Ok so TG was going around putting lawn posting signs in every yard stating what that price was to service that yard. Has anyone done this? doesnt seem to bad of an idea, but still kinda putting trash in someones yard. they put one in my fiances parents yard for 29.95 an app and they have 14,000sf?
advertising method?
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
Joined
·
1,297 Posts
From what I've seen, the fine print usually reads something like: $29.95 only applies to lawns 5k & under
Visit rndsigns.com to see hundreds of different layouts on custom posting signs for legislative requirements, curb advertising, point of sale. We have a variety of layouts that show a wide range of our capabilities. NEW within the last couple of months is our UV coating for all full color signs that make the colors jump out and add durability
They do it here also. Personally, I wouldn't like it if somebody stuck a sign in my lawn. Also, I think the costs would add up rather fast. I could also see people calling up saying "come pick up your trash out of my lawn" and telling their neighbors to do the same.
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
I do not like the sign idea personally.
I have seen them stick signs in around us and they have coupons on them, but no price.
I think you would get the same results as a post card...and probably about the same cost by the time you bought the signs and drove around and stuck them in a lawn.
I had great success with post cards in 07 and 08...but I will probably never do them again. I like to grow by referrals (much better customer).
When you market like that it isn't the best customer to have!
Dunno!
I have seen them stick signs in around us and they have coupons on them, but no price.
I think you would get the same results as a post card...and probably about the same cost by the time you bought the signs and drove around and stuck them in a lawn.
I had great success with post cards in 07 and 08...but I will probably never do them again. I like to grow by referrals (much better customer).
When you market like that it isn't the best customer to have!
Dunno!
Joined
·
14,035 Posts
Well BMW doesn't have the Blue Light Special like K Mart as part of their marketing plan. If you going to sell on price then you best keep your overhead very low. It is one thing to post signs in peoples yards if you are out of, or slow on work. It is an other to pay someone to go around and post signs. It seems to me TG/CL had excellent Equipment and some upper management. Their problems comes from the low wages and large turnover of employees.
But I barrow their Marketing Ideas or the ones I like, in a NYC second. I make no bones I work out of a Old TG/CL truck and love it. I wouldn't use the Price on a stick idea, But I have used the """LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN YOUR YARD""" Weed in a bag Trick I learned from TG/CL.
But I barrow their Marketing Ideas or the ones I like, in a NYC second. I make no bones I work out of a Old TG/CL truck and love it. I wouldn't use the Price on a stick idea, But I have used the """LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN YOUR YARD""" Weed in a bag Trick I learned from TG/CL.
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
This may be a whole different topic..but I would highly recommend getting a website and getting it out there.
If you do end up leaving a sign in a yard go with Ric's idea and make sure there is a website on there.
Most customer I end up meeting with has been on my site before I show up.
I think it is BIG for me right now!
Put your money where it will best work for you and get your name out there on invoices, business cards, pens, literature etc.
I order 1000 pens at a time and put my name, website and phone number on them then go to the local banks, Post Office etc and give them hand fulls at a time. These are a very nice and good quality pens (not the best just very nice). I also leave pens with my customers on Round 1 and Round 3. They love them!
I want the banks and Post Office customers to TAKE the pen out and hopefully build my brand with them and hopefully they will forget them somewhere too!
If you buy cheap pens...you are wasting your time. My pens represents my work!
Anyway...I was at gas station about a year ago and when I went to sign my credit card invoice...there sat my pen at the counter.
I didn't put it there...but it could have been from a customer or from the bank etc.
That is how it works...get your name out anyway you can.
If you do end up leaving a sign in a yard go with Ric's idea and make sure there is a website on there.
Most customer I end up meeting with has been on my site before I show up.
I think it is BIG for me right now!
Put your money where it will best work for you and get your name out there on invoices, business cards, pens, literature etc.
I order 1000 pens at a time and put my name, website and phone number on them then go to the local banks, Post Office etc and give them hand fulls at a time. These are a very nice and good quality pens (not the best just very nice). I also leave pens with my customers on Round 1 and Round 3. They love them!
I want the banks and Post Office customers to TAKE the pen out and hopefully build my brand with them and hopefully they will forget them somewhere too!
If you buy cheap pens...you are wasting your time. My pens represents my work!
Anyway...I was at gas station about a year ago and when I went to sign my credit card invoice...there sat my pen at the counter.
I didn't put it there...but it could have been from a customer or from the bank etc.
That is how it works...get your name out anyway you can.
Joined
·
2,565 Posts
Although bmw doesnt have the "blue light special" car manufacturers have in the past borken into the market with cheap "affordable" cars, once they build a repuation they begin to sell higher end cars. Take hyundi for example. Not long ago they were the new company selling very cheap cars, now I see lots of "elantras" and I believe one or two more that they sell with a much higher price tag then where they started not to long ago. Like creech said, he use to do post cards, now he is established and preffers refferals. If you have the bank roll to afford to market at a lower price to get established and creep your prices up after you have proven to your customers you are worth just as much as anyone else in your area....it may be a good business plan.
Joined
·
14,035 Posts
Fl-land
You make a good point about Hyundi, However I believe the Elantra is still a much lower priced car than the BMW. Now I am not saying the Elantra isn't just as good as the BMW. But the perception build by companies like BMW and SCOTTS Fertilizer are hard to beat. They also give the impression that if it COST MORE it is BETTER.
Now my point is, it is all about salesmanship. Any ORDER TAKER can give a Low Ball Price, Look at the Popular E mails ""The People of Walmart"". But it takes a real salesman with some product knowledge to sell upscale pricing for quality work that in fact might not be that much better.
This all falls back on the Idea of SMALL ACCOUNT BASE WITH HIGH MARGIN or HIGH ACCOUNT BASE WITH LITTLE OR NO MARGIN. I know you and you are the High Margin guy.
Joined
·
2,565 Posts
Read this essay on the history of BMW the last two paragraphs explain that they did indeed start by selling cheap cars back in 1925 "blue plate special 3 cylinders". Starting a business by breaking into a market at low cost services or goods is a good way to BREAK INTO a market, however I agree it is not a sustainable business model I want to be a part of. I think its a start and you evolve into a higher margin comapny in time.
Joined
·
984 Posts
Love the pen idea - suppliers??
My website works great for me too. we do tons of post cards.
Joined
·
14,035 Posts
HELLO
Not My Idea either. If I can't get a Fair price I will sit home on Obama Well-fare
Joined
·
2,565 Posts
Joined
·
2,565 Posts
I got 1000 from www.pens.com the ones I got are decent but I would like to get a better quality pen. Like RC said it represents your company.
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
I use PensRUs.
They are easy to order and design.
Once they have you in the system you can place an order in 5 minutes and usually get them within a week or so.
The Pen I get is awesome and it was $.41 each...but they just went up to $.51.
I get great comments and actually see people using them so I know they like them.
If you buy a $.21 pen people will either throw them away or throw them in a kitchen droor and never use them.
You are much better to spend the extra!
I will try and post a pic of them soon.
They are easy to order and design.
Once they have you in the system you can place an order in 5 minutes and usually get them within a week or so.
The Pen I get is awesome and it was $.41 each...but they just went up to $.51.
I get great comments and actually see people using them so I know they like them.
If you buy a $.21 pen people will either throw them away or throw them in a kitchen droor and never use them.
You are much better to spend the extra!
I will try and post a pic of them soon.
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
The pen that I order is called:
Gateway Express
It feels good in your hand and writes really well.
Some pens look good...but don't feel good in your hand.
You can call them and ask for samples of any pen you are thinking about ordering. That way you can see how it feels and writes before you buy them.
![Eye Writing implement Font Office supplies Writing instrument accessory]()
![Eyebrow Eye Writing implement Human body Office supplies]()
![Writing implement Office supplies Writing instrument accessory Tints and shades Font]()
Gateway Express
It feels good in your hand and writes really well.
Some pens look good...but don't feel good in your hand.
You can call them and ask for samples of any pen you are thinking about ordering. That way you can see how it feels and writes before you buy them.
Joined
·
14,035 Posts
RC
I did Felt Tipped pens about 7 years ago only I didn't distribute them like you. I had more than enough business at the time. I still find stashes of several Dried up Felt Tipped pens around the house. I guess the moral of that story is you got to follow through. I will agree when I find a comfortable pen I hold on to it. Most of those are advertisements. Yes this is an excellent Idea.
A subject for another thread is the Vanity Phone Number that spells L A W N. At one time I had 555 Y A R D. The Question is, are Vanity Numbers better than Popular Numbers like 555 6666 or 555 5000 or 7900 etc etc??? I can debate either side since I have or have had both.
I did Felt Tipped pens about 7 years ago only I didn't distribute them like you. I had more than enough business at the time. I still find stashes of several Dried up Felt Tipped pens around the house. I guess the moral of that story is you got to follow through. I will agree when I find a comfortable pen I hold on to it. Most of those are advertisements. Yes this is an excellent Idea.
A subject for another thread is the Vanity Phone Number that spells L A W N. At one time I had 555 Y A R D. The Question is, are Vanity Numbers better than Popular Numbers like 555 6666 or 555 5000 or 7900 etc etc??? I can debate either side since I have or have had both.
Joined
·
2,748 Posts
In debate of the ink pen idea.........while sitting at gymnastics class with my youngest daughter, I talk to other mothers and fathers while sitting on those uncomfortable bleacher chairs. Often, I will notice a pen of a unspecific company being used or in someone's pocket. I would ask about that company or ask of whom they would suggest doing the work of............lets say home health care. The pen they are holding says the name--number,etc. and the people can only say--Well, the phone book is full of providers.
I guess what I am trying to sell here is, the ink pen is a writing tool.......often dropped on the floor and often stolen from the truck-forsaken for its original use and target markets.. However our desires to see our name in print makes us feel professional. The ill fated fact is, most people don't give a pen the second glance to refer someone to the services provided. I have hundreds of pens in my truck, home, and office from other services and they collect dust. Rarely do I tell a customer wait a minute--let me dig through my truck and find their pen. NO!
Most times business cards are used to write down other important information and then end up on the floor board of the car. I have had numerous forms of advertisements stolen and or discarded from other competitor's.
Now, I only give cards or pens to immediate customer's whom we talk with face to face. What they do with them is their business. As for the baited lawn sign or the door tag methods..............it has worked somewhat for us, but I feel that it is risky and productive in other markets. As far as getting the sign to the door is something that can be done while finishing up a service on the way out of the subdivision or commercial property. Your machines are making noise, so don't think that people don't see or hear you working in the area.
The way I see it------ 95% customers will drive home, hit the driveway, raise the garage door, drive in and get out. The use of the front door for advertising has become a thing of the past. You have to find a way of getting ads to the garage door without defacing the customers property. A form of light hanger . I put a business card somewhere in the cracks of the garage door opener..........there always is one somewhere by the door. There is more times that the customer will see this before they see the front door. Too often, the front doors are riddled with Pizza coupons hanging or wet and mangled in the shrubbery beds. This is a clue to the front door not being used at all............??
I guess what I am trying to sell here is, the ink pen is a writing tool.......often dropped on the floor and often stolen from the truck-forsaken for its original use and target markets.. However our desires to see our name in print makes us feel professional. The ill fated fact is, most people don't give a pen the second glance to refer someone to the services provided. I have hundreds of pens in my truck, home, and office from other services and they collect dust. Rarely do I tell a customer wait a minute--let me dig through my truck and find their pen. NO!
Most times business cards are used to write down other important information and then end up on the floor board of the car. I have had numerous forms of advertisements stolen and or discarded from other competitor's.
Now, I only give cards or pens to immediate customer's whom we talk with face to face. What they do with them is their business. As for the baited lawn sign or the door tag methods..............it has worked somewhat for us, but I feel that it is risky and productive in other markets. As far as getting the sign to the door is something that can be done while finishing up a service on the way out of the subdivision or commercial property. Your machines are making noise, so don't think that people don't see or hear you working in the area.
The way I see it------ 95% customers will drive home, hit the driveway, raise the garage door, drive in and get out. The use of the front door for advertising has become a thing of the past. You have to find a way of getting ads to the garage door without defacing the customers property. A form of light hanger . I put a business card somewhere in the cracks of the garage door opener..........there always is one somewhere by the door. There is more times that the customer will see this before they see the front door. Too often, the front doors are riddled with Pizza coupons hanging or wet and mangled in the shrubbery beds. This is a clue to the front door not being used at all............??
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
