preacherman Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Last spring, summer I started a little "side" lawn service to earn a little extra money. What I desired to do was to pick up about 5 to 10 yards to do during the week and on the weekend. What happened was I picked up 2 yards. There are so many people who are doing this in the area I live. I can think of 4 guys that do this full time, just in my little town. My question is, what would you do to get your name out? How and where would you promote yourself? Would like to do more than 2 yards this year; but was wondering about suggestions of what you would do to expand the business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Just a thought, but you might try dropping some business cards in area small shops that will let you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPic Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Underbid your competitor's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Just a thought, but you might try dropping some business cards in area small shops that will let you. Thats the first thing I thought of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Is there a "Penny Saver" or "Penny Pincher" free magazine distributed in your area? Advertise in that. One thing I know gets results is... Get to the local newspaper stores and insert fliers in the local paper. Thats what the snow shovelers do around here. Word of mouth is also a BIG way to advertise. get your current customers to try and get the word out. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 i like the idea of making a small sign, complete with pull off tabs with your phone number. put them in grocery stores, etc. any place that there is a peg board. and let them know who you are. also, call the owner/manager of apartment buildings. sell them on the dependability and quality factor, not the low price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig mack Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 I used to do that kind of work when I was a teenager and we got most of our jobs because we were doing another job in the area. Get some sign magnets for your truck and hand out flyers in the neighborhoods you work in already. You will make more money if you cut lawns in the same area, it cuts down on drive time and saves gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 go behind all of your competitors work and spary the lawns with Killex , make it look like they did something wrong J/K like the others said -- Advertise as much as you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambuscher Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 yellow book. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 yellow book. LOL DOT COM!!!!!!!!:D I did this a few years ago as well. I had 5 yards, and I got them all by word of mouth throughout my little town. Like the others said,put up signs with your information everywhere that has a peg board, and ask your customers to refer you to anyone they know who needed their lawns mowed. Good Luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 I think this would make a great opening for your sermon each week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oo_buck Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Dad does this. Word of mouth seems to work best. Every summer his phone will ring and somebody will ask him to mow their yard, just because they see him out there, and maybe they didn't like something the other guys were doing, or whatever. He sure doesn't advertise..... He actually has to turn people down every year.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Offer your current customers a one-time $10 discount every time they refer a new client to you that hires you to cut their lawn. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 ....Have you thought of offering a pooper-scooper special as a perk??? Geeee...we sure miss that nostalgic smell of a newly mown lawn; the musical humm of a mower in the distance. Haven't gotten to mow a yard in 15 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 i'd just make a bunch of cheap flyers and put them in doors or mailboxes of the houses in the neighborhoods near you. it's really a service that people might not really seek out, but if the idea comes to them via your flyer, maybe they'll think they'd like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unioncountyslayer Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 My first thought was what Craig suggested but seriously, start knocking on some doors brother. 95% of my business has come through word of mouth. I spent thousands of dollars my first couple of years advertising (brochures, signage, etc.) and I think I picked up maybe a handfull of customers that way. Being in a small town helps too, since people "talk". If you do a good job, the work will come to you. I'm a big believer in that, and it has worked out well for me. Good luck Scott! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 put a big sign on your truck.??? flyers maybe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007hunter Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Word of mouth is your best bet. As others have said flyers just aren't effective. I've heard that your lucky to get a 1% response with flyers, thats just getting a call, not the job. But flyers are an easy and relatively cheap way to just get your name out there. So in reality thats probably going to get you the best response... BTW- where did your post about your churches hunters dinner go? I made a post to it earlier and now I can't find it??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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