In today's digital landscape, online advertising has become a game-changer for businesses looking to expand their reach and attract potential customers. Among the various advertising platforms, Google Ads stands out as a powerful tool that enables businesses, including local tradie businesses, to connect with their target audience effectively. In fact, when correctly optimised, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising returns $2 for every $1 spent—a 200% ROI—on average. This statistic highlights the immense potential and value that Google Ads can bring to your trade business. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of Google Ads and explore what strategies can be implemented with a budget of $3000NZD to run a successful Google Ads campaign for a local tradie business.

Why Google Ads

Google Ads plays a vital role in the growth of service-based businesses, especially when there is a budget available. The platform offers a targeted approach to reach potential customers actively searching for specific services. While the average cost per click (CPC) for service-based industries can be relatively high worldwide, it's essential to understand how it relates to profit on the back end. A higher CPC means a greater investment in acquiring customers, but it also signifies the potential for higher conversion rates and increased profitability. By effectively managing campaigns, optimising ad performance, and focusing on converting leads into paying customers, service-based businesses can generate a significant return on investment (ROI) and achieve long-term growth. It's a matter of finding the right balance between the cost of acquiring customers and the lifetime value they bring to the business.

If I were given $3000NZD to run a Google Ads campaign for a tradie business to generate new leads, here's how I would approach it:

Set Clear Goals:

Start by defining specific goals for the campaign. For example, the number of leads you want to generate or the target conversion rate you aim to achieve.

Identify your Target Audience:

Understand the target audience for the tradie business. Identify demographics, geographic location, and relevant keywords that potential customers might use when searching for services.

Keyword Research:

Perform comprehensive keyword research to identify relevant keywords related to the tradie business. Focus on keywords that have high search volume and indicate intent to hire a tradie. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords. Although this step can be done by anyone with the right tools, it's worth every cent to get a professional on board to get this done properly. If however that's not an option, then we'd highly recommend spending some time educating yourself on this process. If you've ever enjoyed marketing psychology and buying intent (like myself) you may find it incredibly interesting 😀

Campaign Structure:

Create a well-structured Google Ads campaign with relevant ad groups. Group keywords into tightly-themed ad groups to improve ad relevancy and Quality Score.

Compelling Ad Copy:

Write compelling ad copy that highlights the unique selling points of your tradie business. Include keywords in the ad copy to improve relevancy and attract the right audience. Use ad extensions like call extensions or site link extensions to provide additional information or increase visibility.

Landing Page Optimisation:

Ensure that the landing page(s) you direct the users to are optimised for conversions. The landing page should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) and relevant information about the tradie business. Make sure the landing page is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.

Conversion Tracking:

Set up conversion tracking to measure the effectiveness of the campaign. Track actions such as form submissions, phone calls, or other desired user interactions on the website. This will help you understand which keywords and ads are driving valuable leads.

Bid Management:

Optimise bidding strategy based on campaign goals. You can start with manual bidding and adjust bids based on performance data. Alternatively, you can use automated bidding strategies like target cost-per-acquisition (CPA) or maximise conversions if sufficient conversion data is available.

A/B Testing:

Continuously test different ad variations, landing page layouts, and calls-to-action to identify the most effective combinations. Test different ad headlines, descriptions, or even ad formats (text, display, or video) to find the winning formula.

Ongoing Optimisation:

Regularly review campaign performance, analyse data, and make adjustments as needed. Monitor keyword performance, ad click-through rates (CTRs), conversion rates, and other relevant metrics. Refine the campaign by pausing underperforming keywords or ads and allocating more budget to the best-performing elements.

Remarketing:

Implement remarketing campaigns to target users who have previously visited the website but did not convert. Show them tailored ads to re-engage and encourage them to return and complete a lead form or make a phone call.

Regular Reporting:

Regularly check reports to stay informed about campaign performance and progress towards the set goals. Use the data to derive insights and make informed decisions to optimise the campaign further.

Remember, Google Ads success requires continuous monitoring, optimisation, and experimentation. It's essential to closely track the campaign's performance, make data-driven adjustments, and iterate to improve results over time.

You’re putting in the hours, doing the graft, but still finding it hard to keep the pipeline full of good, high-paying jobs. Between quoting, running sites, and keeping on top of admin, there’s barely time to breathe — let alone figure out why your network’s drying up or how to find a new one. So, you start quoting lower just to keep things moving, blaming “quiet times” when chatting with the boys at the pub. Meanwhile, the bigger companies with flash systems and full-time marketing teams keep raking it in — building demand like they’re developing entire suburbs.

We’re tradienet. — and we’re not some ex-tradie turned digital “expert.” We’re a team of trained professionals with over 16 years of experience in eCommerce, branding, marketing, and sales. For the past four years, we’ve focused specifically on helping Kiwi and Aussie tradies get the most out of what’s available today — so you don’t get left behind and can compete confidently on the new digital stage.

We believe it’s time to level the playing field. Local, quality-focused trade businesses deserve a fair go — to compete for the same high-value work as the big players, without needing massive budgets or fancy sales teams. The market should reward skill, craftsmanship, and reliability — not just who shouts the loudest online.

That’s why we give tradies the tools, systems, and strategies to build their own steady pipeline of high-quality leads. Using modern tech and proven marketing systems, we help your business look, run, and sell like a professional operation — even while you’re on the tools. From branding and websites to automated proposal systems, we’ll help you attract higher-paying customers who value the quality of your work, not just your price. You’ll go from being the quote provider to being the consistent job winner.

💪 Ready to stop chasing work and start choosing it?

Check out our plans and packages at tradienet.nz and see how we can help your trade business take the next step.