Simplified Tradie Marketing

I caught up with Simplified Sparky mentee Dave Brearley for a quick chat about starting his electrical business.

Most electricians don't need to look national. They need to look trusted. A 1300 number or flashy branding can push away the small local jobs that keep your service work flowing. And those little jobs turn into switchboards, EV chargers and long term clients. Drop the vanity. Build trust.

Most service electricians think they work eight hours a day. They don't. By the time you factor in driving, quoting, suppliers, and inefficiencies, you're lucky to bill five or six. If your hourly rate isn't built around real billable hours, you'll stay busy and broke. This episode breaks down the maths every sparky needs to face.

As an electrician our bodies break down, get stiff. We need to stretch. I attempted to but it has too much friction. 

Capability statements get thrown around like they're mandatory, but no one ever asks who they're actually for. This episode is about context, not tactics. Different sparky games, different rules. If you're an electrician copying what everyone else is doing and hoping it fixes your quotes, this'll make you stop and think.

My electrical business is boring. Same residential service work, same quoting systems, same client typw, week in, week out. And that's exactly why it's profitable. This episode came from watching Mr. G's burg. Repetition makes electrical work easier to systemise, reduces mistakes on jobs, and creates predictable cash flow. Boring isn't failure. Most of the time, it's a well-run electrical business.

Electricians - Watch the YouTube video HERE__

The only person who feels good about an unnecessary discount for your sparky work is the client. I walk through two real examples:A power pole install and a client's “30 under 30” discount!  This episode is about confidence in pricing, understanding where your profit actually comes from, and why uncalculated discounts quietly destroy your bottom line. If you've ever knocked money off just to feel better in the moment, this will make you rethink it.

Took on a smart lighting job I wasn't ready for. Everything went sideways. This episode's for sparkies jumping into solar, Level 2, or builder work before they've nailed their quoting, pricing, and systems. If your business isn't running smooth, don't add more. Fix the engine first, then change lanes.

Some people lift you. Some people wreck you. I lost my wallet, got it back. Sold a watch, nearly got robbed. Made me realise... your whole electrical business, mood, and drive comes down to who's around you. Clients. Mates. Staff. One bad vibe and it all gets harder.

Quoting $2.8K worth of work before breakfast from a balcony on the Gold Coast. How i do my electrical quotes. All in your business systems. 

Cancelled jobs, and why work “comes and goes.”I break down what's actually happening behind the scenes, and why this thinking keeps trades stuck in feast-or-famine cycles.If your workload feels unpredictable, this episode will make a lot of sense.

Why Kevin the Electrician has closed his electrical business...

Most sparkies scale a loss. They hire too early, pay themselves last, and trust a bank balance that's full of lies. This episode is about fixing that. Real wages. Real systems. Real business. If you're still guessing what you earn each week, you're already losing.

Had the cleaners in. They scratched my black taps down to brass. Got me thinking, how many clients go quiet ‘cause your staff quietly f**k up? In this episode, I talk about what that slip costs you, and why electricians need to get ruthless about experience and quality control.

AI used to make you look sharp, but now every second enquiry sounds like a robot typed it. And sparkies are copping the fallout. In this episode, I talk about the rise of AI-generated leads, why clients are outsourcing their brains, and how it's making some electricians look lazy without even realising it. More importantly, I explain why real personality, real language, and human connection are about to matter more than ever for electrical businesses.

Are you going to be in the same place this time next year or have a thriving electrical business?Join the waitlist 

December turns every electrician's phone/emails into a nightmare, and everyone suddenly wants miracles two weeks before Christmas. In this episode I talk about the panic of juggling last-minute jobs, nearly losing two solid electrical projects, and why honesty beats anxiety every time. If you're a sparky stressing about the Christmas rush, capacity, clients and keeping your sanity, this will help you breathe and set better boundaries heading into the break.

New Points:https://www.americanexpress.com/en-au/benefits/rewards/membership-rewards/updates/

Bunnings. Bluey. Merch everywhere. This one's about how cartoons are billion-dollar sales machines — and what sparkies can learn from it. It's not just marketing, it's positioning. So if your marketing you electrical business in the wrong place… you're cooked. 

I've thrown money at a few sponsorships over the years as an electrician, and looking back, most of it never moved the needle for my electrical business. In this episode I talk honestly about what happened when I sponsored a local soccer team, slapped my logo on a rally car, and watched other sparkies set up fancy market stalls hoping for leads. Some things look like marketing, but they're really just expensive ego boosts. If you're a sparky trying to build a proper business engine, this one will get you thinking differently about where your money actually works for you.

In this episode I dive into something most sparkies ignore until it bites them halfway through their business — trademarks, business names, and why ripping off big-brand logos or choosing a name without doing your homework can destroy your company overnight. I share real examples, mistakes I've seen (and nearly made myself), how to check if a name is safe, why trademarking is actually cheap, and how protecting your brand now can save your entire business later.

Feature Episode: Inside Strip Back PodcastIn this special feature, I join Steven and Keith from The Inside Strip Back Podcast — two Dublin electricians doing an incredible job highlighting stories from the trades. The journey from apprentice to business owner in Australia

Sometimes it's not bad luck. It's just you running on empty. Here's why blaming the world gets you nowhere in business or life.

Some clients your sparky business attract are like drink drivers — they've done it wrong for years and think it's fine. Here's how to spot them, stop attracting them, and fix your messaging before they waste your time.Insight: Stripped back podcast S8 E1 - Unlocking business potential with Alan Collins:

Electricians! Tagging other sparkies and brands won't win you clients — it'll lose them. Be selfish. Protect your brand. Promote you.

Stop winging it. Every part of your electrical business needs a system — from quoting to collecting payments. Keep it simple, stay consistent, and watch your profit grow.

Got a lead today for my electrical business — looked normal, until I saw the link. It came straight from ChatGPT.

Electricians! This is a follow on from part one... I got offered a “dream job” from a house flipper — until their coach told me what I should charge. Months later, the place fell apart.This one's about spotting red flags early, walking away from bad clients, and knowing your worth before someone else prices it for you.

Electricians are you attracting tight ass clients? Learn to spot them, avoid them, and build a business around people who actually value your work.

Weasel words kill trust and loose jobs.In this episode, I call out the corporate jargon and clichés that make electricians sound like wankers instead of humans. Cut the fluff, talk normal, and you'll win more work — simple as that.

Ever talked yourself out of soem electrical work by giving clients way too much detail? I share why oversharing kills sales — from flights with Malaysia Airlines to lifting roof sheets on an oven install. The key? Stop selling the journey. Sell the destination.

Got another “exclusive directory” email? Don't take the bait. In this episode, I share the scam, the red flags, and how I got stung myself years ago. If your business is listed on page six of Google, you're not getting leads — you're getting robbed.

Starting your own electrical business is never about the “perfect time” — because it doesn't exist. In this episode, I break down why overthinking kills momentum, what the midwit theory teaches us, and how to actually prepare so you can take the leap with confidence.

Clients don't run on your timeline. Just because someone ghosts you for weeks or even months doesn't mean the lead's dead. In this episode, I share a story that proves why follow-up systems matter — and why “no” is the only real end of the line for your electrical business.

I share three stories highlighting the power of responsiveness, quality service, and reliability. Learn how small jobs can lead to bigger opportunities and how cheap shortcuts hurt your reputation.  Work with Alan - Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

I got an email this week that looked like a golden ticket... but I've seen this game before. What feels like opportunity is often just builders fishing for numbers, burning sparkies' time and money. This episode is a reality check on where your quotes are really going. Work with Alan - Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Being flat out doesn't always mean making bank. Too many sparkies hire staff without systems, scale chaos, and end up with more stress + less profit.In this week's pod I spaek the “busy bubble” — why being busy is NOT the same as being successful, and how to actually build a business that gives you profit and freedom. Work with Alan - Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Bonus episode helping you point hack your business to complement your Lifestyle. American Express - Platinum Referral LINKAmerican Express - Expolrer Referral Link Work with Alan - Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

The biggest trap electricians fall into: wasting time on logos, slogans, and button colours instead of what actually makes money. If you're stuck in distractions, this episode will snap you back on track.Get on the list

I've run my electrical business stress-free while travelling - thanks to virtual assistants. In this episode, I share exactly how I use VAs for phones, admin, and lead management, plus my simple system for training them. You'll also hear my “Three-Lancer Technique” for finding the perfect VA without wasting time or money.The Electricians Virtual Assistant FINDER DOCIntereted in working with Alan? Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Check out Fordie's stuff below ⬇️Spark Your Interest podcastLock out and Live======Intereted in working with Alan? Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Show Notes:BNI can open doors, but not always the ones you want. Here's my honest take after attending a few meetings and why most of those cards end up in the bin.Intereted in working with Alan? Click HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

You might hate those low-paying EV charger installs for your electrical business. but what if they're your Trojan horse? Don't just do the job - do it smarter.Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Picked the wrong name for your electrical business - regret it? You're not alone... I've done it twice. Here's why it matters more than you think and how to fix it without starting over.Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

I lost my best client over a painter's poor decision—and it still stings. This episode's about handling client relationships, especially when things go south, and why staying top of mind after a client moves is critical for your business. Don't let a great client forget your name just because they changed address.Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Time's the one thing you can't buy back. In this episode, I break down two recent jobs that reminded me how much time tradies waste—and how to stop it. From admin hacks to VA delegation, this one's all about taking back your day.How to find and hire a Virtual Assistant - https://simplifiedsparkyva.carrd.co/Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE

Ever stuffed up a job and thought it was game over? I've been there—more than once. In this episode, I share how fixing my own screw-ups turned pissed-off clients into loyal ones.Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE3. Join my FREE Skool community HERE

EOFY is here, and I'm sharing a few hard-earned lessons from my own electrical business. From costly mistakes to smarter money moves – this one might just change how you handle tax time.Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE3. Join my FREE Skool community HERE

After nearly two months in the dark, my Google Business Profile is finally back—but it came with a few hard lessons. I break down what went wrong, how I got it reinstated, and what you need to know to avoid the same headache. Youtube Video - The simplified sparky mentorship HERE 1. The Electricians Guide to Profitable Clients HERE 2. Follow on Instagram - HERE3. Join my FREE Skool community HERE