Marketing ideas

[jasonw]

I don't get it. I have put up fliers, handed out business cards, put adds on CL and the local papers yet still I sit here with no calls at all. Several weeks have gone by with no calls at all. This is getting depressing, is this the economy, am I doing something wrong? I want to suck all my marketing money back because I feel stupid paying for marketing when its not even getting my calls for quotes or anything.

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Foot Hill Lawn Care
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[picframer]

How to get lawn care customers - Vol 2

Originally Posted by jasonw I don't get it. I have put up fliers, handed out business cards, put adds on CL and the local papers yet still I sit here with no calls at all. Several weeks have gone by with no calls at all. This is getting depressing, is this the economy, am I doing something wrong? I want to suck all my marketing money back because I feel stupid paying for marketing when its not even getting my calls for quotes or anything. How often do you stop and talk to a customer who may have a lawn or other issue you could fix and explain how you could cure the problem for them, when you see another provider at a place and let's say their quality doesn't meet yours, do you ever talk to the home owner to see if they are satusfied.....very, very few people will come to you unless one of their friends have told them about you, you need to go to them.

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[jasonw]

I don't do any of that but it may not be a bad idea. I have thought about walking around and knocking on doors whose yard is in despair. I'm not sure I would feel right trying to steel a client away from someone ells by waiting until they leave and seeing if the customer is satisfied. Maybe its a last resort but I am not sure I feel good about that.

[picframer]

Originally Posted by jasonw

I don't do any of that but it may not be a bad idea. I have thought about walking around and knocking on doors whose yard is in despair. I'm not sure I would feel right trying to steel a client away from someone ells by waiting until they leave and seeing if the customer is satisfied. Maybe its a last resort but I am not sure I feel good about that.

Take this for what it's worth, I am in this to make money, if it was a neighbour who mowed a lawn across the street and I knew I would do a better job I would be across the street and I would get the account, this is bussiness my friend, people are not going to track you down.

By dropping cards on properties that needed a service that we offered, I would estimate it generated well over $200,000 in business, that is not pocket change.

Not being critical but step out of the box, up to the plate and hit a few home runs, the first few might be awkward but buddy if you want the ship to come in, don't wait go after it as it's there waiting for you.

[jasonw]

Understood. Not feeling right about knowingly trying to take someone ellses job maybe I can skip that part but for sure there is more ground pounding I can do all the way from taking to homeowners with nasty yards to talking to an old man the I see fighting his mower trying to keep his lawn nice.

[StartALawnCareBusiness]

Jason:

Don't limit yourself to problem yards (those in disrepair or the guy fighting with his lawn mower).

Target nice yards too. Prospective clients with nice lawns know how much work it takes to keep them nice. They are proud of their lawns and willing to pay a good price to keep them looking good.

Talk to them. If you're just starting out, ask what their secrets are. If they do the work themselfs, point out areas where you can be of service (pulling weeds, raking leaves). Once your foot is in the door, and you prove yourself, you can turn them into regular customers.

It's a mistake to only target bad yards.

Remember: Great customers beget great customers.

Keith
Start A Lawn Care Business