Just Snagged 26 Accounts In One Phone Call

[kdexpd]

Just got 26 accounts for lawn service in one phone call. Had a friend whose landlord was looking for someone to mulch up some leaves on property for him, so I give the guy a call. After visiting with him for a while and making my sales pitch about how I'm licensed and insured, he decides to give me a shot. I show up and mulch up all his leaves from last fall, and recommend a fertilizer and grass seed program to help make the property look nicer and he starts asking questions. I tell him he can make the property look nice without spending a ton of money and offer my services. He accepts. Later this evening he calls me up and wants me to go bid 26 more properties because the last guy was charging him for mowing, but wasn't showing up. I go take a look-see and about 2 hours later I call him back with the estimates. The properties are larger old homes that have been converted into apartments for the college kids and have fairly small yards..mostly trim work. I shoot him an offer and he tells me I have the job. I have to admit, I didn't see that one coming. I didn't over bid, but I made sure to make it worth my trouble considering that parking will be a real butt. After doing some figuring, I will make $11,956 this season off him alone. That's just one of 56 accounts I have going so far...up from 20 last year. Guess I'm gonna have to break down and hire some help this year. Kendrick

[picframer]

Lawn care business tips

First off Congradulations! This is a classic example of the benefits of spending time with a new customer, explaining what we can do and how we can do it, knowing what we are talking about and doing a great job each step of the way, looking for additional services we can offer and closing the deals promptly. I suspect the additional work you will get simply by being on these sites from other people that see you will be amazing. I found once you get to a certain size there is a tremendous snowball effect then we fight to keep up with the growth.

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Steve]

That is fantastic news! Congratulations!

Had a friend whose landlord was looking for someone to mulch up some leaves on property for him, so I give the guy a call.

The power of social networking! WOW that is awesome! Do you offer any incentives to get your friends to promote you? How do you think that all came together?

How do others get their friends to look out for them like this as well? Any advice on that?

I found once you get to a certain size there is a tremendous snowball effect then we fight to keep up with the growth.

Andy, can you explain this a bit more? You have a great perspective on this that many others don't see.

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is fantastic news! Congratulations!

Andy, can you explain this a bit more? You have a great perspective on this that many others don't see.

Every company that I have owned or managed has a point where all of a sudden things come easy, business comes to you rather than you trying to find it.

I can't preach networking enough, every one of our clients have a network and if we are doing good work for that network, don;t be afraid to ask if they have friends, college's etc. that could use your service.

I can't give you an exact number in our industry as I don't know, what I do know is in my case we seem to have hit something as work is coming in hand over fist and our clients are telling their friends and neighbours.

We fight to get to a point and sometimes we almost starve getting there but stay positive and work those contacts, they are your strongest tool in your business development tool box.

Tell them you appreciate the referral, I give a free pen I turn in my woodworking shop or I do a little something that shows I appreciate them, doing this creates a very strong relationship, makes both of us feel good and the start telling more people. This has been my experience for over 25 years and I use it to it's fullest in the lawn care/yard care business and it works.

[kdexpd]

Well, at the time this happened, I hadn't offered any incentives, however after my friend gave me the tip that this guy might be looking for someone to take care of him and that he may possibly have 26 properties, I told him if I got the jobs, I'd mow his lawn for free this year and I'd take care of his mole issues for free too. I have a feeling that probably is why I got the excellent recommendation from him. I'm actually not out anything as I was only charging him $10 last year for his little bitty lawn. Sometimes, we forget that the things we offer and don't think anything about, mean a TON to someone else. I always make it a point to offer something free to my customers every once in a while to make them feel special. Usually it's removing a low hanging limb, taking their mail to them from the mailbox, picking up their newspaper and hading it to them at the door when I first show up, and just treating them like a neighbor and not the check book that pays me every week. You'd be surprised at what took you an extra 30 seconds to do, can affect your future business! We all have that extra 30 seconds, I don't care who you are.

[Steve]

This does make you wonder, if you should every once in a while send out a letter with some business cards or maybe a business card magnet too and say if you know anyone who needs lawn care, could you please pass these along.

I think we tend to talk more about doing this on here than it is actually done.

Do you think it should be done?

Also how often through out the year?

Should you have something where you offer them a free service to give to one of their friends or neighbors in the area? Maybe it's in the form of a card? Would it be worth while doing something free like that for a potential new customer? Or no?