How to Market Your Business Without Overcomplicating it

If you’re a painter or decorator, chances are your work already looks great; the problem is making sure the right people actually see it.

Your social media and website don’t need to be complicated. They just need to answer the questions homeowners are looking for. Below are some of the most common questions decorators ask about marketing, along with practical answers that you can take into consideration.

Question 1: How do I get more local customers from social media?

Securing local work begins with making it clear where you work and what you do.

Here’s what helps:

• Use location-based hashtags (your town or city)
• Always geo-tag your posts so people nearby can find you
• Share before and after transformations (these grab people’s attention)
• Post customer reviews and testimonials regularly
• Engage with local businesses and community pages by liking, commenting and following

Social media isn’t just about posting, it’s about being visible in your local area.

Question 2: What should I post?

This is one of the biggest blockers for painters and decorators, but the truth is, your day-to-day work is the content.

Content ideas that perform well:

• Before and after photos or videos
• Time-lapse videos of a job in progress
• Progress shots throughout the day
• Tool or product recommendations and why you use them
• Customer testimonials or short review screenshots

You don’t need to be fancy. Clear, honest content showing real jobs builds trust fast.

Question 3: How often should I be posting?

You don’t need to post every day on your main feed to see results.

A good rule of thumb:

• Between 3 to 4 posts per week (photos and videos)
• Daily stories (quick progress clips, site shots, finished rooms)
• Repurpose content, one job can easily become multiple posts

Consistency beats perfection every time.

Question 4: How do I stand out from other painters and decorators in my area?

Most decorators post the same thing: finished photos with very little context.

To stand out:

• Be visible and consistent
• Share your face, your process and your story
• Use consistent branding (same logo, colours, tone of voice)
• Give value and explain why you do things a certain way or how you do certain things
• Teach, explain and demonstrate your expertise

Homeowners don’t just want a nice finish. They want to understand who they’re trusting with their home.

Question 5: Should I be on TikTok?

The short answer is yes. TikTok is full of tradespeople and painting and decorating videos perform especially well.

Why TikTok works:

• Homeowners use it for inspiration and ideas
• Simple progress and transformation videos get a strong reach
• You don’t need polished edits; real, raw content sometimes works better
• One TikTok video can be reposted to Instagram Reels and Facebook posts

The easiest way to remember to use TikTok is to think of it as a content machine rather than just another social media platform.

Final thoughts

You don’t need to be a marketing expert to receive more work. By showing up consistently, sharing projects and explaining what you do and why it matters, your social media and website will start doing the heavy lifting for you. It will start to bring in the enquiries even while you’re busy on the tools.