The basics
Most Australian service searches happen on a phone and end in a call or a quote request. Your Google Business Profile, your reviews and a fast, clear service page do most of the work.
Search by suburb, not just city. A plumber in Sydney competes across dozens of suburbs, and Google weighs how close you are to the searcher. Pages for the suburbs you really serve, with proof, help Google and customers understand your reach.
Directories worth checking
| Platform | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Everyone | Free |
| Apple Business Connect | iPhone users in Apple Maps | Free |
| Bing Places | Bing, and some AI assistants | Free |
| Yellow Pages | Broad local search | Free and paid |
| True Local | Reviews and local listings | Free and paid |
| hipages | Trades and home services leads | Paid leads |
| Oneflare | Service quotes | Paid leads |
| ServiceSeeking | Trades quotes | Free and paid |
| Word of Mouth | Reviews for trades and services | Free and paid |
Starter list. Search your main service and suburb and see which of these appear on page one. Those are the ones worth your time.
Local terms and details
- Suburb
- The unit Australians search by. “Plumber Parramatta”, not “plumber 2150”.
- Tradie
- Common in headlines and ads. Fine to use in your copy.
- Licence number
- Show your state licence number on service pages. It builds trust and is required in some states for advertising.
- en-AU spelling
- colour, licence (noun), organise. Matches how locals write and search.
Review rules
The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading conduct, and the ACCC has said that fake reviews, and hiding or selectively publishing reviews, can breach it. Ask every customer, never pay for reviews, and don’t remove negative reviews you have control over without a legitimate reason.
How to ask for Google reviews without breaking the rules covers all five countries.
Tools preset for Australia
Local Visibility Check
Score your local presence out of 100 in 2 minutes.
Local Ad Budget Calculator
Work out what a lead and a job really cost you.