining about prices or being difficult. Ignore them. Your goal is to look like the most professional person in the room. Let your competitors get into shouting matches; you just keep being helpful.
How Long Until You See Results?
You can literally get a phone call today. I’ve seen a pest controller in Carindale join a group, search "termites," reply to a post from that morning, and book a $400 job within twenty minutes.
However, the real power comes after 3-6 months. This is when people start tagging you* whenever someone asks for a recommendation. That’s the "Holy Grail" of local marketing—when your neighbours start doing your marketing for you.
What’s a Waste of Money?
Don't pay for "automated posting tools" that claim to post to 100 groups at once. Facebook hates this and will flag your account as spam. Also, don't buy "likes" for your business page. They won't help you show up in community groups, and they definitely won't pay your mortgage.
Focus on real conversations with real people in your local Brisbane area.
Your Action Plan
1. Today: Join the 3 biggest groups for your primary suburb and the ones immediately bordering it. 2. Tomorrow: Use the search bar to find anyone who has asked for your service in the last 30 days. Comment on those posts (even if they are old) just to introduce yourself. 3. This Week: Post one piece of helpful, free advice that saves people time or money. Don't include a sales pitch.
If you’re too busy running your business to stay on top of this, or you want a more aggressive strategy to grow your sales, we can help.
Ready to get more local bookings? Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s talk about a plan that actually works for your Brisbane business.