yet another advertisement post

[jklawncare]

hey guys so i plan on marketing in february targeting spring cleanups and the beginning of the mowing season (april) i went to vistaprint for there black friday deal to order 250 business cards and got some freebies too which include lawn sign car magnet keychain brochures flyers postcards notecards return address labels and last but not least a fancy engraved business card holder. haha i was very impressed with all there printing (this is my first professionally designed stuff) even though everything was there little selection i realized how unapealing my flyers were to these so i decided to save my christmas money up and aside for some marketing i want to know what you think could get me the best return rate? i know flyers are 1-2 percent but around here its around 3-4% which is good but here are some ideas i had and let me know what you think making agreements with local businesses for me to hang posters in there window (i live in a town where theres alot of local shops kinda like youd see in an old town movie so that may get some appeal) get my business cards on business desks and bulletin boards allover Facebook..i have a page but no one knows of it yet..do you think advertising it on the side would be good? you can target specific demographics and areas which i like. windshield wipers..i honestly dont mind when one is on my window but others might..how do you feel.. and lawn signs..are they worth the money? i know alot of you have them but have you ever tracked how much business they bring in?

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Just Kut Lawn and Landscape
"Where Service is Always in Season"
Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

All of those ideas are great. If you have time to go out and meet people that is so very important. Contacts are what it's all about. In the past, we haven't seen flyers in stores be that effective but, by going in there and meeting business owners, you are networking and are meeting more people you can potentially sell too which is a great thing. Lawn signs seem to have been effective too. If you are able to put them on your customers lawns and put one of those business card holders on them, they may even be more effective. Are there any goodwill projects you could do over the winter to help members of your community? Could you do anything that you could contact the press about? Could you collect food for your local food pantry? Help collect gifts for needy children? Could you do things that you could tie in with the holidays? What's your view on that? I'd also love to see some of the material you got printed!

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[xpertlawnman]

I have used Vistaprint for various items. Their prices and ease of use are second to none. Flyers do not generate much business around here. Networking and referals are my main source of new business now. I rarely advertise anymore, unless I am targeting a specific development. At the begining you have to get your name out there by any means possible. It sounds like you have a gameplan. Just remember it takes time to build a profitable customer base.

[jklawncare]

thanks for the advice
and steve
i love that idea

this is a small town and word travels fast about things like that
if i can get my name out on a positive aspect like that then i think it will help alot.

i love the ideas
could anyone else give some feedback or ideas?

what about posters on shop or gas station doors or windows..what effect do you think that would have
as well as facebook ads

alot of people in out area have a facebook so i think if they see that they could be drawn to both that and my website

[jklawncare]

im developing my new website
heres the home page
be brutally honest
what you like
dont like
let me know

ill show my progress as it goes

if anyones interested in me doing something for yours just let me know
i have time on my hands now and then and id be happy to do it for free

[jklawncare]

so i worked a little more and came up with 3 possible home pages and some base site pages..i think i need to change the background...its getting used too much and looks bland

otherwise let me know what you think

[jymie]

They look ok, I would just suggest that you spell check it, serving is spelled wrong, shrub is spelled wrong, and on the one page change other to others may work better?

[jklawncare]

these were just rough drafts nothing is finalized and ready for web yet.. ill make sure to do all that before though

do you think the backgrounds need to change for all the other pages?
also

what do you think about postcards on windows
and facebook ads

[Steve]

The website graphics look absolutely fantastic! I can't even choose which one I like better because they are all good.

what about posters on shop or gas station doors or windows..what effect do you think that would have
as well as facebook ads

alot of people in out area have a facebook so i think if they see that they could be drawn to both that and my website

Having a facebook page couldn't hurt!

When you are thinking about posters you have to ask yourself, who is going to be reading them? What % of them will be home owners looking for lawn care? How many of them are going to be living in an apartment? Or simply there to get gas and have no decision making powers as to who cuts their lawn?

Also, what is going to be the call to action? What about seeing a poster on a gas station window will get the reader to want to pick up the phone and call?

[jklawncare]

steve the posters wont be for just gas stations
they will be in all the small town shop windows that will allow me too use them

for all the barber shops i saw a neat one that said you wish you could do to your hair what we can do for your grass so i was gonna see about using that as well as maybe a couple others..but if i could i wanted to get a general poster that would attract someone no matter what store or gas station..any ideas?

also
i do have a facebook page
but they offer the option to advertise on the side bar
its pay per click so i was wondering if anyone has dealth with this idea?

below is a picture of one of the roads in my town so you get an idea as too what i mean when i say all the small shops

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n,_Indiana.JPG

http://www.northwestindiana.com/phot...TownSquare.jpg


There is quite a few streets just like that all around