Content Creation for Restoration Businesses
Show Your Work: A Practical Guide to Getting Your Cleaning & Restoration Business Seen Online
In the cleaning and restoration game, your reputation is everything. You can do a great job on-site, but if customers don’t see what you do or understand the value you bring, you’re missing opportunities.
The good news? You don’t need to be a marketing expert or spend hours on social media to get noticed. With a few simple habits, snapping photos, sharing short videos, or telling the story behind a job, you can start getting your work seen and building trust with new clients, insurance partners, and industry peers.
This is your 101 guide to showing your work online, what to share, how to capture it, and how to make it work for your business.
Why Showing Your Work Matters
1. It builds trust
Most customers don’t understand what’s happening when they’ve had a flood, fire, or mould issue. They’re stressed and looking for answers. When they see your posts explaining what’s happening or showing real job results, they think, “These guys know what they’re doing.”
2. It helps people find you
Every time you post a photo, write a short tip, or share a project, you’re creating a digital footprint that helps Google and social media connect customers to you. It’s like leaving signposts around the internet saying, “We’re here, and we know our stuff.”
3. It strengthens your documentation
Good visual documentation isn’t just smart marketing, it’s good business practice. When you record setup progress, moisture readings, or before-and-after results, you’re building solid evidence that supports your pricing, reporting and the scope of your work.
What to Share
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The best content often comes straight from the job site. Here are simple, proven ways to show your work:
Before-and-after photos
Nothing beats visual proof. Show the job site when you arrived and when you finished. Whether it’s a water-damaged carpet, mould removal, or a clean restoration after a fire, photos speak volumes.
Tip: Always protect client privacy. Blur addresses, remove personal items, and get permission before sharing.
Short job videos
You don’t need fancy equipment, your phone is enough. Record short clips like:
Setting up drying gear after a flood
Thermal imaging showing hidden moisture
A quick “here’s what we’re doing today” video on-site
These short videos help people understand what you do, and that you do it properly.
Tips and educational posts
Simple “how-to” or “did-you-know” posts work great.
Try ideas like:
“3 Signs You Might Have Hidden Water Damage”
“Why We Use Heat Drying Instead of Just Fans”
“How to Reduce Mould Risk After Storms”
You’re not giving away trade secrets, you’re showing professionalism, knowledge and providing value.
Customer testimonials
Ask happy clients if they’d be comfortable sharing a short review. You can post it with a quick photo of the finished job. Real stories build real credibility.
Team and gear posts
People love seeing the faces and tools behind a business. Show your team setting up equipment, loading the van, or attending training. It builds trust and humanises your business.
How to Capture Visual Content That Looks Professional
You don’t need to hire a videographer, just learn a few simple tricks to make your content look clean, clear, and professional.
1. Stabilise your shots
Use a tripod or phone stand to keep your videos steady.
Even a small, flexible tripod that wraps around a chair leg or pipe works well on-site.
2. Use a clip-on microphone
Good audio makes a big difference, especially if you’re talking while machinery is running.
You can get small clip-on lapel mics that plug into your phone
They help your voice cut through background noise.
3. Keep your camera clear
Before filming or snapping photos, wipe your phone or camera lens with a clean, dry cloth. Dust, fingerprints, and moisture can easily blur the image, especially in humid restoration environments. A quick wipe makes a big difference in quality.
4. Try a time-lapse
Time-lapses are perfect for long jobs, like flood setups or demolition.
Set your phone on a tripod and record over an hour or two.
Speed it up using free apps like CapCut, InShot, or even your phone’s camera tools.
It’s a great way to show big results in just 15 seconds.
5. Film in good light
Natural light is best. If you’re indoors, film during the day and avoid harsh shadows.
For dark areas, use a small ring light or LED panel, cheap and easy to clip onto your phone.
6. Use Live photos
Use Live/Motion Photos when taking job shots. This setting captures a short 1.5-second video before and after each photo, so you can later convert the movement into a video snippet, perfect for social media posts or time-lapse compilations.
7. Think about framing
Keep your camera at chest height and hold it stead. Frame your work area clearly, get the full wall, floor, or ceiling in the shot rather than zooming in too tight.
8. Capture both action and results
Get a quick shot of the setup, then another of the result. A 5-second clip of each is enough to create a “start to finish” video later.
Choosing the Right Platform and Format
Different platforms favour different video shapes (ratios). Getting this right makes your content look cleaner and more professional.
Platform |
Best Format |
Ideal Ratio |
Style Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
Instagram / Facebook |
Reels & Stories |
9:16 (vertical) |
Great for short, eye-catching videos under 30 seconds. |
Regular video post |
1:1 (square) or 16:9 (horizontal) |
Keep it professional, great for training clips or case studies. |
|
YouTube |
Full video |
16:9 (horizontal) |
Use for longer how-to or job walk-throughs. |
YouTube Shorts |
Quick videos |
9:16 (vertical) |
Works just like Instagram Reels for fast impact. |
Content Format Comparison – What Works Best in 2025
Once you’ve got your platforms and video ratios sorted, the next step is choosing the right type of post. Not all content performs the same, here’s a quick guide to help you decide when to use a static image, a carousel, or a short video.
Format Type |
Best For |
Reach Potential (2025) |
Ideal Content Examples (for Cleaning & Restoration) |
Tips for Best Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Static Image |
Quick updates, before/after photos, promotional reminders |
⭐⭐ (Moderate) |
Before/after restoration results, staff highlight, jobsite snapshot |
• Use bright, clear images |
Carousel (Multiple Images/Slides) |
Storytelling, education, step-by-step process |
⭐⭐⭐ (High) |
“Job start → drying setup → finished result” “3 Signs You Have Hidden Water Damage” |
• Use 3–6 slides |
Video / Reel (Short-form) |
Attention-grabbing, showing action, storytelling |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very High) |
10–30 sec video of extraction in progress, time-lapse drying setup, quick tip from a tech |
• Film vertical (9:16) |
Long-form Video (YouTube/LinkedIn) |
Tutorials, walkthroughs, training insights |
⭐⭐ (Moderate but deeper trust) |
Full restoration walkthrough, training highlight, equipment demo |
• Use 16:9 horizontal |
Editing Made Simple
You don’t need professional editing software, just a few free or low-cost tools can make your videos look sharp and quick to post.
CapCut – Fast, easy app for cutting clips, adding captions, and speeding up footage.
InShot – Great for trimming videos, adding your logo, or cropping to different ratios.
Canva Video – Ideal if you want to add before/after labels or text overlays in your brand colours.
VN Editor – Simple tool for cleaning up time-lapses and adding smooth transitions.
You can also edit within the channel
Tip: You can also edit directly within the platform you’re posting to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok all have built-in editing tools. These allow you to trim, add captions, and apply trending sounds without leaving the app, which can often boost visibility.
Professional Tip: If you use an external editing app like CapCut or InShot, remove any watermarks before uploading. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook reduce the reach of videos that have visible editing app logos or watermarks (as they’re flagged as lower quality). A clean, watermark-free video always looks more professional and performs better in the algorithm.
Keep it natural and simple, no need for heavy filters.
How to Make It a Habit
Step 1: Pick your platform
If you’re new to this, start with one, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
Facebook and Instagram are great for local homeowners.
LinkedIn is perfect for insurance and commercial audiences.
Step 2: Plan your posts
You don’t need a big strategy. Just aim for one post a week (then build on that)
A good month might include:
1 project highlight
1 tip or educational post
1 behind-the-scenes team post
1 testimonial or success story
Step 3: Make it part of the job
When you finish a project or set up your gear, take 30 seconds to grab a photo.
It’s easier to post later if you already have the content ready.
Tips for Better Engagement
Keep it simple – Explain what’s happening in everyday language.
Tell the story – What happened, what you did, and what the result was.
Add a call-to-action – “Need help after a leak? Call us 24/7.”
Mix up your posts – Projects, gear, team, and educational tips.
Stay consistent – One steady post a week builds long-term trust.
The Power of Real Job Stories
Every job tells a story: “A burst pipe caused major damage to this kitchen. Our team extracted 200 litres of water and used Drymatic heat drying to restore the cabinetry in just three days. The homeowner was back cooking by the weekend.”
That short story says it all, fast response, professionalism, great outcome.
When you show your work like this, you’re not just marketing, you’re proving your expertise.
Start Small and Stay Consistent
You don’t need a marketing department to get noticed online.
Start by sharing one post this week, a quick job photo, a client success story, or a 10-second time-lapse.
The more you show your work, the more people will understand what you do and the more likely they are to call you when disaster strikes.
Final Thought
At ACRA, we’ve trained hundreds of technicians who are brilliant at what they do but often, the wider world never sees it. Sharing your work isn’t about bragging, it’s about building trust, educating your clients, and showing the professionalism that sets our industry apart.
Every photo, video, and story helps raise the standard of restoration across Australia.
So next time you’re on-site, grab that quick clip or time-lapse, it might just be the one that wins your next big job.