In 2026, a tradesperson without an online presence loses jobs every day — without even knowing it. Here's a practical guide to building and protecting your online reputation.
The platforms that really matter
1. Google Business Profile — the absolute priority
That's where 87% of local searches end. A complete Google profile with recent reviews is your best sales argument.
What you need: recent photos of your jobs, up-to-date hours, verified phone number, replies to every review.
2. Local directories — still useful for older customers
Older customers (60+) still use local directories. If you do a lot of work for older homeowners, an up-to-date listing is worth it. Free.
What you can ignore
- —Yelp — barely used in Europe
- —Tripadvisor — for restaurants, not tradespeople
- —Instagram — time-consuming, low ROI unless you do high-end renovation
The most expensive reputation mistakes
Ignoring negative reviews — an unanswered review tells future customers you don't care about problems.
Blurry or missing photos — a well-photographed job is worth more than ten text reviews.
No systematic review request — unhappy customers leave reviews spontaneously, happy ones only do so when asked.
A simple 3-step system
- Complete Google profile — photos, hours, description with your specialities and area
- Automatic review request — after every job, via Artisavis or manually
- Reply to every review — within 48 hours, positive and negative