These are the questions trades owners ask us most, usually in roughly this order: what does it cost, how long will it take, and what happens if it doesn't work. The short versions are above. Below are a few longer answers on the topics that deserve more than a paragraph.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Trades.Social cost?
Plans start at $1,999 a month on month-to-month terms, or $1,499 a month with annual billing. Elite is $3,999 a month ($2,999 annually) and Enterprise $7,999 a month ($5,999 annually), with GST/HST added for your province (GST and QST in Quebec).
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. Each plan runs month to month, and 30 days' notice is enough to stop it. Annual billing is optional and simply lowers the monthly rate.
How soon will we see results?
Posting usually starts within three to four weeks. Meaningful signals, such as messages and enquiries that mention your posts, typically take two to three months of consistent content. We don't promise a timeline for leads.
How much of my crew's time will this take?
About five minutes of filming per suitable job, spread across natural pauses. Editing and publishing are handled by us or by one person in your office in a weekly block.
We tried an agency before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Ask what went wrong first. Common causes are stock content that looked nothing like the business, no consent routine, no tracking, and lock-in contracts. We use your real work, measure enquiries, and run month-to-month so you can leave if it isn't working.
Who owns our social media pages and ad accounts?
You do. Pages, ad accounts, footage and the photo library stay in your business's name. Our access comes from you, and you can revoke it whenever you like.
Do we need customers' permission to post photos of their homes?
Ask every time and get the yes in writing, even a text. Our photo consent guide explains the routine and what to keep out of frame. It's practical guidance, not legal advice.
Can you promise a number of followers or leads?
No. Nobody can honestly promise those. We commit to a clear plan, consistent work and honest monthly reporting on what is and isn't working.
What reporting will I get?
A monthly plain-language report covering posts published, watch time, saves and shares, messages, reply times, and enquiries your office linked to social media, with our recommendation for next month.
Do you work with HVAC companies?
HVAC companies are better served by our sister site, HVAC.Social, which is built around heating and cooling seasons. Trades.Social is for other trades.
Do you install, repair or service anything?
No. We are a marketing and business consulting service, not a contractor. We never do trade work or bid on jobs.
Can you run our social media in French for Quebec?
Quebec customers must be able to get your social content in French under the province's language rules. We plan for French content from the start for any Quebec client, and the Quebec page links the official OQLF guidance.
Do you buy followers or run giveaways?
No. Bought followers don't hire you, and tag-a-friend giveaways attract people outside your service area. We focus on real local homeowners.
On cost and contracts
The plan price is one part of the cost; your crew's time and any ad budget are the others. Plans are listed on our pricing page and follow Trades.Agency's published rates. Plans are month-to-month with 30 days' notice to cancel.
The crew's time is the cost most owners underestimate. Our routines are designed around about five minutes of filming per suitable job, but that only works if crew leads actually do it. In the first month, someone in the office will also need to send consent texts and upload clips. Budget for that honestly.
Ad budgets are separate from plan fees and paid to the platforms. If you run paid social, you'll set a monthly limit and we'll report against it.
On results and timelines
Social media is a slower build than search ads. A homeowner might watch your crew's clips for months before calling. That's why we measure saves, shares, messages and what customers tell your office, not just views.
If you need calls this week, social media isn't the right first step. A tight Google Business Profile and search campaign will do more, and we'll tell you so. Our results page explains what our HVAC numbers do and don't show about other trades.
On consent and privacy
The single most common mistake we see is posting first and asking later. A customer who finds their kitchen online without being asked rarely becomes a referral source.
Our photo consent guide sets out a four-step routine: ask before the job, be specific about how images will be used, save the yes, and honour a change of mind. It also covers what to keep out of the frame, from house numbers to alarm panels. For anything unusual, check the Office of the Privacy Commissioner's guidance or ask a lawyer; we don't give legal advice.
On past agency experiences
Many owners come to us after a disappointing agency relationship. The usual story is a year-long contract, stock photos of smiling models in hard hats, posts that never mentioned the town, and reports full of "impressions" with no link to the phone.
We do things differently on purpose. Your real work, filmed by your real crew. Month-to-month terms. Reports that link posts to enquiries. And you own every account, so if you leave, you leave with everything.
On your crew and filming
Owners often worry that crews will refuse to film, or that filming will slow jobs down. In practice, most crews are fine once three things are clear: nobody has to appear on camera, filming happens during natural pauses, and clips go to a company folder rather than anyone's personal account.
It helps to pick one person per crew as the "capture lead". That person makes sure the arrival, problem, key step and finish shots happen, checks the frame for anything personal, and uploads at the end of the day. The 30-minute video routine guide sets this out in detail.
If a crew member doesn't want to be filmed, respect it. Plenty of strong trades content shows only hands, tools and the work itself.
On which platforms to use
You don't need to be everywhere. Two platforms done consistently will almost always outperform five done occasionally. For most residential trades, that means Facebook plus Instagram, or Instagram plus YouTube Shorts. Commercial trades should think about LinkedIn. Our platform playbooks explain how we choose for your trade and area.
On who we are
Trades.Social is a Canadian service in the Sedighi.ca and SAZ.ca group, based in Vancouver and led by Ali Sedighi, MBA. We are not a contractor. More on the about page.
Still have a question? Call, text or email. If it's a question other owners are likely to have, we'll add it here.