Why Most Brisbane Business Owners are Working Too Hard for Zero Results
I see it every single week. A landscaper in Coorparoo or a solicitor in the CBD spends three hours on a Sunday night trying to write a 'blog post' or a Facebook update because someone told them they 'have to be online.' They hit post, get three likes from their mum and their cousin, and then... nothing. No phone calls. No new quotes. Just wasted time.
If you are creating something new every time you want to post on Facebook, Instagram, or your website, you are flushing money down the toilet.
In the marketing world, people call this 'content repurposing.' In the real world, I call it getting your money's worth.
If you buy a high-quality piece of timber, you don't use the offcuts for firewood; you find a way to use them for the trim or the shelving. Your business knowledge is the same. One good story about a job you did can—and should—be used ten different ways to bring in more customers.
The "One and Done" Trap
Most small business owners treat their online presence like a treadmill. They think they need to come up with a brand-new, ground-breaking idea every single day.
Here’s the truth: Your customers aren't hanging on your every word. They are busy. They missed your post on Tuesday. They didn't see your email on Wednesday. By taking one good idea and spreading it across different places over a few weeks, you aren't being annoying—you're being smart. You're making sure the person who needs your help actually sees that you know what you're talking about.
Step 1: Start with a "Big Win" Story
Don't start by trying to write a fancy article. Start with a result.
Think about a customer you helped last week. Let’s say you’re an electrician and you saved a family in Carindale a fortune by finding a fault that three other sparkies missed. That is gold. That story proves you are better than the cheap guys.
Instead of just saying "We do electrical repairs," you write down that story. That is your "Master Version."
From that one story, we can generate: 1. A detailed post for your website (Google loves these). 2. Three short tips for Facebook about what to look for in faulty wiring. 3. A before-and-after photo for Instagram. 4. A quick email to your existing database reminding them to get their safety switches checked.
When you track your real profit from these activities, you’ll find that the time spent on that one story pays for itself ten times over because it actually results in phone calls, not just 'likes'.
Step 2: The Workflow (How to actually do it without losing your mind)
You don't need fancy software. You just need a simple system. Here is the exact workflow I’ve seen work for dozens of Brisbane businesses, from pest controllers to accountants.
1. The Long Version (15 Minutes)
Write out the story or the advice. Use list articles get customers to keep it simple. People love reading "5 Signs Your Roof is Leaking" or "3 Ways to Save on Your Tax This Year." It’s easy to read on a phone and tells the customer exactly what to do next.2. The Visuals (2 Minutes)
Take a photo of the job or a photo of you at your desk. It doesn't need to be professional. A clear photo from an iPhone 13 or newer is plenty. People want to see the face of the person they are hiring.3. The "Social Snacks" (10 Minutes)
Take three sentences from your long version. Sentence 1 is a question: "Is your aircon making a weird clicking noise?" Sentence 2 is the answer: "That’s usually a sign the motor is on its way out."- Sentence 3 is the call to action: "Give us a bell at [Your Number] and we'll come take a look."
Why This Makes You More Money
When you show up in multiple places with the same helpful message, you build something called "authority." In plain English, it means people start to trust you before they even pick up the phone.
I worked with a plumber in Morningside who was sick of competing on price. Every time he gave a quote, the customer would say, "Well, the other guy said he'd do it for $50 less."
We started taking his common-sense advice—the stuff he tells customers every day—and turning it into helpful lists and stories. Within three months, people weren't asking for discounts anymore. They were calling him because they'd seen his tips on Facebook, read his case study on his site, and decided he was the expert. They wanted the job done right, not just cheap.
This is how you win more local jobs without having to be the lowest bidder. You are selling your expertise, not just your hours.
What is a Waste of Money?
Let’s be blunt. Most "social media managers" who charge you $500 a month to post generic quotes like "Happy Monday!" or pictures of coffee cups are stealing your money.
That stuff does nothing for a local business. Nobody ever hired a roofer because they posted a nice picture of a latte.
Your content needs to solve a problem or show off a result. If it doesn't do one of those two things, don't post it. Your time is better spent out on the tools or talking to real customers.
The Checklist: From One Idea to Five Jobs
If you want to try this this week, here is your plan. Don't overthink it.
1. Identify the "Pain": What is the one question you got asked three times this week? (e.g., "How much does a new deck cost?" or "Is it worth fixing my old dishwasher?") 2. Record the Answer: Use the voice memo app on your phone while you're driving between jobs. Just talk for 5 minutes as if you're explaining it to a mate. 3. Transcribe and Clean Up: Use a free tool or just type it out. This becomes your website article. 4. Extract the Tips: Pull out 3-4 bullet points. These are your social media posts for the week. 5. The Email: Send the same 3-4 bullet points to your past customers. "Hey, just a heads up, we've been seeing a lot of [Issue] lately. Here's how to avoid it..."
How Long Until You See Results?
This isn't a magic button. If you do this once, you might get a nibble. If you do this once a week for a month, your phone will start ringing more.
By the three-month mark, you’ll notice that the people calling you are "warmer." They already feel like they know you. They aren't shopping around as much.
You can even get to a point where you turn one talk into a whole year's worth of marketing. Imagine doing one 20-minute presentation or one deep-dive interview and never having to think about "what to post" for the rest of the year. That’s the goal.
Stop Being a Content Creator, Start Being a Business Owner
You didn't start your business to become a blogger or a TikTok star. You started it to provide a service and make a profit.
Repurposing your knowledge is the only way to stay visible without it becoming a second full-time job. It’s about working smarter with the information you already have in your head.
If you’re sitting there thinking, "This sounds great, but I still don't have the time to sit down and type this out," that's where we come in. At Local Marketing Group, we take the 'brains' of your business and turn it into a system that brings in customers while you're out on the job.
We don't do 'fluff.' We don't do 'engagement for the sake of engagement.' We focus on what makes the phone ring in Brisbane businesses.
Ready to stop shouting into the void and start getting more enquiries?
Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s talk about how to make your expertise work harder for you.