new neighbors

Hey everyone, I moving to another neighbohood, a little nicer neighborhood, and was thinking how should I market them, was thinking of just passing out some biz cards door to door and talking to the neighbors, but what about the people who aren't home? I was trying to come up with a flyer that let everyone know I just moved in, and that I'm in business. What are you guys thought on somthing like that? plus the person I'll be renting from has a blank canvas for me to play with some landscaping, I can also use that to advertise.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Off the top of my head, I was thinking something that might work really well is if you sent out a letter with maybe that picture of you and your wife behind the mower. Maybe say that you are new to the area and you wanted to say hi to everyone. You also run a lawn care business and if anyone needs help with their yard to contact you. Then include a few business cards? Maybe a week later go door to door to say hi? The letter would help introduce you. What do you think of this?

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[Steve]

Also, another thing I was thinking. How is the area you are moving into? Are there any spots you checked out that really need some help? Any areas overgrown? Anything you could send out flyers to neighbors and organize a work party to do a community cleanup? Then send a press release to the paper about it? That could be a great way to say hi to everyone and show them you are a really take charge, get it done, type of person.

Casual conversation may work really well.. I'm new around the business but I have noticed that talking to people I know and people that know my family well has proven to work out great...

then again if you make your yard look the best in the neiborhood then send a few fliers out about how mad your neighbors will get if they hire you , you may get your neighbors interested in a little competition with the landscaper next door.... Not quite the touch that the girl Next door has but hey... may work...


good luck... let me know how everything works and if you come up with anything good...


Rob

thanks for the replies.
I think both ideas combined together work great.
I also have dogs that I would walk the neighborhood with biz cards in hand, and just say hello to every one.
Well, I'm beat and have to finish packing tommorow, after cutting some catchups.
Ill keep you posted.

I passd out about 200 fliers in the neighborhood and picked up one new customer. I have a stong feeling I would have gotten more calls if the phone company would have done there job right the first time. but anyway I'm about to go out and do some more after the sun goes down a bit it was 95 out there today with a index of like 105 or somthing.

[Steve]

Blaine,

Especially for the new business owners, can you tell us a little how you go about distributing them? What advice do you have on this? Do you knock on doors? Do you give quotes on the spot? Do you leave the flyers in the door?

What kind of interactions have you found from those you talked to?

Well, I basicly just put them on the doors. people tend to freak out when they see me on there front porch, and they come out to see whats going on anyway. thats when I let them know I just moved in to the neighborhood and that I do lawn care and landscaping, I also do free quotes on the spot, and ask them about ther current lco, and copmare there service to mine.
most people change there attitude once the speak with me for while and let me know that they will be contacting me soon, I guess to see if there current lco can compete.

[Steve]

people tend to freak out when they see me on there front porch

That is very interesting! Do you wonder if bring along any 'props' might help? Like what if you took a push mower with you? That way if they looked out there window they see you and a mower and they can put two and two together? Would that be helpful or a pain in the butt?

Also in your flyers, I don't know if you are doing this, but are you including your picture? Would that help break the ice with people in the area so when they get the flyer and then see you around later on they will know you are the guy who runs the lawn care business and they can flag you down to get a quote?

Would wearing some king of lawn care uniform help too? Like say green pants and cap and a short sleeve white polo type shirt?

What do you think would help break the ice easier with some of these people?

I'm not draggin no mower with me to pass out flyiers.it 100 degrees out there .they just have to get over what ever there issue is.after they speak with me or see me speak with everyone else the loosen up.
as far as dress code, dickey shorts polo shirt clean boots and straw hat, all tucked in and clean shave.