Fall Letter

[Expert Lawns]

Here is a letter I'm working on to send out to customers. Let me know what you think. So far I've only put 5% thought into it. Just wanted to get a few ideas down on paper. Waiting for your feedback to finish it. Thanks

[ElephantNest]

I dunno, but if I was your customer, and I found out you put my name and addie on the web, I'd drop you like a hot potato.

[Expert Lawns]

i tried to edit it but said my 10 minute time limit expired. i wrote to the moderator asking them to let me change it. i feel like an arsehole.

[ElephantNest]

lol No biggie. At least this isn't a gaming forum, where kiddies abound. You should be OK.

[Expert Lawns]

wait wait, i retract my last post......i mean, uh, i made up a name and address. that is not one of my customers.

there, much better.

hey guys, its been downloaded 54 times and only one comment. kinda defeats the purpose of the thread. lil help now. lil help.

[NickN]

OK,OK!I'll put in my .02.Needs some umph! Got any pics you can use as a background?Maybe yourself doing a leaf removal job or even some clipart?Just looks too plain to me,but hey,I've sent out a few(ok a really small amount in one neighborhood) and have yet to receive one reply,so what do I know.
One more thing.I know you want them to know all the services you offer,but it sounds like your begging for work.(Which of course,we are : )
Just make up a flier with all the services you offer that can be used year round instead of at certain times of the year.Then send those out to all your customers and prospects.Print them on nice paper,not glossy photo like I did(cause it has a tendacy to smear).Looked real good till I got one returned because the house is no longer there(burned down).Opened it up only to find some of the ink smeared when pulling the flier out of the envelope.
There's my thoughts. :)

[NNJLandman]

I like the refer a friend offer, I started doing that, "refer a friend and get a free mow"

[Team Gopher]

Hi ExpertLawns,

Here are some more ideas you could consider incorporating into your letter.

Marketing techniques to build referals (http://server2.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49241)

[Expert Lawns]

ok much better :)

NickN - I actually just bought a digital camera and took some pictures today. Equipment, stripes, before and afters. Maybe I can use one of those when I upload them.
The reason I don't make up one flyer and send them to customers and prospects is because I like the idea of personal attention. Each customer will receive a letter, nicely typed with letter head (logo) and addressed to them personally. I DO like the idea of the background picture.
I have seperate fall cleanup flyers which I distribute in local neighborhoods.
As for mentioning all those services; well, I never really advertise other services, mostly just mowing. I figure by mentioning the other services just once, during the fall, they will be aware that I DO offer them. I dont' like the idea of pressing customers about other services, my time is pretty much filled up with weekly mows and school. But since it is fall and many weeklys are now bi-weeklys, I have some time to fill.
Just my outlook on things. Other people budger their time differently. Thanks for all the input guys, and I have already made a few changes, I'll keep ya posted.

[AztlanLC]

Is this letter going to be sent out to current or prospect customers?

If they are current, all you should do is write something like saying you are getting ready to star doing clean ups, explain the way you do it for most of your customers, then a follow up call to make sure they received the letter and go from that.

If you're targetting new customers I'd recommend putting some kind of catch, like schedule your service before certain date and you'll get a 10% discount or some other thing.

What about a free yard of mulch next spring, most people needs more than a yard usually then you get more work.

[WeatherMan]

Looks good but needs some color

[Expert Lawns]

Does the logo show up orange for you guys?

[Expert Lawns]

The letter is going out to current customers only. I just made a few more changes. I"m gonna post it in a few

[Expert Lawns]

Here is the revised letter. I learned in my business communications class to be precise, to the point, and use details. Does this meet those requirements?

[mtdman]

You're just now sending these out? I sent mine with the September statements, had my leaf cleanups from customers scheduled by October.

As far as color and pictures and eye catching stuff, I think it's a waste of time with current customers. I send notices or updates with my statements just about every month, and most of my customers don't read them. When i do my leaf letter, I go get the ugliest orange color and keep the message short, sweet, and in large print. That way they notice the message, get the jest in the first few lines, and I catch their attention.

Your message is short and sweet, which is good. I suggest you print it on orange or yellow paper so they notice it. And make the font bigger.

I know I constantly get junk mail or other advertising with statements, etc, that I don't even read. I can't stand getting all the wasted paper ads in the mail, I hate it. I have tried to get a list of emails from my customers and send notices that way. Saves paper, and people are more likely to read an email than an ad included in their statements or mailed to them seperately.

[Expert Lawns]

Thanks for all your ideas guys. It helped a lot. I made it pretty simple, and I don't have the computer software to put any other pictures on it, like a backround. I don't think it is all that neccessary to get too exquisite.

[hortboy]

Lawn care is two words, that is why you have the squiggly line underneath it.

[Expert Lawns]

Yea but I hate how it looks as two words

Lawn care

Lawn Care

LawnCare

I think I've written it a million different ways

[promower]

Is dethatching reccommended in the fall I thought this was done in the spring? I could be wrong though.

[Strongmd]

I think you'll want to eventually get to the point with your fall cleanups where you tell them what you're going to do unless they tell you to do otherwise. That way you leave the ball in their court and greatly reduce phone calls, etc. We have 170 mowing customers and I'll only hear from 10 or so that want to tell me something, the rest of them let us do our thing.

[Expert Lawns]

strongmd - by this, do you mean you send out letter letting them know you will be peforming fall cleanups, and then billing them for it? and have them call if they do NOT want the service? How is this workign out? maybe i'll go that route next season.

[Strongmd]

It works great for me. I should say though that with my spring renewal, it states that all mowing customers are automatically fall cleanup customers unless they instruct us otherwise in October.
Our program is essentially this:
Weekly Mowing all year
Bi-weekly "fall visits" from Oct.15 to Nov. 15,
one final cleanup in late November.
Feel free to call me if I can be of any more help.

[promower]

Never thought of taking that approach of just automatically signing current customers for the fall clean up. Has this worked well for you? Also ever have a problem doing a clean up and customer says he didnt want this service but didnt read the contract close enough?

[promower]

Never thought of taking that approach of just automatically signing current customers for the fall clean up. Has this worked well for you? Also ever have a problem doing a clean up and customer says he didnt want this service but didnt read the contract close enough?

[Strongmd]

I've had very few problems. I remind everyone how our system works on the front of our October billing statement. All mowing customers get a bill, so they can't say they didn't receive the information.

[Expert Lawns]

That is a great approach. Lay it all out for them up front. So I take it this is all in a contract, signed by each customer?

By the way, anyone know what is up with all the repeat posts? I can't even post a picture. Is Lawnsite screwy lately?

[Expert Lawns]

That is a great approach. Lay it all out for them up front. So I take it this is all in a contract, signed by each customer?

By the way, anyone know what is up with all the repeat posts? I can't even post a picture. Is Lawnsite screwy lately?

[Strongmd]

I call it a pseudo-contract. They initial the desired services, but it's very informal.

[promower]

I think I might try that next year on my contracts. Most of my customers call for clean up anyway this way might make it easier for customers to. Good advice strongmd.