Critique my leave behind form

[FERT-TEK]

Fellas, in the past I had a specific leave behind form that was left after each fertilizer round. Last night as I prepared for round #4 I started goofing around with making one form that could be used for all. These forms would be carbonless copies, one for me and one for the client. In addition I thought about a "grow notes" page I could print up on my own that would be specific to things they can do at that time of year to help me help them ( additional services, watering or mowing guidelines etc.)

FYI, this is not a finished document so make suggestions if you have them. Also, feel free to use it if you would like.

[FERT-TEK]

When printed on my home printer it appears OK but here on LS the file has some formatting issues. I am also considering a change in the application #2 wording. The reason it reads the way it does is to protect myself from breakthrough weeds including dandelions. I have no problem with callbacks but want the customer to expect occasional weeds over the course of the season. If they are weed free I am doing my job. If not they aren't upset.

[ICT Bill]

That is a great piece to leave behind, very professional and informative. I really like the way that you are setting the expectations of the customer, this is a very important thing to do in business, most don't and suffer the consequences

If there is add on business that you do, you could introduce it as a coupon on the sheet, something like "10% discount on Xmas lighting" or "buy 4 shrubs and get one free" that sort of thing

very nice, well done

[FERT-TEK]

Good to hear Bill. Any changes or recommendations you would make? As the author of a document you never are able to really look at it like a customer would.

FYI, I have corrected the formatting issue....I think. Unfortunately, there is only so much room on a piece of paper.

[EJK2352]

Looks good. I have a few suggestions. Do you need a time of completion??? I do in Ohio to keep the ODA happy. Move Dimension down with your crabgrass control and add pre/post to that heading. Drop the pre in your broadleaf heading. Maybe mention something about the fert your using in round 2, Gallery is a preemergent broadleaf weed control, so your statement in round 2 is not quite true. Is round 3 straight Merit or a Merit/fert combo???

[FERT-TEK]

Looks good. I have a few suggestions. Do you need a time of completion??? I do in Ohio to keep the ODA happy. Move Dimension down with your crabgrass control and add pre/post to that heading. Drop the pre in your broadleaf heading. Maybe mention something about the fert your using in round 2, Gallery is a preemergent broadleaf weed control, so your statement in round 2 is not quite true. Is round 3 straight Merit or a Merit/fert combo???

1)Time out should be there thanks for catching that
2) Moving dimension down to the crabgrass heading makes sense and will be moved, Pre / Post will be added to that heading.
3) Pre will be removed from the broadleaf heading
4) Good point about round two's description.
5) Round three is straight Merit or Mach II or generic and will only have a little N in it for uptake. I will apply N in round three to the lawns that need it on a case by case basis. I am always worried about too much N in rounds one through three causing diseases.
6) Do you thing the customer cares about the formula at all. I considered removing that altogether to create a longer description.

[FERT-TEK]

Here are some of the suggested changes. Thanks for making them EJK2352, they were all valid.

I still have to figure out how to remove page two. The fix did not work from MS Word.

[Jason Rose]

IMO, too much info on one sheet. People (the customers) are, in general, STUPID. I don't care how dark you "checkmark" what you actually did you WILL get calls from people who read the whole thing and are uber confused.

I think the required product name and number is all the actual information you need on a SOS page. (with all the other stuff). Now, if you want to print a 1/3 sheet to go in addition to the SOS page that gives the details about the app. you just made, I think that's great. But all that information on one page is just going to cause an overload for most people.

[FERT-TEK]

IMO, too much info on one sheet. People (the customers) are, in general, STUPID. I don't care how dark you "checkmark" what you actually did you WILL get calls from people who read the whole thing and are uber confused.

I think the required product name and number is all the actual information you need on a SOS page. (with all the other stuff). Now, if you want to print a 1/3 sheet to go in addition to the SOS page that gives the details about the app. you just made, I think that's great. But all that information on one page is just going to cause an overload for most people.

Noted Jason, I didn't think the form was that confusing. Some information on the left side and top must be included and the right side is just a FYI for each round. The stuff on the bottom is to keep them on track with cultural deficiencies or to up sell them on a service. Are you suggesting I remove the entire right side and offer it as a supplement with each SOS?

[jbturf]

? do all you guys leave the fert analysis for the customer?

[FERT-TEK]

? do all you guys leave the fert analysis for the customer?

It is a chemical put on their property and should be listed somewhere. If I use this form I will list the analysis on the left side of the page in the "other application" section.

[Runner]

You probably need a slot for the Applicators Name (and possibly cert. #). We need that here in Michigan, anyway. As far as the two pages go...It looks like your form is in landscape form. Put it into letter form, and redo the layout.

[RigglePLC]

Excellent Fert Tek,
Check the spelling on tryclopyr=triclopyr, quinlorac=quinclorac,
haloflourine=halosulfuron-methyl. Use SedgeHammer not Manage.
Informative, and allows upsells and contains safety precautions, plus pushes them to water.

Michigan requires more info--double check your state regs. ( We need: rate, target, percent concentration, lbs per acre and more.)

I have a similar form and struggle with yearly changes. One of the main problems is inflexibility. If I change weed killer or fertilizer or pre emergent or go with a generic product--The EPA number changes. Fert ratios may also change.
I have a separate newsletter which I hand out. It contains tips on watering, diseases and lawn care. There are also some upsell articles, plus a little bit of self-promotion, and customer communication. Also data on pesticide safety.

[Jason Rose]

Noted Jason, I didn't think the form was that confusing. Some information on the left side and top must be included and the right side is just a FYI for each round. The stuff on the bottom is to keep them on track with cultural deficiencies or to up sell them on a service. Are you suggesting I remove the entire right side and offer it as a supplement with each SOS?

The right side, where you list each application. I'd just put the techinal info there, the analysis, ai. of the pesticide, EPA reg # and the proudct name and leave it at that. Leave out the sentence or two description of each application. You would have more room then for other products. Then, whatever you apply, have a small sheet that explains in detail what it is and what it will do. There you can add the specific watering and mowing instructions, etc.

I know what seems logical and common sence to someone that does this for a living won't be for the average homeowner. I've been there, done that. I had forms with several instructions included, like "water within 48 hours", "don't water for 24", and so on. I'd circle the one I needed for whatever it was I was applying... After several calls from people totally IGNORING the fact that I had circled the specific instruction for them and reading ALL of them, then being confused as to why I was asking them to water now, but not for 24 hours... People are stupid...

[MrBarefoot]

IMO, too much info on one sheet. People (the customers) are, in general, STUPID. I don't care how dark you "checkmark" what you actually did you WILL get calls from people who read the whole thing and are uber confused.

I think the required product name and number is all the actual information you need on a SOS page. (with all the other stuff). Now, if you want to print a 1/3 sheet to go in addition to the SOS page that gives the details about the app. you just made, I think that's great. But all that information on one page is just going to cause an overload for most people.

You are 100% correct. I had checkboxes on my forms and people got confused.

So I started using a high lighter marker and highlighted the important lines. No more confused customers called.

[FERT-TEK]

Excellent Fert Tek,
Check the spelling on tryclopyr=triclopyr, quinlorac=quinclorac,
haloflourine=halosulfuron-methyl. Use SedgeHammer not Manage.
Informative, and allows upsells and contains safety precautions, plus pushes them to water.

Michigan requires more info--double check your state regs. ( We need: rate, target, percent concentration, lbs per acre and more.)

I have a similar form and struggle with yearly changes. One of the main problems is inflexibility. If I change weed killer or fertilizer or pre emergent or go with a generic product--The EPA number changes. Fert ratios may also change.
I have a separate newsletter which I hand out. It contains tips on watering, diseases and lawn care. There are also some upsell articles, plus a little bit of self-promotion, and customer communication. Also data on pesticide safety.

Thanks Riggle, maybe cleaning it up is in order and including a newsletter with the customer will simplify things a little. My goal was to reduce paperwork with an all-inclusive SOS but that may not work as well as I had hoped.