Short video and social posts work for trades because the work itself is interesting to watch: a roof going on, an old panel coming out, a yard turning into a patio. A steady stream of real job-site content makes your company the familiar name before someone needs you, and it gives your website and Google Business Profile fresh, genuine material. We set up a filming routine your crew can keep, then edit, caption and publish what they capture.
What this service is
It is a production routine, not a content calendar full of stock graphics. The pieces:
- Shot lists by job type. Before, during and after; the problem the customer had; the moment it was fixed. Each clip runs 15 to 60 seconds.
- Short explainers. The owner or a senior tech answering one question customers ask every week: why a sump pump fails, what an eavestrough guard does, what affects the cost of a fence.
- Before-and-after posts for visible trades, with the customer's permission and no house numbers or faces unless they agree.
- Reuse. The same clips go to your Google Business Profile, your website project pages and your social accounts.
Who it's for
Video pays best in trades where the result is visible or the process is unfamiliar:
- Highly visual: roofing, landscaping, painting, decks and fencing, concrete and paving, renovation, flooring. Painters in particular can find more on this at Painting.Marketing.
- Process-heavy: foundations and waterproofing, windows and doors, insulation, where explaining the work builds trust.
- Urgent trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) benefit too, but mostly through explainers and crew introductions rather than before-and-after shots.
It isn't the first thing to fund if your Google profile or website is weak. Fix local SEO first, then add video.
What's included
- Kick-off. We agree on platforms, tone, what's off limits and how customer permission is recorded.
- Filming routine. A one-page shot list per job type and a short crew briefing.
- Editing. Trimming, captions (most people watch with the sound off), your logo and phone number on the end card.
- Publishing on an agreed schedule across your chosen platforms and your Google profile.
- Replies and comments monitored, with questions passed to you quickly.
- Optional paid boosts in your service area for posts that already perform well.
- Monthly reporting.
A weekly routine that survives busy season
The routines that last are small. One crew lead takes three short clips per job: the problem, the work in progress and the finished result. Clips go to a shared folder at the end of each day. Once a week we pick the strongest, edit them and schedule two or three posts. The owner records one 60-second answer to a customer question each month. That's it, and it keeps working in July when nobody has time for anything else.
Keep claims honest
Captions are advertising too. If you describe products or work as energy-saving or environmentally friendly, be ready to back it up. The Competition Bureau explains its approach on its environmental claims and greenwashing page and notes that general misleading-advertising rules still apply. This is a summary as of October 2026, not legal advice. When in doubt, we describe what was done rather than what it achieves.
Timeline
The kick-off and first shot lists take about two weeks. The first month of posts usually comes from three to five jobs. By month three the routine should run with little effort from your crew, and you'll see which formats people watch to the end.
How we measure results
We don't report likes as if they were jobs. We look at:
- views and completion rates by format, so we make more of what people actually watch
- profile visits, website clicks and messages from social platforms
- branded searches for your company name over time, a good sign of rising familiarity
- enquiries that mention seeing your videos, which your office can note when taking calls
Mistakes to avoid
- Posting stock content. It says nothing about your crew.
- Filming customers or their homes without permission.
- Long intros. If the first two seconds don't show the job, people scroll past.
- No captions. Most viewers have the sound off.
- Starting strong and stopping. Pick a pace you can keep for a year, through the slow months as well as the busy ones.
See the services overview for how video fits with everything else, or contact us to start.
Frequently asked questions
Which platforms should a trades business be on?
Start with the one your customers use and you can keep up with. For most residential trades that means Facebook and Instagram, plus YouTube for longer explainers. Your Google Business Profile should get the same photos and clips too.
Do we need professional filming?
Usually not. A modern phone, steady hands and decent light are enough for short job-site clips. We plan the shots and edit; your crew captures the moments only they can.
How often should we post?
Consistency beats volume. Two or three good posts a week, every week, does more than a burst of daily posts followed by silence for months.
Will social media bring in leads directly?
Sometimes, especially for visual project trades. More often it raises how many people recognise your name, which shows up later as more branded searches and better close rates.