Know-How Exchange : Strategy

Try a small Google Adwords campaign promoting your painting business and target it to your specific area.

I like tinkers idea also. That would be great if you provided a note with a ready made estimate and a business card. Perhaps you can get something printed (like a flyer) that you can hang on doorknobs and customize with a quote and the persons address and then an offer (like $10% off with this coupon)

Put ads in Craigs List - also new movers are a great way to go - watch homes with for sale signs and drop them a flyer - especially after the sign goes away.

Contact apartment managers in the area for move outs and for referrals to move ins.

Also, contact area real estate agents and home stagers for referrals to their clients who are buying and selling homes. Emphasize your quality work, how quickly you can get it done, reliability, and any ability you have to work with designers to provide exact shades to match decor.

Create a brochure for these contacts with testimonials from prior clients as to your quality, reliability, color expertise and advice.

For the real estate and home stagers to give to their selling clients, put in testimonials about homes that sat until you helped by repainting the home, then it flew off the market...

You may need to work with an agent or stager at a discounted trial rate on one home (no more than that) to demonstrate your capabilities if you don't have solid testimonials already.

Also, create a brochure/flyer/mailer to area small businesses and commercial real estate managers who may need to outsource this part of their maintenance.

Partner up with local area homebuilders and handymen, and take your brochure & business card to area decorating shops. Again, any expertise you have with choosing colors, creating decor, special finishes, etc., should be emphasized with them.

For someone you do consistent business with, offer a small discount on future jobs if they refer new business to you.

Your business card and mailers must be professional, simply designed, no wacky graphics or fonts, no cutesy stuff, no spelling errors. Get someone to do it for you if you can't.

Find local (highly visible) homes that have large side areas. Offer to paint their home for free (or deeply discounted), in exchange for the following: You use the side of their home as a billboard, initially painting your message (perhaps changing weekly), and slowly covering it up as you finish up. A clever message (that changes) could be a great way to get people talking about you.

Hello,

Start networking with contractors, realtors, mortgage, home inspectors, closing Attn etc. These are your referral sources.

New Homeowners would also be a prime market for you since they will most likely pain the entire house.

Hope this helps.

Thank you
Tom

Work with the painting supply stores in your area and develop relationships there, local interior designers as well. How about the historical society in your area.

Work with dry wall installers to gain business there and other trades.

Make sure your vehicles have signage on them so that you are a moving billboard for your services.

Give a "how to" seminar at a local home supply store or other relevant venue for special paint techniques, new products in the painting industry, how to determine amount of paint you need by area, etc.

Marketing-Riot