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this years advertising plan.

Feb 16, 2014#1

exotion

So there are usually a lot of questions on how to market your self here is my plan.
1) I have a Facebook page that I will be promoting and expanding Facebook has the power to take word of mouth to a new level. You get your customers on your page they share status to all their friends this has the power to grow those small circles.
2) I have a Twitter page this is a powerful way to market yourself go through and follow as many business and people I. Your city as possible and you can reach your entire city for free.
3) flyers I still hand print and walk door to door myself people respect good old fashioned foot work in march I try to do 250 houses a day around a particular neighborhood that I am low on stops or where I want more stops. In the summer when I get new customers I put flyers on that whole city block.
4) word of mouth encourage my customers to tell their friends and family with referal bonus usually a free mow per recurring customer.
5) direct mail I have a couple neighborhoods that are difficult for flyers with hoa stopping me or difficult terrain or just to many houses it costs but is worth it 3000 flyers passed out via mailman for about 250 dollars

I encourage people to add to this list so that people can get an idea what they want to do.

Feb 17, 2014#2

T

tybilly

exotion said:
So there are usually a lot of questions on how to market your self here is my plan.
1) I have a Facebook page that I will be promoting and expanding Facebook has the power to take word of mouth to a new level. You get your customers on your page they share status to all their friends this has the power to grow those small circles.
2) I have a Twitter page this is a powerful way to market yourself go through and follow as many business and people I. Your city as possible and you can reach your entire city for free.
3) flyers I still hand print and walk door to door myself people respect good old fashioned foot work in march I try to do 250 houses a day around a particular neighborhood that I am low on stops or where I want more stops. In the summer when I get new customers I put flyers on that whole city block.
4) word of mouth encourage my customers to tell their friends and family with referal bonus usually a free mow per recurring customer.
5) direct mail I have a couple neighborhoods that are difficult for flyers with hoa stopping me or difficult terrain or just to many houses it costs but is worth it 3000 flyers passed out via mailman for about 250 dollars

I encourage people to add to this list so that people can get an idea what they want to do.

give your local radio stations a call too,esp the smaller ones theyre hurting for ad spot

Feb 17, 2014#3

Ric

exotion said:
So there are usually a lot of questions on how to market your self here is my plan.
1) I have a Facebook page that I will be promoting and expanding Facebook has the power to take word of mouth to a new level. You get your customers on your page they share status to all their friends this has the power to grow those small circles.
2) I have a Twitter page this is a powerful way to market yourself go through and follow as many business and people I. Your city as possible and you can reach your entire city for free.
3) flyers I still hand print and walk door to door myself people respect good old fashioned foot work in march I try to do 250 houses a day around a particular neighborhood that I am low on stops or where I want more stops. In the summer when I get new customers I put flyers on that whole city block.
4) word of mouth encourage my customers to tell their friends and family with referal bonus usually a free mow per recurring customer.
5) direct mail I have a couple neighborhoods that are difficult for flyers with hoa stopping me or difficult terrain or just to many houses it costs but is worth it 3000 flyers passed out via mailman for about 250 dollars

I encourage people to add to this list so that people can get an idea what they want to do.

Cart before the horse?????????

Feb 17, 2014#4

exotion

Ric said:
Cart before the horse?????????

What do you mean ?

Feb 17, 2014#5

davbell22602

exotion said:
What do you mean ?

To have things in the wrong order; to have things confused and mixed up

Feb 17, 2014#6

exotion

davbell22602 said:
To have things in the wrong order; to have things confused and mixed up

Right I got that part. Not understanding why he said that. It's a simple advertising plan, perhaps he is thinking I cannot take on the work load. Which is not true I have room for about 5 more a day as is with out the time master. And I am going to buy that machine it will be a matter of when and when I buy it it should cut time down on most properties enough to fit 3-5 more a day on top of that. This is why I am confused the thread is just simply to help people get ideas on how to advertise and market. Nothing else? I see threads starting up on how to advertise this is my answer I was hoping others would join in on how they advertise so people can read it.

Feb 17, 2014#7

BustedKnuckles

exotion said:
What do you mean ?

I agree. Strange and unproductive comment especially from a moderator.

Feb 17, 2014#8

Carscw

Facebook is a good way to get work.
I used thumbtack a few years ago I still get a few hits from it. I say get as many yards as you can then you can be picky on what yards you wNt to do.

Feb 17, 2014#9

Ric

BustedKnuckles said:
I agree. Strange and unproductive comment especially from a moderator.

Not a strange and unproductive comment, just a lack of understanding. It would be like

Feb 18, 2014#10

exotion

So I've inquired in a few different places
Local "coffee newsletter" they put free newsletters in most fast food places costs $30 a week for basic advertising
Local "inlander" magazine is $55 a week they put out free magazines in tons of places malls resturants stores etc.
Our newspaper "spokeman review" in the classified section 3 lines 10$ a week for a advertisement on a page $20 a day and 40 on weekends.

Contacted yelp they are going to see what they can do.
And I am going to use thedealplanet.com to make a coupon for people to buy its like a local groupon doesn't cost any initial investment its going to be taking a loss depending on the deal I offer

Feb 25, 2014#11

BHLC

I was questioning what Ric's point was as well...

Anyhow, we use EDDM heavily as well as going business to business to shake hands with people in charge. We also use YP to run our ad and place our name on different web searches in the area. Also use facebook, twitter, local web forums, customer rewards for new referrals, and cards on cork boards. Anyway to get our name out.

Feb 26, 2014#12

Ric

davbell22602 said:
To have things in the wrong order; to have things confused and mixed up

You got that right :thumbsup:

Mar 11, 2014#13

jekjr

We have had more success from Facebook than all other forms of advertising we have used put together. Normally we get it from FB or word of mouth from a job we got on Facebook.

Mar 11, 2014#14

exotion

jekjr said:
We have had more success from Facebook than all other forms of advertising we have used put together. Normally we get it from FB or word of mouth from a job we got on Facebook.

And that is why I am pushing Facebook this year

Mar 11, 2014#15

Carscw

I made a Facebook page two weeks ago. Getting likes but not any jobs yet

Mar 12, 2014#16

jekjr

Carscw said:
I made a Facebook page two weeks ago. Getting likes but not any jobs yet

Here in our area we have pages on FB like buy sell and trade and I advertise on them plus I got over 2500 friends on my friend list. That is how I get work.

Mar 17, 2014#17

Lawnboy18

jekjr said:
Here in our area we have pages on FB like buy sell and trade and I advertise on them plus I got over 2500 friends on my friend list. That is how I get work.

I have an fb account, but it aint doing much.

I got some door flyers, but I am debatting on when to distribute them. It is still cold out and people are tired of the winter. I thought about waiting a couple of weeks, when the weather will be nicer and the snow will be melting. If ever some one else beats me to it, I guess it can go both ways. The person will keep both flyers and see which is best or throw out the first one and keep the second one.

Mar 18, 2014#18

T

timlinden

I'm not a "lawn guy" but do social marketing.. Some advice for Facebook:

- Make sure you have a "Facebook Page". It's different than a Facebook Account. Your customers can like your Page without being friends with you, so all your customers won't be having each other seeing each others things.

- Post to that page useful information throughout the year that pertains to your area. If you just cut the grass and customers fertilize, remind them. Whatever it might be.

- When you do a really great job on a really great lawn, post a photo. Obviously you'd have to either get permission or be sure it's just the grass and not recognizable by anyone where it would be. In essence you'd be creating a social portfolio so when people do find your page they'll be like wow this guy is good.

- You could also give a discount to customers if they mention you on Facebook. Maybe a one time you mention us to your friends and we give you a discount for one cut. Customers can type @(your page name) into their status update and it'll show up on your Facebook Page as a mention, and all *their* friends will see them talking about you.

And the biggest one of all: Don't go social if you do a bad job, it'll backfire real quick =P Post an update once a week and don't use automated software to do it for you and it can be the best "free" advertising you can get. I shopped for my Septic System, Oil Delivery, everything through FB pages..

Mar 18, 2014#19

davbell22602

timlinden said:
I'm not a "lawn guy" but do social marketing.. Some advice for Facebook:

- Make sure you have a "Facebook Page". It's different than a Facebook Account. Your customers can like your Page without being friends with you, so all your customers won't be having each other seeing each others things.

- Post to that page useful information throughout the year that pertains to your area. If you just cut the grass and customers fertilize, remind them. Whatever it might be.

- When you do a really great job on a really great lawn, post a photo. Obviously you'd have to either get permission or be sure it's just the grass and not recognizable by anyone where it would be. In essence you'd be creating a social portfolio so when people do find your page they'll be like wow this guy is good.

- You could also give a discount to customers if they mention you on Facebook. Maybe a one time you mention us to your friends and we give you a discount for one cut. Customers can type @(your page name) into their status update and it'll show up on your Facebook Page as a mention, and all *their* friends will see them talking about you.

And the biggest one of all: Don't go social if you do a bad job, it'll backfire real quick =P Post an update once a week and don't use automated software to do it for you and it can be the best "free" advertising you can get. I shopped for my Septic System, Oil Delivery, everything through FB pages..

I have FB for my business and I update it everyone knows all my new adds in products and service I have available. Plus I have fixr and thumbtack page. I recently got gold status on thumbtack.

Mar 18, 2014#20

Carscw

davbell22602 said:
I have FB for my business and I update it everyone knows all my new adds in products and service I have available. Plus I have fixr and thumbtack page. I recently got gold status on thumbtack.

Thumbtack works very well. I get 4 or 5 hits a day. Mostly for pressure washing. I give them to a buddy.

Mar 18, 2014#21

davbell22602

Carscw said:
Thumbtack works very well. I get 4 or 5 hits a day. Mostly for pressure washing. I give them to a buddy.

I been getting some hit/views in the past week or two on my fixr page.

Mar 24, 2014#22

BHLC

Carscw said:
Thumbtack works very well. I get 4 or 5 hits a day. Mostly for pressure washing. I give them to a buddy.

How much is thumbtack?

Mar 25, 2014#23

Carscw

BHLC said:
How much is thumbtack?

It is free to sign up
I have never spent any money on it.
They tell you things you can do to get free credits.

Apr 2, 2014#24

jay stortini

When do most of the calls come in? When do people get thinking about grass cutting?
Last year all together I picked up about 24 weekly clients

did not really pay attention to when the bulk of them came in:/ this year so far 5 new weekly's
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Grass Cutter

Apr 2, 2014#25

Lawnboy18

jay stortini said:
When do most of the calls come in? When do people get thinking about grass cutting?
Last year all together I picked up about 24 weekly clients did not really pay attention to when the bulk of them came in:/ this year so far 5 new weekly's
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Grass Cutter

Usually when the snow is almost gone people will call. It is hard to make a quote when there is a lot of snow. So at around the end of April and a good part of May you should get some phone calls, e-mails and people walk up to you to ask you to mow their lawn.

Apr 2, 2014#26

exotion

This time of year they come in a lot ...

Apr 2, 2014#27

Lawnboy18

exotion said:
This time of year they come in a lot ...

Come on over here! Still a few feet of snow on the lawns!

Apr 2, 2014#28

exotion

I'll be back to full time mowing within a week or so

still cleaning up

68 today 70 high tom

Apr 2, 2014#29

Lawnboy18

exotion said:
I'll be back to full time mowing within a week or so still cleaning up 68 today 70 high tom

That is nice! We got up to 6 C today. Lots of snow melted today!

Apr 3, 2014#30

L

LoCo86

jay stortini said:
When do most of the calls come in? When do people get thinking about grass cutting? Last year all together I picked up about 24 weekly clients did not really pay attention to when the bulk of them came in:/ this year so far 5 new weekly's Your Friendly Neighbourhood Grass Cutter

A lot of people around here start asking to have their grass cut when it gets over grown and slightly out of control cause they've waited to long to get someone and before they know it it's 8" tall.

Jun 8, 2014#31

B

bfleming98

With Facebook just remember you pretty much gotta pay for anyone to see your status updates.

Try running PPC ads and think of them that way. You can get pretty good results.

here is a video I made about it:

http://youtu.be/VL_-iJDqrjw

Enjoy.

Bryan

http://www.lawncarebusinesstips.com

Jun 9, 2014#32

jekjr

bfleming98 said:
With Facebook just remember you pretty much gotta pay for anyone to see your status updates. Try running PPC ads and think of them that way. You can get pretty good results. here is a video I made about it: http://youtu.be/VL_-iJDqrjw Enjoy. Bryan http://www.lawncarebusinesstips.com

That is not totally true. We never pay anything and hundreds see our ads when we run them.

There are many many pages created for advertising. They are free.

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