Google Ads for Tradies: A Starter Plan

Google Ads can be the fastest way for Australian tradies to generate qualified leads, but it's also the fastest way to waste money if you don't understand the fundamentals. Unlike SEO, which takes months to show results, Google Ads can deliver qualified leads within 24 hours—if you target the right keywords, write compelling ads, and optimize for local intent.

Why Google Ads Work for Australian Tradies

Google processes over 2 billion local searches daily, with "near me" searches growing 250% year-over-year. When someone searches "emergency plumber near me" or "electrician Sydney," they're showing high commercial intent and need immediate solutions.

For tradies, Google Ads offer immediate visibility (skip months of SEO work and appear at the top of search results today), local targeting (target specific suburbs, cities, or radius around your service area), intent matching (reach customers actively searching for your services right now), budget control (set daily limits and only pay when people click your ads), and measurable ROI (track exact lead costs and revenue generated from campaigns).

Understanding Tradie Search Intent

Australian customers search for trade services in predictable patterns. Emergency searches show high commercial intent: "emergency plumber [suburb]," "electrician near me now," "24 hour air conditioning repair," and "urgent gas fitter Sydney."

Planned project searches show medium commercial intent: "bathroom renovation [suburb]," "solar panel installation cost," "kitchen electrical upgrade," and "ducted air conditioning quotes."

Information searches show lower commercial intent: "how much does plumbing cost," "electrical safety regulations NSW," "types of air conditioning systems," and "bathroom renovation ideas."

Focus your Google Ads budget on high and medium intent keywords that indicate readiness to hire a tradie.

Campaign Structure for Australian Tradies

Campaign 1 targets emergency services (highest priority) with urgent, high-value keywords, 40% of total ad spend, target top of page positioning, and 24/7 scheduling with increased bids during peak emergency times.

Campaign 2 focuses on local service keywords (core business) targeting suburb-specific service searches, 35% of total ad spend, competitive positioning (top 3 results), and business hours with extended evening availability.

Campaign 3 handles project-based keywords (lead generation) targeting customers planning larger projects, 25% of total ad spend, cost-effective positioning (top 5 results), and business hours when you can respond to inquiries.

Keyword Research for Tradie Google Ads

Primary keywords use exact match: [emergency plumber], [electrician Sydney], [air conditioning repair], [gas fitter near me].

Secondary keywords use phrase match: "plumber in [suburb]," "electrical services [area]," "HVAC installation [city]," "bathroom renovation [suburb]."

Long-tail keywords use modified broad match: +emergency +plumber +Sydney +CBD, +electrician +near +me +commercial.

Essential negative keywords include: DIY, training, course, job, career, apprentice, free, cheap, wholesale, supply only.

Ad Copy That Converts for Tradies

Use this headline formula: Line 1: [Service] + [Location] + [Urgency/Benefit], Line 2: [Unique Selling Proposition] + [Call to Action], Line 3: [Social Proof] + [Contact Method].

Emergency service ad example: Headline 1: Emergency Plumber Sydney - 24/7 Response, Headline 2: Licensed & Insured - Same Day Service Guaranteed, Headline 3: 500+ 5-Star Reviews - Call Now: (02) 9000 0000.

Include specific service areas and suburbs, mention licenses, insurance, and certifications, add unique selling propositions (free quotes, same day service, warranty), include clear call-to-action with phone number, and use local landmarks or area-specific details.

Budget Planning for Tradie Google Ads

Small tradie businesses ($1,000-2,000/month) should allocate emergency services: $600-800/month, local services: $300-600/month, project keywords: $100-400/month, and testing budget: $100-200/month.

Medium tradie businesses ($3,000-5,000/month) should allocate emergency services: $1,500-2,000/month, local services: $1,000-1,500/month, project keywords: $800-1,200/month, and testing and expansion: $300-500/month.

Target cost per lead of $50-150 depending on service type, conversion rate of 3-8% for service-based ads, quality score of 7+ for cost efficiency, and return on ad spend (ROAS) of 300-500% minimum.

Google Ads success for tradies requires ongoing optimization, clear tracking, and patience to test what works for your specific market. Start small, measure everything, and scale what's profitable while cutting what's not working. With proper setup and management, Google Ads can become your most reliable source of qualified leads.