Stop Wasting Money: Get More Local Customers Who Buy

# Stop Wasting Money: Get More Local Customers Who Buy

If you’re running a business in Brisbane—whether you’re a sparky in Coorparoo, a lawyer in the CBD, or you run a cafe in North Lakes—you’ve probably felt the frustration of spending money on ads or promotions that just don't work.

You see your competitors’ names everywhere. You see them popping up on Google, you see people talking about them in the local community groups, and you wonder: "Why isn't that happening for me?"

Most business owners think the answer is to spend more money. They think they need a bigger billboard, a more expensive radio spot, or to throw thousands of dollars at Facebook ads.

I’m here to tell you that’s usually a load of rubbish.

In fact, most small businesses in South East Queensland are actually throwing money down the drain by doing "location-based promotions" the wrong way. They are making simple, avoidable mistakes that mean their phone stays silent while the big guys take all the work.

Let’s look at what actually works to get people through your door or calling your mobile, and more importantly, what you need to stop doing immediately.

The Biggest Mistake: Being a "Secret Agent"

I see this all the time with tradies and service businesses. You’ve got a great business, you do top-quality work, but nobody in your own suburb knows you exist.

You might be driving your van from Chermside all the way down to Logan for a job because that’s where the lead came from, while your neighbour three doors down is hiring someone else for the exact same work.

That is a massive waste of petrol, time, and money.

If you want to grow, you need to own your backyard first. You need to be the "go-to" person in your specific area. When people think of a plumber in Morningside, they should think of you. When they need a bookkeeper in Indooroopilly, your name should be the first one that comes up.

To do this, you have to stop trying to be everything to everyone across all of Brisbane. Pick your suburbs and dominate them. When you focus your efforts locally, your travel time goes down and your profit goes up. Getting customers back yard is the fastest way to put more money in your pocket.

Mistake #2: The "Set and Forget" Google Profile

Most business owners know they need a Google Business Profile (that little map listing that shows up when someone searches for "mechanic near me").

But here’s the mistake: they set it up once, put a couple of blurry photos of their dog on it, and then never touch it again.

Google likes businesses that are active. If you haven't updated your photos in six months, Google thinks you might have closed down. If you have three reviews from 2019 and your competitor has fifty reviews from this month, who do you think the customer is going to call?

It’s not enough to just "have" a profile. You need to use it to show off your work. If you’re a builder, post a photo of that deck you just finished in Carindale. If you’re a hairdresser, show off that fresh colour you did today.

This doesn't take hours. It takes five minutes on your phone while you're having a cuppa. If you want to get phone calls through Google, you need to show people you are active, local, and reliable.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the Power of the "Local Tag"

One of the most effective local promotions costs exactly zero dollars, yet hardly anyone does it right. It’s about being helpful in your local community.

Every suburb in Brisbane has a community Facebook group. You know the ones—where people ask for recommendations for a good pest controller or complain about the bins not being picked up.

Most business owners make the mistake of joining these groups and just spamming their flyer every Tuesday. People hate that. It’s annoying, and the admins will probably kick you out.

Instead, you should be looking for people asking for help. If someone asks, "Does anyone know why my tap is leaking?", and you're a plumber, don't just say "Call me 0400 123 456."

Give them a tip. Say, "It’s probably just a worn-out washer, you can grab one at Bunnings for two bucks. If that doesn't fix it, give me a yell and I can swing by tomorrow."

Now, you aren't just a salesman. You’re the helpful local expert. Everyone else reading that thread sees that you know your stuff and you aren't just trying to gouge them. This is how you win local customers without spending a cent on advertising.

Mistake #4: Your Website Doesn't Work on Phones

I’m going to be blunt: if your website takes more than three seconds to load on a mobile phone, you are losing money every single day.

Think about how people find you. They are usually out and about, or sitting on the couch, and they realise they need something. They grab their phone, search for a service, and click the first result.

If your site is slow, or if the text is so small they have to pinch and zoom to read your phone number, they will leave. Immediately. They won't wait. They’ll just click the next guy on the list.

Your website needs to do three things very quickly: 1. Tell them you are in Brisbane (or their specific suburb). 2. Tell them what you do. 3. Give them a big button to call you or book an enquiry.

If you have a fancy intro video or a bunch of high-res photos that take forever to load, get rid of them. People want answers, not an art gallery.

Mistake #5: Offering the Wrong "Bait"

I see a lot of local shops offering "10% off" as their main promotion.

To be honest, 10% off doesn't get anyone out of their chair. If I’m buying a $50 lunch, $5 off isn't going to make me drive ten minutes to your cafe instead of the one next door.

If you’re going to run a promotion to get local people in, it needs to be high value but low cost to you.

For example, if you’re a car detailer, don't offer 10% off a full detail. Offer a "Free Rain-Repellent Window Treatment" with every wash. It costs you about $2 in materials and 5 minutes of time, but to the customer, it’s a cool extra they can't get elsewhere.

It makes them feel like they're getting a deal, and it makes you stand out from every other detailer in the area.

Mistake #6: Not Asking for the Review

We talked about Google profiles earlier, but this is the specific mistake: forgetting to ask.

Most customers are happy to leave a review if you’ve done a good job, but they simply forget. And let’s be honest, people are much more motivated to leave a review when they’re angry than when they’re happy.

This means if you don't actively ask your happy customers, your online reputation will eventually be skewed by the one person you couldn't please (we all have one of those clients!).

Make it easy for them. Send a text message as soon as the job is done. "Hey, thanks for choosing us today! If you’re happy with the work, would you mind leaving us a quick review here? [Link]"

I’ve seen Brisbane businesses double their monthly enquiries just by getting five or ten fresh reviews. It’s the ultimate "social proof" that you are a real, local business that does what it says it will do.

How Long Until You See Results?

Marketing isn't magic. If someone tells you they can get you to the top of Google tomorrow, they are lying.

However, local marketing is much faster than the big national stuff.

- The "Quick Wins": Updating your Google profile and posting in local Facebook groups can get your phone ringing within a week. - The "Mid-Term": Getting a consistent flow of reviews and fixing your website speed usually takes about 30 to 60 days to really start showing a big difference in your bank account. - The "Long Game": Becoming the "famous" local expert in your suburb takes about 6 to 12 months of consistent effort. But once you’re there, you don't have to fight for leads anymore—they come to you.

What Should You Do First?

If you’re overwhelmed, just do these three things this week:

1. Check your Google Business Profile. Make sure your hours are right and your phone number is clickable. Post one photo of a job you did this week. 2. Find three local Facebook groups. Join them as yourself (not just your business page) and look for someone asking for advice. Don't sell, just help. 3. Ask your next three happy customers for a review. Don't be shy—just tell them it really helps a local business out.

Is it Worth Paying Someone to Do This?

Look, you’re busy. You’re a tradie, a shop owner, or a professional. You should be spending your time doing what you’re good at—the work that actually pays the bills.

If you find yourself spending your Sunday nights trying to figure out how to update your website or stressing about why the guy down the road has more customers than you, it might be time to get some help.

But be careful. Don't hire a big agency that talks about "brand awareness" or "engagement metrics." You don't care about likes; you care about money in the bank.

Find someone who understands the Brisbane market and focuses on one thing: getting your phone to ring.

At Local Marketing Group, we don't do fluff. We help Brisbane small businesses dominate their local area so they can stop worrying about where the next job is coming from. We focus on practical, results-driven strategies that actually work for real people with real businesses.

If you're tired of wasting money on marketing that doesn't work and you want a plan that actually brings in customers, let's have a chat.

Reach out to us at https://lmgroup.au/contact and let’s get your business growing.

Summary of Key Takeaways:

Stop letting the big franchises take your local customers. You’re the local expert. It’s time to start acting like it.