A google ad that stood out.

[Steve]

I thought this google ad was pretty good. "Free Report-8 Ways You Are Wasting Money on Your Lawn www.TopTurfLawncare.com" Check out their site too. By offering this free report, they get the reader to submit their contact information so future marketing material can be sent to them. I think it is pretty smart. What do you think about it?

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Lawn care business tips

Personally where I live I doubt people would us it, there is no Privacy Statement on their site, being a commercial business it's the law in Canada, most people will not give their email address out due to spam, a simple contact form on your website I believe will yield better results, it's working for me. Andy

[Steve]

That is very interesting! I had no idea Canada had such a law! Very good point to bring up.

Do you send out any marketing material to the database of people who have contacted you through your site?

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Originally Posted by Steve

That is very interesting! I had no idea Canada had such a law! Very good point to bring up.

Do you send out any marketing material to the database of people who have contacted you through your site?

Morning Steve, It was a way to stop companies from giving out any personal information about you, the fines are very stiff and they take this matter very serious.

Most of my contacts so far are can you do this, may I have a quote, can you provide a reference etc. I respond to all of them with a when would it be a good time for a visit to discuss your needs, personally I do not provide quotes over the phone or email, I like to see what I am being asked to do and it's so much easier to close a sale in person.

I will start sending marketing material mid April and hope to be on the ground by the first of May, things should be dry enough by then.

I had another marketing idea last night, our Spring Home Shop is 10 min from my house, about 30,000 +/- people attend, my cargo trailer should be here and the signage on it done by then. The show is sold out for spaces so I will go very early each morning and park the truck and trailer very close to the entrance doors, then get my son to pick me up so that I do not have to be there all day. I will make some type of holder that will hold marketing material and or business cards, if it's not raining I will keep them full.

Since the cargo trailer has so much space I am going to go all out on the lettering etc., well within a budget but I want it to be a real attention getter.

[Steve]

I will make some type of holder that will hold marketing material and or business cards, if it's not raining I will keep them full.

Where would you put this?

Could you get a bright colored tshirt that says ask me about lawn care? Or something like that and walk around at the show?

Or maybe put a whole bunch of magnetic business cards on your trailer for people to take as they walk by?

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Originally Posted by Steve

Where would you put this?

Could you get a bright colored tshirt that says ask me about lawn care? Or something like that and walk around at the show?

Or maybe put a whole bunch of magnetic business cards on your trailer for people to take as they walk by?

Just returned from the city picking up wood supplies, I spotted two suction cup type rack holders that will be perfect at a big box store, one for post card's and one for business cards. I will have a couple of magnetic signs done in very bright colors that say, Take a Free Flyer or something along those lines.

I was thinking driving home, guys and yes ladies love tractors, beside my Cargo trailer I think I will pull the new 2720 John Deere in and leave it on the trailer and truck, it's a pretty big tractor and really gets your attention, has a hoe and loader, especially people with Children or Grandchildred that want to see the tractor....I will have to put up a sign saying keep off. Had thought about putting the wood chipper on the 3 pt hitch for display, maybe I will switch after a day or two.

I thought about taking it a step further and offering kids free rides on the tractor but there is no way the organizers would allow this and it's too busy anyhow, then my insurance company would probably freak.

Anyhow I suspect every city must have these shows, we have at least 4 a year, it's something worth considering, I know even I will stop in a parking lot to read a truck sign or look at a piece of equipment.

Sometimes free advertising works very well.

[Steve]

I thought about taking it a step further and offering kids free rides on the tractor but there is no way the organizers would allow this and it's too busy anyhow, then my insurance company would probably freak.

How about free pictures of kids on the tractor?

Bring a digital camera and have the kids climb up on it and sit behind the wheel. Then upload all the pictures to a photo gallery and have a link on your website for the parents to download the full sized picture? Or let them take a picture themselves?

It would be a great way to meet the parents.

Also, you could give away free baseball caps to the kids too? Or free balloons! Have a small helium tank right there on the trailer. Kids LOVE balloons