How to Run Google Ads for Painters

Google Ads can be a powerful tool for painters looking to grow their business and attract new clients. By targeting homeowners, property managers, and businesses actively searching for painting services, painters can generate high-quality leads and increase visibility in their local market. Unlike traditional advertising, Google Ads ensures your business appears exactly when potential customers are looking for painting services. Here’s a detailed guide on how to run Google Ads for painters, from setup to optimization.

Why Google Ads Are Important for Painters

Running a painting business often means competing with other local contractors and franchise companies. While referrals and organic website traffic are valuable, they may not always provide consistent leads. Google Ads allows painters to reach people actively searching for services such as “house painters near me” or “commercial painting contractors.”

When used effectively, Google Ads can increase calls and form submissions, boost visibility in competitive areas, provide measurable ROI, and allow painters to adjust campaigns based on demand or seasonality.

Setting Up a Google Ads Account

The first step is creating a Google Ads account and linking it to Google Analytics and your Google Business Profile. This ensures accurate tracking and reporting of campaign performance.

Painters should consider two main campaign types:

Search Campaigns: Text ads appear when people search for painting services like “interior painters in [city]” or “exterior house painting.”

Local Services Ads (LSAs): Pay-per-lead ads that display your business at the top of search results with your contact info and reviews. LSAs only charge when a potential client reaches out.

Using both campaign types ensures maximum exposure in search results and local map packs.

Keyword Research for Painters

Keywords are the foundation of any successful Google Ads campaign. Focus on high-intent, service-specific keywords that show the searcher is ready to hire, such as:

• Interior painters near me
  
• Exterior house painting [city]
  
• Commercial painting contractors
  
• Cabinet painting services
  

It’s equally important to use negative keywords to prevent wasted spend. Terms like “DIY,” “paint classes,” or “painting jobs” can be excluded to focus only on customers ready to hire a professional.

Writing Effective Ad Copy

Once you’ve identified your keywords, creating compelling ad copy is crucial. Headlines should clearly communicate your service and location, such as “Expert Painters in [City] – Free Estimates” or “Fast, Reliable House Painting Services.”

Descriptions should highlight benefits like licensed and insured services, quick turnaround times, and free quotes. Strong calls-to-action like “Call Now for a Free Estimate” or “Book Your Painting Project Today” help encourage immediate engagement.

Adding ad extensions such as location, call buttons, and site links increases visibility and click-through rates.

Landing Pages That Convert

Directing ad traffic to a tailored landing page is critical. A strong landing page for painters should include service details, client testimonials, project photos, and a clear call-to-action. Avoid sending visitors to a generic homepage, as this reduces conversion potential. Fast-loading, mobile-friendly landing pages ensure potential clients can quickly contact you, especially for urgent projects.

Targeting the Right Audience

Geographic targeting is vital for painters who serve specific areas. Google Ads allows you to target cities, zip codes, or a radius around your location. Avoid wasting ad spend on areas you don’t serve.

Scheduling ads to run during peak hours, such as mornings and weekends when homeowners are more likely to plan projects, can further increase the likelihood of generating leads.

Budgeting and Bidding Strategies

The cost per click (CPC) for painting-related keywords can vary widely based on location and competition. Painters should set a daily budget aligned with their goals, adjusting over time based on performance. To learn about location assets in Google Ads click here. 

Bidding strategies such as Maximize Conversions or Target CPA can help generate more leads efficiently. Manual CPC bidding provides control but requires ongoing monitoring. Starting with a modest budget allows you to test campaigns and scale as results improve.

Tracking and Measuring Results

Measuring results ensures your Google Ads investment is effective. Track conversions such as phone calls, form submissions, and booked estimates. Using tools like Google Analytics and call tracking software helps you identify which keywords, ads, and campaigns drive the most leads.

Monitoring click-through rates, conversion rates, cost per lead, and Quality Score provides insight into ad performance and informs future adjustments.

Ongoing Campaign Optimization

Google Ads requires ongoing management for consistent success. Painters should refine keywords, test ad copy, adjust bids, and optimize landing pages regularly. Updating ads to highlight seasonal promotions, new services, or project photos keeps campaigns fresh and engaging.

Optimized campaigns help reduce wasted spend, improve lead quality, and increase return on investment.

Leveraging Local Services Ads (LSAs)

Local Services Ads are especially effective for painters, as they appear at the very top of search results with your business name, phone number, and reviews. To participate, painters must complete Google’s verification process, including license verification and background checks. LSAs are pay-per-lead, meaning you only pay when a potential client contacts you, making them highly cost-effective for service businesses.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Common mistakes painters make include targeting too broad a geographic area, ignoring negative keywords, sending traffic to generic websites, and failing to track conversions. Ads running 24/7 without adjusting for demand can also waste budget. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures your ad spend generates real leads and business growth.

Partnering with Experts

Managing Google Ads can be time-consuming and complex. Partnering with a professional agency like 7ten Digital Marketing allows painters to maximize their campaigns. From keyword research to ad copy, targeting, and ongoing optimization, 7ten Digital Marketing specializes in helping painters attract high-quality leads and grow their business.

Final Thoughts

Running Google Ads for painters is one of the fastest ways to generate leads and increase visibility in competitive markets. By choosing the right campaign types, targeting the right audience, creating compelling ad copy, and continually optimizing, painters can turn searches into real-world customers.

With expert guidance from 7ten Digital Marketing, painters can focus on delivering exceptional service while campaigns drive consistent, measurable growth.