How to get more customers with postcards

[grassmasterswilson]

I've done postcards every year for the past few years. I think its my most successful form of marketing. I'm happy with the results since I pick up enough new work to pay for the postcards.

I'm wondering what I can add to the postcards in terms of specials or wording that might lure in more customers?

 

[RigglePLC]

Merry Christmas Wilson,
My suggestion is mention four main bullet points. Say quality, owner-operated small business, save there is a sale this week, a spare( whatever is a main sales point for you).

Also try to get a photo of a great lawn and home. Try to get yourself in pic explaining a weed to a highly attractive housewife, a cute kid and a cute dog. If you can get your (freshly washed) truck in the distance--even better.

If your lawns, kids and housewives don't look that good...if your truck is a junker...a professional photo studio can put together a layout from stock photos.

 

[grassmasterswilson]

thanks riggle. I have attached a pics of the front and back of my cards. One side list my services and the other I use for a special or something. I think they look pretty professional and sharpe. This is what I will send or may edit the specials section. It will be the second time i've done it.

 

[KrayzKajun]

I really like tht card grassmaster. Did u design it yourself?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[grassmasterswilson]

part me and part cactus mailing. I had an older version similar but no pictures. The graphic person used part of my old one and came up with this one. I made it a point to use real customers lawns and took the pics with a digital slr camera. I'm not a big fan of stock photos. I like being able to tell someone who calls from the postcard that those are actual lawns I take care of.

 

[KrayzKajun]

Are you planning on using cactus for your mailing list also?

 

[RigglePLC]

Sweet, Pat. Nice pictures. The best grass pictures are taken on a dark cloudy day. Everything looks greener. Try to get your truck in the drive--that is something the guys using stock photos cannot ever do. Its not easy to get a really top-notch photo--not at all.

Sometimes lawn guys are not very social.
People, especially women, are social. They look at and respond to women, and cute children. Look at any woman's magazine--almost every cover and every advertisement has an attractive woman. There is a good reason--it works. And the guys look, too.

Tru Grn has that stupid dog. You can match them, but go one better--get a cuter dog.

If you have a new uniform, clean up well--and look honest--a pic of yourself guaranteeing complete satisfaction--is a good feature.

How about dropping "spray applications" and add insect control--or grub control. Or fungus control. Crabgrass? Mole control? "Leaf control" could be "leaf removal".

You mention features--but not benefits. Customers buy benefits--how are your features helpful to them? How are you better than your competition?

If you can manage to get your second photo and your truck in front of a well-known major commercial lawn you do--that is even better. City hall? Library? Church? Business?

And always try to save the customer money--give them a reason to call immediately. A sale. A coupon. Early-bird special.Soil test. Some kind of freebie.

And use fear--it is a powerful motivator. Crabgrass can destroy your lawn. Grubs can kill large patches. Save the cost of resodding.

It costs just as much to mail a crappy card--try to have the best. Work with Cactus--tell them you want to double your response.

 

[grassmasterswilson]

great advice riggle---i'll be adding some specials and may remove some of the bulleted service in order to stay away from some one time work.

Cajan-- I've enjoyed cactus they are very easy to work with and have a good turnaround. The only con I have is the list generation. Every company gets the list info differently and i think all the info gathered is voluntary. I have sent some mailings where family didn't get the card and I know their house was in the "home value" range. Overall a great experience for the price.

Thought about the postal service every door direct but looking at the route maps a lot of the areas I would target are split between $300k+ homes and homes under $125k. Cactus might cost more per card, but I feel I could target specific homes with direct mail where everyone that got a card may want my services.

 

[KrayzKajun]

i may give cactus a try, but just in case im spending today making my own list of 5000+ addresses. that way if i want i can target specific communties multiple times if the response rate is good.

 

[Ric]

.

Yo

I have a little different take on same basic Marketing Plan. I am using hand delivered Fliers. I am however ONLY DOING STRAIGHT PEST CONTROL, NOT L&O. BTW this is my first real attempt at doing Marketing. But I have studied this plan and feel it is a winner. Time will tell.


I am buying Blank Door Hanger and Printing them myself on a laser Printer. I want my flier to be attractive attention getter's but also more of a homemade design that says Small local guy. I am only going Black & White, no color. I feel the Homemade touch is an advantage over the Big Box Pesticide Companies. Too fancy can turn people off because they think it is expensive.

Many Years ago I made a marketing Plan for straight Insect control that I never put into action. The plan started by getting a local Vanity Phone Number which is XXX-ANTS. In fact I have more than one local phone Exchange with the number 2687 that spells ANTS. I also Have a Website that is the same Vanity Phone Number Dot Com. or www.xxxANTS.com. Sorry I am not posting my real Website.

My plan is to "BRAND" my phone number/website with Grass Roots advertisement.

WHY NOT POST CARDS?? I can control distribution of the fliers easier than I can Post cards. Bulk mailers want $ 1,000.00 to print and mail 2500 post cards or $0.40 each. But the cost isn't as big of a concern as is the Timing. Commercial Advertisers want to pound the market all at once. I want to gradually market in a controlled fashion so I can handle the Response whether it is good or bad. Because I am printing these Fliers as I pass them out I can change Copy at any time and even design Copy for each particular neighborhood.

Cost wise I am buying Pre Cut Door Hangers for $ 0.125 each and paying $ 0.10 each to have them deliveried. But I also pay a commision on each Customer that I get from the Fliers. With the High unemployement rate here in Florida I have a lot of people to choose from as Flier passers. The Carrot is the commsion from closed deals and a reason not to throw my fliers down the drain. I can pass 100 Fliers an hour by myself. That is $ 10.00 an hour Plus a 1% close rate means a reasonable profit to make it worth their time.


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