The 'New Business' Trap: Why No Reviews Doesn't Mean No Jobs
You’ve just got your white card, your insurance is sorted, the ute is packed, and you’re ready to work. But there’s a massive problem: every time a potential customer looks you up, they see a big fat zero where your reviews should be.
In Brisbane’s competitive trade market—whether you’re a sparky in Coorparoo or a chippie in Chermside—customers are nervous. They’ve all heard horror stories about dodgy tradies who take a deposit and disappear. Without reviews, you look like a gamble.
I’ve seen dozens of Brisbane tradies stall out in their first six months because they think they need 50 five-star reviews before they can charge decent rates or win big jobs. That is rubbish.
You don’t need a history to build a future. You just need a strategy that bypasses the 'review hurdle' and proves you’re the real deal before you even step foot on site. This guide is about how to get the phone ringing today, even if you only registered your ABN yesterday.
1. Borrowed Authority: Using What You Already Have
You might be a new business owner, but you aren't a new tradie. You’ve likely spent years working for someone else.
Most guys make the mistake of acting like they just picked up a hammer for the first time. Instead, your marketing needs to scream experience.
Show the 'Old' Work: If you have photos of jobs you did while working for your old boss, use them (with common sense). Don't claim you owned the company, but say, "Over 10 years experience in bathroom renovations across Brisbane’s Northside." The Professional Look: If you turn up in a clean, branded shirt with a clear quote printed on a tablet, you’ve already beaten 50% of the blokes with 100 reviews who turn up late in a torn singlet. Professionalism is a substitute for reputation when you’re starting out. Local Associations: Join Master Builders or Master Plumbers. Putting those logos on your site tells the customer, "I’m accountable to someone." It builds trust when your review count can’t.
2. Your Website: Your 24/7 Salesman
If you don't have reviews, your website has to do the heavy lifting. Most tradie sites are a disaster—they’re slow, they don't work on phones, and it’s impossible to find the phone number.
If you want to win jobs, your site needs to answer three questions in three seconds: 1. Do you do what I need? 2. Do you service my suburb (e.g., "Serving Ascot, Hamilton, and Clayfield")? 3. How do I call you?
I’ve seen blokes spend $5,000 on a fancy website that looks like a corporate brochure but doesn't get a single lead. You need to understand why your website isn't ringing and fix those basics first. A simple site that loads fast on a phone and shows a massive "Call Now" button will outperform a flashy site every day of the week.
3. The 'Speed to Lead' Strategy
When you have no reviews, your biggest competitive advantage is speed.
If a homeowner in Carindale calls three sparkies, the one who answers the phone first usually gets the job. If you let it go to voicemail, you’ve lost the lead.
Answer the bloody phone: Even if you’re up a ladder, have a Bluetooth piece in. Quote on the spot: If you can get to a house today and give them a price before you leave the driveway, they are 80% more likely to book you because they want the problem off their to-do list. Follow up: Send a text 24 hours after a quote. "Hey, just checking if you had any questions about the deck repair quote?" Most tradies are too lazy to do this. This is how you win.
4. Stop Paying for Rubbish Leads
When you're desperate for work, it’s tempting to sign up for those sites that sell the same lead to five different tradies. You end up in a race to the bottom on price, fighting over a $150 job with four other blokes.
It’s a sucker’s game. You’ll burn through your marketing budget and have nothing to show for it but a thin profit margin. Instead of paying for every 'chance' to quote, you should focus on ways to get tradie jobs for free by building your own presence.
5. Face-to-Face Networking (The Old School Way)
In Brisbane, word of mouth is still king. If you’re a plumber, go talk to the local real estate property managers in your suburb. They are always looking for reliable tradies who actually show up when they say they will.
Don't just drop off a card. Bring a box of donuts or a six-pack of decent beer. Tell them, "I’ve just gone out on my own, I’m hungry for work, and I’ll guarantee I’ll be there within 2 hours for emergencies."
One good relationship with a property manager in a suburb like Indooroopilly can keep your ute moving five days a week.
6. Strategic Pricing (Not Cheap, Just Smart)
Don't be the cheapest guy in town. The "cheap" customers are usually the biggest nightmares—they’ll complain about everything and won't leave a good review anyway.
Instead, offer an "Introductory Offer." "Free safety inspection with every switchboard upgrade." "$50 off your first service for Morningside residents."
This gives them a reason to choose you over the guy with 50 reviews without you looking like a 'budget' option. Successful electricians charge more because they sell value and reliability, not just the lowest hourly rate. Even without reviews, you can position yourself as a premium service through your communication and presentation.
7. The First 5 Reviews: The Hardest Part
You need to get to 5 reviews as fast as humanly possible. Google doesn't even show your star rating properly until you have a few.
Family and Friends: Did you do a tap for your auntie? Ask for a review. Did you help a mate move a power point? Ask for a review. The 'Ethics' Rule: Don't buy fake reviews from overseas. Google will catch you and ban your business profile, and then you’re truly stuffed. The Script: When you finish a job and the customer says, "Thanks mate, looks great," that is your moment. Say: "No worries! Look, I’ve just started this business and reviews are like gold for me. If I sent you a link, would you mind taking 30 seconds to leave me a quick one?"
8. Facebook Groups: The Gold Mine
Every Brisbane suburb has a "Community Hub" or "Residents Group" on Facebook. These are gold mines for new tradies.
But don't just spam them with "Hire me." Wait for someone to ask, "Can anyone recommend a good painter in Sandgate?"
Jump in and say: "Hi, I’m [Name] from [Business Name]. I’ve just started my own local outfit after 12 years in the trade. I’m just around the corner and can come give you a free quote this afternoon if you like?"
Being local and being fast beats having 100 reviews every time.
9. Google Business Profile: Your Digital Shopfront
Even with zero reviews, you MUST have a Google Business Profile. It’s free.
Photos are your reviews: Take 20 photos of your work every week. Take photos of your van, your tools, and your smiling face. A profile with 50 photos and 0 reviews looks much more trustworthy than a profile with 0 photos and 0 reviews.
- Service Area: Clearly list your suburbs. Don't just say "Brisbane." List "Paddington, Milton, Auchenflower, Red Hill." It helps Google show you to people in those specific spots.
10. Summary: What to do in your first 30 days
1. Week 1: Get your Google Business Profile live and upload 20 photos of past work. Build a simple, fast website that works on phones. 2. Week 2: Hit the pavement. Visit 10 local real estate agents or complementary tradies (e.g., if you’re a tiler, talk to a plumber). 3. Week 3: Scour Facebook community groups. Answer every enquiry within 5 minutes. 4. Week 4: For every job you win, ask for that review before you leave the driveway.
Marketing a new trade business isn't about complex 'algorithms' or 'branding.' It’s about being the most professional, most responsive, and most visible bloke in your local area.
If you do the work and show the results, the reviews will follow. But you don't need to wait for them to start making money.
Ready to get your phone ringing? At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane tradies stop chasing leads and start owning their local market. We don't do fluff—we focus on the stuff that actually puts money in your bank account.
Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s get your business moving.