If you're an electrician, you probably get most of your work through word-of-mouth. A happy customer tells their neighbour, their neighbour calls you, and the cycle continues. It's worked for years.
But here's the thing: word-of-mouth has limits. You can't control when referrals come in. Some months are feast, others are famine. And when you're starting out or trying to grow, waiting for the phone to ring isn't a strategy.
The electricians who are consistently fully booked? They're still getting referrals - but they're also showing up when someone searches "electrician near me" at 9pm because their lights just went out.
This guide covers 5 practical digital marketing tips that don't require becoming a tech expert or spending thousands on ads. Just the basics that actually work for local trades.
1. Get a Professional Website (Even a Simple One)
Your website is your 24/7 shopfront. When someone gets your name from a friend or finds you on Google, the first thing they do is look you up online. What do they find?
A professional website doesn't need to be fancy. It needs:
- Your services (rewires, fuseboard upgrades, emergency callouts, etc.)
- Your service area
- Contact information (phone and email)
- A few photos of your work
- Maybe some customer reviews
That's it. Clean, professional, mobile-friendly. Over 70% of people check a business online before calling - if you don't have a website, or yours looks like it was built in 2005, you're losing work to electricians who do.
The good news? Many electricians have no website at all, or a terrible one. Having even a simple, professional site puts you ahead of most local competition.
And it costs less than you might think. At Zero Stress, we offer websites for electricians from £49/month - design, hosting, and updates included. No big upfront costs, no technical headaches.
2. Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile
This is free and hugely powerful for local trades. When someone searches "electrician in [your town]", Google shows a map with three businesses first - before any website results. That's the "map pack", and it's prime real estate.
To appear there, you need a Google Business Profile (it used to be called Google My Business). Here's how to make yours work harder:
- Complete every field - business name, address, phone, hours, services
- Add photos - your van, finished jobs, yourself (people like seeing who they're hiring)
- List all your services - be specific: "fuseboard upgrades", "EICR testing", "emergency electrician"
- Keep it updated - especially your hours and phone number
- Post occasionally - a finished job photo, seasonal tips ("check your outdoor lights before winter")
This alone can generate calls without spending a penny on ads. Most electricians either haven't claimed their profile or haven't optimised it - easy opportunity.
3. Get More Online Reviews (And Respond to Them)
Reviews are trust for people who don't know you yet. When someone's choosing between three electricians on Google, they're looking at the stars and reading what previous customers say.
The problem? Most happy customers won't leave a review unless you ask. They meant to, they just forgot. So make it easy:
Simple system: After each job, send a text or WhatsApp with something like: "Thanks for having me today! If you were happy with the work, I'd really appreciate a quick Google review - it helps other people find me. Here's the link: [your review link]"
That's it. You'll be surprised how many people will do it if you just ask.
And respond to every review - thank the positive ones personally, and address any negative ones professionally. Potential customers read your responses too.
Businesses with 10+ reviews get significantly more clicks than those with just a few. Aim to build up your reviews over time.
4. Make Sure People Can Actually Reach You
There's no point in marketing if calls go unanswered. And when you're up a ladder rewiring a house, you can't answer the phone.
This is a real problem. Studies suggest small businesses miss 20-60% of incoming calls. Each missed call could be a £200+ job walking to a competitor who did answer.
Your options:
- Voicemail - free, but most people won't leave a message (over 80% just hang up)
- Call answering service - human touch, but £100-300/month and limited hours
- AI phone assistant - answers 24/7, takes messages, gives basic info, from around £149/month
The AI option has got surprisingly good. It can answer calls professionally, tell people your service area, take a message with their details, and text or email it to you instantly. When you're busy on a job, it means you don't lose the enquiry.
We offer Voice AI setup for tradespeople - worth considering if missed calls are costing you work.
5. Add a Chat Option to Your Website
Not everyone wants to call. Younger homeowners especially prefer to message - they'll type out their question before they'll pick up the phone.
A chatbot on your website can:
- Answer common questions (service area, types of work, rough availability)
- Collect their details when you're not around
- Capture leads at 10pm when someone's planning a renovation
It's another way to be available when you physically can't be. And modern AI chatbots are much better than the clunky ones from a few years ago - they actually understand what people are asking.
Bonus: Don't Forget the Basics
Digital marketing works best alongside traditional basics:
- Business cards with your website on them
- Van signage with your phone number and website
- Ask for referrals - "If you know anyone who needs electrical work, I'd appreciate the recommendation"
- Consistency - same business name, phone number, and address everywhere online (Google, Facebook, Yell, etc.)
These small things add up.
You Don't Need to Do Everything at Once
This isn't about becoming a marketing expert or spending thousands. Start with the foundations:
- A professional website (even a simple one)
- A complete Google Business Profile
- A system for asking for reviews
Those three things alone will put you ahead of most local electricians. Everything else can come later.
We specialise in websites for electricians - simple, professional, affordable. No technical knowledge needed, no big upfront costs. If you want to chat about what would work for your business, get in touch. No pressure, no hard sell - just honest advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electricians really need a website in 2026?
Yes. Over 70% of people look up a business online before calling, even if they got your name through a referral. A professional website builds trust and makes you look established. It doesn't need to be fancy - just clean, mobile-friendly, and showing your services and contact info.
How much should an electrician spend on marketing?
You can start with almost nothing. Google Business Profile is free. A simple website can be £49-100/month. Reviews cost nothing but your time. Most local electricians don't need to spend thousands on ads - just covering the basics puts you ahead of competitors who aren't online at all.
What's the best way for electricians to get more reviews?
Ask for them. Most happy customers simply forget unless prompted. Send a text or WhatsApp after each job with a direct link to your Google review page. Keep it simple: "If you were happy with the work, I'd really appreciate a quick review." You'll be surprised how many people say yes.
Is social media worth it for electricians?
It can be, but it's not essential. Facebook is useful for local community groups and showing off your work. Instagram works if you do interesting or visual jobs. But don't feel you need to post every day - your time is better spent on your website and Google profile first. Social media is a bonus, not a requirement.