Most tradies have a Facebook page. Some have had one for years. And if it's working for you — great, keep it. But if you're using it as a substitute for a proper website, you're leaving money on the table every single week. Here's the honest breakdown.
How Customers Actually Find a Tradie in 2026
Before we compare Facebook and websites, let's talk about what actually happens when someone needs a tradie in Melbourne.
They pick up their phone and type something into Google. "Plumber Footscray." "Electrician Ringwood." "Painter inner north Melbourne." They look at the first few results, click on one or two, check if the business looks legit, and make a call.
That's it. That's the whole process.
Facebook pages almost never appear in those Google search results. Google favours websites. If your only online presence is Facebook, you are invisible to the majority of people searching for a tradie right now.
What Facebook Does Well
Facebook is not useless. Let's be fair about it.
It's good for staying in front of people who already know you. Past customers, local community groups, word-of-mouth referrals. If you post regularly — photos of jobs, before and afters, the occasional update — you stay top of mind with your existing network.
Facebook reviews are also useful. A lot of homeowners check a tradie's Facebook reviews before calling. That social proof matters. And it's free, which is hard to argue with.
The problem is when tradies treat it as a replacement for a website rather than a complement to one.
What Facebook Cannot Do
Here is where the comparison gets real.
Facebook does not rank on Google for local searches. This is the big one. When someone searches "electrician near me" or "plumber St Kilda", Google returns websites — not Facebook pages. If you are not on Google, you are not in the running.
You do not own your Facebook page. Meta owns it. They can change the algorithm tomorrow and cut your organic reach in half — and they have done exactly that, multiple times over the past decade. Your website, on the other hand, is yours. No one can touch it.
Facebook reach is shrinking. Organic reach on Facebook business pages has been declining for years. Unless you're paying for ads, most of your followers never see your posts. The platform has made it increasingly difficult for businesses to reach their own audience without paying for the privilege.
Facebook is not built for converting new customers. It's a social platform. People scroll through it passively — they're not in buying mode. A website is visited by people who are actively searching for what you offer: high intent, ready to pick up the phone.
What a Website Does That Facebook Never Will
A proper tradie website works for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether you're on a job, driving between sites, or at home.
Google visibility. A well-built website with local SEO means you show up when someone in your suburb searches for your trade. That is the most valuable real estate in marketing — someone actively looking for exactly what you do, right now.
Credibility on demand. When a potential customer lands on your site, they see your work photos, your services, your coverage area, and your contact details — all in one place, on your terms. It tells them you're a legitimate business.
A quote request form. How many leads do you miss because someone couldn't be bothered calling? A simple form lets them send a message at 10pm on a Tuesday when they've just realised they've got a leak. You wake up to a lead in your inbox.
Full control over your message. Your website says exactly what you want it to say, in the order you choose, with the photos you select. No algorithm decides whether people see it or not.
The Real Answer — You Need Both
This is not an either/or question. The tradies doing well online in Melbourne are not choosing between Facebook and a website. They have both — and they use them for different things.
| Website | Facebook Page | |
|---|---|---|
| Ranks on Google | ✓ Yes | ✗ Rarely |
| You own it fully | ✓ Yes | ✗ Meta owns it |
| Captures new customers | ✓ Yes | ✗ Mostly existing network |
| Works 24/7 | ✓ Yes | ✗ Algorithm-dependent |
| Quote request form | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Keeps existing audience warm | — Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Customer reviews | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free to run | ✗ Hosting cost | ✓ Free |
They work together. Facebook keeps your current audience warm. Your website brings in brand new customers who have never heard of you.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Say you're a painter based in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Someone in Balwyn needs their house painted before they put it on the market. They go to Google, type "painter Balwyn Melbourne", and see three results.
Tradie A has a website with photos of similar jobs, a clear services page, and a quote form. Tradie B has a Facebook page with some posts from eight months ago. Tradie C has nothing online at all.
How to Get Started Without the Hassle
At BuildMySite, we build websites exclusively for Melbourne tradies. We know what works for your industry because it's the only industry we work in.
Fill in a short brief — 10 minutes of your time
We deliver a professional mockup within 48 hours
You approve it, we go live within 1 week
Packages start from $1,500 AUD. No ongoing lock-in contracts. No tech headaches. You focus on the tools — we handle the rest.
The Bottom Line
Facebook is useful. A website is essential.
If you're relying on Facebook alone, you're handing jobs to competitors who show up on Google. Getting a proper website does not have to be expensive, complicated, or time-consuming. It takes 10 minutes to send us your brief. We take it from there.
Free mockup in 48hrs. Pay only if you love it.