[sandim]

Right now our maintenance is crazy! Weeding, pruning, mulching. All well and good, but we'd like to push to do more hardscaping and softscaping. Getting ready to put out 1,000 postcards (as soon as I get my list), anybody have any suggestions?

thanks!

Sandi

[Stonehenge]

Put out 10,000 postcards.

And get your website up and going.

[Fine Edge]

Even then it's probably going to take quite awhile to get hardscaping prospects on a regular basis since you have established yourself as more of a maintenance company.
If all people see you doing is maintenance, then that's what they're going to call you for.

[sandim]

maintenance is more on our softscaping we've already done, but some gardens that people just don't have time to take care of.
FINALLY got pics today. How should we push the site to get us jobs...other than having our portfolio on there?
10,000 postcards, again DUH! on my part.

As always, you guys rock, thanks millions for your insight.

[Stonehenge]

Y'know, I think I might put together a website primer in the offseason, and charge $50 to get access to it. There's a laundry list of stuff I could rattle off here (and have rattled off to our search engine optimization clients), but I know of too many local competitors who visit this site, and I don't want to give up too much to them. I won't really have the time for awhile, but in a few months if you'd like an SEO review of your site, visit this site (also ours) to at least get some ideas flowing: Green Voodoo | Web Stylings for the Green Industry

[FungusMudGrub]

Float ideas past all your maintenance clients about things that you think could enhance their properties. Even they may not realize you do more than maintenance. Happened to me once.

The best client is one you already have.

[kinnanscaping]

I am pretty new to this whole thing, but I have been trying many different avenues. It seems that advertising is similar to investing. Don't put all of your eggs into one basket; diversify the portfolio. I am still getting three to four jobs a month off of Craig's List, and it is free. I only got two jobs off of 2000 postcards! Door hanger's were more effective, for me, than mailings. I had to get over my "better-to-be-meek" mentality, and I simply started telling EVERYONE that I come into contact with about my landscaping business. I'm a bit like Stonehenge, so PM me if you would like to discuss further.

[Stonehenge]

The success of Craig's List must differ by region, because I swear my only contacts for various Craig's List things I've done have been large corn flakes. But good for you if it's working. Free is always good.

[Terre]

I think the success of Craigslist differs by whether or not the moon is full. I've gotten some of my most marvelous clients from there, as well as my biggest job to date. Which might not be big to you guys, but to me it was huge! I've also gotten 10 to 1, every fruitcake in 5 counties who thinks I should be grateful for the opportunity to earn $7 an hour working for them and provide plants at my cost. Unfortunately, some of the competitors ARE willing to give away the store. I just lost a job to someone who has offered to lay 500 sq ft of flagstone for $200 labor. We all know what that will look like, but CL seems to get a lot of people who prize cheap over quality.

I'm moving away from it, and hearing rumors about fees to advertise there. Free is good, but it isn't free when you have to do 25 estimates to get one decent job with someone who is willing to pay what the job is worth.

[natural12]

You can target your postcard mailings. Contact a mailing service and ask to send the cards to specific zip codes you desire to work in and to houses with a value of $300,000 or more (for example). I would definitely have my website up before the mailing.

I did several mailings when I was first getting started in 2000. Did not get a lot of calls but the quality of the calls where good. I mailed a nicely done trifold brochure. It was very effective in getting several high end jobs. In fact they were so nice I was getting some calls six months later from people who saved them.
So make sure they stand out because most people will just throw out those postcards. I know I do. And target who you send them to.

You might also send a letter to your existing customers informing them that you install patios, walkways, etc. Offer a referral reward.

Mike

[Stonehenge]

We ended up building our own mailing database, because the service we used left a lot to be desired. Multiple address listings, apartments, etc. So in the winter months I compiled a nice mailing list, and each winter I add a bit to it.

Staying in contact with existing customers is a good idea, too.

[kinnanscaping]

Yes, I compiled my own mailing list, too. We are fortunate here in Omaha to have two metropolitan counties with awesome County Assessor websites. After all, that information is public, but they lay it all out there in map form for you. If any one is really bored, see what I mean @ http://douglasne.mapping-online.com/...lId=2222327002

Anyway, back to Craig's List...I think that it has actually picked up just in the last 15 months or so here in Omaha. Honestly, several of my biggest jobs came from it, ie. $6000, $4000, $3500, etc. (I'm probably with Terre, those might not seem big to some of you, but we're not talking about $7.00/hour either). Sure, I have had some duds from it, but no more than any other medium, maybe even less.

RE: guys that will whore themselves out. I have run into that just this last week. And YES the lead was from Craig's List. People had three trees removed and roots and stump ground up. Basically, 1500 square feet of area needed to be re-graded, soil ammended, seeded, erosion control, etc. Would have had to take a section of fence off to get back there then re-set it, too. I quoted them $1700. He responded that they were going with someone cheaper. I politely asked how much the other guys were going to charge. This is how he responded: $685 to remove all the woodchips & dirt where the three trees were; grade those spots to level, add a layer of top soil and Turf Builder seed to the two outer trees; and grade the third tree area to 7" below level so I can put paver stones up! I said that I wished them an excellent job would be done!

[sandim]

All well said. For us, Craig's list, Service Magic...don't work. Too many yahoo's. Don't know why I didn't think about it myself until Stone said postcards. Targeted marketing based on our demographics for home value and income. I completely agree, the advertising of any direct mail has to be attention grabbing, I like to think I did a pretty good job as I used to be a graphic designer...and who knows our business better than me?
10,000 seemed a bit much for us as we're so small and I know growing too fast is very harmful, so we went with 5400. If you figure we'll get a 1% interest, that leaves us with 50 calls. That might mean 10 proposals and 5 nice jobs. For now, I'd be content with that number. If we get more, fantastic!, but we'll take 5. We already do have some jobs lined up so I don't want to go overkill. That should not only break us even on the amount spent for marketing, but also bring some nice dollars in.