Give away idea

[kc2006]

So it seems that giving away a few free mowings doesn't work for me. So I was thinking about going alittle over the top this year. My original idea was to do a like a $250 check or gift card at the end of the year. I figured people always need extra money around christmas, and our year ends right around december 1-15th. My next idea was giving a tv away. Something like a 32-37" flat screen tv. They can be had for around 400-500. I really think this year is going to be harder to gain people, without being dirt cheap. So I'm trying to come up with some new ways of catching their eye. Normally once I get to a potential customers house they see my truck and myself and how professional I am and I can sell them. I'm really only looking to add maybe 15-20 mowing clients, and I'm pretty sure I'll be landing a larger school for full maintenance. So I'm hoping 7500 flyers and alittle larger phonebook ads will accomplish the goal. Thoughts on the give away?

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

My original idea was to do a like a $250 check or gift card at the end of the year. I figured people always need extra money around christmas, and our year ends right around december 1-15th. My next idea was giving a tv away. Something like a 32-37" flat screen tv. They can be had for around 400-500. WOW! How would you word this ? Also how would you market this? What would they have to do to get it?

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[kc2006]

I think I'm going against the give away idea. After discussing it with some people I think it will be too much of a hassle. I originally was going to just throw it out there that everyone that signed up for the year would be entered, and who ever was still a customer at the end of the year would still be in. But then someone brought up the thought of people complaining about paying more so they should get more of a chance to win. And the issue of people not being present to see the actual give away.

So I scratched the idea. I don't need to be so agressive this year with advertising either so i'll work on the idea and use it when needed.

[Steve]

What other marketing ideas might you use instead?

[kc2006]

I'm thinking about really scaling back this year. my original budget was 9000 for advertising. Then i decided I wanted to stay with last years budget which was 5000. But the school bid is due in 2 weeks and so far i'm getting it. With that, and the few customers I've already added, I'm only looking for 20 more weekly mowing accounts. I'm also marketing to my current customers for fertilizing to bump up sales.

I was about to go with a $4000 ad in the phone book but I'm going to call and cancel it and drop down to smaller ads just to keep a presence. With that and put out the 7500 flyers, I think I'll be good on marketing for the year.

btw, love the software, its so much better then what i had.

[Steve]

I'm thinking about really scaling back this year. my original budget was 9000 for advertising. Then i decided I wanted to stay with last years budget which was 5000. But the school bid is due in 2 weeks and so far i'm getting it.

How did you like working on the school's property? Any advice to others as to how to find out when such bids are available in their area? Also how should they best go about creating a bid for the jobs?

[kc2006]

For a bid that large, the best way I've found is break it down. They wanted a price on mowing, mulch, and shrub trimming. Theres 5 locations also. Each location I'd just go around and look at all the beds and estimate each bed for mulch and time to trim the shrubs. Then add them all up and figure the price. Strangely, I'm always within .5 yard of mulch when I just eye ball it, when I actually measure, I'm never accurate. Same with mowing, I just break the areas down and figure the time on each and add it all up. It's worked well on multiple properties for me.

As for finding out when places are taking bids. I mostly always received calls from the property managers. But, keep records! This school called me once 2 years ago, last year I missed the bid deadline because they changed it and they didn't call me, this year I called them. I kept his name and number so I could always call and inquire. It's kind of like creating your own property manager database.

Or you could call places and ask to speak with the person in charge of property maint. That's worked a couple times for me.

[Steve]

That is neat! Do you get a chance to see what the previous year's contracts were priced at for the schools? Is that public record? Would that help you create a target of what you should be shooting for with your bid price?

Or do you know what others have bid on the same job and how you compared?

That would be interesting to know too!