Pro-Active Painting Business Promotion for Fall

Fall is a funny time of year... Homeowners are in a hurry to schedule last minute painting projects and painting contractors are in a hurry to kick up their marketing efforts before the holiday season starts.

One of the best ways to take advantage of the Fall season (and get a lot of great FREE publicity) is so to organize a block party!

Block parties are a great way to get to know your neighbors, as well as create relationships with other small business owners in your community.

Here are a few guidelines to help get your "Block Party" started:

• Check local laws and ordinances in your community - Give the County Clerk of Court a call and tell them what you want to do. They will be able to make you aware of the laws and give you details regarding any permits that may be needed.
  
  
• Contact & encourage local business to participate - Block parties are a great way to network with other local business owners... It's a fun win-win situation where everyone can benefit from the added exposure.
  
  
• Set a date - Weekends are typically the best for turnout, however if you plan on holding the block party in an area of town where participating business are located, a weekday afternoon will work just fine.
  
  
• Get the word out - The local media outlets love stories like this and most times are happy to write a story about it, but it's up to you to let them know the who, what, when, where and why of it all. Write a press release giving the details just before the event date... Be sure to contact local radio stations as well.
  
  
• Make sure you have your marketing offer ready - Have a good idea of what you want to accomplish... will you be passing out a flier or coupon? What about holding a contest for a free paint job? Spend some time coming up with something creative that will benefit the people attending and also helps your painting business stand out.
  
  
• Seek follow-up publicity - Be sure to let everyone know how much fun was had at your block party, as well as anything eventful that may have happened. Did the Mayor show up? Write a press release about it... Did someone win your free paint job contest? Put it in the press release!

With a few hours of research and a little effort, you can gain a ton of free publicity and create a lot of good will among homeowners and business owners within your community.

Sit down and brainstorm how you can put this powerful 'Creative Marketing' strategy to work for you!

Leave us a comment and let us know how your block party turns out.