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  Graeme @ BGS February 17, 2009 at 9:48pm

  Hi quality cards everytime.
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  john glover February 17, 2009 at 10:07pm

  i started a mini-cab company 6 years ago and found that it took up to 10 drops at each house before we saw much business,appreciated we are in an area where there is lots of junk mail,the advantage is that its direct marketing and ideal for your new builds as more the customer sees your card or leaflet the more familiar they become.
  
  good luck ,sorry cant comment on whether you should be using cards or leaflets as ive only used cards
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk February 18, 2009 at 12:13am

  word of mouth / recommendations / talking to people and yell.com..............................................odd cards in shops/businesses. leaflet if your bored ,you might get 1-10 out of 1000.
  leaflets enclosed in local newspaper -i paid £20 for 450.
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  Dave Sewell February 18, 2009 at 8:05am

  Tony,
  
  This is a potentially really useful thread for us all. I'm sure most of us have dabbled in this area so maybe
  a good response to this would enable us to start building a picture as to what actually is effective.
  
  Our main landscaping business doesn't advertise because our work comes through garden designers but last year we set up a small maintenence business to cover factory and commercial units and a small amount of domestic work. We've leaflet-dropped once this year which was spectacularly unsuccessful but I suspect the weather clobbered us there (it snowed immeadiatly afterwards and it's only just going now!)
  
  The commercial side is a challenging one to approach because you rarely get to the actual owner of a unit. Does anybody have any tips or advice in this area?
  
  Dave
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  steve loftus February 18, 2009 at 9:44am

  we now have boards and leaflet holders set up at 3 local garden centres where we do maintenance,a good relationship with these clients has allowed us to have them recommend us as a contractor to trust.
  also go to the ofsted website to get a list of schools in a certain radius and you can mailshot these(10/10) insurance and crb normally required.new builds,go into site office and ask if they have appointed a landscaper/maintenance company to look after the site and could you leave a card in the show house for potential customers,it may cost a bit of commission,but if you dont ask....otherwise,very wet day,nothing to do,drive around units touting your wares,signwritten vans a must,people will see it all the time and think you have lots of vans
• PRO

  Craig McGinty February 18, 2009 at 12:16pm

  I thought this comment by Sarah Russell on an earlier forum message was interesting:
  
  "I find being an active member of one's local community really helps - getting involved in school projects where possible, having a display board up at one's local fete/horticultural show..."
  
  And another piece from the archive that might help:
  
  Tips on advertising and promoting your business
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  Kevin Munt February 18, 2009 at 7:56pm

  In the past I have made marketing drops of A5 size two, colour flyers printed on 220 gsm card, printed at home. These were for gardening/landscape and each time I had a response of 2 in every 100 dropped. Although I found that I got a further 4 calls up to 1 year later. This means that some peole throw a leaflet in a draw and pull it out when they need some work done.
  
  I trageted homes of a 'certain' size and thus (presumed) equivalent budget. One customer who wanted me for two weeks pruning, weeding and tidying happened to own three gastro pubs that they were renovating and I have had 20 months work from them! I recommend targeted leaflet drops, but it a numbers game. Have it in mind that you are happy with one paying job from every hundred and you will have the right mindset to trudge door to door. I also recommend personal delivery as you may well meet the owners in the front garden or on the drive.
  
  Never be afraid of exposing yourself to the risk of making a sale!
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  Sarah Russell February 18, 2009 at 9:13pm

  Quite often free local newspapers will insert a flier at very little cost - worth investigating!
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  Graeme @ BGS February 18, 2009 at 10:19pm

  Phone your local branch of the Liberal Democrats - they will drop off your leafets very cheaply - risk is that your card will be posted with theirs.
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  Tony February 19, 2009 at 11:50am

  Kevin Munt said:

  Have it in mind that you are happy with one paying job from every hundred and you will have the right mindset to trudge door to door. I also recommend personal delivery as you may well meet the owners in the front garden or on the drive.
  
  Never be afraid of exposing yourself to the risk of making a sale!

  
  I would be happy with one in a hundred, so will keep going.
  
  I think I will aim the cards at the high quality houses and use leaflets on the larger estates and see how things go. Maybe switch to all Cards if replies from leaflets are not happening.
  
  Is it worth dropping cards in to estate agents or going in to see them ?