Compiling a mailing list from old quotations...

[MASTERMOWER]

Well...that basically is what I want to do. You can buy lists for a pretty penny, but it's not guaranteed every person on the list has a need for prefessional landscape care.

Lord knows I have binders filled w/ copies of old quotations. All I'd have to do is make a afternoon of plugging the addresses onto the computer for labels. I'm thinking I could use them for some unknown promotional garbage....you know....like "Hey, we're still around....the scumbuckets you apparently hired may have cut & run mid-season, but we've been around for many years and many years to come. We won't screw you over." Nah, maybe not exactly like that, you get the idea.

...just a mailing list....that's all.

Sound like a good idear?

Anyone do something similar? How where the results?

[1Chavez]

If you need the work, then by all means keep plugging away at people. I keep a proposal for every client (and ex-client) stored. The ones that really put a smile on my face are the ones that call mid season asking to have them put back on the list after trying to save a buck with another co. I especially like when they say "you get what you pay for and I look forward to seeing you next week".
I do still send out xmas (holiday) cards to all even if I didn't do work for them. I think it lets the customer know you are still around and if they ever need, they can call.
-Rich

[LindblomRJ]

Both are good ideas there. The price is right.

[vaughnslawns]

I did that w/ my t g- day cards...

[dwyman]

I use quickbooks to track all my customers and estimates. Luckily I don't have to type all my written estimates into the computer and then print. I can just run a report with a click of the mouse and am ready to print to labels. Saves on file cabinet space too. All those written estimates are stored inside the computer nice and neatly.

Sorry, got on a tangent. But to answer your question, I think it's a good idea to use old estimates to mail to. Eventually, the service they chose over you will screw up and your ad will be there in front of them. You already know they were interested at one time, or maybe just checking prices. Who knows? Give it a shot.

[csalisbury]

The hardest part in marketing is getting a prospect to identify themselves. Once they've done so (in this case, requested an estimate/proposal), you should keep marketing to them. Just because they don't buy the first time around doesn't mean they won't at some point. In fact, there are many marketers that would say you keep hitting them with messages until they either buy or die.

You already know they want service, they haven't seen the light yet that you're the best choice to provide the service they're after. If you keep coming at them, educating them on why you really are the best, 9 times out of 10 they'll eventually come around.

Just keep the messages you keep sending them low cost, know how long and how much you can afford to spend on each one, and at the end of the day you'll end up with a lot more that eventually say 'Yes'.