Marketing agency for tradies vs Buzzlink: which role do you need?
An agency manages strategy and campaigns; a platform handles enquiry capture and follow-up. Compare scope and costs before choosing either — or using both.
- Agency retainerScope-based quote
- Buzzlink Core$149/mo ex GST
- Next Level AI$297/mo ex GST
- Unlimited AI$597/mo ex GST
Core: optional $497 done-for-you setup. AI tiers: $497 one-time onboarding (required) ex GST. Usage and advertising spend are separate; check the pricing page for full terms.
What a trades marketing agency should actually deliver.
If these six things aren't in the proposal, you're buying activity rather than booked jobs.
Google Business Profile management
Weekly posts, service and area optimisation, review responses. This is where the local leads live.
Google Ads managed to cost per job
Keyword and negative management, call tracking, and reporting on booked jobs rather than clicks.
Conversion-tuned website
Pricing visible, sticky phone number, short forms, plus service and suburb pages that can rank.
Review generation system
Automated review requests triggered off job completion — not a monthly reminder to ask.
Lead-response automation
Missed-call text-back, AI call answering and quote follow-up sequences. This is where most revenue hides.
Reporting you can act on
Leads, answered calls, booked jobs and cost per job. Not impressions, reach or 'engagement'.
Warning signs before you sign anything.
12-month lock-in contracts with no performance break clause
The agency owns your website, domain, Google Ads account or phone numbers
Reporting built on impressions, reach and clicks instead of booked jobs
Guaranteed #1 rankings — nobody can promise Google placement
No trades clients they'll let you speak to
Ad spend bundled into the retainer so you can't see the real media cost
Agency retainer or platform subscription: compare like for like.
For your wider channel strategy, start with marketing for tradies. A platform subscription is not a substitute for bespoke campaign strategy or media spend.
Hire an agency when…
- You already answer and follow up every lead
- Your budget supports the quoted scope
- You need ongoing Google Ads and SEO management
- You want creative, brand and campaign strategy
Fix the leaks first when…
- Calls go to voicemail while you're on the tools
- Quotes get sent and never followed up
- You have no consistent review-request process
- You don't know your cost per booked job
Buzzlink Connect does this part: AI call answering, missed-call text-back, review automation and quote follow-up — no lock-in, 14-day free trial.
Related guides.
Marketing for Tradies
Costs, channels and the 90-day plan you can run yourself.
Read the Marketing for Tradies guideTradie Advertising
Every advertising channel compared on cost, speed and ROI.
Read the Tradie Advertising guideSEO for Tradies
What good SEO looks like so you can hold an agency to it.
Read the SEO for Tradies guideGoogle Ads for Tradies
Understand the ad account you're paying someone to manage.
Read the Google Ads for Tradies guideMarketing agencies for tradies — your questions.
What does a marketing agency for tradies do?
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An agency can provide strategy, content, creative and campaign management under an agreed scope. Buzzlink is a conversion platform for capture and follow-up. They solve different problems and can be used together.
How much does a marketing agency cost compared with Buzzlink?
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Agency retainers are quoted for the scope, team and campaign workload; request an itemised proposal rather than assuming a market rate. Buzzlink Core is $149/month ex GST with optional $497 done-for-you setup. Next Level AI is $297/month and Unlimited AI is $597/month ex GST, each with required $497 one-time onboarding ex GST. Check usage separately; ad spend and agency management are not the same as a platform subscription.
When should a tradie hire an agency rather than use a platform?
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Choose an agency when you need ongoing strategy, creative, SEO or paid campaign management. Choose a conversion platform when you need a consistent enquiry and follow-up process. If both are missing, budget for both roles.
What should I check in an agency proposal?
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Check deliverables, media spend, management fees, account ownership, notice periods, setup or transfer fees and reporting. Ask for evidence you can verify rather than accepting guaranteed rankings or revenue claims.
How should I judge an agency’s work?
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Agree on reporting and review points before signing. Track qualified enquiries, answered calls, bookings and cost per booked job, alongside the campaign and content work delivered. Results depend on demand, competition and your own response process.
Get a straight answer, not a pitch.
Book a free discovery call and we'll tell you honestly whether you need an agency, a platform, or just to answer the phone.