[AALory]

These days we all must make every dollar invested into our respective companies stretch as far as possible. To do so with regards to advertisements is crucial. With this in mind I am curious if anyone has had success trading their services for lower cost advertising. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

I hand picked a few homes that are on busy streets and offered the homeowners ridiculously low prices to paint the exterior in exchange for sign placement in their yard for 90 days. It worked ok, people are very skeptical, obviously, but I got into some good neighborhoods. From there you just got to next door market to make it worth your effort.

 

[AALory]

Interesting idea Homeguard. Did you contract any business directly as a result? Thanks for the post.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

Yeah, I got a few jobs from the neighbors, mostly small stuff. I also now know that many of the HO know who I am which is valuable also

 

[smalljobs]

I'm currently working with a local coffee shop that is wildly popular located next to a thriving downtown/pier area. They have a huge deck overlooking the harbor. Packed in the spring summer. I'm working with the owner and Wolman to donate product free and my labor cheeeeeeap, to get it done. Wolman's up for it. Reward, Huge framed advertisement of services, both woloman and myself and brochure holder entering onto the deck. Its well worth it for the exposure. Take a look in your area for that..it could be a grand slam.

 

[AALory]

Very nice idea Smalljobs. Thanks.:thumbup:

 

[NEPS.US]

I hand picked a few homes that are on busy streets and offered the homeowners ridiculously low prices to paint the exterior in exchange for sign placement in their yard for 90 days. It worked ok, people are very skeptical, obviously, but I got into some good neighborhoods. From there you just got to next door market to make it worth your effort.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

Neps, these were one day homes and I covered direct costs. Also these streets are cut thru's that lead to the most affluent neighborhoods. When calculated against mass marketing this method is quite attractive(esp in feb before things kick off) and with no cash out of pocket therefore eliminating many cashflow problems with early season mass marketing.

 

[NEPS.US]

Neps, these were one day homes and I covered direct costs. Also these streets are cut thru's that lead to the most affluent neighborhoods. When calculated against mass marketing this method is quite attractive(esp in feb before things kick off) and with no cash out of pocket therefore eliminating many cashflow problems with early season mass marketing.

:thumbsup: Good planning then. Name recognition is one of the biggest keys in good marketing....... keep associating your name with painting in their area and they will call..... sooner or later.....as long as their not passing on the info on your prices.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

Yeah, the price thing was a concern, so I tell each one that I paint at a discount to keep pricing to themselves because I won't offer the same deal to others. I also let them know what there house would cost without the discount so there is a price for them to give the neighbor because they will definately talk. But I for one can stand my ground on price, I have lost many jobs being too stubborn to take $75 off because someone elses was lower. I figure once you start negotiating where do you stop?

 

[vermontpainter]

I figure once you start negotiating where do you stop?

Negotiating price? It doesnt even stop at zero, profit wise. People would love us if we would work at a loss for them. The bigger the loss the better.

Ironically, lowballers who unknowingly work at a loss do give the people what they want in terms of price but don't usually end up being loved. So, we may as well stick to our prices, and negotiate in other areas like scope of work, paint specs and custom colors.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

exactly, once you give in, you lose any respect they had for you.

 

[smalljobs]

Alot of people do not understand that their ugly, delapitated deck can be revived. I'm doing this job to mostly educate a large mass of people in great location in front of their very eyes. The mayor visits this shop for christsakes. I would even pay they owner a $100 to do it. Of course I'm not, but when a exposure opportunity comes up like this you've got to seize it. AA try donating your time to a charitable organization, or a senior citizen center. Try to get it in a newspaper, "Helping, the poor". I belong to my local chamber of commerce. I got a few leads from them also. I painted some rooms in my local senior center for free and I put up my brochure and cards, and I got 9 jobs out of it. All of them payed premium rates. Of course I had ten people watching me which was great. "
Wow, there is an art to painting" I'd get. Not all seniors are all looking for that discount, especially after they saw my techniques. Some realize you can't die with all the money.

 

[NEPS.US]

Alot of people do not understand that their ugly, delapitated deck can be revived. I'm doing this job to mostly educate a large mass of people in great location in front of their very eyes. The mayor visits this shop for christsakes. I would even pay they owner a $100 to do it. Of course I'm not, but when a exposure opportunity comes up like this you've got to seize it. AA try donating your time to a charitable organization, or a senior citizen center. Try to get it in a newspaper, "Helping, the poor". I belong to my local chamber of commerce. I got a few leads from them also. I painted some rooms in my local senior center for free and I put up my brochure and cards, and I got 9 jobs out of it. All of them payed premium rates. Of course I had ten people watching me which was great. "
Wow, there is an art to painting" I'd get. Not all seniors are all looking for that discount, especially after they saw my techniques. Some realize you can't die with all the money.

:hang:

 

[timhag]

Alot of people do not understand that their ugly, delapitated deck can be revived. I'm doing this job to mostly educate a large mass of people in great location in front of their very eyes. The mayor visits this shop for christsakes. I would even pay they owner a $100 to do it. Of course I'm not, but when a exposure opportunity comes up like this you've got to seize it. AA try donating your time to a charitable organization, or a senior citizen center. Try to get it in a newspaper, "Helping, the poor". I belong to my local chamber of commerce. I got a few leads from them also. I painted some rooms in my local senior center for free and I put up my brochure and cards, and I got 9 jobs out of it. All of them payed premium rates. Of course I had ten people watching me which was great. "
Wow, there is an art to painting" I'd get. Not all seniors are all looking for that discount, especially after they saw my techniques. Some realize you can't die with all the money.

DAYUM Brother, how are you paying for your internet service?