[rmmynatt]

I am starting a painting business and want to know the best way to find leads

[Camborio]

Join a local networking group.

[Clough]

My first questions to you are, do you have any experience doing painting? Also, if you do have some experience, how much experience do you have, please?

Concerning leads - you bring up your business in casual conversation wherever and whenever you can, be it in person or even when conversing on the Internet.

You do need to advertise. One of things that I do for a living is that I am a house painter. I really don't get many calls from my Yellow Page ads. But, most of my new business is from ads that I place on the Internet. The following is from an answer that I have already placed elsewhere on this site.

There are many places where you can have a free website or blog where you could advertise your business or anything else for that matter. Some of them can be found by clicking on the following searches.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Free+Website

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Free+Blog

Although I am in the Yellow Pages of the local phone book, most of my new business comes from the free ads that I have placed on the Internet in some way. It does take some time to set things up. But, once you have done it, you are set. You just need to keep track of when you might need to renew your ads. Some of them will let you know when it's time to renew, and most of them won't On some free advertising sites, your ads might not need to be renewed for years. For others, it ranges from maybe 14 days to 90 days.

I copy and paste what I have advertised into a message in my Drafts folder in the email program that is my primary one, and that would be Outlook Express. I also have a file in my email program that is titled "Passwords." It includes all passwords used as well as user names. Not all sites are going to let you use the same password, and the user name that you select might not be available on a particular site.

A really important thing to remember when doing online advertising is that it's not necessarily your name or the name of your business that people are going to be looking for, but what you do and where you are located. So, how you word your ad and the additional keywords that you use in it are very important. Google doesn't look for repeated words in site. However, some other search engines do.

There are a host of free advertising sites available. Most of the best ones that get the best exposure are on the following list. I have been doing online advertising for over three years now. It has paid off...

One time, someone found me looking for goats in Iowa. They are an animal rescue. They saw my ad on a site where one of my piano tuning ads was located and decided that they wanted to have their piano tuned.

I love it when people find me by accident! It could happen for you too with your business!

I do also frequently drive around and post my small advertising "shingle" with the pull-off tabs anyplace where I can find a free, public bulletin board where I can post them. These can be places like grocery stores, restaurants, bars, Laundromats, bowling alleys, public libraries, etc.

Here is the list of free advertising websites that seem to get the best exposure when people are doing searches for what they want on the Internet. Some of them are even international as far as where the ads reach, in case there is someone who might read what I have posted who wants to advertise on an international level. There are sites that don't get good exposure and, I don't use them. A person would have to be a member of and frequent those particular sites in order to know what is listed on them. I even post on sites that are located in other countries because the exposure is so good!

craigslist: san francisco bay area classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

(To use Craigslist, you just find and post on the one that is near you.)

USA - cliQs.com

Everything from Everywhere

DomesticSale - The Effective Free Classifieds

Free Classifieds Ads - Internet Advertising to Sell Online

Vast.com - Search All The Classifieds On The Web

PennySaverUSA Classifieds Online: Local ads in California

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Oodle.com Classifieds - Search local online classifieds

BuySellCommunity Classifieds - Buy & Sell Locally : Free Online Classifieds

Free Classifieds @ Adpost.com

Free Classifieds, Free Ads, Free advertisement, Business Opportunity

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Free Advertising, Free Classifieds, Free Classified Ads, Free Ads, Classified Ads, Free Classified, Bulk Email Advertising, Opt In Email Marketing Services, Email Lists, Classified, Free Ad, Advertising Free, Classifieds, Classified Ad, Free Classifi

http://quadcities.kijiji.com/ You can change the country and city when you list there.

http://www.evelez.net/ Although it might appear to be connected with the one above, it is different. You can also change country and city.

http://www.livetray.com/

http://www.vvnvv.com/index.asp

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/

http://www.kellysearch.com/

http://www.kbclassifieds.com/

http://www.oodle.com/

http://www.olx.com/

http://www.topix.com/

http://www.isell.com/

http://www.kutvclassifieds.com/Main.do

http://www.gumtree.com/

http://www.flugpo.com/

[rmmynatt]

My first questions to you are, do you have any experience doing painting? Also, if you do have some experience, how much experience do you have, please?

Concerning leads - you bring up your business in casual conversation wherever and whenever you can, be it in person or even when conversing on the Internet.

You do need to advertise. One of things that I do for a living is that I am a house painter. I really don't get many calls from my Yellow Page ads. But, most of my new business is from ads that I place on the Internet. The following is from an answer that I have already placed elsewhere on this site.

I have been painting for 20yrs. I have been working for myself for several years most of my work coming from a realtor I know. I got cancer and all buisiness fell off drasticaly for me. I'm okay to work now but for the last year I have been very slow, almost to the point of going to work for someone else again. Thanks for all your advice, I will try some of this free advertising

[Clough]

Thanks for the response, rmmynatt!

I'm sorry for the experience that you have had dealing with the big "C"! I'm also glad that you are moving forward with your life!

I did just want to let you know, that the sites that have worked the absolute best for me have been craigslist.org, hoobly.com and domesticsale.com. The other sites get excellent exposure! But, I seem to get the most business from those three sites.

If you would like to know how to word your ads so that they get the best exposure, please let me know.

Thanks!

[Camborio]

I don't know what state you are it, but networking groups are always looking for that niche to fill, I know at least mine is. Plus you could do some strategic partnershiping with the realtor and loan officer in the group.

Good luck... I think another piece of advice is to listen, and if someone doesn't need a paint job at that moment, ask them to refer any one who does to you.

[jaytaylor5555]

Congrats on starting a new business. When I was starting my business I found leads through Local Painter Quotes. You can visit them at http://localpainterquotes.com/house-painting-leads/ for painting leads.

[mikeeverett55]

If you are looking for house painting leads I recommend visiting Local Painter Quotes at http://localpainterquotes.com/house-painting-leads/

[mikeeverett55]

If you are looking for house painting leads I recommend visiting Local Painter Quotes at Painting Leads | $20 House Painting Leads | Painting Lead Service