to small to advertise, illegal to go door to door. what to do?

Question

I have had a small lawn service buisiness for 5 years. I started off with 8 customers I got 4 from going door to door in my neighborhood. but they were people I knew somewhat as an aquantance. I'm wondering how to get more work for myself, they're not telling anybody else about me, and I'm standing still for years now, only making $100.00 week mowing with push mower...I don't wan't to or can't afford to spend $30.00 on an add in the local newspaper, and don't really feel confortable with this door to door thing...what should I do?

Answer 1

How about a mailing to targeted neighborhoods, or leave a flyer on their door? Make a deal with some local company to co-market your products, partnerships a great way to start off in marketing.

Answer 2

first off, put your local number on your work truck - free advertising is the best way to advertise. Second is to get involved in the local chamber of commerce. The chamber has some of the most important business figures in your local area. Not only can these people give advice on what works to promote/grow your business, but they might also know a community of people/friends/family to start you off in the right direction. You are fighting with a million other small/medium sized companies doing the same thing in your area so you need to think bigger and go after some high profile accounts to help grow your business. If you keep doing residential you will never grow in commercial properties - the chanber of commerce might help you land some commercial properties.

As far as marketing and advertising goes - spend the money to build a respectable website - not only will you get leads inquires (depending on the expertise of your html programmer) but you will have an online brochure to promote your expertise. If you havent already invested in chemical knowledge you may seek more clientele because you know what fertilizers to use and which insecticides to use for a full lawn maintenance company. Make sure you have a listing in the yellowpages too! Dont limit your self to just mowing, there are plenty of other areas to grow your business. let your expertise and incredible follow up grow your business.

Answer 3

You should invest $30.00 into an AD. Invest a small portion of your profits to advertise in the newspaper because it could really help you later on, especially if you have a catchy add. Also you might tell your current clients that for every person they refer, you'll take $5.00 off one service. If you don't do something different your business will never change. Also, you might not feel comfortable doing the door to door way, but if you become a good salesmen you might be able to get some regulars.

Answer 4

I always chuckle when business owners say they can't afford to do this or that....because I am thinking how can you afford not to?

Be smart in how you market your business. For example, run a few newspaper ads at the start of the mowing season, but not all year! Yellow page ads are expensive, but it is where many people will look for a business or service.

Putting ads up on business and community bulletin boards is very cheap, or drop flyer's in people's mailboxes (which is also illegal, but you will most likely not get in trouble for it).

Most importantly, put up a simple website. It can be very cheap or even free, but it is vital to almost any business. Most people look for information on the Internet these days.

Answer 5

You could try an easy yet effective advertising by useing the time you work and don't work as advertising I don't know what state you live in but most have the same general rules if you have a business lic. and you should depending on the city about $30.00 to $50.00 a year. local sign shop have magnetic signs that stick to the side of a truck so you can take them off if say you want to go on vacation and don't want to be botherd cost is about $50.00 to $150.00 depending on the company you may even be able to trade work with someone insted of cash like offer to mow at there work or home another thing I've used and found very helpful is to go to a indoor swapmeet or other T-shirt company and have a basic shirt with your name and phone# that match your truck about $6.00 to $10.00 per shirt always have a profesional voice and additude when answering the phone if its your home phone DON'T pick up and say hello...say "Hi and thank you for calling Joe's Mow Blow and Go gardining service" or you know . and if you have kids in the house DO NOT let them answer use an answer machine or voice mail but have a dedicated # for clients to reach you even if its a pager. always offer a prompt and FREE estimate if you don't already have a Biz name most state don't require you to file a ficticious buisiness name statement to open a biz if in the company name you include you name and the type of biz i.e....Jones Landscaping or Johnson's gardening if not you will need to file ask your local Chamber of Commerce 1 phone call with all the ?'s on a note pad will make it real easy also if you have your company name and Phone # on you truck u can deduct 33.5 cents a mile that you drive on you taxes you will have to file a sheduale C form but its simple even if your going to the store or on a fishing trip and always have biz cards to hand out a trick I learnd is on days I wasn't working I'd get up early and wash the truck put my shirt with company logo on tucked in is always goo go to a Starbuks park close to the door get a cup of coffe and either sit at a table and do your paper work or stand by your truck and as alway watch yourself... swearing, spitting, smokeing, picking your nose ...ok that 1 was just for laughs but i wish you all the luck and with just a very little money you can make this all happen 3 things to remember 1 if your self employed you always on the clock 2 If you good and dedicated you'll make it 3 anyone who thinks working for youself is easy ....NEVER DID IT .... good luck buddy..............after i posted this i looked at all the other answers and not not discount any From experiance I can tell you that people don't tent to look for a gardener on the wed and there are a million already I think you best bet is to grow slowly until such a time as you need a website and by that time you'll have more work than you can handle and wont need it but I may be wrong the web idea is a real plus to big commercial clients it helps show your not a fly by night all the info i've given you is from California things may be differnt one last idea is if you have kids neices nepfews make flyers and hand them out in parking lots where the ubove average income is in return take the kids to the zoo or pay them but don't put things on peoples cars you hate it I hate it and what if you damage someones car

Answer 6

Do you have magnetic signs for your vehicle advertising your business? My husband owns his own business and he gets a lot of calls from those signs. They are about $25 but people at red lights and in parking lots all get your information, it's better than a newspaper add. You could also print flyers and stick under windshield wipers at local events. Signs could be printed up and placed at gas stations, there really are tons of cheap ways to get the word out. even signs in the yards of the people you mow. You could get one nice sign and move it around every week or so and give that person a discount for letting you put it in the yard "THIS YARD WAS MOWED BY """""" LET US MOW YOURS! CALL 555-5555! You just need to think outside the box!

Answer 7

Take it a street at a time in the neighborhoods you want to work in and just mail them a simple flyer. For 41 cents per home, you decide how many to send out. Walk the street, note the addresses, KEEP It SIMPLE. Explain who you are, that you are local and available, what you do, and offer an introductory rate discount for the first job. Then you will meet them and have an opportunity to get to know them, and they you. Look clean and professional when you go out to the job.

Answer 8

Craigs List is a website that offers free advertising for services. It is a universal want ad!

You could also try printing your own business cards and leaving them on boards at stores, restaurants, etc.

Visit a local fair, festival, etc. and leave flyers on people's windshields. You can get copies made relatively cheap.

Answer 9

Post at supermarkets on the boards,Post at church,Post at hair salons/barbers. You will have to ask for approval first. You may want to get some business cards through Vista Print(you have to pay for the shipping)

Answer 10

Put a vinyl decal on your vehicle and drive it around town! It's cheap maybe only $50-80 for one door panel, will last for years....and gets a lot of impressions!