Logos and advertising

[MOWSTAUG]

I started my business about 6 months ago and have generated some accounts by word of mouth. Now I want to come up with a good logo and start to advertise. The name of the company is McCranie's Total Lawn Care. I have seen some great logos on the site. Do most guys come up with them on their own or have a pro do it. One more time the question most asked: Whats the best way to advertise?

[Big Blue Sky]

Stick to what you do best and generates revenue (and profit). Hire a Graphic designer to come up with your logo. Before your start advertising, develop a marketing program that promotes your business to who you want to do business with. Your marketing program should do three things for your company:
1- Create awareness of your company and services.
2- Create a perception of value of the services your provide
3- Create a desire to purchase NOW.

Networking in professional organizations and associations in the industries of your prospective clients works great. I.e. if you want to do work for Apartment / Condo communities, join (as a vendor member) your local apartment / property management association. Go to the meetings and introduce yourself. We have closed $50,000 + contracts as a result of our relationships we developed. Also, these associations have advertising available to you. Use them year round.

Public Relations . . . Make a list of the media outlets in your area. Get contact information of the people in charge of press releases and send them a one page press release whenever your copany does something special. This is a powerful, free way to advertise! Builds credibilty better than conventional advertising.

Proposals . . . Create a Proposal Package that is more professional than other companies. Our is a bound folder of 10 - 13 pages, printed in color (eye candy is important). Coversheet, Intro letter, Company Profile, Insurance and Licenses, Referrences (work similar to what you are bidding), Newsletter, Picture of Management Team / Company Photo, Contract Choices, Outline of Contracted Services, Payment Info, and Guarantee.

Our proposals have been the BIGGEST closer.

Decals / Signage . . . Trucks, Trailers, Equipment, Yard Signs, Pesticide Signs, Uniforms, etc. You are a professional look like it.

Most of our "advertising" is also part of our equipment and supply systems. Therefore we are able to get double duty for our money.

I'd be happy to help you out. Hope this helps!

[MOWSTAUG]

Thanks for the great reply. Lot's of good info. I would love to see your proposal that is one of the add ideas I have been working on.

[Big Blue Sky]

Thanks for the great reply. Lot's of good info. I would love to see your proposal that is one of the add ideas I have been working on.

The proposal format is a great formula. adapt it to your company as appropriate. You got to do the leg work. Again, graphic designer . . . they can really help you professionally establish your image.

We spent $4,300 our first year to get started, a big hit, but over the years is has paid huge dividens and reduced the amount of money we might have wasted or spent less wisely. Perception of value is paramount.

Also, I completely forgot to mention a web presence. websites are important. A graphic design firm usually can handle this for you as well.

Advice . . . do not do it all at once. Focus on working on one thing at a time. Build a foundation and work at it daily.

Set a Budget and Establish an estimating / bidding system that recovers your overhead and provides a profit. Create a marketing schedule and cash flow forcast. Stick to it. I would be happy to help you with this.

The most important part to building our company has been our estimating system. You can build fast but not make a profit. Most companies in our industry do not go out of business for lack of work.

Focus on the business side of things. Build your Operating Systems, Financial Systems and Marketing Systems before you grow. Check out Michael Gerber' book 'E-Myth'. Less than $20 at the bookstore (everyone has it) in the business section. Read it. Best advice I eveer received.

[nnj18]

I paid $150 for my logo....don't design one yourself

[CALandscapes]

I paid a graphic design company $500 for my logo. Not the most economical route, but it's quite obvious that the logo was professionally designed.

I don't advertise other than nice yard signs that we put up at the beginning of our more upscale projects and leave until the clients ask for them to be removed, or until several plus weeks post-completion. We also have a few maintenance properties that allow us to leave signs up.

Most of our business is generated by word of mouth; I much prefer this avenue to the tire kickers that call from the yellow pages ad.

[Tyler7692]

Logos don't mean crap. I designed my own, which I'm very happy with by the way. Its simple, bold and to the point. Look at Brickman. Anybody could design that logo.

The success of any business has almost NOTHING to do with the logo, just the actual systems in place for it to be a success.

[HeloPilot]

Tyler, I am sorry to say sir, but your very incorrect on this issue. Very incorrect. Company presentation is everything from the start. You might get lucky and grab a customer here and there, but the presentation is all. Brickman has a great presentation, and their logo is a pert of it. Professional uniformed appearance. I don't just mean uniformed in the sense of the company having a full staff in a uniform, Im talking EVERYTHING is the same with them. Brickman doesn't have a couple nice F150s, blue red or green. They have a uniformed appearance that they us to sell their product.

A criminal that represents himself has a fool for a client

[Tyler7692]

Tyler, I am sorry to say sir, but your very incorrect on this issue. Very incorrect. Company presentation is everything from the start. You might get lucky and grab a customer here and there, but the presentation is all. Brickman has a great presentation, and their logo is a pert of it. Professional uniformed appearance. I don't just mean uniformed in the sense of the company having a full staff in a uniform, Im talking EVERYTHING is the same with them. Brickman doesn't have a couple nice F150s, blue red or green. They have a uniformed appearance that they us to sell their product.

A criminal that represents himself has a fool for a client

That's not what I said OR implied. I am a firm believer as well that "Image is Everything." I am simply stating that these "logos" are grossly overrated. Look at CSX rail company for example. One of the most stripped down logos I can think of. And to coincide with your statement, I too believe uniformity is vital, especially to brand recognition.

Look at Wal-Mart's "logo" or Kohl's....looks a lot different that Starbucks doesn't it?