If you’re a plumber, electrician, landscaper or handyman, you’ve probably been told you need Google or Facebook ads. You’ve also probably been burned, or you know someone who has. Maybe an agency took your money, sent a vague report and disappeared. Maybe a lead platform sold the same enquiry to four of your competitors.
Hiring someone to run your ads is one of the best decisions a trades business can make. It’s also one of the easiest to get wrong. Here’s a checklist so you pick well.
1. Do you own the ad account?
This is the big one. You should own your Google Ads and Meta accounts, with the manager given access. Some agencies run everything on their own account, so if you leave you lose your history and data. Ask the question straight out: “If I stop working with you, do I keep my account?“
2. Is there a lock-in contract?
Good ad management earns your business every month. Be cautious of 6 or 12 month lock-ins, especially when results haven’t been proven. Month-to-month is a sign the person is confident in what they deliver.
3. Who actually does the work?
With a big agency you often meet a sales rep, then get handed to a junior account manager who’s running dozens of accounts. Ask: “Who will be touching my campaigns day to day?” and “Who do I call when something’s wrong?” If the honest answer is “a team”, you may never speak to the person who understands your business.
4. Do they understand trades?
Advertising a plumber is different to advertising a boutique clothing store. Ask for examples in similar local, high-intent businesses. A good manager should already know about emergency searches, service areas, missed calls and seasonal spikes.
5. Will they track calls and booked jobs?
Clicks and impressions are vanity numbers. Ask how they’ll track phone calls, form fills and, ideally, booked jobs. If the report is mostly impressions and click counts, walk away.
6. What happens after the click?
Ads only send people to you. A fast, clear landing page and quick follow-up decide whether you win the job. Ask whether they’ll also fix the page and set up an instant text reply for new enquiries. See how it works in my marketing automation guide.
7. Is the pricing clear?
You should know exactly what you’re paying for management and what the ad budget is, separately. Be wary of hidden fees, markups on ad spend, or “setup fees” that are never explained. My budget guide for tradies shows what’s normal.
Red flags
- They guarantee “#1 on Google” or a specific number of leads
- They won’t show you who’s behind the business
- The report is full of jargon and short on results
- They push you to spend more before explaining what the first budget achieved
- They resell shared leads and call it advertising
Why a solo specialist can beat a big agency
I’m biased, but I run Ciao.Marketing on exactly this model. You work with me directly. I’ve spent over 10 years building websites and running ads, and when a project needs extra hands, I bring in specialists I’ve worked with for years while staying your single point of contact. I explain how that compares in detail on my About page.
For a tradie, that usually means faster replies, no layers, honest reporting and someone who treats your business like their own.
What I’d do for you
I run Google Ads and Meta ads for trades across Australia. You own your accounts, there’s no lock-in, and I’ll track calls and booked jobs so you can see the real return. If your trade has its own page, take a look at my work with plumbers and electricians.
Book a free strategy call and I’ll tell you honestly what I’d do and what it should cost, even if the answer is “not yet”.