Flyers Work Greatttttt

[Stay-green]

flyers

I would say that if you are not looking to get new clients now then you are starting to late. You might be able to pick up a few now and get a head start. I would keep putting those flyers and door hangers out now through the beginning of the season.
I’m still getting calls from the first neighborhood I went to.
I put more flyers out in three other areas today and got calls while still out.
I have been targeting the upper middle class (150,000- 190,000 homes) to the mid upper class (200,000-500,000) this is in my area.
I checked into the yellow pages ad, right now they are short on their quota so they are offering special for 2 page ads you might want to think about this as well. The one I got was a little bigger than a credit card for 12 months two ads ran $1500 not bad.

Rember if you are putting out flyers or door hangers print them on bright color paper. This will catch the eye and thas what you want.

[Elwood]

Best "bang for the buck" for printed advertisement is postcardwarehouse.com

Check them out.

Best advice for mailboxes - Stay away from them!!

[Stay-green]

ELWOOD

Your site looks great for the door hangers but I could not affor 2,500 or 5,000 for now the flyers from staples will have to work for me. Maybe next season I could affor them. I just don't have that kinda money right now to spend.
thanks for the info.

[BS]

I've had the best luck with mailed flyers.

I've almost finished my flyers to promote my Fert./Application business for next year.

I plan to distribute in January.

I'm afraid now, everyone is concentrating on Christmas, and not worrying about their lawns.....

Now we're more worried about snow!

I reduced my YP ad to only 2 lines...the local paper and YP were wastes of money.

[Stay-green]

I don't know if anyone is still reading this thread but I'm still getting the call from my flyers. I put a flyer on a mailbox and didn't know that the guy owned a lawn service in my area. He was not pissed at all he told me he was cutting back and wanted to know if I have room for some more clients. Talk about dumb luck!!!
Now for the question that every one would like to know. The mailbox issue. The federal law states that the owner may do what ever he/she wants with it but no one can put letters on, in, or attached to the mailbox. How ever the post is not federal property and you may use it. I will not mess with mailboxes any more. I plan on using the paper box or door hangers. But hey at least I got my business before the US mail got me.

[alpine692003]

flyers

Did you guys get your flyers done in full color? on what type of paper?

Or did you guys get it printed on black and white paper?

[Kerry]

Then second 1,000 were for fall and winter clean up specials. You noticed that I used specials like they are any better than our normal rates. But they don't know that and they THINK that they are getting a deal.

I would be careful of this. There is such a thing as truth in advertising. If you get caught this will cost you a great deal of time, money and the loss of your reputation.

[mikeslawnservice]

Kerry,

He's not being untruthful.

A deal or special is in the eye of the beholder. How many ads do you get in the Sunday paper every week? All with specials or sales. Yeah right. The rest of the time they are selling that product, it is close to retail (msrp). Offering a sale or special is not really a special now is it?
If it is a coupon for a one time offer, now that's a different story.

All you have to do is say that you have extended to special if the customer questions anything down the road.

The key is making them feel as though they are getting a deal.

We all want to have that feeling even though we may know we are not getting a deal.

[Stay-green]

Go to Lowe’s or home Depot you will find sale items all the time on end caps and in displays in the middle of the isles. I f you wait a week or two then you will find out that the sale price is just as much as the regular price and you still buy it right. The key to this promotion is to let every one know that this is a special offer you are now doing. The client thinks that this is cheaper than your regular price but if you never quoted them before then how is it cheaper!!!!
You are just trying to get your name out their and get noticed. That is why I used bright orange paper to print on.
In one effect I am giving them a cheaper price but I f I throw in a mow which for me is the best way to pick up the debris I up the price a little more.
It all falls into the perspective of the client and how much they want to dig (not a lot in 99% of the case)

[Kerry]

A special price is not in the eye of the beholder, its in the eye of the FTC.
Whether you think so or not, all of these stores have an established retail price that they have been selling their products at or that they can show is the retail price of that product. Do you?
The FTC requires proof. You need to show where you have sold this product or service at a higher price than what you are claiming is a special price.

All it takes is one customer to complain. Maybe to the BBB or other agency. Then your local FTC agent looks into it. They ask you for your records and proof. Then the orange is not on your envelopes its on your back, so to speak. lol
Your reputation is gone.
All I am saying is that these large retail chains have many many lawyers that help them walk that fine line. Just be careful.
For a full explanation of what I am saying look up the Truth in Advertising act on the FTC web site.

[Stay-green]

I understand what your saying.
But If I sell fall clean up at say $35 an hr and I send Two guys over that’s $70 an hr. well If I put on the flyer Fall clean ups specials as low as $100.
Average lot my area takes 2 guys 1.1-1.3 total man hrs = $77- $91 cost for client + dump fees.
Maybe you can explain what the fair trade commission has to do with the service industry.
I’m not trying to run a pissing match I would truthfully like your insight on this matter maybe I have another thing to learn.
Thank you
Tommy

[Kerry]

The FTC regulates all forms of commerce in the USA.
And yes that includes the green industry.
I am not clear on your example. But lets say you have been charging $35.00 per hr for fall cleanups.
That is your regular price that you have now established.
If you advertise and use the words "special" or "sale price" or something to this effect as was stated earlier, then you must charge less than $35.00 per hour. Your dump fees and such as long as you state that they are added cost to the consumer are not affected.
However, they cannot be more than you were already charging.

You noticed that I used specials like they are any better than our normal rates. But they don't know that and they THINK that they are getting a deal.

This sounds an aweful lot like not being truthful to me. I am not blasting you for saying or doing it. I am only pointing out that you could get into a big pile of ****aki mushrooms.
It would be as easy as one of your customers logging on to this forum and reading his post. Then they go to the FTC web site click on file a complaint.
And dont think that just because you are not a multi million $ a year business that they will overlook this. They love to make examples out of people like you and me to keep the rest of us small business people in line.
BTW its not a pissing match or anything like that. I think we are having a discussion about a very serious subject. Thats what we are here for right?

[Stay-green]

Thanks for the info I will keep this in mind later when I run new flyers for the spring.