Marketing Ideas

cobar1986 · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:09 pm

Hi,

I've been a painter and decorator for a few years working on and off for my dad but about a year ago I decided to go it alone. I've had a few customers but I need more.Any marketing ideas?
Many thanks

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HERTSDRAINAGE2010 · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:21 pm

Hi Colette,

I've just seen your website which is quite good, you should get onto 'Google add words' for your advertising.

You must advertise Female Decorator.

Do good, clean, turn up on time and have a good customer manor. Then hopefully the work will come rolling in.

Good luck.

Andy

dreadnoughtheating · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:09 pm

Suggest you add a landline phone number, lots of folk do not like mobile only (can seem a little, ahem, iffy.....), oh, and ensure you transfer calls to your mobile - the others do not like ansafones....

Can you add some logos from your preferred suppliers? (well known ones, DULUX, Crown etc) are you an approved painter (or whatever the correct term is in your trade) a member of a trade association so that an added value of a back-up warranty can be offered?

Not being judgemental, I have to offer these sorts of things to my customers.

DH

ImperialCompleteSolutions · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:25 pm

cobar1986 wrote:

Hi,

I've been a painter and decorator for a few years working on and off for my dad but about a year ago I decided to go it alone. I've had a few customers but I need more. I've got a website and obviously my dad has recommended me to a few of his customers, but how can I get more customers. Any ideas..... my website is on my profile page...if you have any suggestions for improving it, would be hugely appreciated.

Many thanks

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1) Optimize your website, its not that hard, I done my own by reading on forums ect, (I have ranked no1 for "builders birmingham" for the last year and half and it was not that hard. The best way to learn would be to buy a book called "the art of seo"

2) Create a facebook page and get customers to like your facebook page then there friends will use you.

3) Build up a network of builders and plasterers and renderers, these can pass a lot of work on. Contact these people by phone or send them a buisness card or email even offer a small referral fee or sub contract for them.

4) Get your van or car sign written, it does not cost much and sometime you only need to get one job from it to pay for itself.

there are lots of ways to get work and market yourself but starting out is the hardest, once you get more contacts then more work will come along.

evansbuilders · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 5:39 pm

website , facebook , twitter all the modern ways but the good old fashion van sign written a sanwich board sign outside houses your working on , make a brochure of your portfolio , contact loss adjusters to get insurance work contact housing assotiations , letting agents , factors builders developers basicaly anybody that needs any work done

things are oviously very tight for people so put a january sale on , oap discount ads in local papers.

hope some of this helps difficult to start out in this currentclimate but you just have t work at it and build up a network of people who use you.

Im actualy going through same thing my works starting to dry up ive just had this made ****************** see if it helps at all.Theres alot of competiton at the minute so good luck and hope it works out

Moderator 3 · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 6:19 pm Comment:

Please note rule 3 (NO Free advertising.) - See here for the forum rules.

lilblue1970 · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:25 am

Go to your County Council website and check out their Planning Applications from householders. If they are having work done they will probably need a painter/decorator. Just send them a flyer about your services. It worked well for our Scaffolding company.

WardrobeDesign · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:30 am

Planning applications that's a great one, never thought of that!
Word of mouth is really important I think, ask people to refer you, and Facebook can be good - set up a business page and ask all your friends/family to share it for you, you can link your website to it.
Sign on your van/car is great. We had the back of our van done for £80, colour photo's and all, it works a treat.