9000 new customers in 3 years?

[TSM]

you have all seen this ad?
the one saying 9000 new customers in 3 years by real green. Guess they are offering a free seminar to show you how to do it.

anyone attend one of these seminars?

[DUSTYCEDAR]

ok but how many thousands of bucks do u have to spend??????
i have looked at the system and its nice but i can afford it

[J Hisch]

I am part of Real Green via 1-800-lawncare and a software user. when I first began with Real Green I was really on guard. But didnt want to dish out the bucks for a franchise. So I started with 1-800-lawncare and began to implement their marketing program. All material is cheaper than having a print shop print it. I know becasue a very close friend of mine is a Direct mail/printing firm. He told me how competitive their pricing is. But to answer your question. Yes, I attended a seminar and my friend Mike also attended becasue he is a marketing guru. He know the numbers and even felt Real Greens numbers were lower than he had seen with the various marketing tools they were using. When asked about their numbers seeming lower than most markets, he said it attributed to his area being marketed out per say. On their program you would spend about 60K over the cousre of the year and you would gross 250k-300k off of the 60k. Joe and his company Realgreen is a straight shooter, who care about helping lawncare companies succeed. They offer free marketing advise to members, reduced printing cost, reduced software cost etc. He is a man who knows how to market lawn care and has a proven track record doing it. Even the industry leaders use him as a marketing resource. His numbers are real, true and accurate. Most companies who use his system are the Larger independent companies. The best peice of adivse i can give is remember I was on guard, but now I am sold. You could not take the 60k and invest it on your own and do any better. plus they will handle all of it for you. All you have to do is be ready. But the age old adage is true, you must spend money to make money. He just takes all the guess work out of it.

[TSM]

J Hisch,
i've met Joe K. many years ago, all you say about him is true. I use lawn assistant 3 software and was once also an 1 800 lawncare member (long long story....but my experience was much different than yours...nothing was cheaper in fact 10-12% higher and.....well like i said its a long long story....never again)

his techniques arent rocket science, just plain common sense really.

are you saying they are selling a "growth program" (for lack of another word) for $60,000? or were you just comparing spending $60k on one's own compared to their 1800lawncare?
I mean I assumed that their 'seminar' is really an infomercial designed to sell their product/service.

my 2 biggest concerns when thinking of 9000 new accounts in 3 years....facility space.....man power
thats massive growth in a short time, i would think one would really only seek that sort of aggressive growth if they planned on selling within 3-5 years?

surely quality of service will slip big with that kind of rapid growth?

are you on track with this kind of rapid growth? if so how are you managing empoyee hiring/training and what about floor space at your facility...are you rapidly out growing that space?

thanks

[J Hisch]

I would like to know your story. However, the whole program is a commitment within itself. Also, I could see that within major metropolitain area 1-800-lawncare wouldnt work as well. As far as their pricing, perhaps for 800 members the price scale is different. I also know they hit some bumps in the road in the past. They are much better equiped fro printing operations than they were in the past.

As far as growth is concerned, yes we are growing and becoming a major competitor in my market. However, the market needed a competitive independent as the nationals were about the only real show in town. I have proceeded with caution as far as becoming to big to fast. I want quality thec's and dont want to set the same standard practices as the nationals do. I am in a bldg. that can support the growth, I am however not able to raise my employee up fast enough to keep up with the growth as far as grooming them to become managers in the near future. That has been my biggest concern. True the program is not rocket science, as I was already doing much of what Real Green is offering, however, now I dont have to come up with a Fall Areation doorhanger or mailer, a lawn care estimate form, etc, etc. it's all been done and that allows me to focus on doing the work we are gaining. My Lawncare portion of the business grew from about 12k in gross sales to 110k in a year. But again I dumped money and effort into that side of the business, but only about 18K in marketing

[Cahsking]

I say screw it all lets go work for Bricker.

[Rayholio]

None of the seminars are within my driving range... this does sound interesting to me though... I'm just coming out of my 1st full season, and I'm VERY happy with my growth.. but it could of course be better!

I don't know what 1-800-lawncare is.... is this something that I should look into?

and as for the RealGreen Software... I've called and talked to them before, and the software looks nice.. but I've purchased tons of software in the past that I've ended up throwing away in 6 months because it only slowed me down, or was simply not helpfull.... and the Realgreen software is Realexpencive...

So... I've only got a database of 100+ customers, and about 50+ seasonal customers.. what could the realgreen software do for me? Does it actually make you money? That is to say, can I expect to see a return on the investment? or is it simply for people with more money than time?

[Runner]

Besides a few franchises (and of course the big green co.'s) using them, there is one local private here that uses them (among a few other smaller privates). This guy is a private mind you, and he is now pushing 20,000 accounts now. He was at 10,000 5 years ago. This guy has now opened satellites in Bay City and Lansing. No one can touch him for marketing, but again, he has no control over attention to detail, anymore.

[TSM]

None of the seminars are within my driving range... this does sound interesting to me though... I'm just coming out of my 1st full season, and I'm VERY happy with my growth.. but it could of course be better!

I don't know what 1-800-lawncare is.... is this something that I should look into?

and as for the RealGreen Software... I've called and talked to them before, and the software looks nice.. but I've purchased tons of software in the past that I've ended up throwing away in 6 months because it only slowed me down, or was simply not helpfull.... and the Realgreen software is Realexpencive...

So... I've only got a database of 100+ customers, and about 50+ seasonal customers.. what could the realgreen software do for me? Does it actually make you money? That is to say, can I expect to see a return on the investment? or is it simply for people with more money than time?
like any software...depends on your needs and future growth expectations. with 100+ accounts you dont need real green's software....unless you plan/hope to reach 1000+ accounts. the marketing capabilities alone will be worth your investment. and with any powerful software there will be a 'learning curve', so starting with only 100 accounts would be ideal (easier to learn the software with the stress of operating a 100 account business than it will be when your a 1000 acount business.) oh, and they have a six month use it- dont like it- return it policy.

1-800-lawncare is something you should at least look at and consider. you can learn more by searching www.realgreen.com

I had issues with them...but we were onboard way back when they first launched it....sounds like they worked out the glitches that fustrated me.

[TSM]

I would like to know your story.
lol....last time i told my story on this message board i recieved a letter from real green's attorney ( i know they lurk here...and i'm sure they're readin this thread-{{Hello Val}})

if you do a search i'm sure you'll find at least part of my experiences with 800marketing for success (which is what they called it back then)

[Rayholio]

You guys inspired me to look a little closer into Realgreen and 1800lawncare.. I'm gonna start a new thread to ask for some opinions on it... I don't think this is the place :)

[etaylor855]

Anyone got ideas to find quality techs or trainees? Located in Phoenix. AZ

[FINN]

I signed up for the seminar in my area but picked up some work that did not allow me to get away. I planned to go for the opportunity to learn more about the software. I did not realize they were offering a "marketing package" for a fee. I'm not against it , if it works.

I started my business full time last year and have spent money on flyers,website,local ads, signs and a 6000 piece direct mail post card. All have worked. The direct mail piece was the most expensive and I would say they work. I got about a 1% response and was told to expect that. I closed about 80% of those.

The biggest benefit to me was relationships I allready had with landscape contractors in my area. I have been able to do a fair amount of work for them. I have done everything from apps to overseeding and compact tractor work.

We have a independent in our area who has and is growing at a fast pace. I've seen thier marketing material and it's the realgreen system. They have not been in business but a couple of years and they are "everywhere". That tells me it's more about marketing than anything else. Most everone on here knows this allready.

I know I have to decide what direction I want to take my business. I see a lot of opportunity in my market.

Does the $60k include marketing materials or is it a buy in fee and you pay additional for materials?

[KLR]

i think there is a slight mis-understanding going on here?

we use realgreen software and we also were once members of 800lawncare.

how it worked back then.....$600 fee to join there association (this got us nothing other than a decal to put on our truck) ....then a monthly fee for the 800 number. the fee will depend on how many zip codes you service. for us the fee was up around $350 per month (this got us nothing other than a toll free number, oh and as i recall we also paid .04 per minute on that line)
Then you'll need to purchase all the other literature/doorhangers/refrig magnets/pens etc etc.

for me....no thanks. like TSM we were on board with them in the beginning and a whole lotta promises were broken (i remember several phone conversations with TSM about our concerns and frustrations)

So, if you purchase realgreens software, join their association, buy all the marketing materials....all that might add up t0 $60k when you factor in the advertising cost of getting that 800lawncare into peoples heads.

i've heard better things about them lately (again we joined at the beginning and they did not have their 'stuff' together, for example we were told thay had an agreement with Perma Green and as a member we would get a $500 discount on the ride-on....i called perma green, talked directly to Tom Jennson and he had no such deal. we did buy a ride-on but NO discount??? to me it was a straight forward LIE to get me to join)

but if anyone is under the impression that all you got to do is give them $60k and you'll enjoy $250-350K increase in sales......it dont work that way

[Rayholio]

Do you think that a good local number such as 623 GROW could be as or about as effective as 800 lawn care?

I guess what I'm asking is if the only real reason that this program works is because they force you to plaster the phone number in all kinds of places that you never did before?? or does it work because 1800lawncare is actually a recognizable number that people WANT to call...

Or is it successfull because of the bonus marketing materials that they provide, and influence you to use? (if this is the case... is it cheaper than doing it yourself?)

[J Hisch]

You have to utilize every aspect of the marketing package. I have done extensive research prior to joining with them. The material savings alone, is worth the association fee's. Also there is web based marketing that is done with a portion of the fee's. If someone does a serach for lawncare in your area and a provider is in the area, it will pop up on the web. You get the use of the website. www.1-800-lawncare.com marketing and sales training support for your employee's. All free......Hire a company to train and provide your sales team member with manuals, sales material and it will well run you more than the yearly association fee. Maybe in the beginning there were some bugs, but now most larger LCO are a part of the program, becasue the vanity phone number is a very small, small part of the value. You no longer have to think up a doorhanger for fall services, grub control, etc... check it out.

[Rayholio]

I'm not trying to offend you.. but I just did a google search for "lawn care in evansville IN" not a single hit on the 1st page was a 1800lawncare page...

not that my page which I marketed online for free is much better... but I can get it to come up with certain search paramiters...

The printed materials are definately cheaper... but that's not free either.. it seems that they rob your company of its identity.. It's always "1800LAWNCARE!!"... then in very small print "lco joe"

what happens if you want to expand into a new area where the 1800lawncare number is allready taken? no one will know you as LCO JOE anymore... or what happens if you decide that the $5000 a year isn't worth it anymore? don't you have to reestablish your identity from scratch at that point? seems like once you sign up with them, you pretty much need to stick with them for the life of your business..

I'm not saying that I can't see any value with 1800lawncare... but I have to wonder if the value is really worth a $900 setup fee... $300min. per month and 13 cents per minute??

[J Hisch]

I would just point you to a few things.

1. Check out www.Atwoodlawncare.com, talk with Meuller Landscape, Green touch, Green Tek, etc. True Green Uses them for Marketing training, Scotts Company etc.

2. Every Large Company wants a 800 Number Just look around

3. The value is not even in the number, When you have multiple techs and have to train them, and a sales team and have to train them, when you became a lawn care compnay that markets constantly then you need a compnay like this. If 9000.00 a year scares you then by no mean is it for you......

4. If your are serious then you need to contact them and ask to speak to LCO who are in the program, ask them about the value. Again, marketing pays for itself when done right, I will market all day becasue if done right, truly right and by someone who know how to market and sale lawncare then then you only make money by doing it.

But if you dont like the program, then dont look and forget about those who do and trying to de-value the service. But agian look at the major players doing private lawncare and see just where you stack up and tell them there all idoits.

[J Hisch]

Strange, becasue I just did a google and typed in Lawn care Evansville Indiana and call 1-800-lawncare was first choice, Scotts, Second, Tru-Green Third. From your area the marketing parameter will probably be different. But my job is not to convince you what to do, your the business man, but I will continue on my path.

[Rayholio]

I like to think that I'm open minded about this.. I'm just basing my thoughts on what I've learned about the company so far, and how it relates to my (small) company...

Web site.... Ah ha! now I see it in the sponsored links! LOL completely overlooked it because it has a different color background.... just for the record though, paying for a front page link is nothing like actual web placement... not everyone uses google..

Anyhow... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that 1800lawncare isn't worth anything... I have just gotten the online demo and sales call from them today... and I don't think that the sales guy did the best job of explaining to me why the service is worth my money...

I'm probably going to be a realgreen customer soon, and it seems like most of the marketing that is offered by 1800LC is also offered by them... prices may be a little higher...

I guess what I need to see is how the numbers work out on paper.. it's a given that I'm going to spend at least $5,000 a year on it... And that's not including any marketing.. that's only access to their phone number in my limited area.. as you know signs, mailing, vinyl, etc costs extra... and sure it's cheaper.. but am I going to have to spend $50,000+ on marketing materials to save the $5,000?

I will say that the only marketing money I've spent that did not pay for itself was radio advertizing... For some reason, it's really easy to see a return on marketing in this business.... so I'm not afraid of the price tag... I'm afraid of the results, and the consequences... (such as losing my local GreenScape identity)

[J Hisch]

Talking to real business owners, who has been in lawncare since 1979 was all I needed once I did my research but I thought about it for 6 months. I even had a marketing friend of mine look into it. He thought the idea was so good, and wished he would have thought about it. Again, I place little vlaue on the phone number and alot of vlaue in the marketing material that has been proven effective, when Joe, grows his compnaies he uses the same material that he is making avaliable to the members. If you are really wanting to become a marketing machine, then you cant do without them. For
example, the Jumbo pastcards have been a great tool and to get them printed, would litterally cost thousands, I am talking about the ones made for 800 lawncare providers the money I saved alone on those postcards paid for the fee's within itself. Not to mention the solid mentorship program. Getting advise from LCO's who are running 15-20 thecs on the road and being able to talk with them and learn from them, has litterally saved me thousands..... Not avliable on the outside. Members will just open their doors to you and teach, share and help you get on the path to prosperity.

[Rayholio]

Well.. you're very convincing.. that's for sure.. *trucewhiteflag*

It's probably something that I too will need to 'sleep on' for up to 6 months... Being such a young company, that base $5,000 represents a decent percentage of my net profit out of the year... next year, it probably wouldn't mean so much at my current rate of growth... but this year, it would almost be all my eggs in one basket...

[KLR]

Talking to real business owners, who has been in lawncare since 1979 was all I needed once I did my research but I thought about it for 6 months. I even had a marketing friend of mine look into it. He thought the idea was so good, and wished he would have thought about it. Again, I place little vlaue on the phone number and alot of vlaue in the marketing material that has been proven effective, when Joe, grows his compnaies he uses the same material that he is making avaliable to the members. If you are really wanting to become a marketing machine, then you cant do without them. For
example, the Jumbo pastcards have been a great tool and to get them printed, would litterally cost thousands, I am talking about the ones made for 800 lawncare providers the money I saved alone on those postcards paid for the fee's within itself. Not to mention the solid mentorship program. Getting advise from LCO's who are running 15-20 thecs on the road and being able to talk with them and learn from them, has litterally saved me thousands..... Not avliable on the outside. Members will just open their doors to you and teach, share and help you get on the path to prosperity.
what i found interesting (if true) was that Joe owns a scott's franchise. This was told to me by Brian (you must have dealt with Brian somewhere along the way?) why, why buy a franchise if you're a marketing geru?

but anyway....it aint rocket science.
Upsell your exsisting customer base...use a sales message on your invoice, follow with a postcard, follow by phone calling....this will make new sales.

Block leading / tech leading...follow up with mailings and phone calling. Always always ask for the sale!

Dont spend money on advertising that might bring in some leads....like yellow pages. you dont want leads you want sales. Put your advertising $$ into whatever you need as in...personel- mailings and phone calling will be a big part of business...you'll need help. or maybe you need more phone lines to handle the out going (and hopefully incoming) calls.

WWW.... get a website. dont have to be wicked fancy but it does need to be search engine freindly. place that web address on everything


there ya go....free info to grow your business. you dont have to travel to go to a 'free' seminar (funny how its a free seminar yet they charge, what? $450 i think for their LA3 users conference?) no fees, no dues...just solid info that will make sales regardless of what you're selling.

Ken Reis

[J Hisch]

I agree, marketing and sales are not rocket science, but who can afford to sit and think about all the tools you need to market your business? A full time graphic designer will run you minimum 30k a year, plus whatever your printing cost.

As far as any personal matters about someone else's business evdeavors, that's their business not mine.

I could care less what anyone think's about the value of the service. I think we all forget also, we are owners, it is easy for us to market our business's. But try to get your manager to market your company? He needs this system to guide him along. Same as your Thec's to help them land you new accounts/ upsell customers on the spot. Do you trust them to sale a new account and spray it right then and there and ensure you are making money? On a small scale maybe you dont need it, but I also disagree a smaller compnay needs it all the more. Becasue they cant afford to sit behind a computer and design postcards, upsell notes etc. They are doing the work.

I have said all I am going to say on the topic. Thanks for all the great replies.

[Rayholio]

Well.... I for one care what others think about the value... and if I didn't want advice, I wouldn't be on here...

I do think marketing is very important.. and indeed important enough to hire someone full time to do only that...

but lets be frank... 1800Lawncare is not going to do anything that a local printshop couldn't do... They're not going to EVER wonder "gee... how can I get Ray in joplin more customers? or better quality ones? " They exist to sell you stuff.... That stuff may help your business... and they MAY know what marketing has worked best in other situations, and share that with you... but they are not a replacement for a real marketing man, or an owner who knows how to market..

truthfully though... 1800LAWNCARE doesn't promise to market your business for you... but they believe that they can help... I still havn't figured out how though.. I'll still have to order my mailings, and determine who to send them to... I'll still have to personally target my advertizing... they're not gonna say... "no... don't put your sign on that corner.. the one down the street is better." they're not going to analyze the budget, and determine what advertizing is best in that reguard... so what am I paying for? a print shop? a phone number?

Most agree that the phone number isn't worth $5,000 a year... and it seems that the print shop end of it isn't as cheap as they say after doing some compairisons... Mailings for example are the exact same price through realgreen.. and I've found sources for door hangers etc. that are in the same ball park too...

It just doesn't figure on paper... 30K a year on a full time marketing man would be a bargain.. and pay for itself a lot quicker than 1800lawncare...

[Mueller Landscape Inc]

but lets be frank... 1800Lawncare is not going to do anything that a local printshop couldn't do... They're not going to EVER wonder "gee... how can I get Ray in joplin more customers? or better quality ones? " They exist to sell you stuff.... That stuff may help your business... and they MAY know what marketing has worked best in other situations, and share that with you... but they are not a replacement for a real marketing man, or an owner who knows how to market..

Not only will they design stuff specifically for you but the marketing material that they are constantly coming out with would require you to spend $1000 of dollars in design fees alone. Then you would have the cost of printing this same stuff.

Don't knock a system that has already been proven to work simple because you are not interested. I seriously doubt you could develop and produce the same type of marketing stuff for less money.

I can pick and choose the types of marketing materials that I want and order in quantities that I desire. If a company is serious about marketing and has the desire and funds to spend on a marketing plan, 1800LAWNCARE is a system that will work and will save you a lot of time and money in development.

[FINN]

Is it possible to have too many companies in one area using the same marketing system or more specifically the same type of materials?

How would you feel if you went to get 3 estimates and all 3 came back on a real green template? I know that can happen in my market.

[Rayholio]

Well... I think it depends on the customer.. It is probably more important to look profesional than different... but if quotes look just as professional, and also happen to be different, then the customer may be scared by people who are not with the 'industry standard' other customers may be sick of the industry standard...

[somo1]

Is it possible to have too many companies in one area using the same marketing system or more specifically the same type of materials?

How would you feel if you went to get 3 estimates and all 3 came back on a real green template? I know that can happen in my market.

I don't think it matters if all the estimates all look the same as long as their professional. Plus you can add your business logo to about any of the Real Green forms. And for their Users conference I love going, they throw one hell of a party! And they train you on all the updated version of the software and answer questions on all aspects of the program too. Joe and his companies know alot about the Lawnservice business, he's always owned one and says he will continue to, so he can offer his customers the best software. You know how he has a company that has 7000 customers? Block leading, he has 220,000 customers measured and entered into his software out of an available 250,000 homeowners. When you have that large of a marketing database your going to be a big company. But Joe will be the first to admit that he has over saturated his market.

[DUSTYCEDAR]

Is it possible to have too many companies in one area using the same marketing system or more specifically the same type of materials?

How would you feel if you went to get 3 estimates and all 3 came back on a real green template? I know that can happen in my market.
DONT HATE ME BECAUSE I COPY WHAT U DO FINN:clapping:

[rgs]

check out Lawn & Pest Assistant III - www.realgreen.com

[Real Green]

Real Green software really is the best without question. The staff is incredible and the service is like none other. If you own a lawn care company and are interested in taking it leaps and bounds above the competition, then you should check out http://www.realgreen.com I have been a proud user for over 7 months now and am amazed at what it has done for my company in such a short amount of time. It is woth your time to inquire.

[Rayholio]

Sales low? what's with all of the plugging out of the blue?

RGS... Real Green Systems?
Real Green....

Is this shameless self promotion? LOL

[cantoo]

Self promotion by rgs and realgreen.
That's like finding out the hooker you called and already paid for is your sister.