NEED 20-40 MORE ACCOUNTS - What to do?

[emil35]

Hello:

I need anywheres from 20-40 more accounts or $500-$1000 (if not more :) ) per week. I'm going to do an ad in the local paper, door hangers, flyers, and truck/equ. advertising. My question is that how many door hangers/flyers do you think I need to put out to have the results I'm hoping for. Remember, I'm targeting high end residential and smaller commerical/business/industrial places, so I might end up making alot more per place resulting in needing less places...however since I have some rather "difficult" customers at the moment, I'd like to have enough new one's come in that I can adjust the rate for the difficult ones and if I lose them, oh well...not worth my time.

Also, how many of you use magnetic business cards as pass outs for advertising? If so, do they work or are they worth it? Thanks!

~Emil

[rodfather]

one thing to try is ask for referrals from the customers you have now

[SouthernYankee]

I am in the same boat, I need some more accounts by the end of March.

I have about 500-700 doorhangers go out a week along with letters that I send to higher end accounts where doorhangers are not allowed. Where I am at there are a lot of neighborhood newsletters that I plan on advertising in. My two big developments have over 1800 houses and growing that I plan on advertising.


With Houston being the 4 largest city in the country, there are a lot of buisnesses that buy lists of people that have just moved into their house. I am in search of getting more info on this. Doorhangers have worked well, they were very cheap and have provided excellent results.

[walker-talker]

Yah..offer a referral incentive program...like a dollar amount credited to their account for each referral. The downside to this method is if you don't currently have many accounts, it's hard to get started. You have the right idea with flyers and doorhangers. With newspaper ads and YP, you will get calls from all over...which is ok if you live in a small town. Postcards do well also, but obviously they cost more money.

[cochino12]

Where are you located?

Edit, nevermind I see you are in No colorado. Cant help ya there, good luck though

[jsf343]

I feel your pain, need the same amount. I think flyers have helped out quite a bit in the past for me. you will need to run a lot though. we are shooting for 10,000. Another idea is flyers in the newspaper. those worked good also. Signs in your customers yards (especially if they are nice) even
go door to door. It is slower but people will see you and get to talk with you
and find out what you have to offer, keep it friendly, professional, and brief.
One last idea, look for high schools having auctions, offer a service or make a donation. With this a lot of times you get your business card printed in the auction book and a little more publicity for very little moo-la. Good luck!:usflag:

[nephilim0167]

Why not offer some sort of a prize or gift if you will, if your existing clients refer a client? If you can get a new (refered!) client in a contract, give the person who refered them a free mow. Sure, you might lose out on 35-40 bucks in time but you just made up for it with 6 months of profit. Just a thought :)

[jsf343]

Your right Neph, that is another good idea, we do the same thing and it does bring in a little more business.

[mikefromny]

do 400 doorhangers a day and get yourself a really really good foreman and get a second job and smoke a cohiba and drink some cristal and relax cause life is good

[Team Gopher]

<Table width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDF"><TR><TD><font color="#000000">Have a tax question? Need free business advice? Ask our CPA. Click Here (http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=1&t=1296&st=&&#entry7582) </font></TD></TR></Table>
Hi emil35,

Keep working it. Keep getting your name out and word of mouth will spread. It is tough but if you keep pushing you will find success where others who gave up haven't.

You can do it.

<table width=100%>
<tr bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><td align=left><a HREF="http://www.gophersoftware.com/?ref=1">Download and try Gopher Free for 30 days.</a><BR>Our software can help you.</td><TD align="center"></td><td><a HREF="http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=1&t=1713&st=&&#entry9482"><img width="468" height="60" src=http://www.gophergraphics.com/images/talk-radio-2.jpg ALT="Gopher Business Talk Radio"></A></td></tr></table>
<center>Free Web Templates (http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=898). Make your own logo Free (http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=1453).</center>

[lawncare3]

Hya emil use them mag biz cardds like u was saying. I still have people bugging me from 3 years ago cuz they still on the fridge.

[OutdoorExtras]

Don't forget you that will probably pick up quite a few lawns the first couple weeks of cutting. People realize that their mower is broken (most likely just old gas, but don't tell them:) ), their service isn't showing up, they don't have the time anymore, etc. If you really need the customers go door to door; introduce yourself and offer to give a free estimate. If they are not interested leave your card and let them know that you are available for vacation cuts. I have picked up many lawns where the customer has said "Just for a few weeks", Yeah Right.:laugh:

[CAG]

Maybe try to land one or two nice commercials instead...If you wanted to get good money for your lawns 40 in one year might be a little hard to do. I wouldn't jack up the price on the pita customers because it will just give them more to complain about..

[emil35]

Thanks for the advice everyone. How would I pass out the Magnetic cards?