Hello,

I have been doing a lot of advertising for my painting company but haven't seen any results!
The Advertising co I hired is really good they got me in the 1st page of Google - 3/10 listings in the google's 1st page are mine! But why haven't I seen any responses In the month of march I have only gotten 2 calls! I don't know what else to do. Any one got any ideas?

Thanks

Hi, PaintingCompany!

One of the things that I do, is that like you, I'm a house painter. Most of my new business comes from the free advertising that I've placed on the Internet because of the way that I've worded my ads. My ads for my various businesses will dominate the first three or four pages of a Google search when people look for the kind of things that I do.

Are your ads being on the first page of a Google search because of people looking for the name of your business?

Thanks!

Okay, I was hoping that you would still be online, PaintingCompany as I would really like to help you with this!

I'll return after awhile and hope that you might be on here. I'm house and dog-sitting for some friends and have just set up my computer in their home, but still have some things that I need to do...

Thanks!

Clough,
Thanks for your quick response. On Google when you put the name of my business I'm the first four listings. When you put painting company in (my city) I am the first one in the local business section - the one with the map and also about two other listings are mine(middle and last).
Hope to hear from you soon.

Hi PaintingCompany,

Clough is our resident expert on web advertising, he can help you a lot.

I would also suggest that in addition to this you might seriously consider placing flyers on doors. Both residential and commercial buildings. And maybe start the flyer by asking a prominent question such as;

'Do you want quality and a competitive price?' .....

'Make your home look like new at a fair price with polite and professional workers.'

'Is it time to paint? Why do it yourself when we can do it faster, better and all for a great price!'

Then put your company name and phone number in large print. Keep it short and sweet.

Think of the things that your customers want... and approach it from their point of view...

Stringer.

Thanks Stringer!
I was thinking of passing out Flyers but I was told advertising online was a better way to go. But I will definitely pass out flyers. I guess it's a combination of both online and print advertising.

Hi again, PaintingCompany!

I'm back, after taking care of some things.

Please click HERE (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Craig+Clough+Quad+Cities&aq=f&oq=) and let me know what you see.

Thanks!

Thanks Stringer!
I was thinking of passing out Flyers but I was told advertising online was a better way to go. But I will definately pass out flyers. I guess it's a combination of both online and print advertising.

I too, give things out. I post my small shingle with tear-off tabs, any place where I can find a public bulletin board where I can stick it up with a couple of tacks. You'll find these sort of bulletin boards in public libraries, bowling alleys, quick-mart type of places, Laundry mats, community centers, etc.

Thanks!

Are you still there, PaintingCompany? I hope that we didn't lose you!

Clough,
Wow you are in the first 10 pages of Google. I thought I had an advantage for having the first page. If you don't mind how did you manage to do that?

Are you still there, PaintingCompany? I hope that we didn't lose you!

Different Time Zone! (Pacific). I was on here late last night my time. But I'm back - will be checking in all day.

When I have someone do work in my house - painting, plumbing, repair - I ask friends for recommendations. I would not have someone in my house that I found on the internet. That's just me - I'm sure many people would. But I think word of mouth is the best advertisement.

So, along those lines... Can you include testimonials from clients in your advertising? Also, can you ask 2 or 3 of your former clients to be available as references? Is your house well kept? Can you show your home to potential clients as an example of your work?

Also, contact local builders or contractors in your city. If you can sell yourself to them, then you will not need to sell yourself to the individual client. The general contractors will contact you when they have a new job.

jjwoodhull,

Thanks - I do have testimonials on my website, and in back of my business cards, I also do have references available.

Great tip on contacting general contractors I will get a list today and start contacting them on Monday.

Again, Thanks!

So, along those lines... Can you include testimonials from clients in your advertising? Also, can you ask 2 or 3 of your former clients to be available as references? Is your house well kept? Can you show your home to potential clients as an example of your work?

We actually go to the potential clients home since we need to see their home to be able give them an estimate. I have offered my home as an example but since potential clients have a list of painters they are calling they won't take the time to see it. The best I can go is pics. But Thanks

jjwoodhull,

Thanks - I do have testimonials on my website, and in back of my business cards, I also do have references available.

Great tip on contacting general contractors I will get a list today and start contacting them on Monday.

Again, Thanks!

A suggestion; Possibly offer your references a monetary reward for taking their time to give the reference, say $20 for all that become contracts or a job.

Also, do you belong to the union/s?

Stringer

No we don't belong to a union.

I have never thought about rewarding my references - I must sound very selfish but that's a great incentive! ($20)

It is a great idea! However, instead of offering cash, you might want to offer money off your next contract with them. Or give them the choice - $20 cash or $50 off the bill next time they hire you.

No we don't belong to a union.

I have never thought about rewarding my references - I must sound very selfish but that's a great incentive! ($20)

Over 37 years in business, I have found that even after securing a reference doesn't insure that they will say 'all' positive things. I talk with our references prior to giving them as references and even suggest the things that the prospect would like to know about and how important their reference is to me.

If any of this information helps you, please rate my response.

Stringer

Clough,
Wow you are in the first 10 pages of google. I thought I had an advantage for having the first page. If you don't mind how did you manage to do that?

Yes, most of what you see for many pages, is me in that search. There are other searches for what I do where I'm also very well exposed. I don't have much time to be on here right now, because I have to do some work. I will return to here much later this evening so that hopefully, we'll be able to discuss about this "live". I hope that you have time also, to do that later tonight!

Thanks!

I'm sorry that it takes me so long to get on here, PaintingCompany! I know that it's much later for you. I didn't see that you were on here. But, now you are!

Would you like to work on something to get you exposed better when people look for what you do, where you do it? I have the time right now if you do.

Thanks!

Okay, in order for you to start getting excellent exposure and so that we can get going here, would you please join hoobly.com (http://www.hoobly.com/)?

Please don't place an ad just yet. I want to show you how you can be exposed in a matter of minutes because of the way that you word an ad.

Okay?

Thanks!

Clough,

Thanks, looks like I missed you, I will be checking in, in a couple of minutes.

I'm here now and will be waiting.

OK I registered with hoobly.com

Okay, that's great!

Let's work on posting an ad there.

Where in California are you located, please?

Thanks!

San Jose

San Jose is in which county? What other towns and cities are nearby where you might want to work?

Santa Clara County.
Cities: Campbell
Cupertino
Gilroy
Los Altos
Los Altos Hills
Los Gatos
Milpitas
Monte Sereno
Morgan Hill
Mountain View
Palo Alto
San Jose
Santa Clara
Saratoga
Sunnyvale

We also want to work in the San Mateo County.
Cities:
Atherton
Belmont
Brisbane
Burlingame
Colma
Daly City
East Palo Alto
Foster City
Half Moon Bay
Hillsborough
Menlo Park
Millbrae
Pacifica
Portola Valley
Redwood City
San Bruno
San Carlos
San Mateo
South San Francisco
Woodside

Hey, thanks!

That's a lot of towns and cities that we can use in the keywords for your ads! If you looked at some of my ads, you'll see that is what I do is list cities and towns around where I live.

Are all of those places in the same county?

Oops, you beat me with an answer while I was posting.

So, do we have basically two counties where you would like to work?

First list is Santa Clara County the 2nd one is the San Mateo County.

Yeah

Are you a licensed painting contractor? I know that there really picky about people calling themselves contractors in California.

I'm also sorry that I thought that you were on the east coast earlier. Maybe I was mixing you up with someone else on this site.

Thanks!

No - I'm actually Osiel11 but I lost my password and couldn't remember my secret answer but anyway - you helped me with that. I have my business lic. Not my contractor lic.

You mean that you were Osiel11 on this site, or another one?

This one.

Okay. Let's put together an ad. I need to know if you have any specialties in painting like faux painting or anything else. Also, do you do any decorating, like wall papering?

Thanks!

Just Kidding! I'm so tired... I don't even know what I'm typing. I forgot my password to my email address where I registered osiel11 and couldn't get it reset so I just made a new one. No big deal right? Or am I going to get banned? Hehee

Clough,
I'm so sorry I have to go. Thanks for sll your help bt maybe we can pick it up another night.
Our Services offered:
Exterior/Interior
Custom Painting
Cabinet Painting
Rolling/Brushing/Spraying
Wall Paper Removal
Pressure Washing
Accent Walls
Texture
Dry Wall Repair


GOOD NIGHT

And Also Faux

Clough,
I'm so sorry I have to go. Thanks for sll your help bt maybe we can pick it up another night.
Our Services offered:
Exterior/Interior
Custom Painting
Cabinet Painting
Rolling/Brushing/Spraying
Wall Paper Removal
Pressure Washing
Accent Walls
Texture
Dry Wall Repair


GOOD NIGHT

Okay, I understand. I'll work on an ad for you that you can place on hoobly.com. When you're back on here, please put the link to a Google search where you're presently appearing on the first page.

Thanks and Good Night to you, too! :)

Here's a link to a search for a painting contractor in or near San Jose, California.

Painting Contractor San Jose, CA - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Painting+Contractor+San+Jose%2C+CA&aq=f&oq=)

There's a lot of competition out there. You should be able to be dominant on the first page of that kind of search, though.

Just because you aren't a licensed painting contractor, doesn't mean that you can't use the words "Painting Contractor" in your ads.

Google Search: Painting Company San Jose, CA (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=painting+company+San+Jose%2CCA)

Search by company name:

Google Search: Company name (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=one-stop+handyman+services%3E+San+Jose)

Thanks for your help, I'll be by later tonight.

A vanity search shows 224 results for finding you by your name.

VANITY SEARCH (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22One-Stop+Handyman+Services%22+San+Jose&btnG=Search)

I think I focused too much on advertising by company name rather than keywords! I'm working on key words to title my ads. I read through a thread of a couple of people here where you helped, so I'm basing myself on that. I'll see what I can do and will update you. Thanks for your help!