I did targeted marketing to get started. Spent about $10 on custom biz cards and went into hoods that I wanted to mow in and put on mailboxes. You’ll get about 4 customers for every 100 cards you put out. Those 4 will lead to more as you mow the same yards every week, neighbors will signup for service. It’s imperative if your in a mow and go biz as I was that you stay on the mower as much as possible. Your not making any money when your in the truck. I kept all my customers close. Often I would mow 3 or 4 yards without getting off the mower. Made sure my biz was close to the my house. Never drove more than 20 miles round trip per day. Never branded the biz with yard signs or truck signs. Had more work than I could handle within 2 seasons. Mowed, aeration and seeding, punning, insect guard, and fertilizer. Many request for landscape and mulch that I avoided. Never had any debt on the biz. Spent $4500 on used truck. $1200 on new trailer, $5000 on new mower plus few 100 dollars on additional equipment. Basically about 90% of what I made over a 9 year lawn care career I put in my pocket.
I know for myself... If I don't answer every phone call I get, its because I have a full schedule already. The cool thing about lawn care is once you get your regular customers you've got return business year after year. As long as you take care of your customers and you are good to them, they will stay with you and you wont have to spend so much money on advertising every year. Thats just a tip from a guy whos been doing this for 10+yrs
One other insanely good thing you can do, especially when starting out and you have more time than money, handwrite some mailers and personalized letters. It may sound old fashioned to some, but in the days of junk mail, the open rate for a handwritten correspondence is off the charts compared to the alternatives
Add your logo to all your materials. If you're wanting to strengthen your brand make sure it's on there and consistent. If the yard sign looks different than your postcard that looks different than your logo people won't know it's the same company. For what it's worth! :)
I found that having a blank back side of a postcard, business card, door hanger etc... is that you can write notes on them for customers, especially if you are leaving them for contact purposes. High viz yellow does attract and hold dirt, but it's a trade-off. They're a great eye catcher. Yard signs... I only place them in customers yards, and offer a 5% discount for as long as the sign is on site. Great points all the way through Brian👍
I watched this last year and when I'm getting round with my JD and Guerilla Cart I tie my hoodie with business name and logo to my push mower and picked up a few customers. Now I always wear my hat ...Everywhere!!
Totally agree with your point on the yard signs. Nick from Mulch Mate mentioned that customers need 3 points of contact. Example: 1) Flyers 2)Yard Signs 3)Lettered Truck Trailer
That color attracts dirt and grime like crazy. However, it can usually wash out okay... Usually. But, in many areas, some view that as being almost more professional than even a polo. Plus there's the added benefit of not getting smoked by Karen in her minivan when she's late for soccer practice.
and always have spares in the trailer. Why? Once the job is done, change into a clean one as that moment is when you might land new jobs and customers as they see how great of a job you did.
Just was listening to your podcast with lawn care business success as you posted this video and thinking can’t wait till you post another one. Thanks Brian love your work
I ordered a high-vis shirt at the beginning of last year, and got it completely covered in dirt, sweat, you name it. Just throw it in the washer with a tide pod and it all came right out. Though I will say I got mine from Vistaprint, so it may be different. The visibility is so great because most of my properties are on very long open roads, and people fly by at 40+ MPH. I've also gotten tons of calls and business from them, so that's an added bonus! Your shirts look great!
The safety yellow, for me, does collect the dirt more and some times does not come out. But, they do clean up well enough to wear day to day and looks good at a distance. I also got them in safety green and gray and pick, yes pick. I got hats this year in green and blue polo shirts.
Flyers should be simple and to the point IMO - that said I'm in the UK, things might be different in the US. Mine has the absolute bare minimum amount of words on it. I've got 2 designs and I'm pretty sure I have a higher response rate from the one which has a photo of me trimming a hedge as the background. Putting your face (and your family) on there should make a difference. The best results I get from my flyers are where I bump into someone on their driveway. My script is something along the lines of 'Hello! Could I hand you a flyer for my gardening business please?' *they take the flyer* 'Thank you, have a wonderful afternoon!' all with a big smile. Once you've got someone to call you, I've discovered this year that people are SIGNIFICANTLY more likely to accept the quote if it is entirely itemised - Presumably because each individual job priced at £50 with a £500 total looks a lot cheaper than combining everything as one single £500 lump. And as mentioned, phoning people back quickly makes an huge difference. They don't know you're busting your hump all day on site and they don't care, they just want their garden looking good by yesterday.
I picked up a CenturyLink phone company job this year and one other cabin lawn because the busy mower who was doing them didn’t call back those two customers calls for WEEKS! I know that guy and he is busy but I don’t want to get that big. I do 32 rural lawns now myself and I’ll cut it off at 40 lawns or so. Marks Lawn Care, Winter WI.
Hey Brian. Super appreciate you and all the great content you put out there. Decided to just start basic and stop being a perfectionist with marketing. Move my feet. Placed some business cards earlier this week and got my first phone ring today. Thanks man!! And side note, this comment is direct result of your latest podcast about getting and mentor and showing appreciation. I definitely need to do that more.
Great work Brian, I always watch your videos, entertaining and always helpful,your business seems highly professional, which I love to see , I also own a successful landscape/ garden maintenance video , love the green shirt u have on , very Irish. Best wishes and stay lucky in all you do . God bless from Ireland, ☘👍🏻
Great videos, please keep them coming. Also, I have pens made so when I'm out handing out fliers and someone is outside, I hand them one. No idea why this works but a pen seems to help with connecting with them and they almost always remember the pen later. I guess it's because they keep the pen in the car or home and they use it.
My first landscape design job was because I stayed in touch with my client, got another estimate to do for the same client and got a little bit of tip money for it
exactly. If you cant answer when a prospect or customer calls, then return the call asap. As a consumer I loath businesses that don't answer the phone, I often base purchases around that. As a bizman I strive to outdo businesses I detest.
Our industry is all about getting sweaty and dirty, I don't think a dirty shirt is going to turn-off a customer. I'm going with a dull/burnt orange color with white lettering, looks cool. The dump signage is good, not to noisey, I feel the bigger R/C lettering with bigger ph # is important for people to focus on. and Great info, keep em coming and let it snowwww!
We do high vis orange and yes we do yard signs. Indirect is correct. But it reinforces your presence in a subdivision or area. And makes you look more professional than others. Thanks for the video buddy
I use lawn signs in my business. Its a hit or miss. I get work from them when I do fences, and decks. But for lawn care i dont really get much feedback. For lawn work what works is when people see my trucks rolling down the street and stop me. Or just see my truck stopped while im working. Its not lettered up i just have 2 magnets on drivers and passenger door. Other than that local newspapers and kijiji, which is like a Canadian craigslist keeps my phone ringing
Love my high vis shirts but I definitely hate it attracts stinging insects more. Also the more decal over time u tend to feel the decal area stick to ya.
I love your postcards and yard signs...BTW I too from MI (Lansing). I would suggest that you keep your fonts and logos standard on everything...that will reinforce your branding and keep top of mind for your customers. When thinking about lawn signs see what College Hunks do. Also, what list are you sending the postcards too? Are you sending them specific households? Certain zip codes? Or just shotgunning it?
Brian it would be great to see a video on your insurance policies. That's a big one that I think a lot of guys overlook in the beginning but it absolutely huge when something goes wrong.
I wish I could have watch this video 2 years ago, it would have helped me out a lot. Thanks so much for these tips it made me think to spend more money on more advertising.
I use Big Frog in Novi for my shirts, ironically same blend, color and location of where I put "CDP Landscape & Property Maintenance" on the front and on the back I have it wrote in cursive with my phone number.
Whatchu mean dat Jersey feel??? What's wrong with Jersey?? Nah, just being a nerd, having fun!! Wink, wink.. Hope all is well bud. One thing that would be really cool is a maintenance video on using the grease gun, but especially working on the Zerk fittings, how to change them, or tips on how to possibly unclog them if the grease isn't going into them...They have been my arch Nemesis for years!! Great video as always and Dirty Jersey out!!!!!
Great video Brian, I had to stop doing mulch installations today and get the snow equipment back out and get ready for Saturday for up to an inch and a half of snow expected 😩 hopefully it goes south!
FYI,when you are talking with a possible new cutomer you should always ask"How Did You Hear About Our Company". If everyone is finding you by Post Cards you know they work...if you are getting most of your calls from yard signs you know they work....That way you can use your advertising money wise and put it where it works. Your Post Card Colors and Yard sign colors and Truck Colors should be all the same colors.That is the way your brand your business.
I know this is 2 years old. However, I just seen it "RU-vid" but I just had an actual web page created and working to bolster it daily. And it's already driven me to at least 3 estimates in a week
55 degrees!! I'd look like the stay puff marshmallow man all bundled up in that weather. I like my name out there, but I don't have any contact information so I don't spend all day on the phone telling people I'm sorry I don't mow in that area. I have a magnet with my contact info that I put on the truck in those areas I do want business in.
BTW.....when you talked about the tailgate...it should say BRIAN'S LAWN MAINTENANCE above that graphic. The crest looks nice, but from afar you can't really tell what the "residential / commercial" means....plumbing? Contractor? You have think a passing car can't read the crest.
You are so correct! My wife is a post master! When lawn Care advertising is on a mailbox it is a fine! I take them call the company and advise them it's a no no! The worst are house cleaning business. If your to lazy to engage a customer your to la,y to do the work!
How do u get the dump bed in an out? An also can u show us how that changing a trailer flat tire thing u have works. The yellow thing hung up in the trailer. Thanks
Going into 2019 I will not be advertising or spending any time or resources on any type of marketing. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have built a solid customer base over the past 17 years. Thankfully there has been no need for additional advertisement promoting our services for many years. I'm grateful for that and wish everyone the best luck in their marketing endeavors this season. Uniforms, for several years we've worn: Duluth Trading Company, " button up" action shirts in tan/sand color, both long and short sleeve. These shirts are treated for stain, grime and tear resistance. The pre 2018 shirt design is unmatched in performance. Never cotton tees. Uniforms pants are Columbia cargo, zipoff legs in grey. These styles change slightly every few years but remain consistent in style and great all around performance. Never Jean type pants. Footwear is always a comfortable, well built trail runner usually gotten or a light weight hiker or even performance runner. I rotate at least 2 pairs of shoes during the work week. Also, I replace the insoles immediately with upgraded cushioned foot beds. Footwear is highly important to me in this field. Also, we usually sport booney or shade clothed hats. Baseball caps are not enough support for the outdoors. In the shop, I wear a cheap slip over $10.00 bib apron when doing maintenance to help protect my uniform, easy on and off with pockets. I agree with your take on giving customers a profile of you and yours operations within the flyer/branding. I think yardsigns are a great option for growing a customer base. I would suggest a high traffic corner say commercial or subdivision entrance, approach a property owner and offer to cut their lawn for free in exchange for the opportunity to place a yard sign in their yard. It's worth a try for a month or season to see what it might lead to. If I had to choose between flyers/signs/door hangers or a sign for the truck/trailer I lean towards labeling the vehicles. Flyers etc. get tossed, blow away, stolen etc. The truck moves around locally, gas station/neighborhoods/nursery's/vendors etc. and when seen repeatedly on the same streets can speak 10 fold compared to loose leaf marketing. Great tip you made Brian, regarding answering the phone and returning calls. This is a must. At the very least have a simple voice mail greeting for the customer to hear when they can you. Nice trailer wrap and ingo. Peace
You stop throughout the days at convenient stores. To either fill up on drinks or gas. Or just making a pit stop to see (John). But sum the more. Put magnets on the back of biz. Cards and stick them around the pumps . Or even Red box if you have those in your area. Stick to any and all metal objects in busy door ways...
Same! I don't understand why but it's real! I ended up just putting magnets in the paper box next to the mailbox. Less likely to be tossed in the trash imo. First year doing this, we will see how it goes.
I used to feel the the same way. Let me try to help: I think most of us have a complex that we're annoying them, or trying to sell them something they don't want or need. So we feel like we're bothering them, in a sense. Nothing can be further from the truth. I look at it this way. My company gives people free time. It gives them back their weekends. It gives them more time with their family. I know that almost every body in America would love that. SO. When you know what your company really offers, you're not trying to "sell" them on your service. You're trying to pass out winning lottery tickets. It may sound weird, but that's what I'm doing. If you pick me, your life is going to get better instantly with my company. You have to see your company and yourself as an advisor, as a helper. Someone that they NEED. If you really believe that customer is going to be better with you providing work for them, than why would you let them make the WRONG decision by not going with you? Almost seems ludicrous when you say it out loud! I know how you feel, I felt the same way. But what I've realized is that I'm not a burden or trying to sell them on me. I'm trying to let them know that I have "100" spots available on my route, and if they want the good life and no worries outside for their property, then they better hurry up and sign up with me. Hope that helps! Maybe a little different mindset and a way to approach it. When you feel like someones life is better with you in it, it takes the pressure out of it. If they say no, you almost walk away saying, wow, they totally missed out, and not the other way around. For what it's worth! Now go listen to the eye of the tiger and make it happen! Lol
Brian, I noticed you don’t seem to advertise or have a website. Did I miss it? What are your thoughts on that? I know some on both sides of that opinion and if a lawn company needs a dedicated website or just a Facebook/social profile. Thanks!
I'm a rookie. I swear I keep reading aerarting lawns in the spring is often not a good idea? (I saw it on your yard sign). all of my info was for New England. Thanks! -m
@@BriansLawnMaintenance I'm waiting for the weather to break man I'm dying got a new mower on order waiting on delivery! Kubota stand on cant wait. Also I just got truck stickers made I got 10 16 by 16 full color for 99.99 from stickermule they are amazing!
In my experience if you are working it doesn’t what color your shirt is it gets dirty , I’ve been in business 12 yrs and every yard sign I have ever made has walked away.
Great advice but if you got a pass out any kind of cards or anything at a grocery store ask him first some grocery stores is not want you to do that kind of stuff and asked you to leave and might ban you from the store second of all some places it's illegal to put signs out so be careful that to even on your own property by Grace vice but I will check the local laws and any community laws they might have a rules if it's a home with sociation take care of your tools they take care of you that your money Michael take care of each other mostly take care of yourself and good luck at 1
I’m just starting out . How do you do mail outs in certain neighborhoods do you physically get the address from the homes or is there another way of getting addresses ?
