Why do ppls do this?

[topsites]

I don't understand this crap, happens to me a LOT !! Well ok, not a whole lot, but sure enough, always the folk who want to hire you 'off the side of road,' so to speak.
...
Had some folk pull up while I was mowing. I should've done what I usually do, which is to ignore them completely and keep right on working... But, no.
They got 3-4 minutes of my time, said they wanted an estimate on cutting their grass and could they have my name and phone number. The more I think about it, the madder I get, cuz they wanted my last name and me not thinking, gave it to them. But they DO live where they say, they did pull out that driveway and I seen them before.
Either way they drove off, then I went over after I was finished with current yard and estimated their yard but I was smart enough NOT to leave a written estimate, waiting instead for their phonecall (which, of course, never came).
...
Last fall, some folk pull up to me want an estimate on leaves (yup 'off side of the road'). They lived right up the street from where I was working, they got in their car and specifically drove down to where I was for this, so I figured it was important. Nope, they never called after I went through the rigmarole.
...
The stories I could go on with, but this is my general experience with this crap when passers-by stop while I'm working. Does anyone else experience this, and am I correct by just ignoring 'side of the road' folk?

Thanks.

[Charles]

I don't know why you would ignore the cheapest way of advertising you have--- You being seen mowing lawns. YOu get a call off your ad and then you have to drive who knows where is alot worse than running down the street to give an estimate while you are in the area. Some you get and some you dont--just like off your ad. If you got enough people stopping by then you could cancel your paid advertisement altogether

[topsites]

I don't know why you would ignore the cheapest way of advertising you have--- You being seen mowing lawns. YOu get a call off your ad and then you have to drive who knows where is alot worse than running down the street to give an estimate while you are in the area. Some you get and some you dont--just like off your ad. If you got enough people stopping by then you could cancel your paid advertisement altogether

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language

[Charles]

Well I guess all those millions of businesses with signs on their trucks are just "full of themselves" Give me a break!!! :rolleyes:

The same people who read the yellow pages are the same people who stop by and ask you to give them an estimate. What do you think? That phone books are only given to special people?

[Carolina Cutter]

Well this is definetely interesting....

I will tell you that the "cheap" advertising has brought me some of the largest and HIGHEST PAYING jobs I have ever done.

You working and somebody stopping and asking is a compliment to me as it says to them that he does quality work and is worth the money.

I would rather get all my customers from referrals or stops.

I DONT advertise anymore......AT ALL.....and my phone rings EVERYDAY. I HAVE NEVER had an add in the phone book and I have grown EVERY year.

Your work speaks VOLUMES about you and your company....more than some ad ever will.

If you don't take advantage of all your avenues of acquiring business...you are doomed to not be in business too long.

So what, you didn't get that job.....there are always others too follow.

[lawnman_scott]

I advertise in the yellow pages too. But I think it looks better to have a trailer that is lettered, and I would actually leave a written estimate and not have to depend on the customer to make contact, for a second time. They were smart enough to get your name and number, maybe they were hoping from the same from you.

[Lux Lawn]

Thats one of the best ways to get a new customer...No advertising cost in driving down the street a few house's to give an estimate.Plus it keeps your route tighter,allowing you to do more work in a shorter time.If someone stops me while i'm working and asks for an estimate it seems to me that they like my work,I will leave a written estimate.How can you not have business card?

[MrBarefoot]

The stories I could go on with, but this is my general experience with this crap when passers-by stop while I'm working. Does anyone else experience this, and am I correct by just ignoring 'side of the road' folk?

Has anyone who stopped you and requested a quote eventually turned into a customer?

I find about 70% of the people I meet "on the street" turn into customers. This has the added advantage of (usually) getting a new customer in close proximity to an existing one. These sort of "leads" are time consuming but I personally feel that they are well worth it.

If you find it a distraction to give quotes on the road then don't give them. You need to do what works for you and your business, good luck.

[SproulsMowingService]

So far, all of my business has come from someone who stopped me while I was mowing to ask for service. I only approached the first one and it went from there. All of the people who answered my ad in the paper never accepted service. They were apparently price shopping since they never contacted me after the estimates. I will still advertise, but so far it hasn't done me any good.

[kc2006]

The problem I see is, you don't leave an estimate. Theres 500 other lawn care businesses in your area, most of which probably do a good job also. Why wait for you when they could take a pic from the others and get a response within 24 hours most likely with a written estimate in their hand?

I believe in being the "strong" type with the customers, I don't let them step on me or my policies to keep them in check but playing hard to get is the reason these people aren't calling. Its just common sense. I bet any money if you left an estimate (which is probably going to be a few bucks less then normal since you service their neighbors lawn) you would probably get these people.

[CamLand]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language


You need to ease up junior.You asked a question and Charles responded with his comment if you don't like it then don't bother asking anymore.You had a person come directly to you and ask for an estimate but you were too busy to give the person a written estimate expecting a phone call for a bid that wasn't completed with a price.Good luck in your selected career...

[SodKing]

Hmmm....I just dropped my yellow pages ads as they were ineffective. Yes, they brought in a lot of calls, 30-60 per day, but they were mostly price shoppers. Since dropping the yellow page ads, going to a targeted direct mail campaign, and improving the exposure of our website, our closure rate has drastically improved. I do less estimates but the ones I do go to are quality calls.

..and I am sorry, it is my opinion if you do not have lettering on your vehicle, it screams scrub. It is also a DOT rule, I believe, to have a commercially registered truck lettered with the company name, DOT # (if capacities of the truck/trailer are above 10000#), and company location.

[nobagger]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language

Topsite- he didn't say anything but that is was the "cheapest", meaning no additional cost to you for your signs on your truck. ;) I also advertise in the Yellow pages and it borught a whole 2 customers, one which has been a good customer and the other who was a waste of time. I can honestly say Iv'e only had about 4 or 5 people stop while I was mowing, but if I had to compare customers from the Yellow pages vs. customers gained from seeing my signs, there is no comparisen. Sign customers win hands down!

[BNC SERVICES]

Its amazing how great work and word of mouth work. i started and have been in buiss. for two years without one ad in any paper or phone book. Because of this i pretty much get every job that comes in. i just got a call for a deck last week that was referred from a customer i had 1 1/2 years ago......................... if anyone see's you working and stops to get an estimate from you , go and do it , theres about a 90% chance the job is yours. your working in there neighborhood , they have seen your work and they dont have to call around and find someone....just my opinion.....Bryan

[grass_cuttin_fool]

If someone stops and wants a price they have work to be done and most dont really care who does it long as it gets done , looks good and you are dependable and you are in there price range. I have told people before I will call you tom, call tom and they say we got someone else to do our lawncare. If theese people are in the neighborhood you are mowing then it would be an assett to have them , not much winshield time

[Mo Green]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language

Hey slick.....I live in the Richmond area, too. If you don't want the business these people are trying to throw your way, tell them to call me.........I'll be glad to leave them a written estimate.

[nocutting]

Sure its a pain in the arse to stop working to give an estimate, but as everyone seems to agree they stopped you cause they saw you on there road and most likely liked the work that they saw?.......Maybe if you broke down and "Smiled" alittle you wouldnt come off so bad, and may score a job?....only an opinion...... :)

[gogetter]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language



Dude! What planet are you from?!? Charles just gave you solid info, and you cop an attitude??!

From your original post, sounds like you don't know how to "make the sale". I would give them a card, not stand there and give them my name and number (what did ya do write it on a napkin for them?!). I would give them a price when I look at the lawn, not wait for them to call me to get the price!

And I can tell you that there are plenty of people that "survive without paid advertising", and get ALL their business from word of mouth and referrals.
So, good luck with your yellow page ad :rolleyes:

[topsites]

You need to ease up junior.You asked a question and Charles responded with his comment if you don't like it then don't bother asking anymore.You had a person come directly to you and ask for an estimate but you were too busy to give the person a written estimate expecting a phone call for a bid that wasn't completed with a price.Good luck in your selected career...

Ok, sorry... You are correct, I was feeling it after it happened again today (TWICE). But I ignored the first guy and clammed up on the second. They both got the message, and that's just the way it is (more later).
...
Having read a lot of the different responses leads me to believe an old saying:
- What works for one person may or may not work for you -
...
Why do I do things like this?

You see, I run a site as a hobby and I watch companies like Applebee's. As for my site, I tried to do the word of mouth thing and tried all that Internet marketing crap to get traffic... I would get 10, 20, 50 and sometimes 100 visitors/day, and man that sucks for a Web site!
One day I had had enough ... and I paid to be listed on Yahoo...
Guess what? A million hits/month, month after month, year after year, it never stops.
...
Now look at Applebee's... Granted, their food is good but really, when you stop and look, what makes them so popular? No, honest, why is there a friggin' line out the door every flippin' night, wtf?!! Their service isn't THAT great, I know it's awwwrite, I like Applebee's and all, but how do they do it?
Guess what?
They advertise 24-7/365, Radio and Television.
Once again: It never stops.
...
But no, word of mouth ain't never done crap for me *except* when I'm running paid advertising, the combination does wonders. I tried to run last year without advertising and I got skru'd real hard, hence my resentment towards cheap or no-cost advertising.
...
So I live a world apart because the world is backwards.
Thanks for all the replies,
sorry again.

[gogetter]

A quote from topsite in another thread:

" Now see, I don't carry insurance because I'd rather take the risk."

The picture of your business is much clearer for me now.

[topsites]

A quote from topsite in another thread:

" Now see, I don't carry insurance because I'd rather take the risk."

The picture of your business is much clearer for me now.

Well don't forget to mention that I cut 10 yards/day and have 50+ grass accounts and gross 1000 dollars every 3-4 days by myself. Don't forget this is sustained day after day, week after week, and month after month. And don't forget my 2 bmw's are paid for and my house is paid off so there is no mortgage payments... Yeah lets not forget all my equipment is paid for (including the truck), and I have no outstanding balances.
Don't forget that because maybe I can afford to pay for damages or to hire the lawyer.

Now one more time: Insurance is not required by law.
If you carry it, maybe it's because you need it.
Bye.

[Soupy]

The best way to grow is do good work and gain customers by word of mouth or people seeing your work first hand. I have found that 90% of people who are referred or stop me while working will sign on for service and at a no haggle price. These people know what they are buying by being told by a friend or seeing first hand with their own eyes. You my friend are missing out on the best form of advertising. You should be excited that someone seen you working and decided to stop (taking their time and energy as well) and asking you for an estimate. It is your fault you don't see the potential of actually following through with their request and leaving one. How do ever plan of getting 2, 3, or more properties lined up on one street? Are you hoping the neighbors of current customer just happen to stumble across your yellow page ad? You should have your truck lettered so the neighbors can just write the info down and call you, but I don't see what the difference between a phone call or personal contact is.

[topsites]

The best way to grow is do good work and gain customers by word of mouth or people seeing your work first hand. I have found that 90% of people who are referred or stop me while working will sign on for service and at a no haggle price. These people know what they are buying by being told by a friend or seeing first hand with their own eyes. You my friend are missing out on the best form of advertising. You should be excited that someone seen you working and decided to stop (taking their time and energy as well) and asking you for an estimate. It is your fault you don't see the potential of actually following through with their request and leaving one. How do ever plan of getting 2, 3, or more properties lined up on one street? Are you hoping the neighbors of current customer just happen to stumble across your yellow page ad? You should have your truck lettered so the neighbors can just write the info down and call you, but I don't see what the difference between a phone call or personal contact is.

To be blunt, the difference is in the amount of my weekly deposits to the bank.

[lawnman_scott]

Well don't forget to mention that I cut 10 yards/day and have 50+ grass accounts and gross 1000 dollars every 3-4 days by myself. Don't forget this is sustained day after day, week after week, and month after month. And don't forget my 2 bmw's are paid for and my house is paid off so there is no mortgage payments... Yeah lets not forget all my equipment is paid for (including the truck), and I have no outstanding balances.
Don't forget that because maybe I can afford to pay for damages or to hire the lawyer.

Now one more time: Insurance is not required by law.
If you carry it, maybe it's because you need it.
Bye.So you have 2 cars and a home that are paid for and no ins? That seems quite stupid. Did you get rid of the thunderbird with the leaky gas tank, or is that paid for also?

[two_planks]

To be blunt, blah blah blah. I like trolling


First of your not a very good troll, put a little more effort into it man. Second, anyone that talks to someone, goes to their property and gives an estimate, but doesn't leave an estimate or at least call the person with a price is a fuggin moron. Moron.

[StealthDT]

No wonder you do it yourself, with your social skills you couldn't keep a crew. I bet you change your tune on insurance when, not if, something happens. My workmans comp paid out $66,000 to one of my workers who got hit by someone elses car on the job.

[gogetter]

What's this........ :waving: ?? That's topsites waving goodbye to his house and BMW's (yeah right!) when he puts someones eye out!

[Soupy]

To be blunt, the difference is in the amount of my weekly deposits to the bank.

Unbeleivable.... You are telling me that after 4 years you paid for 2 BMW's, a house, truck, and all equipment cutting 50 lawns (not yards as you put it) a week grossing 1K every 4 days. First off I wouldn't be bragging about your weekly deposits off of 50 lawns at a little over 1K (gross) a week. Secondly I would not expect people to believe you have paid for everything you have from cutting lawns for 4 years. Honestly with those numbers I can't see how you can afford the yellow page ad! You should be praying that people see you on the street and ask you to work for them. You might have money from somewhere else but don't try to con all the members who have experience in owning a lawn care business that your business is the reason you have this so called fortune.

[sheshovel]

Your numbers do not compute topsides,you lie like a dog.

[grass_cuttin_fool]

And Im in Va also and a 30 -35 week cutting season is all there is, and 3 years ago it wasnt a 20 week season it was so dry

[Carolina Cutter]

Can someone say T R O L L???? I thought this guy was legite when this thread first started but now it is apparent that it is just bull.

[C&KLawnCare]

Now one more time: Insurance is not required by law.
If you carry it, maybe it's because you need it.
Bye.

One good lawsuit and no insurence pal , Your going to find out by god how damn much its needed ,, 1 lawsuit= good bye to everything you own moron . What you sleep under a rock or what as sue happy as this countrie is i wouldnt dare be out their daily mowing with out insurence..... Sounds like a 100% flyby night guy to me.....plus his numbers dont add up to me either. I would and have been more than happy to shut my equipment off , and go talk to a could be customer. Plus i leave a estimate ,

[MarcSmith]

so 1K a week for let say 52 weeks a year. thats 52K- 10%expenses= 46800 - 25% taxes=35100 per year....again I dont profess to know what you husband/wife/life partner makes, but I'd like to see what kind of BMW's and home you could buy for 35K a year???

Walk up ads and word of mouth is the way to go....

Long lines at applebees..its not becasue of teh perfect food.

[Pecker]

Actually, the best customers I have came from people stopping by while I'm mowing and asking for me to drop by and give them an estimate. . . payup

[Gravely_Man]

I have gotten a few and I want to stress few people who have wasted my time by stopping by but far and large if the person stops you while working on someone else's lawn; you can close the deal. I like when I am stopped by a new person. Keep ghe clients coming.


Gravely_Man

[two_planks]

Can someone say T R O L L???? I thought this guy was legite when this thread first started but now it is apparent that it is just bull.


I already did. Not a very good one at that either.

[marko]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language

If you only advertise in the yellow pages, I find that very ineffective. Door hangers/flyers, when professionally prepared are much more effective by allowing you to advertise only where you want to. I have no interest chasing the price shoppers from a yellow page ad. I would much rather work on my salesmanship skills by people seeking me out for a good job done or seeing me working. A majority of the battle is the selling. Sounds like if you could improve on this feature, you could dump your add and put the money towards more productive equipment, etc.

[YardPro]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language


LOL we don't advertise at all and are doing very well. lots of work and making money.........

[topsites]

One good lawsuit and no insurence pal , Your going to find out by god how damn much its needed ,, 1 lawsuit= good bye to everything you own moron . What you sleep under a rock or what as sue happy as this countrie is i wouldnt dare be out their daily mowing with out insurence..... Sounds like a 100% flyby night guy to me.....plus his numbers dont add up to me either. I would and have been more than happy to shut my equipment off , and go talk to a could be customer. Plus i leave a estimate ,

In the Commonwealth of Virginia you can not sue for stupid things such as pain and suffering. You can sue for actual damages, but nothing else. In addition, the Co. is registered as a Limited Liability Company, meaning the liability starts and ends with the business, so greedy folk can not just come after everything I own.

[topsites]

If you only advertise in the yellow pages, I find that very ineffective. Door hangers/flyers, when professionally prepared are much more effective by allowing you to advertise only where you want to. I have no interest chasing the price shoppers from a yellow page ad. I would much rather work on my salesmanship skills by people seeking me out for a good job done or seeing me working. A majority of the battle is the selling. Sounds like if you could improve on this feature, you could dump your add and put the money towards more productive equipment, etc.

Ok again I am very sorry the thread became negative, that was my fault I am sorry about the arrogance. There are still good points here, and again what comes to mind is that what works for me may or may not work for you (and vice versa).

Far as the above:
I do agree, somewhat. First of all, if sales are your forte and/or you actually enjoy doing that part, then more power to you. As for me, I am not a born salesman so I need the advertising for a boost. I do absolutely NO out-calls, all my calls come to me except if I need to call to check on something but it is NOT a 'would you like me to do some work' call, to be sure.
As a sidenote, when I said earlier that cheap advertising = cheap work, I was not referring to the quality, but the actual price of the job.
That the biggest part of the battle is selling, no doubt about it. Now when I get a TON of calls (more than 4/day), I can raise my price and that is how I do things. If I need x-amount... Let's say 10 more customers and I can foresee 100 phonecalls, then only 1 in 10 need say yes, and I adjust my price accordingly. When 9 out of 10 are saying no, I am on target. Imagine what this does to the bottom line :-)
If, per chance I get an insane slew of calls (more than 15/day), it's time to weed out further, such as - No message = no reply - (actually that one is standard fare, but as example). It doesn't make much sense to go too high on the price, but it never hurts to give out a TON of higher estimates because it does:
1) Set a standard. If someone doesn't set high prices, we'll never see the end of the low-balling - someone has to do it, and I like doing it.
2) Get the word out - this guy is NOT cheap (cauz I hate that assumption).

Now lets take a look:
3000 dollars in advertising allows me to raise the price an average of 5 bucks/yard, or sometimes 5/hour. So lets say I get 50 accounts, 20 visits per year, times the 5 extra bucks = 5 thousand dollars.
In the end it's the same amount of work, and I gain 2 thousand dollars and save myself a TON of hassle because a yellow book ad only takes an hour to set up (compare this to ALL the time spent on flyers + b.cards + signs).
They do all the publishing and crap, all I gotta do is look stupid and smile a lot, and give out some basic info.

Although some folk may not enjoy the window-shopping, I like the power of being able to pick-and-choose whom I want to work for. Now if they're just browsing, you can actually kinda tell over the phone and if I don't have a lot of work, I go over and quote some higher prices mainly for amusement.
But also if they are just window-shopping, that's an automatic NO and I can get on with life, estimate or not.
...
To the other part:
That machines can increase productivity and that money is better spent on machines, that part is also true. However, here we have a problem:
The cost of the ad returns more money than I invested.
To increase productivity, it is cheaper to buy another (better/newer) machine than it is (you ready?) to hire an employee!
...
I'll start another thread for this, and I promise to try and not get ignorant.

And no, it really isn't a mole thing, I really do cut grass, I cut 11 yards today and you can ask me anything you want. I don't come up with things like model 30197 for nothing, that is the model of my Toros (the fixdecks) and I have a '98 and an '05 (and yes, same model). I have also an old float toro which is model 30165 (look it up, it's an ancient one, a '95 52" w/ a 15hp Vanguard aftermarket).
...
atopqualitysite.com is my site, but I do that as a hobby, for fun!
After all, a million hits/month is only 20 thousand visitors and the revenue basically pays for the server, and not much else is left over so yes, I have to work for a living.
Peace out.

[jimslawns]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/hosejock/No_bs-1.jpg

[Jpocket]

You just answered my question, thanks !

You are full of yourself if you think you can survive without paid advertising, because the only thing you will do is work for next to nothing! That has been my experience over and over.
Here it is: Cheap advertising = You do cheap work.
It is the reason why I have no business cards, no flyers, and no letters on the side of the truck (*ALL* of it, cheap ads).

That's likely why I never get any of this stuff, so yeah, I am correct by ignoring those *****.

You see, I advertise in the yellow pages.
Peace

language
YEa so what do you say to a commercial property manager when they ask 4 a card. I think you would look stupid...a professional has a card in the very least.

[topsites]

YEa so what do you say to a commercial property manager when they ask 4 a card. I think you would look stupid...a professional has a card in the very least.

I tell them straight up, I have none on me. I can write the phone number on a piece of paper for all that matters, it's really no big deal.
Far as being unprofessional, an ad in the yellow pages looks a hella lot better than a business card because any idiot can walk into Office Max or Staples and for 20 bucks they will print you 500 pieces of generic cardboard - But not every idiot can advertise in the yellow pages because not every idiot has 3 thousand dollars AND most idiots will not get the credit needed, either.

A business card:
Does not cut grass, do any maintenance, or do anything else other than get in the way. They always end up all over the place, they make a HUGE mess everywhere you go there's stupid 2x4 pieces of cardboard with your info on it.
Does NOT go out to 50 or 100,000 households! No matter what you do, you can't beat the numbers.
Now if you lease an actual outlet or a building where customers walk in (like a garage, so to speak) then yeah it might be ok to have a few on the counter, but other than that ...?
What for?
What's the matter, can't remember my number?
Then it isn't important !
Thank you, have a nice day.

[topsites]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/hosejock/No_bs-1.jpg

Whatever you say.

[kc2006]

lol, I felt like I wasted 180 dollars on my yellow pages add! I wouldn't even think of putting a 3000 dollar a year add in there.

I shouldn't be so nice to people though. Take today for example, I'm out mowing, minding my own business, when i'm loading the mower on the trailer a neighbor comes up and asks me to take a look at their yard for mowing, I should have told them to "Hug Em" or something like that as you probably would, but instead I was real nice and walked 30 ft to look at the yard. I need to stop doing that though, only picked up 2 accounts today from that, I feel so dirty! Maybe I should tell them I can't do it and have them look for my yp add?

[gogetter]

I tell them straight up, I have none on me. I can write the phone number on a piece of paper for all that matters, it's really no big deal.

A business card:
Does not cut grass, do any maintenance, or do anything else other than get in the way. They always end up all over the place, they make a HUGE mess everywhere you go there's stupid 2x4 pieces of cardboard with your info on it.
What's the matter, can't remember my number?
Then it isn't important !
Thank you, have a nice day.

LOL! Wow! I didn't think it was possible, but you manage to look more and more stupid with each post! LOL! Thanks for the laughs anyway.
:laugh:

[C&KLawnCare]

(A business card:
Does not cut grass, do any maintenance, or do anything else other than get in the way. They always end up all over the place, they make a HUGE mess everywhere you go there's stupid 2x4 pieces of cardboard with your info on it.
What's the matter, can't remember my number?
Then it isn't important !)

He is about as much a buisness owner as a goat taking a **** on the white house lawn ......


Never seen a buisness owner ***** about buisness cards . Word of mouth and buisness cards are the 2 greatest things going ......

[nobagger]

What's this........ :waving: ?? That's topsites waving goodbye to his house and BMW's (yeah right!) when he puts someones eye out!
Saying you have no insurance tells me you are a very foolish man or your full of sh*%! when it comes to your income. Personally I think your full of sh*%, God forbid you hit someone with a rock - then say good buy to your twin Beeeemmmmer's or are they Chevetts?

[topsites]

He is about as much a buisness owner as a goat taking a **** on the white house lawn ......

Never seen a buisness owner ***** about buisness cards . Word of mouth and buisness cards are the 2 greatest things going ......

There are about 100 things used in order to run a successful business (actually, it's more like 1,000 but lets stick with a normal figure). Out of these 100 things, you really only need 10 or maybe 20 in order to operate. It does not matter which 10 or 20 you pick, but it helps if the ones you pick are in line with your strenghts and your preferences as you will do much better that way. If, per chance you pick the wrong choices, you will know it sooner, or later. Nobody, absolutely nobody can practice or possess all 100 qualities or things needed because it is not humanly possible and besides, if one COULD implement all 100 you'd have a problem because many of these qualities would actually cancel each other out. For example, you may agree or disagree with the statement 'The customer is always right' but you are either one, or the other, and you can't be both. As for me, I disagree with that statement.
If you agree, then we operate different and it does not mean your business or mine is less or more successful than the other's, it simply means we do things different.

[two_planks]

There are about 100 things used in order to run a successful business (actually, it's more like 1,000 but lets stick with a normal figure). Blah blah blah, more inane drivel, blah blah blah, digging my whole even deeper, blah blah blah, How did this foot get in my mouth, blah blah blah.

A hundred, 10, 20, 1000...... It doesn't matter you still won't be around in 3 years. Although I must admit its funny to watch a punk like you get a bunch of grown men so worked up.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again

TROLL
Although I might be fitting that definition right now they way I keep trying ot bait you.
Don't feed the trolls

[pagefault]

Wow.

How the hell did I overlook this gem of a thread?

Yellow pages only work when someone is looking for your services and then, you're up against everyone else in the yellow pages and you're getting calls for all kinds of crap you don't want to do. You're also up against that business card they have stuck on their refrigerator, which might keep them from even picking up the phone book.

Business cards, flyers, word of mouth, people walking up to you, these all target business you really want and they get people who might not have even been thinking about having work done.

I know a lot of people in a lot of business who do very well without yellow page ads. I don't know any who do well without some combination of direct marketing like those items listed above.

[Mo Green]

In the Commonwealth of Virginia you can not sue for stupid things such as pain and suffering. You can sue for actual damages, but nothing else. In addition, the Co. is registered as a Limited Liability Company, meaning the liability starts and ends with the business, so greedy folk can not just come after everything I own.
I don't know which schlep of a lawyer you have been talking to.........

If your mower threw a rock and hit a kid in the eye, you will be paying for a mountain of medical bills........tens of thousands of dollars. And don't think for one minute that just because you are an LLC, that you are fully protected. As soon as that kid's lawyer finds out that you CHOOSE to not carry insurance, he will tear you a new one in civil court.

So what is your business name????? I want to see your yellow pages add.

[MarcSmith]

Once the business assets dry up, they go after the operator of the equipment for negligent operation....and then go after your personall assets....

also in VA you can sue for Pain and Suffering, its just capped at $250,000....More than I have in my bank account...

[marko]

Several good points made on this thread, and a lot of ignorance displayed by the starter of the thread as well. So you have 2 cars paid off and you can handle anyone who comes after you financially. That is a good one! I have heard that all fortune 500 companies did away with their insurance just to save a buck. Who needs insurance anyway? Can't get blood from a stone right? Anyone who thinks they are protected just because the are incorporated or an LLC should do some research on piercing the corporate veil. If the business is not run as a business (bylaws, minutes from meetings, co-mingling of assets and funds, and about 100 other things) the corporation can be deemed to only exist on paper and in some situations your personal assets are up for grab, especially if you are ******ed...did I say that out loud... enough to not have liability insurance. Another amazing point is not having business cards. Why would you not have business cards. As you said, it's only $20. I guess your work is so impeccable that anyone you meet remembers your name and number forever? Oh, thats right, they can just go to the Yellow pages, look through the 100's of ads and find your ad there and give you a call. Sounds to me like you strictly rely on the yellow pages for your advertising. Must not get much word of mouth from existing customers.
Don't ask a question on here and expect not to have different views, some good and some bad, some pro some con, some for and some against. Thats the beauty of it.
Also, get a new lawyer. Did you set this up yourself online for $39.95 or what?
Here is some interesting reading about the flimsiness of incorporating-LLP:
REVERSE PIERCING OF CORPORATE VEIL
Generally, business entities such as corporations or limited partnerships are legally separate and distinct from the shareholders and members who compose them. When justice requires it, however, courts have ignored the separation of the business and the individual and have allowed a creditor of the business to satisfy the debt from the assets of an individual closely connected to the business. This concept is known as "piercing the corporate veil." A variation on the idea, called reverse piercing of the corporate veil, allows someone to reach the assets of the business entity to satisfy a claim or judgment obtained against a corporate insider. In both instances, a court disregards the normal protections given to a business structure in order to prevent abuses of that structure.

Neither type of "piercing" is done lightly. There must be such a blurring of the lines between a business and an individual that the separate personalities of the two no longer exist. Moreover, while a court's analysis is highly dependent on the facts of each case, typically the party seeking to disregard the distinction between a business and an individual associated with it must show that the individual controlled or used the business so as to evade a personal obligation, perpetrate a fraud or a crime, commit an injustice, or gain an unfair advantage.

Recently, a state supreme court approved the use of "reverse piercing" to allow two creditors of an individual to use the assets of a limited partnership controlled by that individual to satisfy his personal debts. The businessman owned or controlled various business entities. The creditors showed that revenue from the largest of these, a limited partnership, was transferred to a corporation owned by the same individual. Then the funds were used to pay for the businessman's lavish lifestyle, including such items as a second home, a country club membership, a luxury vehicle, credit card bills, and college tuition for the businessman's son. Under these circumstances, the legal distinction between the partnership and the person controlling it had become a fiction to be ignored in the interests of justice.

[pagefault]

It should also be noted that employees of a corporation, especially officers, can be held financially responsible if they were the ones who were negligent.

[Remsen1]

You must take advantage of all forms of advertising that you have working for you. One of them is always your work, when you're in a service industry your work is your showcase, your showroom floor, your calling card, your storefront.

If you're mad cause your too busy and you don't get good success from walk-ups try to minimize your downtime and still be courteous. Give them your business card (get business cards!) and tell them the going rate for the lawn you were mowing when they walked up. This will give them an idea of what you charge. This could all be done in less than 30 seconds and you don't even have to get off the seat. If you never hear from them again, you lost $.50 in productivity and a $.10 business card. The one good thing is even if they don't use you, they will always remember that you service the area and if they get sick of being let down, by their cheap cut rate lawnboys they will very likely call you.

[Mo Green]

So what is your business name????? I want to see your yellow pages add.


I'm still waiting..........

[pagefault]

I was doing a lawn two weeks ago and the next-door neighbor came up and asked if I could do his too. I signed him up on the spot. Yesterday, at the same property, the neighbor on the other side asked if I could do his. I signed him up too.

Three customers. No windshield time. What can be better than that? Of course, more customers next to each other would be better, so guess what I'm going to do the next time a neighbor wants to talk to me...

[C&KLawnCare]

(I'm still waiting..........)

LOL Hey Mo green i sure hope your not holding your breath at the same time we are all waiting

[Mo Green]

I think it's funny that this guy comes on here talking a bunch of trash, but can't produce a company name.

[kc2006]

He's too busy writing novels on how to mow hills http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=108790 I personally like what the last 2 guys said though :D

[pagefault]

That, and he's found a new thread to educate everyone about the value of the yellow pages.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=1041344#post1041344

[MarcSmith]

I really really wonder just how many trolls are on this site....Too bad we'll never know....

[Green Pastures]

And Im in Va also and a 30 -35 week cutting season is all there is, and 3 years ago it wasnt a 20 week season it was so dry


Unless you have mostly irrigated lawns for customers. I had quite a few that completely ignored the watering restrictions.

[lawnman_scott]

not every idiot can advertise in the yellow pages because not every idiot has 3 thousand dollars AND most idiots will not get the credit needed, either.

Most idiots wont spend $3,000 to make $5,000 either, most idiots that is. Im not cutting yellow pages, alot you said is true.

[MarcSmith]

Anyone who has a business invariable will spend 3k to make 5k...its how business makes money if I could buy 3k of merchandise and resell at 5k to make a 2k profit I would....Advertising money is not guaranteed...but Id rather spend my ad budgets in the neighborhoods that would give me the biggest return on my time/investment....Yellow pages is like a shotgun aproach. Yes you are getting the ad out in a big market, but that market is Well.... all over the place. You spend your budget and target specific areas to increase your route denisty and keep your ever increasing fuel costs down and lower travel times you'll make more money with less employee down time.... When I was in orlando, every man hour spent on the road meant that I was not cutting 2 yards.....Thats why my farthest job was 10 minutes from where i kept my equipment and I focused my efforts in a smaller area. If you are a high dollar operation you need to go farther to keep the revenue coming in, but i think most here are smaller businesses they don't need to take their show too far on the road to meet their income needs.

[lawnman_scott]

Anyone who has a business invariable will spend 3k to make 5k...its how business makes money if I could buy 3k of merchandise and resell at 5k to make a 2k profit I would....Advertising money is not guaranteed...but Id rather spend my ad budgets in the neighborhoods that would give me the biggest return on my time/investment....Yellow pages is like a shotgun aproach. Yes you are getting the ad out in a big market, but that market is Well.... all over the place. You spend your budget and target specific areas to increase your route denisty and keep your ever increasing fuel costs down and lower travel times you'll make more money with less employee down time.... When I was in orlando, every man hour spent on the road meant that I was not cutting 2 yards.....Thats why my farthest job was 10 minutes from where i kept my equipment and I focused my efforts in a smaller area. If you are a high dollar operation you need to go farther to keep the revenue coming in, but i think most here are smaller businesses they don't need to take their show too far on the road to meet their income needs.
But we arent talking about a $2,000 profit. If he works for $100 an hour that would mean he worked 50 hours for the $5,000. With $2,000 profit after the ad is paid he made $40 an hour minus all his other expences. It seems awful hard to pay off a house and a couple lambourginis or whatever he said he has making that.

[SodKing]

I used to spend about $12,000 per year in yellow pages ads. The calls were coming in but they were low quality calls, mostly price shoppers for hydroseeding. This year we pulled the yellow page ads and did a targeted marketing campaing and the return volume has been much better. Our sign up ratio is better. Hydroseeding sales are down but that is acceptable as chemical sales are way up. A specific targeted mailing has been quite successful for us.

[MarcSmith]

ok 2k was Gross profit before expenses.....We would buy annuals at 1.00 and resell for 6.00 installed...our profit wasn't 5 bucks, but we "made 5 bucks" before expenses. Gross profit.....

Most of our work is all labor so the product sold would have been 3K of labor being sold at 5K price 2K gross profit....

Either way, I'd rather spend 3K advertising and target specific, local 'hoods....rather than one yellow page ad.....But I had business cards, logos on my truck and trailers, logos on my shirts, and I spoke to people when they came up to me....it was the way I did business