Next Job Playbook

How contractors get more jobs (without buying ads)

When the phone goes quiet, most contractors think they need ads or a “lead company.” Usually they need a weekly habit: ask people who already know you, show up on the blocks where work is happening, and stop waiting for the phone to ring.

This page is the short version of that habit. It matches the four methods on Find the next job — written for searchers typing “how do I get more jobs.”

Next Job Playbook is free. We don’t sell leads. If you want weekly Minneapolis permit addresses for your trade, the links at the bottom point to separate sites.

Why ads aren’t the first move

Why it works: Ads buy attention from strangers. Your past customers and neighbors already trust you — cheaper and faster to start there.

Time: 0 dollars to try the habits below this week

Do this

  1. Pick one method below and run it every week for a month before you add another.
  2. Put it on the calendar like a job — Sunday 45 minutes, or 20 minutes at the end of each site day.
  3. Track replies in a notes app or spreadsheet: who, when, what you offered, next touch.
  4. Only after the habit sticks, decide if paid ads are worth it.

1. Work your past customers

Why it works: They already paid you. A quiet schedule usually means you stopped asking, not that the work dried up.

Time: ~45 minutes Sunday

Do this

  1. Pull the last 12–24 months of jobs from invoices, texts, or your calendar.
  2. Sort by neighborhood or job type.
  3. Send a short note this week: postcard, text, or email. One ask, one offer.
  4. Set a reminder 6–9 months out for seasonal follow-ups.

Steal this

Hey [Name] — we finished your [job] last [month/year]. Booking the next few weeks if you (or a neighbor) need [related job]. Text me back if you want a quick look. — [Your name], [phone]

2. Mail and door-hangers near active jobs

Why it works: Neighbors already see your truck. Warm curiosity beats a cold call from a stranger.

Time: 20 minutes at the end of each job

Do this

  1. Before you leave, walk 8–12 nearby houses (same side + across the street).
  2. Leave a door-hanger: your name, what you’re doing down the street, one clear offer, phone.
  3. Same day or next morning, drop a matching postcard if you have a small mail batch.
  4. Track which streets convert; double down on blocks that reply.

Steal this (door-hanger front)

We’re working at [street / house color] this week — [roof / siding / ducts]. Neighbor rate if you want the same crew while we’re already here. [Name] · [phone]

3. Use fresh permits as a prospecting list

Why it works: A recent permit means someone’s investing in that house. Digging city portals every week is a second job — organized weekly lists exist so you can mail while the work is fresh.

Time: 10 minutes to sign up; then work the list as it arrives

Do this

  1. Exterior trades: Exterior Permits. HVAC-adjacent (ducts, IAQ, insulation after the install): After the Permit.
  2. When a row lands, mail or call with an offer tied to that permit type — not “we do everything.”
  3. Log address, permit type, date you reached out, follow-up date.
  4. Pair with door-hangers on that same block when you’re nearby.

Steal this

Saw the [permit type] on [street]. A lot of homeowners next ask about [adjacent job]. Happy to take a look while that work is fresh — no obligation. — [Name], [phone]

Want the full permit walkthrough? Read How to use building permits to find your next job.

Permit leads when you want addresses, not a second job

These are free weekly lists from public Minneapolis permits — not exclusive sold leads. Sign up on that site; Next Job Playbook doesn’t sell leads.

Exterior / roofing / siding

HVAC / after the install

Also see Find the next job for the full four methods.

4. Adjacent-trade partners

Why it works: Other trades walk into the same houses — they don’t want your job; they want someone reliable to hand it to.

Time: One coffee / one text thread to start

Do this

  1. Pick one complementary trade (roofer ↔ gutter; HVAC install ↔ insulation/ducts; siding ↔ windows).
  2. Offer a clean swap: you send overflow, they send you theirs.
  3. Exchange a one-line intro text they can forward.
  4. Thank them when a referral closes.

Steal this (intro text they can forward)

This is [Name] — I handle [your trade]. [Partner] said you might need [job]. I can swing by this week if useful. [phone]

Make it a habit

Pick one method. Run it weekly for a month. A little steady prospecting beats a panic push when the calendar’s empty. For the close — estimates, follow-ups, good/better/best — see Close the job.

This week’s checkbox

FAQ

Do I need to buy leads to get more jobs?

No. Past customers, neighbor mail, permits as a public list, and trade partners fill a lot of schedules without buying exclusive leads.

Does Next Job Playbook sell leads?

No. This site is a free playbook. Permit-list links go to separate services that email public Minneapolis permit data weekly.

What’s the fastest method if I’m empty next week?

Past customers (same day) and door-hangers on the job you’re already on. Permits help most once the weekly habit is running.

Will this work outside Minneapolis?

The habits work anywhere. The free permit-list links today use Minneapolis public records; Twin Cities / St. Paul shops that take Minneapolis jobs still use those lists.

Should I run Google or Facebook ads?

Maybe later. Get the weekly habit working first so you’re not paying to cover a process you never built.

More: How to use building permits to find your next job · Find the next job · Close the job · Tools · Trades · Home