Advertising Question!

[turfman]

Ok, I said it before, this is my 1st year in the business. I sent a couple hunderd on professional flyers, drove around for two days generating a mialing list over 1500, spent $$ on postage and prayed. A few calls came in and I earned my money back for the postcards. landed 2 contracts and two other non-contract accounts. Then I came to a stand-still for a while. So here's what I did; reasearched online for ideas to help the phone ring. I made a couple flyer advertising "FREE LAWN CARE" and cut the pull tabs into the bottom of each flyer. These were hung in my local post offoces and grocery stores. I got 2 calls in the next two days. The catch is this: You pay for three and the 4th is free! Then the calls stopped. More of these flyers were made and when I went to post them, the old ones were still there. I moved them around to make them look fresh again and still haven't heard anything! I have had a few conversations where I hear the same story " I would mow one lawn and the neighbor always came out and asked me to do theirs, and I have 2030 accounts in no time!" This has not happened to me once. I present a professional image; logoed collar shirt, clean cut, nice truck, equipment, and I bust my ass on every job! Does anyone have any input on my current situation?

Dan

[ahlgrenlandscaping]

Pass out fliers with a quote on them door to door highest response rate you will ever get.

[turfman]

Good idea. I can use the post cards I have made and place the quote where I would put the mailing address.

[ahlgrenlandscaping]

Exactly. I'm having postcards made for next season Gonna direct mail to highend customers and door to door for average neighborhoods.

[knowltondata]

Honestly, you know who actually reads those pull tab things? People looking for some $5 a day childcare from some crack addict with a $100 a day habit keeping 40 kids in a dark nasty basement under the radar of the secretary of state or whomever oversees daycares.

[HemiSize]

try researching a networking group. I have done that and found that it is expensive... $1000 a year, but they are holding a bundel of tips for me for when I join. Word of mouth is huge. Maybe consider sending a refferal card with your invoices to discount your current customers 5% on there yards if they get you a contract with someone they know. Also try going to a city festival and setting up a informational booth about lawn care and maintenance. If you dont wanna set up a booth just go down there and hand out some brochures or fliers. You can hit a lot of people at one time at one of those events. I personal would stay away from yellow pages or newspaper adds. Doenst seem to work out from what I hear. You could also make an A-frame sign that you put up when your working. Just some ideas that I've heard worked for some others... keep asking here casue a lot of guys really know how to help you get your name out there. Be patient. Its my first year and most all of my business has come from networking with customers or people I know.

[Countryside]

Adds are a funny thing, depends on your area and the target group your aiming for.

High end is even tougher without a referance, and commercial,,well that one usally is a door to door sales with a good price, but a real good price can scare the properity manager into thinking you may not finish the year.

I used to advertise in local sales papers but a $200 add would bring one or two jobs in and all of thm where bargin shoppers.

The yellow pages have been THE best source for us by far, customers who want a quality job seem to go there first, as well as new LCO's checking out the competion pricing.

[turfman]

Yeah, it all seems tough ight now. I can work for cash with a friend building homes when I am not mowing. I do this most of the time to keep the $$ commming in. But I always feel that I should be out showing face and advertising, but when I decide to do this= no money=gas=can't pay the bills. I feel like I am between a rock and a hard place!

[liquidforcedude7]

Does anyone do a referral deal like if they get another person to use you they get a free mow or something??

[pow]

What you are doing is working. The average for call backs on flyers is very low,
1-3 %. If you want more business then you need to do more flyers. Did you have signs made for your truck and trailor? They will pay for themselves in no time. Point is, if you want to get your name out then you have to put it out there.

[Team Gopher]

Hi Turfman,

This post "Tips: How to get new customers, Some different suggestions" may offer you more ideas.

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/showthread.php?t=11674

[turfman]

Thanks for the lead, did a little neighborhood canvasing yesterday giving out free quotes in highly profitable neighborhoods. I'll see what happens!

Dan

[grnwnv]

I agree with POW, By far the most business I have received has been from my company name and logo being on my truck and trailer. People drive by and if they like the way you look and the quality of the job you are doing you will see them stop and write down your number. Good luck.

GRNWNV