There’s a common myth that working a lot equals success.
This applies to all sorts of businesses, but it’s especially common amongst tradies. Some believe that being overworked means more jobs, meaning they’re bringing in more money.
If you ask us however, a smart worker surpasses an overworked one. Every. Single. Time.
We’re not trying to bash hard work, not at all! But there are better ways of doing things. After all, what’s the point of working yourself to the bone if you can’t enjoy the rewards?
This is especially challenging for tradies. The vast majority of your work is extremely physical. You spend a lot of time on the road. You might not get much downtime if you offer out-of-hours and emergency services.
Fortunately, we’re here for you! We’ve put together a couple of necessary changes to set you on the path of working smarter. Who knows, these tips might even help you net a bit of additional growth and profitability too!
Secret #1: It’s all about communication
They say time is money. And when it comes to saving time, communication is your secret weapon!
When we say communication, we don’t just mean communicating with clients, but communicating with your “people” too: apprentices, subcontractors; the whole lot.
Not only does this allow you to keep tabs on what jobs they’re doing, but it also means they can reach you if things don’t go according to plan.
To have an effective communication system, you’ll need to start by laying smart ground rules:
- How often should your people check in with you (if at all?), and vice versa?
- What counts as an emergency, and what can they resolve themselves?
- When are your people justified in calling you for help?
Miscommunication and assumptions have no place in a smart tradie’s business.
Secret #2: Manage your workflow
Jobs. Quotes. Paperwork. Invoicing. Tight deadlines. Managing all the everyday tasks that come with running a tradie business is definitely a challenge.
To get things done, managing your workflow and setting up systems to keep on top of your work is a must. Think of it like your toolbox or workstation – you wouldn’t haphazardly leave things lying around or leave their workstation cluttered and untidy.
Knowing how to organise and prioritise tasks makes for smarter tradies. Start by keeping an organised schedule or a to-do list so you don’t miss anything.
Important documents such as quotations and contracts should be filed correctly and not be misplaced so as to avoid anything that could damage one’s reputation.
Another thing you can think about is using project management tools to make your life easier. Job management apps can help you set tasks, schedule and even fill in paperwork. Even better, apps like Asana give you the power to do this even when you’re out on the road.
Secret #3: Manage your money
Not everybody is born with a head for numbers – and that’s okay!
It’s believed that poor finances are to blame for 82% of all business failures.
Yes, when it comes to your finances, things can go downhill quickly if you don’t have a well thought-out bookkeeping system in place.
The most successful tradies are the ones that are smart with managing their money – they keep tabs on their finances and cashflow.
Another piece of advice: instead of diving head-first into new opportunities, think things through first. Can you afford to do this? What do you stand to gain? Can your tradie business take the hit if this fails?
You don’t have to do this alone. We strongly recommend all tradespeople talk to a bookkeeping professional to keep tabs on their finances.
And if you can’t afford that, there are plenty of affordable bookkeeping solutions like MYOB or Xero which can help you manage the financial side of your business.
Secret #4: why tradie marketing needs to go digital
In the old days, you might have “sold” yourself using newspaper ads, Yellow Pages, and maybe even a sponsorship at the local Auskick club.
That was then. Nowadays, we are increasingly looking to the web for all our needs – if you want to succeed long-term, that’s where your tradie marketing need to be.
Smart tradespeople know that staying offline isn’t doing them any favours when it comes to building a thriving tradie empire. You need to be up-to-date with the digital world if you want to reach more customers.
Simply put, digital marketing strategies change the game for tradespeople:
- More people finding your business
- Make a positive first impression
- Builds a profile for yourself
- Builds a brand for your business
Having an updated website and being searchable on the web can work wonders on how much business you bring in. Effective digital marketing strategy that would get you to the right clients faster – if you don’t have a web-presence already, you need one, ASAP!
We know, we know. Tradie marketing is hard, especially when you have a dozen different ad channels and campaigns going on at once. So hand it off to someone who knows what they’re doing!
Be a smart tradie today with smart tradie marketing!
These are just some of the ways you can work smarter as a tradie. By no means is this list exhaustive.
But if you find yourself going out to jobs in the evenings, or filling out quotes over the dinner table, then these pointers can be a good start.
Getting started with managing time and communication is pretty intuitive. The world of digital marketing on the other hand… well, that’s a completely different story!
If you feel overwhelmed by all the jargon, let a professional guide you through every step of the process. iFormat helps tradies work smart by managing all of their online presence, from web design and development to rock-solid SEO strategies that lead to sustainable growth.
We’ve worked with countless tradies in achieving their business goals and delivering the results they want.
Contact iformat today on 1300 88 64 50 or fill in this form to smarten-up your tradie marketing!