You’re sitting in the ute at 6:00 PM, finishing off some paperwork, and your phone buzzes. It’s an alert telling you that you’ve just spent another $50 on ads today. But the phone didn't ring. Not once.
If you’re a plumber in Coorparoo or an electrician in Chermside, you’ve probably felt the sting of throwing money at the internet and getting nothing back but a headache. You know you need to be online, but everyone is telling you something different. One bloke at the pub says Facebook is a goldmine; another says Google is the only way to go.
Here is the truth: both can work, but most tradies use them completely wrong. If you use the wrong tool for the job, you’re going to make a mess. You wouldn't use a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame, and you shouldn't use Facebook to find an emergency pipe burst.
Let’s break down where your hard-earned money should actually go if you want more phone calls and better jobs.
Google Ads: The 'I Need It Now' Machine
Think about how you behave when your hot water system dies. You don't jump on Facebook to scroll through cat videos and hope an ad for a plumber pops up. You go straight to Google and type in "emergency plumber Brisbane."
Google Ads are powerful because they put you in front of people who are already looking to spend money. They have a problem, and they need a pro to fix it right now.
Why Google works for tradies:
High Intent: People clicking your ad actually want a quote. They aren't just browsing; they are buying. Fast Results: You can turn these ads on Monday and have the phone ringing by Tuesday. Local Focus: You can tell Google to only show your ad to people within 10km of your base, so you aren't wasting petrol driving across the Gateway Bridge for a $100 job.The Catch:
Google is expensive. You pay for every single click. If your website is rubbish and doesn't convince them to call, you’ve just paid $15 to $30 for someone to look at your homepage and leave. This is why many website wins better jobs when they are designed to actually turn a visitor into a caller.Facebook Ads: The 'Did You Know You Need This?' Machine
Facebook is a different beast entirely. People are on Facebook to be entertained or to see what their mates are up to. They aren't looking for a tradie.
However, Facebook is brilliant for "visual" trades or big-ticket renovations. If you’re a landscaper and you show a stunning before-and-after photo of a backyard renovation in Paddington, someone might think, "Gee, our yard looks like a tip, maybe we should finally get that deck built."
Why Facebook works for tradies:
Visual Impact: It’s great for deck builders, painters, and landscapers who do work that looks good in photos. Cheaper Clicks: Generally, it costs less to get someone to look at your ad on Facebook than on Google. Brand Awareness: It keeps your name in front of local residents so they remember you when they eventually do need a hand.The Catch:
Facebook leads are often "tyre kickers." Because they weren't actively looking for you, they might just be curious about the price. You’ll spend more time chasing people who never pick up the phone. If you want to stop chasing cheap jobs, you have to be very careful with how you set up your Facebook ads so you aren't just attracting people looking for the lowest price.Which one should you choose?
I’ve worked with dozens of Brisbane businesses, and the answer usually depends on what you do.
Choose Google Ads if: You do repairs or emergency work (Plumbers, Locksmiths, Sparkies, AC Repair). You need jobs today. You have a solid website that looks good on a phone.
Choose Facebook Ads if: Your work is visual (Landscaping, Kitchen Renos, Flooring). You want to target specific suburbs or demographics (e.g., "Homeowners in Bulimba aged 35-55"). You are trying to book 50k projects rather than small maintenance tasks.
The Real Cost: Don't Get Ripped Off
Many agencies will charge you a fortune to "manage" these ads. Let’s be blunt: if you’re a small operator, you don't need a $2,000-a-month management fee for a $500-a-month ad spend. That’s madness.
For Google, a typical Brisbane tradie should expect to spend at least $1,000 to $2,000 a month on the actual ads to see a real return. If you spend $10 a day, you’ll get one click, and if that person doesn't call, your budget is gone. You’re better off not doing it at all.
For Facebook, you can start smaller, maybe $20 a day, but you need high-quality photos and videos. If your photos look like they were taken on a Nokia from 2004 in the dark, don't bother. You're just advertising that you’re unprofessional.
Three Mistakes Most Tradies Make
1. Sending ads to a bad website: Most websites don't make the phone ring because they are slow, confusing, or don't have a big "Call Now" button at the top. If you pay for an ad and send them to a bad site, you are literally burning money. 2. Not answering the phone: This sounds stupid, but I see it every day. A business owner spends $2,000 on Google Ads, the phone rings, and it goes to a generic voicemail. That caller is already clicking the next guy on the list. If you're paying for ads, you (or someone) must answer the phone. 3. No follow-up: A Facebook lead is a warm lead, not a hot one. If you wait three days to call them back, they’ve already forgotten who you are.
The Verdict
If I were starting a plumbing or electrical business in Brisbane tomorrow with a limited budget, I would put 100% of my money into Google Ads. Why? Because I want the guy whose toilet is overflowing right now. He doesn't care about my price as much as he cares about how fast I can get there. That is a high-profit job.
If I were a landscaper or a builder doing high-end renovations, I would spend 70% on Facebook to show off my work and 30% on Google to catch people searching for "deck builders Brisbane."
Stop listening to the "marketing gurus" who talk about algorithms and reach. You care about two things: How many times did the phone ring, and how many of those turned into a paid invoice?
What should you do first?
Before you spend a cent on ads, look at your website on your phone. Is your phone number easy to find? Does it load in under 3 seconds? If not, fix that first. Then, decide if you need "emergency" customers (Google) or "dreaming" customers (Facebook).
Marketing isn't magic; it’s just putting your name where the right people are looking. Pick one platform, do it properly for three months, and track every single call that comes from it. If it’s making you more money than it’s costing you, keep going. If not, cut it.
Ready to get the phone ringing without the guesswork? At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane tradies dominate their local area and get the jobs they actually want.
Contact us today and let's get your business moving.