How do I promote my pool and landscape business?

Question

I'm based 20 minutes North of L.A. in the San Fernando Valley competititon is fierce, Yellow page ads are not working and expesive, I feel that I threw away $12,000.00 for phone book ads that don't get any response or only lookie loos have been calling, how can I reach thousands of serious customers without spending all my savings? My company is well established and licensed over 17 years! But I need new work.

Answer 1

Have you tried working through builders? It can be tough but if you can find a couple of good small to medium sized builders you may get more steady work (pre-approved). The trick is to make it worth the builders while --and not always money. Meaning, if you can offer your service in a way that helps a builder sell, that's the best way for you to maintain your profit and offer something the builder and his customers want. Take some quality pictures of past work and show it to the builder.

Also try looking at offering other services along with your current one. Landscape lighting done right can really show off a nice pool area in the back yard. Look for new and different product to show and sell. If your business is competitive you got to look for that special something you can sell.

Answer 2

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

I, too, am a small business owner and have struggled with my marketing and advertising efforts. I did two things to turn my business around, and perhaps one or both of these suggestions will help you.

1. I used a marketing coach to help with my business, and she really helped me focus my efforts and understand what was working (and not working) in my business. I started focusing my efforts on my client's needs, developed a niche, and created a campaign to drive business while keeping costs down.

Her book is Aim.Fire.Grow. It's only $8.95, and you can get it here: www.aimfiregrow.com. The strategies are effective, and she uses real examples throughout the book. You might even be able to find a useful marketing book at your local library. If you can find anything written by Dan Kennedy or Jay Abraham, you would get some great ideas.

2. Another option would be to do more internet-based marketing. You can download this free course on how to market your service-based business online (a landscape designer is even used as one of the examples): http://services.sitesell.com/Kristen2.html

I'm in the process of building my own website using this company, and have read nothing but good things about their hosting and ability to help small business owners market their businesses online (using free search engine traffic). Rather than just put up a website and hope for the best, Site Sell walks you step by step through the process of how to build a quality website that gets traffic. You really have to see to believe it.

Best wishes on your efforts, as I know exactly what you're going through.

Answer 4

Try Craigslist.org
post in the services section

Answer 5

let your work speak for itself . Get into new subdivisions by offering the developer something for reccommending you .