Have you considered this kind of marketing sign

[Steve]

Can you imagine creating your own marketing lawn sign, similar to what Tru-Green has created? Then you fill in your information and insert them up and down every street, you want to service. It would be faster to do this than to have to walk up to each and every door. It would also make a big statement to those driving up or down the street. What do you think of this?

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[FourSeasons]

Lawn care business tips

I don't think people would really want those left in their yard. Tru Green leaves those in yards that they have serviced, usually to let the customer know they were there. As far as I know anyways. I'm sure to let neigbors know who is making the lawn green to so they can sign up to. I think thats kind of like the flyer and rock in a bag thats gets thrown out the window as they're driving down the street. While I was working at a house yesterday I left to go to the store and when I came back there was a flyer and rock in the bag thrown onto the driveway for cleaning services. Its probably better to meet people face to face.

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Rob
Green Image Lawn & Landscape

\"If you don't feel the same way about Friday nights as you do Sunday nights, then you are not doing the right thing.\"

Hmmmm... I have to say that I think this would be a good marketing technique... As John White said in the article he wrote for TheLawnBlog.com, "Often, [people] will simply filter out most advertising, but a door hanger requires action, even if it’s to remove it and throw it out. The vast majority of people will at least glance at a door hanger. That means there are two or three seconds to communicate a message. THAT message should always convey who you are and what you offer."

The same thing can be said about these little yard signs. It requires the homeowner to actually go out, pick it up and take it to the trash... on the way to the trash, they WILL look at it... maybe to see who they need to call and cuss out, but still, they'll look... and when they do, you have that little bit of time to convey your message clearly and concisely. I think the biggest thing you would want to do on one of these signs would be to make something POP on the sign... what I mean is, give them SOMETHING to look at initially. A BRIGHT flower... a BRIGHT mower... something to catch their eye... then put your keywords in bold fonts so that catches their eye, too... if you can convey your entire message in 3 seconds, then the homeowner will instantly know what you're offering... and if they're even the slightest bit interested, then they'll be that much closer to calling you.

I said something earlier about the homeowner may call to cuss you out for putting up the sign in their yard... this could turn out to be a good thing, too... first off, it's not a huge 2'x4' sign... it's a small one... about 4"x6" or so... so it's not like you're destroying the curb appeal of their home... but if they DO call you to complain, simply apologize and offer them a free mowing to compensate them for the trouble. If they agree, then your sign has STILL done its job... when you're at their home, you can talk with them. Make sure to apologize again. Tell them you're going to mow, trim, edge and blow... and then when you're done, telk to them again. Apologize one last time, tell them that you hope this makes up for the trouble... and then make a few recommendations to them... offer them your services... who knows? They may just hire you!

[FourSeasons]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]but if they DO call you to complain, simply apologize and offer them a free mowing to compensate them for the trouble. If they agree, then your sign has STILL done its job... when you're at their home, you can talk with them. Make sure to apologize again. Tell them you're going to mow, trim, edge and blow... and then when you're done, telk to them again. Apologize one last time, tell them that you hope this makes up for the trouble... and then make a few recommendations to them... offer them your services... who knows? They may just hire you!

How has the sign still done its job if your mowing for free? Unless they end up hiring you after all. But that is very unlikley if they are complaining in the first place.
I think one simple apology would be enough. Mowing edging trimming, and blowing is alot of compensation for a 4x6" sign. I wouldn't even waste my time, energy, gas, etc. on someone who is already unhappy with me.

I could be wrong though. Just my opinion.

You know, a lot of business comes from people seeing the great job you do while you're at a customer's house... at least that's always been my understanding from other people I have talked to that are in the business...

With that being said, if you put the little sign up in their yard and they call to complain, you offer to mow once for free. You go out when you're not busy (maybe even on a Saturday) and take care of it for them. I mean, seriously... as long as they don't live too far away and their yard isn't over an acre, it wouldn't take you that long to do... and the prospect of getting more business because of it makes it well worth it to me... especially if you do it ASAP after the call...

Let's say you put out the signs on a Wednesday... on Wednesday evening you get a call from someone complaining... Thursday you're free enough to be able to go take care of this complaint with the free mowing... I think it would look pretty awesome to have my truck parked in front of a house that I JUST advertised at and have the entire neighborhood see me there... Might make THEM want to call me that much more...

Of course, there is a down side to this method... and it may or may not happen... if the person complaining tells his neighbors that you're going to mow his yard for free to apologize, then they may get the same idea...

It's a tough call... maybe you could just offer them an apology, a promise never to let it happen again, and a discount on your services. ::shrug::

[FourSeasons]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]You know, a lot of business comes from people seeing the great job you do while you're at a customer's house... at least that's always been my understanding from other people I have talked to that are in the business...

Of course it does. It happens to me more often than I think it would. Ita happened to me twice in a hour at the same place on a mulch install i did on wednesday.

That wouldn't work out to well mowing the whole neighborhood for free. LOL

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Tru Green leaves those in yards that they have serviced, usually to let the customer know they were there.

Hi Rob,

The thing I wanted to point out was that this sign was actually created for new customers. They put a price quote on the sign and then stick it in the ground. You can just barely make out it says 'you can have a greener lawn for only.' Then it says limited time offer.

I am thinking at the very least, it would be read because it has to be pulled out of the lawn.

[FourSeasons]

Oh I didn't know that. Well it must work for them. I have have customers that use tru green.
They are a successful company that people look to find their number and call.
They don't have to go door to door. That is where I want to be. It doesn't happen overnight but its possible.

[Steve]

It is interesting isn't it? If they are doing this maybe it would be a good idea to try yourself! Can you imagine how much of an area you could cover? I bet you could do quite a bit.

Rob-

I think the point Steve is trying to make is that Tru-Green uses those for whatever purpose... but Steve was using that pic for an example of a way WE could market OUR services to customers in our respective areas... like "clone" the sign (to a point) and then stick it in yards around your area... then, when they pull it out of the ground to see what it is, they will see your advertisement...