Respond!!! Respond!!!

[anthony reyes]

I am reading alot about distributing flyers from these "threads"
I have a couple of questions.
Wouldn't it be faster to go to a huge parking lot and place the flyer on the windsheild or driverside door? Than go from house to house?
Is knocking door to door and talking to people more effective than just leaving a flyer on the door and "running"?

please help!, Just getting started.

[Petr51488]

I personally think its too late in the season to be handing out flyers. But, going door to door is a lot more effective than putting them in a parking lot.

[Show-Me Lawn Care]

Parking lot distribution could be a bad idea. Many people will just throw them on the lot and drive off. Several hundred flyers blowing around that ALL have your business name & phone # on them could be a bad situation, especially if the police come calling to give you a big littering fine or something.

[nriddle77]

the parking lot idea is a bad one if you're trying to tarket a specific neighborhood. The calls you get will be from all over the place. Going door to door is not a fun thing to do, but at least you can target the area that you want to work. Also, you can see the property before you try and earn their buisness.

[blankenshiplawncare]

I have found that advertising in neighborhood association news letters is the most effective way of getting a target market or neighborhood. I have decided to mail out some post card mailers to specific streets in neighborhoods. This will keep me from blanketing the area and running up my costs. I advertised in the local news paper, 65,000 circulation and 5 days for $560.00 (4X4in ad), got ZERO response. I take that back, the LESCO guy told me how much he liked my ad when I was buying some fertilizer from him. You get the point....

[divi]

Personally, I use road side 'site signs' that I get from http://www.asavealotsign.com/. I get a ton of business this way. It seems tacky, but to be honest I get a ton of wealthy clientele because there too busy to read the paper of flip through the phone book. I send surveys to my clients as well, they agree its tacky but they also say it works and makes you stand out.


If your looking for upscale clientele don't bother with the phone book - try a web site. There are just too many listings in the phone to differentiate yourself with a one line listing.

When I first started out I did the same thing you did - flyers, direct mail postcards - just try the signs and don't worry about what people think. Nickle and dimers are just that no matter where they advertise - you have to differentiate yourself with professionalism and service - nothing else matters.

[ElephantNest]

I'm putting out 7000 flyers this week. Spent almost $500.00 in newspaper ads, got ONE call. I always get a good response from flyers. I am running an Independence special, one free year maintenance on all new garden installs, and 5th cut free. I'm using a temp agency, and got over 1000 out today, more for tomorrow.

[the weed man]

i know it is real late in the season but i need to get a few more accounts..i have a 1000 printed and im haveing a friends wife pass them out along her mail route..she is a full time sub and is in various areas each day so this can get them out in many areas, for free! im going to toss her 25.00 anyways...

[jt5019]

Its never too late if you need the work. I handed out only 50 fliers last week and got a full mowing account and two dethatching jobs for the fall.Plus just got another call from someone who wants an estimate.I must have hit a nice area i plan on going back and hitting the whole development now:D

[crawdad]

Originally posted by anthony reyes
I am reading alot about distributing flyers from these "threads"
I have a couple of questions.
Wouldn't it be faster to go to a huge parking lot and place the flyer on the windsheild or driverside door? Than go from house to house?
Is knocking door to door and talking to people more effective than just leaving a flyer on the door and "running"?

please help!, Just getting started.

Yes, by all means, try it. Perhaps the flyer should say something like "Respond, respond" Most people like getting flyers on their vehicles.

[DiscoveryLawn]

..i have a 1000 printed and im haveing a friends wife pass them out along her mail route..

Is this a US Postal worker passing out flyers at the same time she is distributing the US Mail?

David

[BSDeality]

don't put them on parked cars. I immediately discard anything thats put on my car. i also look around the parking lot for the guy putting them on, then proceed to chew him a new a-hole for touching my car.

[EastProLawn]

Originally posted by Petr51488
I personally think its too late in the season to be handing out flyers. But, going door to door is a lot more effective than putting them in a parking lot. It's never to late to advertise. Every year that I have been in business, I get a rush of new customers at the beginning of the season but also towards the end. Advertise, advertise, advertise....

[the weed man]

thats right

Originally posted by DiscoveryLawn
..
Is this a US Postal worker passing out flyers at the same time she is distributing the US Mail?

David

[Expert Lawns]

doing flyers in a huge parking lot means you'll be getting calls from god knows where. to produce a better turnout, set your sites on a few target areas. hit those areas and hit them well. start with the area where you have the most accounts already. or if you are just starting out, maybe start where you have one account and would like to add more in that area. make sure it is a nice area and your potential clientel are willing to pay for a quality service.
I guess if you really wanted to do the flyers in the parking lot thing, you could also put a few pull tabs in the grocery stores around town. again, you're going to get a lot of price shoppers, and possibly get calls from all around the county.