Writing a STAND OUT newspaper ad

[mowingandlovingit]

Hey guys i'm new to this board and have been on other lawn care sites and just wanted to know from all your guys that use newspapers what do you put in it that stands you out from the other lawn care businesses in the paper? I am looking at running a 1X1 inch ad for $21 a month and there is only 3 other lawn care businesses in there and i want my to stand out and not look like the other guys how do i do that? Put in the ad my Stand out services or stuff that makes my businesses different from the other guys? any feed back would be great since i am wanting to go run the ad today

[Phil Nilsson]

Make the ad oval shape, triangular or a circle if the others are rectangular which is common. Also if the others are black print, make yours a black background with white print.

Phil

P.S. as to being different from the others ... and stand out ... not just the advertising but your company ... you're going to have to think hard on coming up with a marketing "proposition" that will draw interest. What can you do better or different from the others? You need a marketing statement and maybe graphics to show and tell it ... whatever it is.

[Tracy]

Personally, I found that newspaper ads were a waste of money....I had the ONLY colored ad in my paper for a month and didn't receive one call from it....I even had a coupon ad at one time.....still no calls.

I went out and knocked on doors and landed 5 accounts in one day.....if the grass needed cuttin....I was knockin.

I don't think people buy the papers looking for a lawn care provider....I know I wouldn't. I learned an expensive lesson.

My opinion....
flyers, business cards and one-on-one contact are the way to go.

Tracy

[Stephen M.]

Tracy, you are right about daily papers and I wouldn't advertise in one either.

However, I live where there is a weekly and a monthly newspaper(s) and people around here keep those around for awhile. Some of my best results come from my ads there.

There is a "Penny Saver" classified paper for different geographical areas of the state, and alot of people read those.

So, since nobody asked me, and I'll tell you anyway, Spend the advertising $$s where ever you get the best results.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Interesting because I was about to sink some clams in a newspaper ad....
Hummmm.....
I think Phil gave some good advice.
Not sure if I want to got through with it now or not though.........

My advise has always been "talk where your feet are."
But.... I am starting to run out of commercial sites to put my feet on...

[MortNuke]

My newspaper ad has produced sub par results...flyers.

For me, flyers bring a better response. I do them like Phil suggests: Hit a small target area several times per year for name recognition, and to be "johnny-on-the-spot" at the time the potential customer realizes he needs my kind of services.

Again, timing is crucial...put the flyer in their hands at the exact moment they need services.

Mort