Scaffold for Success: Prospecting Leads (Without Burning Cash)

For many people in the skilled trades, lead generation feels confusing, expensive, or inconsistent. This workshop breaks down realistic ways to generate leads based on your time, budget, and stage of business—without burning cash or chasing every opportunity.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll leave with:

• A realistic mix of lead sources that fits where you’re at right now
• A clear understanding of which lead-generation methods match your time, budget, and skill level
• A simple, actionable plan to start generating leads immediately

What you’ll learn:

In this practical session, we’ll cover:

• What a lead actually is—and how it becomes a paying customer
• The difference between cold, warm, and referral leads
• How follow-up, consistency, and value messaging impact conversion
• Why not all lead sources make sense at every stage of your business

We’ll break down the most common lead sources in the skilled trades and talk honestly about the time vs. money tradeoff, including:

• Networking (suppliers, other trades, trade associations)
• Cold outreach (door-to-door, calls, emails, job site visits)
• Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Websites and SEO
• Paid ads and Google search
• Print ads, flyers, and signage
• Trade shows and local events
• Referrals—and why they shouldn’t be the only plan

This workshop is ideal for:

• Folks currently working in the skilled trades
• Apprentices and journeypersons exploring independent work
• New or early-stage contractors
• Tradespeople who want more consistent work without overspending on marketing

No sales or marketing experience required.

Scaffold for Success Workshop Series

This workshop is part of Scaffold for Success, a 6-part series offered through the Venture Lab for Skilled Trades at Conestoga College. The series is built specifically to support people in the skilled trades with practical, real-world business skills, no business background required.

Each workshop focuses on tools you can apply immediately to help you build a more sustainable, professional, and profitable trades business. There is no requirement to join all of the workshops in the series.

You can attend individual workshops or take part in the full series to build a stronger foundation for long-term success in the trades.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Conestoga College Entrepreneurship Collective