If your painting business needs more jobs, advertising is where many turn first. But advertising for painting business often wastes money if done without a plan. How do you make advertising pay for itself and keep the calendar full?
The key is to spend where your best leads are looking. That usually means Google, maybe Facebook, sometimes local mailers. No hype, just simple, targeted steps.
Costs of Advertising for Painting Business
Advertising has a cost, but so does empty schedule time. Balance matters. You should only spend where you actually get painting leads that match your service area and services.
Common spending areas:
- Pay-per-click ads (Google, sometimes Bing)
- Facebook or Instagram posts
- Local directories (Angi, Houzz, Yelp)
- Printed materials (flyers or local newsletters)
If you cannot measure what works, pause and rethink your method.
Google Ads: Best for Intent-Driven Leads
People typing “house painter near me” or “commercial painting contractors” are ready to hire. Google Ads, if targeted enough, often brings the most calls.
Keys to better results:
- Target by zip code or city, never the whole state or country
- Mention specific services, such as “warehouse painting” or “cabinet painting”
- Use sitelink extensions for contact forms, reviews, or FAQ
An ad is only as good as its landing page. Test your online forms, and make sure the phone rings to someone who answers.
Facebook and Instagram for Painting Leads
These work better for residential painting. Homeowners respond to before/after photos, promo offers, or posts about “tips for repainting.”
Commercial buyers usually do not browse Facebook for contractors.
When to use social ads:
- If you have strong “wow” project photos
- If you want to promote a seasonal sale
- If your website is not yet ranking high for SEO for painters
Track every campaign for calls or forms, not likes.
Should You Buy Painting Leads from Directories?
There are many sites selling painting leads at a set fee or per bid. Sometimes these work, but usually the leads are shared with several contractors. You may have to race to the bottom on price.
If you try them:
- Set a budget and limit your spend
- Ask how many contractors get the same lead
- Only bid on jobs that fit your skills and area
I have seen some businesses waste lots of money here without tracking results.
Commercial Painting Leads and Advertising
To get commercial painting leads, spend advertising dollars where business property contacts are searching:
- LinkedIn ads targeting property managers or facilities
- Ads in local business journals
- Email blasts (well-targeted, not mass spam)
It’s slower than residential, but the jobs are larger and the clients reward reliability.
How Marketing for Painting Contractors Supports Advertising
Advertising is only one part of marketing for painting contractors. If your reputation is poor or your site is slow, ads will not rescue you.
Check these first:
- Are reviews fresh and mostly positive?
- Does your website load fast, with a working quote form?
- Can people find actual examples of your work?
Anything missing? Fix that before spending on ads.
Painting Company SEO Versus Ads: What Works Best?
A comparison helps clear this up:
| Method | Speed | Cost | Predictability | Long-term Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Google/Facebook Ads | Fast | Medium/High | Medium | Only while you pay |
| Painting Company SEO | Slower | Medium | High (with good execution) | Lasts longer |
If you stop paying for ads, the calls dry up. Good SEO keeps leads coming even after you dial back ad spending.
The Role of Mr and Mrs Leads in Paid Advertising
If you want professional help, agencies like Mr and Mrs Leads handle Google Ads and SEO for the painting field. They know which ad keywords work, and test landing pages for best performance.
Just be careful with your budget. Ask for detailed monthly reporting, so every dollar spent can be tied to a call, form, or job won.
When to Stop or Change an Ad
Change or pause your ads if:
- You are spending more than half your ad budget with no completed bookings
- Negative responses or spam calls increase
- You fall short of work but have lots of “clicks”
Advertising is not “set it and forget it.”
Finishing Thoughts
When your business needs new calls, advertising is tempting, but make adjustments often. Focus on ads that bring the right painting leads for your market, skills, and staff level. Balance this with continued investment in painting company SEO and solid marketing for painting contractors. It is not always neat, but tested habits perform better than hype or luck.