flyers?

[Jeff L.]

This is going to be my first year doing this full-time, I'm a little nervous though because I really want to grow it as fast as I can! I have good eq. but I need to build up my customers FAST. I live in the midwest so I have another 6-8 weeks before I can get out there and work, my sister is now working on a logo for me and it will be done in a couple weeks I'm then going to get flyers made, can anyone tell me a good basic way to put the flyer together. What is the best way to try to get new people? I wanted to maybe walk in to places and offer my services and leave them a flyer, restaurants, small businesses etc. How do you guys approach people?

[coonman]

Forget the flyers and go with the door hangers. Go to the elements of business forum here and look up the door hanger thread. The hangers are much better than flyers. We have great success with door hangers and they are much easier to pass out.

good luck

[lawnjockey]

Hey guy, flyer's are ok and sometimes work better than door-knob hangers. Both are good ways to get bus. I use the flyer's myself, easier to make and I can use the exercise by walking the subdivisions and placing them in the newspaper boxes. Notice I said newspaper boxes not mail boxes. Make sure your logo or lettering is catchy so the homeowner will not just wad it up with the many others. Usually about 1 out of 100 will call you, so make a lot. Good Luck!!:cool:

[FrankenScagMachines]

lawnjockey, I know it's illegal to put things in the mailbox, but is it legal in the paper box? That would sure save alot of time and effort. Could use my bike instead of walking (cut more time) too. I wouldn't like it if I was the paper company but the carriers couldn't care less. They wouldn't report you or yank your ads out. But would the customer care? And is it legal?
thanks,
Eric

[coonman]

We don't have newspaper boxes around here. I guess if every house has one a flyer would be great. Otherwise there is not a good place to put the flyer. The hangers are easy to carry, you can carry a couple hundred in one hand. You always have a place to put them and they won't blow away....

[lawncare3]

here's myne:

[challenger55]

what you need to do is nock on there door and give them your flyer the people will be very impressed if there not home put a flyer in there mail box

[lawncare3]

Originally posted by challenger55
what you need to do is nock on there door and give them your flyer the people will be very impressed if there not home put a flyer in there mail box

That's exactly what I do.

[DLCS]

Originally posted by challenger55
what you need to do is nock on there door and give them your flyer the people will be very impressed if there not home put a flyer in there mail box


I would never open someone's mailbox to put anything in it. I'm sure you don't know it, but that is illegal.

[lawncare3]

Originally posted by DLCS
I would never open someone's mailbox to put anything in it. I'm sure you don't know it, but that is illegal.

NEVER do that. You will get fined.

[coonman]

I for one would not be impressed with someone knocking on my door just to hand me something that I will probably trash. If I did that it would take all day to pass out a couple of hundred. Just hang the door hanger and go to the next house. We can pass out 100 in about 20-30 min (two of us). We have been getting about 4-5 calls per hundred passed out.

[Casey]

From my side I would rather pass out fliers when no one is around. I don't have the time to discuss the benefits of watering in the morning as apposed to the afternoon or whatever. I don't carry a measuring wheel, bid forms, or anything other than fliers and a cd player. I am advertising, later I will be available to sell. This doesn't mean I am rude to the customer that wants a bid at that time, it just doesn't work well with my goals for the day, and I take their name and number and call them later.

[coonman]

I for one would not be impressed with someone knocking on my door just to hand me something that I will probably trash. If I did that it would take all day to pass out a couple of hundred. Just hang the door hanger and go to the next house. We can pass out 100 in about 20-30 min (two of us). We have been getting about 4-5 calls per hundred passed out.

[e-RoK]

I walk my dog and put flyers in the paper box as I go along. I too think knocking on doors would take too long. Plus I don't know about you guys, but I don't like strangers knocking on my door anyway. Just leave it in my box and I'll look it over when I'm ready.

[jocko1104]

I did it last year at night. Worked real well with the daytime being to hot, kids, dogs, traffic, etc.

Make sure u have a walkman or equivanent and mabey some water and you should be fine.

Can do around 100-150 per hour if your bustin,

[paponte]

You don't knock on the door to just hand them a flier. You ask for the owner of the house and you introduce yourself as a business man. Tell him who you are and what you are there for. Appearance is everything! If you look like a little kid handing out flyer's, most likely you will not get the house. If you look like a business man, and know what you are talking about you will get the person's attention.

As far as building up fast, it usually doesn't work that way unless you buy a route. I started my own business when I was 14 years old, out of the trunk of my mother's car.. I bought my own truck before I was even old enough to drive it. By the time I was 18, I had 2 trucks, 2 trailers, 2 employees, and was cutting 80 accounts a week. You should be consentrating on the job you are doing on your current houses. People look for quality! If you get too big too soon, you tend to neglect your customers, and worry more about just getting them done. Quality is Key!!

[AztlanLC]

You don't knock on the door to just hand them a flier. You ask for the owner of the house and you introduce yourself as a business man. Tell him who you are and what you are there for. Appearance is everything! If you look like a little kid handing out flier's, most likely you will not get the house. If you look like a business man, and know what you are talking about you will get the person's attention.

:eek: :eek: I'd would highly recommend to listen to this man.

Specially works real good in new houses, or people who just moved in, if you get 4-5 calls out of 100 I can assure you will get 5 contract right in the spot out of 50 not just calls. But go prepare bring your contract templates or better yet a laptop or pda with a portable printer

[1MajorTom]

Not impressed with knocking on doors.
In todays society, it's just not safe for people to be opening up their doors to someone they don't know.

Just recently on the news, they were telling of local scams where a guy pretends to be a water or gas man, and gains entry into the home, then robs the victim.
The news is telling and warning people not to open up their doors to strangers, and I agree.

Our front door is a solid door, and I can't see out of it. I always go around to the living room and look out the window and check to see who is standing on the deck before I answer.
I just think people are wary of strangers knocking on the door.

My 2 cents.

[coonman]

Jeff L, you stated you want to build up as fast as possible. I have tried the flyer route and I am telling you the fastest way to get your name out and get calls coming in is door hangers. There is a reason that these are made by printers, because they work. There is also a reason they are called hangers, because you hang them on the door (not ring the bell and hand them to the person in the house). As mentioned above most people don't like answering the door for a stranger. If I look out and see someone there with papers in hand, I consider them a saleman and do not answer. With the hangers you could hit a 1000 houses a day, try doing that knocking on doors. As I already mentioned, we are getting about 4-5 calls per hundred. Just trying to help you out.

good luck

[coonman]

By the way 4-5 calls per hundred usually means 4-5 accounts gained. Very rarely do we not get the account we bid on for mowing. And we are not dirt cheap.

[paponte]

Hey I have a good idea! If they don't answer the door than just leave the flier in the door!! WOW, now wasn't that a great idea! Let me give you some sales tactics and facts. #1 It is harder to say no to a salesman if you are face to face with him. #2 majority of the time people just throw away fliers without even looking at them. #3 Maybe the person was not looking for a landscaper, but after you spoke to them and made them realize how affordable it was, now they want you. #4 If they currently have a landscaper point out things that should be done that they are not doing. SELL the person on your "PRODUCT". #5 When you are in control of a conversation and not the customer, that makes the customer feel assured that you really do know what you are doing and or talking about. People like reassurance and security.
After 10 years in the industry, trust me I will not steer you wrong!

[coonman]

Is it that hard to get residential lawns where you are that you have to use pressure sales tactics? Maybe things are different down here. I guess if that was the only way we could land an account maybe we would knock on doors or stand outside a store and ask each person if they were a homeowner and if they said yes we would go through a sales pitch and try to convince them how much they needed lawn service. We would NEVER try to convicnce a person to dump their current lco. If they are not happy with them and our hanger appears on their door they can call us. We have 6 years experience and can honestly say we have never knocked on one door. Also it seems like every other door I see when passing out hangers has a no soliciting sign on it. Maybe it is just different down here. Door hangers work best for us along with word of mouth. An add in the paper also brings in several calls.

[paponte]

Who said pressure sales tactics? ...who said sales pitch? Not me! :eek: SMACK!!:eek: coonman... PAY ATTENTION!!

"We have 6 years experience and can honestly say we have never knocked on one door." ...I didn't know it was a bad thing to knock on doors.

"Also it seems like every other door I see when passing out hangers has a no soliciting sign on it." ...Wait a minute, isn't a door hanger a type of soliciting? Hmmm...

[coonman]

When you say you talk to someone and try to MAKE them realize how affordable your services are. You point out things that their current LCO is not doing that SHOULD be done. You are in CONTROL of the conversation. Classic sales pitch 101! Yes hangers are soliciting and I skip every house that has it marked, it slows down the process but I will not leave one on that door. Yes I hate to answer my door only to have a sales pitch thrown at me. Just about every restaraunt and other business around here has the no soliciting sign on the front door. Gee, I wonder why, is it because they don't want someone taking up their time and irritating them with a sales pitch. Like I said it is not necessary for us to knock on doors to gain lawns. If you enjoy that and you think it is faster and you gain more accounts that way then more power to you.

[MacLawnCo]

Coonman, this can be very effective, especially if you have a "target list" ;)

[paponte]

coonman, you are right. Whatever works for you... you keep doing. I am just telling you what is very affective marketing. I am not saying to grab the person's neck and say "hire us now or else!". Not in the least bit. I am saying that when you have a shy teenager knock on the door, and the person just treats like like a kid... they are not going to get that house. But when the kid is bold and professional, and know's what he is talking about. The adult is the one with the open ear now. People like feeling assured and they like knowing the fact that their "lawn guy" is a professional and know's what they are doing. That they do not have to worry about keeping an eye on them. You put all these words into bold print making it seem like I am a renegade landscaper. I am not, I am a smart businessman. Let me give you an example:

A neighbor of the complex I have been cutting for about 5 years now comes over to me last summer. He says, hey how much would you charge me to do my lawn. I tell him $25.00, (since I am 25' away every week anyway) and explain everything it included. He was like "That's it? oh man! If I would have know it was that affordable I would have hired you 5 years ago when you started next door". My point is if you would have just put a door hanger on this guys house, it would most likely have been thrown out. Where as if you knocked on the door, it would have opened up and opportunity for conversation. Once you told him how affordable your services were, thats a guaranteed account.

You don't "sales pitch" the person. When you hand them the flier you tell them who you are and what you are there for. If they say no I am not interested, you throw back a nice "thank you for your time, have a nice day". You still got the paper in the door on their table. OPPORTUNITY!! I have received calls back from people that said "No thanks".

[Lawn DOG]

Fliers are an effective tool but your appearance and professionalism will get you the jobs in the end.

Let's start with appearance: Uniform not your jeans and favorite t-shirt.

Vehicles: are they lettered, clean and legal .

Professionalism: If you do what you say you are going to do and be good at it.

I guarantee you will never find a more effective marketing tool than "word of mouth".
So do a good job and carry yourself professionally. That means all the time.
This is the tip of the iceberg for succeeding in this business.
Take my advice and you will do great.

[Threeponys]

I have to agree with many of those that say quality and word of mouth are the best advertisement.
I've cut for a realtor (check always on time) and she finally ask today, actually told me that I was to cut her lawn on a weekly basis this year. I never ask for her lawn. I just cut the list of homes she had for me, took each lawn and treated it like an actual residential with owners, neat, professional, provided good paperwork (kiss theory) and built a repore with her.

Aside from the new account, she has me as the choice lawn service and I have any or all homes on her list this year.

In short, flyers are good. I too target areas and only that area but quality service and professionalism wins hands down.

I always view it that while cutting one lawn someone is whatching me and what I'm all about. The accounts follow.

[Mgardner]

What about direct mail? Thats how I have been targeting the specific streets and avenues that I want to grow in. I dive around in the little VW and take note of what addresses end at the coldesacs then in the office later use software that lists full addresses on each avenue or street. Then my plan has been to direct mail those specific areas. My cohort thinks I should solicite via telephone. How many operators solicite by phone then "sell" ? I`m resisting the notion.:mad:

[coonman]

I am sure direct mail works fine, but that could turn into big time costs in a hurry. Forget the telemarketing in my opinion. With all the devices to zap calls, answering machines, no call lists and caller id. It's easy to come to the conclusion that the public hates telemarketing.

[Mgardner]

Kinda my thoughts on telemarketing.

[PRO PROPERTY CARE]

im just starting out and I am takeing differant angles at the advertiseing.
I have sent out 100 flyers by mail with a business card attached too a target group(churches,office buildings, doctors), now next week im going too deliver flyers too homes , I wont knock . Im just dropping them off , I dont believe in knocking on doors and soliciting.I have a target group for this. Mostly large residential homes , probably around 500 flyers. I also took out an ad int he local paper for 3 months every day. It is a very good deal , works out too $4 per day. Lastly I have made calls too certain organizations, or townships in the area. ie: parks and recreation .Asking to be put on there tender lists for the spring.
Im hopeing with all I am doing too fill my week for the summer.

I also do parking lot marking and snow removale so I'm looking for clients for these as well.

Just my strategy, hope it helps , and any feed back is welcome.
mike
:dizzy:

[Mgardner]

Just my thoughts. Visit business`s , doctors offices in person because a flyer will never make it to the right person. Churches ,go during the day perferably in the morning and see if they hire it out.

[AltaLawnCare]

Telemarketing and phone solicitation are soon to be a thing of the past. Legislation is being passed right now. Thank God. ;)

If you haven't tried any of the things mentioned above, try different areas with different techniques, and see what works for you in your area.

[bushwoods1]

I have done flyers, as well as mailing out post cards to specific subdivisions. Both have worked well for me. The flyers are a cheaper way to go since you can print them on your computer, and all it really cost you is a little shoe leather to put them out into nieghborhoods. :D