Help with flyers...

Hey guys like I said in my intro I am just getting set up for business and I am having a time coming up with a presentable flyer. This will be the first flyer for my company to go out if that helps. My company name is "The Cutting Edge Lawn Service" and my slogan is "You'll get 'MOW' for your money!" I do not have any fancy programs on my computer but word so I am trying to figure it out to make something decent. Any help would be great. Do you think the slogan is ok or do you think people will not take it serious. Most people I have asked liked it but Iam questioning it for some reason... Thanks

[Green_Day]

How to get lawn care customers - Vol 2

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[Steve]

Hey guys like I said in my intro I am just getting set up for business and I am having a time coming up with a presentable flyer. This will be the first flyer for my company to go out if that helps. My company name is "The Cutting Edge Lawn Service" and my slogan is "You'll get 'MOW' for your money!" I do not have any fancy programs on my computer but word so I am trying to figure it out to make something decent. Any help would be great. Do you think the slogan is ok or do you think people will not take it serious. Most people I have asked liked it but Iam questioning it for some reason... Thanks

I like your slogan.

I gotta make the flyer designs easier to use. Which file format of the flyer are you using? Was it a doc, gif/jpg or pdf?

Thanks for the replys. Steve I can use any if that helps. I need a program for dummies on this though. I cant seem to get things to work right on word. I will figure it out though

[Steve]

Show me what you come up with as you go.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by usmcman001

Hey guys like I said in my intro I am just getting set up for business and I am having a time coming up with a presentable flyer. This will be the first flyer for my company to go out if that helps. My company name is "The Cutting Edge Lawn Service" and my slogan is "You'll get 'MOW' for your money!" I do not have any fancy programs on my computer but word so I am trying to figure it out to make something decent. Any help would be great. Do you think the slogan is ok or do you think people will not take it serious. Most people I have asked liked it but Iam questioning it for some reason... Thanks

Hi usmcman

If you have Word, go the the Microsoft Office website and check out Template Downloads. There are about 40 Word flyer templates there you can download and customize. If you point your own flyers, I recommend getting an HP Color LaserJet 1600. It will print out around 20 flyers a minute for a fraction of the cost of InkJet ink. After you go through the toner cartridges that come with the printer (they are about 1/3 capacity of the regular toners) you will see the value going to laser.

The 1600 costs about $300.00 and the toner cartridges cost about $90.00 each if you use the HP cartridges. I found compatible cartridges on EBay for about $40.00 that work just fine.

The printer is a little pricey to start out with but a value in the long run. The output is Photo quality.

Steve

Greetings usmcman,

What do you want in a flyer? How do you think it should look? Who is your target market going to be?

[CustomClox]

Hi and 1st, BEST OF LUCK on your start up! I remember exactly how it was when I was 1st starting up. Spend-Spend-Spend and then wonder why I wasn't getting slammed with new customers! Flyers ARE great, but what's better is FACE TO FACE and a professional image! I would recommend a 'script' of sorts and practice in a mirror so that your delivery is smooth and not forced. Get your opening lines down for when you 1st greet a "P.C>" (potential customer) and most importantly BE YOURSELF.

After sending out 1000's of flyers myself, I decided to invest in a 'uniform' shirt. It was just a pocket t-shirt, but it had my logo and I also got some hats. I would typically wear khaki or green work shorts and work boots too. And when the weather is cooler, khaki or green work pants. Blue jeans (and certainly not "cut-offs") were not part of my uniform. I just think it made me look 'unprofessional.'

Once I started actually knocking on the doors and TALKING to people, as I would gain their confidence and hopefully their business, I would then hand them a flyer, a fridge magnet and then...CLOSE THE DEAL. "Would you like me to get started on this right away? I could begin by....." You have to ASK for the order! Once you have them to this point, you know your time, your money, your effort--was all spent much more wisely than "throwing darts blindfolded at balloons."

[CHEESE2009]

The best thing to do from experience.

Collect flyers from other companies 1 year before you start & months before the start date of your first year. Look at the pros & cons, & get to work on creating your own flyer!

It can get very expensive but, I get free paper, ink, printing, & folding FREE aka a few bucks I give the workers.

It just costs me valuable time. I have to rely on many people, & when they decide to work making flyers, is when I'm out of time & have to rush.

I had an extra 1000 flyers created Tuesday night, I fired a worker Wednesday for mouthing off at me & told the others to take the week off.
I even took the day off to think & relax... Wednesday, I went & handed out 1000 flyers by myself, & tomorrow is my last day before May, my girlfriend surprised me with a ton of more flyers she created to keep me happy. I still have to bust my *** to make this work. It never ends, not until your getting paid.

My thoughts;

You will never be done advertising even after you've been door-to-door to every possible house in several cities. I started off with 500 flyers, nothing happened, 12,000 flyers later I'm still preparing to mass print more. I might put together a team of 6 to hand them out for me at $10/hr, if I save on supplies I can spend on workers at least this one time. (Breeze Ninjas)

You have to advertise when other companies do, & keep up with them. Most of them do the same homes 3 times! So your mission is to do so as well. Others may also use direct marketing so they don't have to bust their *** handing out flyers, but the cost to do this is ridiculous.

Handing out flyers

1st time: Before lawn service is needed, this reminds customers it's almost time, they usually toss it in the trash.
4/100 calls

2nd time: Customers are taking the time to see what you offer compared to other services, it's still to early for them to give a damn. They will consider it when the time comes. In the garbage again!
7/100 calls

3rd time: It's late, but the grass is looking good. Customers might have thrown out your competitions flyers & now have only you as their savior & last minute option. At this point lawn service is serious & needed.
20/100 calls

4th time: yet to be fully discovered by me, but I believe if you can do it, you should!



My flyers, if I paid to have them created without the help I've received;
$648.00 = paper
$6000.00 = printing

[Steve]

--> Scott,

Do you have any advice especially for those starting out, what kind of return on their marketing dollar they should be looking to get?