Social Media Basics for New Business Owners in the Trades

How to use social media to grow your business. Perfect for HVAC, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, landscapers, general contractors, and all skilled trades.

Here's what actually works for growing your social media presence if you're in the trades - no dancing on TikTok required (unless that's your thing).

Platforms That Actually Matter for Trades

Not all social media is worth your time. Here's where to focus:

- Facebook: Still king for local business. Great for before/after photos and customer reviews

- Instagram: Perfect for showing off your work. People love process videos

- YouTube: Excellent for how-to videos and building trust

- NextDoor: Often overlooked but great for local reputation

- LinkedIn: Solid for commercial work and networking with builders/developers

TikTok and Twitter? Only if you've got the other platforms running smoothly first.

Content That Gets You Jobs

Here's what actually brings in business:

- Before/after photos (with good lighting!)

- Quick videos explaining common problems you fix

- Customer testimonial videos (even if they're just shot on your phone)

- Photos of your crew working (shows professionalism)

- Tips for maintaining what you install/fix

- Behind-the-scenes looks at complex jobs

Quick Tips by Trade:

- Plumbers: Film those drain cleanings - people love seeing the transformation

- HVAC: Show dirty vs. clean filters, iced coils, repair processes

- Electricians: Before/after of panel upgrades, lighting installations

- Landscapers: Time-lapse videos of projects are pure gold

- General Contractors: Project progression photos get huge engagement

Tools That Make It Easier

Don't waste time with complicated systems. These tools help:

- Canva: Free app for making professional-looking posts

- Later or Buffer: Schedule posts in advance

- Google Photos: Organize your project photos easily

- Snapseed: Quick photo editing on your phone

- Rev: Cheap captions for your videos ($1/minute)

Building Your Content Library

Start collecting these now:

- Photos of every job (before and after)

- Quick video clips of interesting repairs

- Customer testimonials (get permission!)

- Team photos

- Safety demonstration videos

- Common problem explanations

The Time-Saving Secret

Batch your content. Spend one hour each weekend:

- Picking photos of the week's best work

- Writing up content for several posts

- Scheduling content for the whole week

- Responding to comments and messages

Successful Post Ideas

- "Here's what we found behind this wall today..."

- "Watch this 20-year-old AC come back to life"

- "Why you shouldn't DIY electrical work - what we fixed today"

- "From overgrown jungle to backyard paradise in one week"

- "This is why you should clean your gutters..."

Don't overthink it - done is better than perfect.

Handling Negative Comments

Every business gets them. Here's the playbook:

- Respond quickly and professionally

- Take the conversation private

- Show how you fixed the issue

- Learn from legitimate complaints

- Don't argue online - ever. EVER!!!

The Bottom Line

Social media works best when it shows the real you and your real work. You don't need fancy equipment or professional videos. Customers want to see honest work from reliable trades. Show them that, and the follows (and jobs) will come.

Next Step

Pick one platform, post three times this week, and see what gets the most attention. Build from there. Remember, consistency beats perfection every time.

Need help? Trades CXO offers marketing services focused on the trades. Reach out for a free 30-minute consultation or email us at hello@tradescxo.com.