Flyer response

[Bill645]

Last Wed., my flyers were delivered. I mailed out 400 of them. I only got 1 call, and did the estimate for it. Aparently, my price was to high... and I havn't heard from them since. Is it still to early here in Connecticut? I have seen a bunch of other LCO's out there cutting already. I'm starting my cuts this week, and I'm a bit worried that out of 400 flyers, I havn't gotten any real response. I hand picked the neighborhoods that I sent out my flyers, did a professional looking flyer and I think my timing for delivery was about where it should be. Any ideas on why in five days that I havn't had any calls, and why I havn't had that many hits on my website (I think 5-6 hits since the flyers went out)????

Thanks,

[Ihateweeds]

My partner I used to work with was an animal. There was no need for flyers. When the season gets going start driving around and looking for the yards with taller grass, say your lost and looking for a nearby street, use there house number but a different road, People love to help(usually) with them giving you directions put's you in a face to face contact and THE BEST WAY TO SELL. You say well -you have anyone doing your lawn, throw a price at them or say, what price will it take for me to be able to mow your lawn. They should at least ask what you'll charge if nothing. We would pick up 5-7 lawns a season doing this. last season he was 5 for 6. It works ,takes the right attitude and person. Good luck..

[MASTERMOWER]

Last Wed., my flyers were delivered. I mailed out 400 of them. I only got 1 call, and did the estimate for it. Aparently, my price was to high... and I havn't heard from them since. Is it still to early here in Connecticut? I have seen a bunch of other LCO's out there cutting already. I'm starting my cuts this week, and I'm a bit worried that out of 400 flyers, I havn't gotten any real response. I hand picked the neighborhoods that I sent out my flyers, did a professional looking flyer and I think my timing for delivery was about where it should be. Any ideas on why in five days that I havn't had any calls, and why I havn't had that many hits on my website (I think 5-6 hits since the flyers went out)????

Thanks,

It takes time! I mailed out 750 postcards in mid-Feb and 1000 in mid-March. I was still receiving calls off them as of a couple weeks ago. I didn't really start getting any calls until a few weeks after I sent the last set..??

Be patient, the calls will come.....slowly.

Off topic - I think postcards work better for landscaping and door flyers are better for mowings.

[BayviewLawn]

Last Wed., my flyers were delivered. I mailed out 400 of them. I only got 1 call, and did the estimate for it. Aparently, my price was to high... and I havn't heard from them since. Is it still to early here in Connecticut? I have seen a bunch of other LCO's out there cutting already. I'm starting my cuts this week, and I'm a bit worried that out of 400 flyers, I havn't gotten any real response. I hand picked the neighborhoods that I sent out my flyers, did a professional looking flyer and I think my timing for delivery was about where it should be. Any ideas on why in five days that I havn't had any calls, and why I havn't had that many hits on my website (I think 5-6 hits since the flyers went out)????

Thanks,

I hate to be the one to tell you this but sending out 400 flyers one time probly wont alot to much.I was told and have to agree that it takes multiple flyers or postcards before someone registers your name in there head.
I sent out 18,000 direct mailing postcards in end of Feb,got maybe 4 calls sent out 18,000 more to same houses in first week of April,got maybe 10 this time.Probly should have sent out more at end of April but couldnt afford it.
I also read somewhere that response rate to flyers is around 1-2%.
So your looking for maybe 4 to 8 calls.My response rate should have been 180 to 360 calls.... i got maybe 14.....Keep advertising and good luck

[Bill645]

The last time I did flyers (4 years ago) it was for fall cleanups, and I think it was around 300 flyers I put out, and I picked up about 10 accpounts. I guess I was just lucky that time.. I guess that I was expecting the same results. We'll see what happens... maybe I'm jumping the gun here...

Word of mouth has been the best advertising that i've had yet.

[Brian@Greenleaflawn]

We did about 1000 flyers last month and got almost a dozen jobs out of it. Most importantly these areas were hit twice within that month to get are name out there. As others have stated hit the same areas over and over, and try to go for the middle to upper middle class neighborhoods. The rich are the worst to work for, they think that they are the only customers you have and usually try to get a $35 cut for $20.

[njnewbie]

Two weekends ago I dropped about 600 flyers and got about 20 calls within 4 days. That's about a 3% return..but my rate of sale was 85%..I picked up 17 new mowing accounts, all of them in a one square-mile area. I'm no great salesman, but I don't need to be..people understand what my company is about and what they're getting. Putting a low price range on my flyer has brought me the best results. Most people want an affordable mowing company above all else. If you're a high-end residential mowing company, the fact of the matter is that in most regions your market is simply not that large.

My goal is to get in and out of each lawn as fast as possible, and my very low prices reflect that. But my work is as good as any high-end "quality" mowing company's. I keep my blades sharp on a good mower (TTHP) and I trim and edge well. Mowing isn't rocket science- if you act like it is in your advertisements, the only person you're fooling is yourself.

The vast majority of high-end mowing companies in my area are also very high-end, well-respected landscaping companies. They got most of their mowing customers after doing landscaping work.

P.S. Is www.fallenleaf.com taken? Why "go-fallenleaf"? Also, proofread your website. The first line has two noticeable errors: "You might say its to early to think about mowing the lawn"...correct= "You might say it's too early to think about mowing the lawn." The site could also use a little sprucing up; it's a little hard to read and just goofy with all "Times New Roman" and ten different font colors used.

[MASTERMOWER]

Two weekends ago I dropped about 600 flyers and got about 20 calls within 4 days. That's about a 3% return..but my rate of sale was 85%..I picked up 17 new mowing accounts, all of them in a one square-mile area. Putting the price range on my flyer has brought me the best results. If you're a high-end residential mowing company, the fact of the matter is that in most regions your market is simply not that large. Most people want an affordable mowing company above all else.

My goal is to get in and out of each lawn as fast as possible, and my very low prices reflect that. But my work is as good as any high-end "quality" mowing company's. I keep my blades sharp on a good mower (TTHP) and I trim and edge well. Mowing isn't rocket science- when you act like it is in your advertisements, the only person you're fooling is yourself.

The vast majority of high-end mowing companies in my area are also very high-end well-respected landscaping companies. They got most of their mowing customers after doing landscaping work.

So whats your average 'very low price?' $10? $15?

[njnewbie]

Advertised Pricing:

Up to 8k= $22
8-12k= $26
12-16k= $31
($16-20k= $35)

Sometimes I take out the $22 range, replace it with 'up to 12k for $26' and see what happens. That way if I get a lot of 11k lawns, a few 4-5k lawns for the same price will balance things out.

And yeah for all those who are going to bust on me about my pricing.. it is admittedly stolen from another company.

[kingstownquad]

I put out more flyers this year and priced the jobs higher. I put out 6000 and got over 40 jobs. That is a very low return but I am actually making money on the jobs I cut. After a summer or two one would have to wonder why they would mow a lawn for less than 25 bucks because after expenses one is not making more than 10 bucks on a yard. Is 10 dollars or so worth your time?
ted

[MES]

Two thoughts: The flyers were sent too late for people looking for a new LCO or the chosen neighborhoods aren't interested in having an LCO. Don't get discouraged, keep charging ahead.

[bullethead]

Personally, I don't think a response rate of 1 per 100 (1%) is realistic. Ours has been about 1 per 1,000 (0.10%). This is based on about 48,000 pieces distributed this year.

[MASTERMOWER]

Personally, I don't think a response rate of 1 per 100 (1%) is realistic. Ours has been about 1 per 1,000 (0.10%). This is based on about 48,000 pieces distributed this year.

So the question is, are flyers worth the time and hassle? How much did the 48k flyers cost you to print and distribute?

I can think of more affordable alternatives which would give you similar results, if not better..??

[hillndale]

It takes time! I mailed out 750 postcards in mid-Feb and 1000 in mid-March. I was still receiving calls off them as of a couple weeks ago. I didn't really start getting any calls until a few weeks after I sent the last set..??

Be patient, the calls will come.....slowly.

Off topic - I think postcards work better for landscaping and door flyers are better for mowings.

How did you get the addresses for the 750-1000? Did you focus on certain streets or neighborhoods? How much is a postcard stamp, I forget.

thanks
hillndale

[bullethead]

So the question is, are flyers worth the time and hassle? How much did the 48k flyers cost you to print and distribute?

I can think of more affordable alternatives which would give you similar results, if not better..??

$.045 to produce and $.085 to distribute or ($.13/piece) total, the benefit of door hangers is that I can specifically target certain areas in order to keep routes tight. The only hassle is finding companies that will actually distribute the damn things as opposed to chunking them in the trash. With tv, radio, newspapers or yellow pages - calls come in from all over the place.

It's a new little start-up company for us - I think the response rate will improve some as the name recognition from repeat solicitations increases. Just starting to get into the 3rd round of promotions with many of the areas.

I'm always open for other ideas.