Door to door advertising

[Timbo]

Has anyone tried door to door advertising. I don't think it would work well in residential areas, but I am considering the possibility for businesses around my area. I just talked to a friend who is in the business and "apparently" he picked up around 20 accounts in a week. The area he was in does not have many lawn service companies out there. Around my area we do. Does anyone have experience doing this and how did it turn out?

[Timbo]

anyone? ever? never?

[dekalb lawn man]

You are correct. As far as residential is conserned you dont know what to expect,( not home, do it themselves,etc,etc). Now with commercial on the other hand, if they are open there is always someone to talk to and they almost always hire someone to do their lawn for them. I have set a route for myself for this upcomming season and will see how it goes.

[KrayzKajun]

Always worth a try!

[Turfdoctor1]

2 questions. (1) Are you a good salesman? (2) What do you look like?

Because the answers are going to greatly affect your results, IMO.

if the answers, are, (1) Yes, and (2) I clean up well, I would bet you will see good results with your potential commercial clients. I have even had decent luck in high end residential areas.

[Timbo]

2 questions. (1) Are you a good salesman? (2) What do you look like?

Because the answers are going to greatly affect your results, IMO.

if the answers, are, (1) Yes, and (2) I clean up well, I would bet you will see good results with your potential commercial clients. I have even had decent luck in high end residential areas.

I would say I am a decent salesman. At least people seem to like me when they meet me. I usually pick up the contracts of the estimates I go on, have great word of mouth, and many return customers.

As far as looks, you're not going to see me in GQ or anything but I'm not a scrub. I would go in wearing jeans and a nice Polo with my company name on it.

I think I'm going to give it a try. It can't hurt. If it works, great. If not, well, live and learn.

[Total.Lawn.Care]

I need to do the same thing. Been thinking about it for a while. i need to take a day off of work and visit businesses all day and see what I can get, especially before the competition gets them first.

[ozd12005]

2 questions. (1) Are you a good salesman? (2) What do you look like?

Because the answers are going to greatly affect your results, IMO.

if the answers, are, (1) Yes, and (2) I clean up well, I would bet you will see good results with your potential commercial clients. I have even had decent luck in high end residential areas.

Good answer, Most people forget that selling yourself can be a very hard task.

[BD Bone]

Have Used this and has worked. However, must be willing to accept the "No Thanks" a lot and the No Soliciting Speeches. Your Appearance means Everything!! Jeans is not going to cut it...especially in a business industrial parkway where the bare-minimum dress code requirement is khaki's and button down longsleeve shirts. If you want to sell yourself, put yourself into your potential client's shoes. Do you look like you are a business professional? Do you envoke a clean cut appearance. If you don't, what does it say about how you would take care of their lawn? Just based on my own personal experience. It is most definitely worth your time to establish a rapport and for them to put a face with the name. It boils down to good people skills and an ability to sell and read what your prospects needs are. Good luck keep me posted on your results.

[Lawnmasters]

I have done door to door sales for 27 years, in 3 different business. It is all the same. Sales, is sales, is sales. It's all numbers. You must be willing to get rejected by 80% of the people you will come in contact with, to get to speak with 20%, to sell 2 of them. Calling on the Business market is harder than residential because in most cases the decision maker (owner) is not there. Don't waste your time talking to a manager, secretary, cashier, etc. Bottom line, it works, if you work it. I have a salesman who does nothing but this, and picks up sales most everyday. Jump in and give it a go, just don't give up after a couple hours and say it's too hard.

[mdvaden]

Between door-to-door sales and flyers, I've picked up about 10 new customers in January.

And already getting referrals out of that group.

I either wear slacks and a nice shirt, or new jeans and a nice shirt, and brand new white athletic shoes - no stripes, just white.

And I carry my stuff in a leather folder, with pen and contract forms and brochure stuff; business cards too.

I study their yard for moment before I knock, so I know what they need before they open the door.

[mdvaden]

So, how's everybody's results going !!

It's been almost two weeks since we posted in here.

Anybody making progress on the door to door? I'm still doing well, and been getting referrals from the past two weeks, plus some extra from neighbors walking over to talk to me at the new work locations.

The yellow page lady called and had to endure my pitch on flyers, websites and door to door.