For all of those that have knowledge in a service, and want some extra money but dont know where to start. Here is some info that may get you in the right direction. remember the best way to get more work is by client referal, but you have to have some first to get it started. I know there are lots of people out there doing the same thing. So you have to do something different dont you. You need the ones they missed, you need the people that dont even know they are clients yet. Its just that simple, Direct verbal marketing.( Not to be confused with soliciting, you are not bothering them at home, nor are you stabbing a card at them, they will ask for it all by themselves, they wont even be able to help thier own curiosity. Your just being friendly, and helpfull)
In the beginning your cards need to have your name and phone # on them, an email address, and thats it.
nothing more. I take more work out of lowes and home depo on accident than most can find. I have made bets with people 20 times, that I can walk out of lowes with some work, in the beginning every day we didnt have work, yet other peoples familys relied on me paying them,I would go to lowes, and walk the square(around the interior walls, just looking up the isles. paint-flooring-trim- drywall-lumber-plants-landscaping. Do not offer a card to anyone who doesnt ask for it. thats soliciting.
Just be a good guy, and they will ask for it. (note, wear good clothes, but have wome work on them lol, If you are dressed nice, but you have some caulking or 7 colors of paint on them, and just stand in the paint dept. 1 out of 4 will immediatly start conversation asking questions. asking if you are a painter. Researched and proven by my own expirements)
get a cart, snag up a few items, 3 gallons of paint, pack of Sureline rollers, put those in the kid seat.
and a case of caulking, quality caulk like permaseal white.
and both a 3" wooster brush, and a 3" purty brush. now go to work.
leave it in the paint dept. go get another cart, go to drywall, get 2 bags of 20 minute mud, 1 roll of speed mud tape- paper tape but it is self stick and has holes in it. and a 12 inch drywall knife. lowes now sells those 2'x2' pieces of drywall, pop one of those in there also.
leave this cart in drywall
go check on paint cart, now you are on duty. look down the isles to see if anyone is in them, #1 spots to check brushes and rollers. simply slide down where they are and get another Brush or sureline pack, look then straight in the eye and say.
what are you painting today? NEVER use closed ended questions like, you painting today too? WTHeck they are buying painting stuff and the answer can only be yes or no, then you have to ask another question.
what are you painting today? if they open thier mouths you have a 50-50 of work. they are painting doors, Oh yeah I love doors, Are they flat doors or woodgrain. flat, well I use these foam rollers on flats for my clients, faster easier and you wont see brushmarks. woodgrain, well quality brushes make a quality job, alot of people use cheap brushes, and thier clients are never satisfied.
ending for both.............. do you like painting?
If they say walls, you say, My clients love the look of these surelines, and they save us time and them money. Surelines are the only roller out there that uses teflon on them see.....show them the little teflon emblem on them. If you use a regular roller, as it dries it takes paint back off the wall, these dont. my clients like that deeper look........... do you like painting?
Human nature now has thier curiosity, you have already shown knowledge, and you have said clients.
The ones that say yes, me too, I love painting, have a good day. You was nothing but helpfull, and no harm done.
Do you know how many never answer if they like painting? alot, they just say are you a painter?. And you say, yes I am. But I wasnt trying to solicit just help you out, I am not allowed by the store to offer a buisness card unless you ask for it. Bam boom 9 out of ten you got this far, will now say can I have 1.
if they do say No you have a fish on the line, say I love painting, Its great once you have had enough practice, LOL(laugh, practice laughing if you have to, its the settler, makes them feel more at ease)
Why dont you have a painter do it for you? if they say money,if they say they hadnt thought about it. If they say nearly anything. (they done said they dont like doing it.) you say its not as much as you think to have your painting done.But I wasnt trying to solicit, just help you out, I am not allowed by the store to offer a buisness card unless you ask for it. Bam boom 9 out of ten you got this far, will now say can I have 1.
now go to drywall, if someone is there do the same thing, use your knowledge about speed muds to your advantage, How much drywall are you doing today? (never ask a question that is yes or no on the first one) Just repairs, I use speed mud for deep repairs, It saves my clients money. you repairing big holes, or just little holes for a repaint. (todays drywall is tommarrows painting think ahead, noone keeps raw drywall in thier homes) If they are buying sheets, Oh that looks like fun, how much drywall are you doing today? my clients like me using that speed mud so I can get 2 coats on today tommarrow is just a skim sand and prime, do you use speedmud?......blah ,blah,blah................... But I wasnt trying to solicit, just help you out, I am not allowed by the store to offer a buisness card unless you ask for it. Bam boom 9 out of ten you got this far, will now say can I have 1.
every 5 minutes you will have a job, or have been helpfull.
You can do this in every dept. whatever you know. when I started my company any day I didnt have work I could get work in less than a hour, and schedule more out for a month per visit to lowes or home depo. Its like shooting fish in a barrel, If you are hunting money, go look where money is spent.
Just be a nice guy, help people out, what else do you have to do but watch tv. if your not working.
be a nice guy, I have had people aproach me and i dont even recognise them, they say what you told me worked great, I was thinking I would like to have one of your cards , I have another project...........................
Its that easy, use what you know, or learn something new. its your for the taking.
