How to Get Painting Contracts 101?

From networking and social media marketing tips to taking advantage of word-of-mouth advertising, here's a step-by-step guide on how to get painting contracts.

Jeel PatelJeel Patel
||14 min read
How to Get Painting Contracts 101?

Key Takeaways

  • 01List your business on Google My Business to appear in local search results and attract nearby customers
  • 02Build a professional website with SEO optimization to rank higher in search engines and generate leads 24/7
  • 03Leverage word-of-mouth marketing with customer referral programs offering discounts or rewards
  • 04Use a mix of digital marketing (Google Ads, social media) and traditional marketing (flyers, billboards) for maximum reach
  • 05Network with real estate agents and construction companies to get consistent painting contract referrals
  • 06Create competitive and professional estimates to win more painting jobs

The painting contractors must use impactful marketing strategies to avail more business opportunities. Here are the eight popular ways for you to welcome more leads. You need to be very committed to your business to get more leads and contracts to grow. In the trade of a painting business, you need to keep finding clients to continue the earning flow. It is because there are currently over 5100 painting contractors employed in the United States. And to compete with them, you need to use better techniques for acquiring more painting contracts and opportunities.

If you are just taking steps to start a painting business, increasing your brand's exposure to the target audience might seem a bit complex. You need someone to guide you with the right steps and methods for the same. And this article is just the right place for you to get that initial push and thrive in your painting business.

How to Get Painting Contracts?

No painting business would grow without a good client base and flow of project requests. The more leads or contracts you have, the higher the revenue will be. All the top painting businesses and contractors in the United States are leveraging optimal marketing measures to crack the code of getting more leads.

Even though the marketing techniques remain the same, the utilization is what differs. So, these are the top ways with which you will get guaranteed painting jobs over time:

1. Get listed on Google My Business

A painting business can benefit the most by reaching out to local customers. And for that, you need to make your business locally visible over Google's search results. Therefore, list your business over Google My Business as your firstmost task after starting a company.

Every time a Google user searches for a painter nearby, the Google business profile will be listed over the top of the search results, above the website links. Go to the Google Business profile section and fill out the details to best your knowledge.

Essential Information for Your Google Business Profile

  • Business name and accurate location
  • Working hours and contact information
  • Services offered with detailed descriptions
  • Website link and booking options
  • High-quality photos of completed projects
  • Customer reviews and testimonials

Besides Google Business profile, creating profiles on other online directories such as Bing and Yelp will also improve your brand exposure.

Pro Tip

Be locally available to be found by the local audience. A complete and optimized Google Business profile can increase your chances of appearing in local searches by up to 70%.

2. Website with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

how to get commercial painting contracts
A well-optimized website helps painting contractors rank higher in search results

A high-quality website with valuable content is important to market your painting services 24/7. When creating your website, make sure you use the right keywords while writing and adding content. It is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

You need to run keyword research through various tools on the internet to find out what common terms and phrases your target audience uses to look for painting companies. Use those identified keywords in your website content to rank up in the Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

SEO is the organic way of marketing your business and getting more painting contracts. It is only free if you have the right knowledge to do it yourself. But, if you hire a professional to performSEO on your website, they might charge a few dollars from you in exchange for the service.

Most painting contractors with a good marketing budget prefer hiring SEO and website development professionals to help them with it. But, if you spend time and effort, you can also learn to do that and save a few bucks on it.

The painting contractors should also consider structuring the website with quality information over different sections. Following that, there should be a contact form, portfolio, testimonials, and other such sections.

The website visitors will use the contact form to reach out to your team, and at the same time, you will get the information needed for building your email list.

Remember

A well-found website is the face of your painting company. Don't compromise on it. Your website should include a portfolio of past work, customer testimonials, clear service descriptions, and an easy-to-use contact form.

3. Use word of mouth and a customer referral program

Positive word of mouth is one of the most advanced and effective techniques for painting contractors to get more job requests. This powerful lead generation technique needs no upfront investment but a commitment to returning the favor.

If you believe you have given your best for most of your painting jobs, you can request your customers to spread the word about it to their friends and family. You can explain the referral program where you promise to offer them a reward or discount incentive if someone from their proximity avails services of your painting company.

Positive word of mouth works even if you don't propose a referral program, but the conversions will be rare. Therefore, adding an incentive to the pitch will motivate your existing customers to be upfront about discussing your brand and get you more painting leads.

Sample Referral Program

Offer existing customers a 10% discount on their next service for every new customer they refer who books a painting job. The referred customer can also receive a 5% discount on their first service. This creates a win-win situation that encourages word-of-mouth marketing.

4. Invest in Google's local services ads

Google can give you the best perks out of online advertising. The only condition is to use it strategically through its ideal services. The local services ads allow you to connect with the users who search for interior designers, professional painters, or other services you offer.

The customized local services ads will flash on the top of the search results for every related search inquiry over Google. Your brand got the visibility and chance to get more clicks from your potential customers.

Once they are inside your website, the content and the way you have pitched your services will ensure the conversion of your leads.

Upon getting verified by Google, you also get the 'Google Guarantee' emblem on your ads which adds credibility to your brand impression. Here, you pay only for the painting leads that click their way into your website or sales channels.

Google Guarantee Benefit

Leverage the online marketing potential of Google and become an ace in acquiring painting jobs. The 'Google Guarantee' badge can increase click-through rates by 30-40% as it builds instant trust with potential customers.

5. Build a trustable network

how to get apartment painting contracts
Building strategic partnerships with real estate agents and construction companies can generate consistent painting contracts

In most cases, homeowners often talk to their realtors or construction companies to learn about professional painters in the town or city. Therefore, working in collaboration and building a network are very important.

You can do it like a give-and-take networking, as you can promote the real estate firm whereas they can recommend you for any house painting jobs they get inquiries for. If you can network with more and more companies across your city or state, you will eventually have more painting contracts without much effort.

Identify Potential Partners

Research and create a list of real estate agents, property managers, construction companies, and interior designers in your area who might need painting services.

Reach Out with Value

Email or call potential partners explaining how a collaboration would benefit both parties. Offer exclusive rates or priority scheduling for their clients.

Maintain Regular Communication

Stay in touch with your network partners through monthly check-ins, sharing project updates, or offering seasonal promotions they can pass along to their clients.

Deliver Exceptional Service

Every job you complete through a referral partner reflects on them. Exceed expectations to ensure they continue recommending your services.

6. Try traditional marketing techniques

Every successful painting business has traditional marketing as one of the mandatory steps to get more business. Traditional marketing is also known as print marketing, where you design brochures, business cards, flyers, door hangers, and direct mail marketing materials to promote physical marketing.

These marketing materials can be prepared at a very low cost and create an appealing impact on the target audience. You can distribute them hand-to-hand at any community or public event or send them directly to customers.

Under traditional marketing ideas, you can also print your advertisement over a billboard to get the attention of the traffic audience. Your potential residential clients will save the paper ads and take note of your contact details from the billboard to reach out to you.

80%
Direct Mail Response
U.S. consumers who act on direct mail ads
70%
Newspaper Readers
Households earning $100K+ who read newspapers

More than 80% of the consumers in the United States prefer to act on direct mail ads, which is higher in comparison to 45% responsiveness to online or electronic advertisements. More than 70% of households with an average income of $100,000 prefer to read newspapers in the United States.

Even in 2022, people still rely heavily on newspapers, physical brochures, flex prints, and TV ads to learn about new brands that have started their services in their city. So, as a new painting contractor in the state, you must also try traditional marketing along with all the digital measures.

7. Social media marketing

Social media marketing
Social media platforms offer painting contractors direct access to potential customers in their local area

Social media is one of the best digital marketing arenas to acquire more painting contracts in a short span of time. Most of your target audience is highly active on social media platforms.

It is the right opportunity for a new painting contractor to get in touch with potential customers and get more painting jobs. With social media, you can target people who need painting services.

Every follower on your social media pages is interested in your brand and services. They are all your quality leads, and you need to market your services in front of them. You can run Facebook ads, sponsored posts on Instagram, Twitter ads, and LinkedIn ads and grow your brand organically by regular posting.

Content Ideas for Social Media

Post before-and-after photos of completed projects, DIY painting tips, special service offers, seasonal discounts, behind-the-scenes videos of your team at work, and customer testimonials to gain the attention of your local community over social media handles.

8. Give the right price estimates

You must be very competitive about creating and giving estimates to your customers. The price you quote should be reasonable, and you might have to explain the value that you are offering for such a price.

You don't necessarily have to reduce your price compared to the competitors if you believe your service can offer value to justify the worth you are charging.

Give a free estimate to your customers and use digital software to create a professional one.

The Power of Professional Estimates

A well-detailed estimate is as important as the right pricing mentioned in it. Professional-looking estimates build trust and credibility, increasing your chances of winning the contract by 40-50%.

Create Professional Estimates in Minutes and Win More Painting Jobs

InvoiceOwl allows you to create professional-looking estimates and turn those estimates into invoices with a click! Stop losing contracts to competitors with better-looking proposals.

Start Your FREE Trial

Frequently Asked Questions

When you get a commercial or residential paint job for a long period of time, you need to prepare a contract to get along with the process. The contract is important to ensure that there is no loophole in understanding the services from both ends, which can create conflicts in the long run.

The paint contract can be created by highlighting the names of both parties, the service consumer, and the provider's contact details, along with addresses. Following that, the services that the customer wants will be listed.

You can use estimating software for painters to create quick estimates templates for grabbing contracts and getting them e-signed for easy acceptance. It will speed up the entire process of getting painting contracts.

You can get the leads for your painting contractor business by following the methods outlined in this guide. The key strategies include listing your business on Google My Business, building a professional website with SEO, implementing a customer referral program, investing in Google local services ads, networking with real estate agents and construction companies, using traditional marketing materials, leveraging social media, and providing competitive estimates.

The only thing you must be aware of is to plan out your marketing budget. Irrespective of the methods you choose or omit, you must spend strictly on the budget you have planned to ensure sustainable business growth.

Word-of-mouth marketing and customer referral programs are the most cost-effective methods, requiring minimal upfront investment. Creating a Google My Business profile is also free and highly effective for local visibility. Social media marketing through organic posts can generate leads without paid advertising costs.

The timeline varies by method. Google My Business and social media can generate leads within weeks, while SEO typically takes 3-6 months to show significant results. Traditional marketing and networking can produce immediate results if executed properly. A comprehensive approach using multiple methods simultaneously will yield the fastest results.

The best approach is a balanced mix of both. Digital marketing (Google Ads, social media, SEO) helps you reach a broader audience and track ROI precisely. Traditional marketing (flyers, business cards, direct mail) still resonates strongly with homeowners, especially in local communities. Statistics show that over 80% of U.S. consumers respond to direct mail, making it an essential component of your marketing strategy.

InvoiceOwl Can Streamline Some of the Major Operations of your Painting Business

InvoiceOwl is the best app for painters still using time-consuming methods. With it, you can just enter the figures you want in the pre-set template, and your professional-looking estimates will be ready.

Not just that, you can instantly digitize invoices on completion of the paint jobs and send them to the clients at once. Believe it or not, these features can save your business time.

You will be training your employees to use the mobile application of InvoiceOwl and create the invoices on-site, and send them to the clients. They will process the payment, which will be noted over the software. In case of any contractual installments, our software will mark the dues accordingly to keep reminding you about collecting the payments.

All of the invoices, along with the client details, can be stored over InvoiceOwl. These important addresses will help you recognize repeat business opportunities and to market your new services to existing customers.

The best thing about InvoiceOwl is that you can make and send your painting contracts over the software. Now you don't have to dig through the internet for a good contract template, as InvoiceOwl helps you with the professional options over the portal.

To learn more about our software solution for your invoices, estimates, and contract acceptance, take a FREE trial of InvoiceOwl. It will help you get used to the interface and its features to judge how it can help you in your business growth.

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Written by

Jeel Patel

Founder & CEO at InvoiceOwl

Jeel Patel is the founder of InvoiceOwl, a highly-rated estimating and invoicing software designed to streamline contractor businesses' invoicing and estimating workflows. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Toronto, where he developed strong analytical capabilities and business acumen.

More about Jeel

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