How to Get More Clients as an Artisan in Lagos

Good at your work, but the clients aren’t coming? Discover practical ways to show your skills, get referrals and turn enquiries into bookings, plus how HANDI can help you connect with customers.

You’ve learnt the skill, bought the tools and put in the hours to get better, but the clients aren’t coming. What’s going on? You keep checking your phone, hoping the next notification is someone asking, “Are you available for a job?” It can be frustrating to know you have something valuable to offer, but not enough people know about it.

To get more clients as an artisan in Lagos, help people find you, show them your work and make it easy to book you. Clear service information, honest customer reviews and thoughtful follow-ups are good places to start. Whether you fix ACs, make furniture, clean homes or style hair, here are practical steps you can take to put your skills in front of more customers.

1. Can someone tell what you do in ten seconds?

“Contact me for your services” leaves too much guessing. Try something specific: “I install and repair kitchen cabinets in Yaba and Surulere. Send photos of the space and your location to discuss the job.” State your service, the areas you cover and how to reach you. Use this information on your business profiles and posts.

Be realistic about your service area. Accepting jobs at opposite ends of Lagos on the same afternoon can turn a promising day into several apology calls.

2. Build an artisan portfolio people can understand

Choose five clear examples of your own work. For each, explain what the customer needed and what you did. A cleaner could write: “Move-in cleaning for a two-bedroom flat. We cleaned the cupboards, bathroom fittings and floors before the new tenant unpacked.” That tells a potential customer more than “Another successful job.”

Take clear photos, ask permission before sharing customers’ spaces or faces, and leave private details out. If you are starting out, show practice work and label it honestly.

3. How can you find customers online?

Start with places you can manage consistently. You don’t have to be on every platform at once.

WhatsApp Business: Organise your services into a catalogue, with photos and clear descriptions. WhatsApp supports catalogues for services as well as products. Share useful examples on your Status, with a simple way to enquire.

Google Business Profile: If you visit customers, check Google’s service-area business guidance. Eligible businesses can list the areas they serve. If customers do not visit your business address, Google says to hide that address.

HANDI: You can also explore how HANDI connects customers with service professionals. The provider app lets you display work samples, browse service requests and send quotes. Complete your profile with the same care you put into the job itself.

4. Make enquiries easier to turn into bookings

When someone asks, “How much?”, help them take the next step. For example: “Thank you for reaching out. Please send your location, photos of the problem and your preferred date. I’ll confirm whether I need to inspect it before quoting.”

Explain any inspection fee before the visit. Your quote should separate labour, materials and transport where applicable, and state what is included. Give realistic arrival times and update the customer if you are delayed, before they start calling. “On my way” should mean you have actually left.

5. Ask for reviews and customer referrals

After a completed job, invite honest feedback. You could say: “Thank you for booking me. Would you mind leaving a short review about your experience? Here’s the link.” Google allows businesses to ask for reviews, but prohibits incentives such as discounts in exchange for them.

You can separately ask a satisfied customer to pass your details to someone who needs your service. Also consider nearby businesses with related customers. A painter could introduce themselves to an interior designer; a hairstylist could connect with a makeup artist. Show your work and agree how referrals will be handled.

6. Give customers a reason to return

Finish properly. Clean up, explain what you have done and check that the customer understands any aftercare. For services people need regularly, ask whether they would like a reminder. A useful laundry or cleaning reminder is different from sending “Happy new month, patronise me” every few weeks.

Keep a simple record of where each enquiry came from and whether it became a paid job. This helps you see which efforts bring repeat customers and bookings.

Quick questions

Can I get clients without paying for adverts?

Yes. Start with referrals, clear work samples, relevant local relationships and useful posts. These take effort, and results vary, but you can begin without an advertising budget.

Do I need a shop to join HANDI?

The provider app supports independent service professionals. Check the requirements for your category and location with HANDI’s provider team.

Put your work where customers can see it

This week, choose five work samples, improve your service description and ask a past customer for honest feedback. Ready to explore another way to reach customers? Download HANDI Provider on Google Play for Android or the App Store for iPhone, review the platform terms and complete your registration and verification.

Your next customer needs to know what you can do. Give them something clear to see.