Forum

Replies

• 

  David Riches August 13, 2008 at 9:52pm

  I started off advertising in the local papers, with a decent sized advert. I also advertised in all the village newsletters. Lastly, i put my card up in all the local shops, garages, chip shops etc. I do hard landscaping only, but that advertising medium worked for me.
  
  I know its supposed to be a bad time for our line of work but ive never been busier with a good 12 weeks work booked - so the works out there, people are spending money - just persevere.
  
  Ive never had any luck with the yellow pages with any of my previous businesses.
  
  Do you have a local chamber of commerce - they sometimes print a booklet sent out to the local area?
• PRO

  Craig McGinty August 13, 2008 at 9:57pm

  Have you tried any local networking events? Not to sell your services to companies but to the actual attendees.
  
  A pal of mine is involved with travel and she heads to networking events not to sell corporate trips, but to find out who is looking to arrange a honeymoon, surprise holiday for a birthday, a romantic weekend away etc.
  
  Most networking groups let you attend a couple of events for free so you can get an idea of whether it's going to work for you or not.
• 

  ian August 13, 2008 at 10:03pm

  good replies i only touch garden maintenance, not the heavy landscaping. But suppose local papers etc mite work.
• 

  Andrew Fereday August 14, 2008 at 2:37pm

  Hi Ian,
  
  I advertise online with yell.com. I tried the 1/8th column advert first year in the local book but have since dropped that and only advertise in yell.com with a priority listing. The free listings don't seem to get any work for me. I'm paying about £19 / month for the yell.com listing which seems to work OK for me. I have picked up one large garden so far this year and am looking at another one (probably smaller) this Saturday. I have five regular gardens which I tend to on a weekly basis, only one of them was picked up through word of mouth / a recommendation from the garden centre where I used to work. I have had quite a few enquiries for work in smaller gardens but have been able to turn them down; they would have interfered with my larger regular gardens.
• 

  Nick Hill August 14, 2008 at 11:06pm

  I think you always need to be trying a variety of different ways of getting new business, don't forget your existing customers and their friends and family they will be happy to recommend you, give them some cards to give to people. You will soon find out what works best for you.
  By far the best for me is word of mouth. Having a good up to date website is a good idea. I still can't believe the number of landscapers that don't have a sign written van, I have had many jobs from people who saw the van in the area.
• PRO

  Phil Voice August 15, 2008 at 9:06am

  I agree with the van sign writing Nick.
  
  I remember when I first had my Renault Trafic written in about 1989 and I opted for having the word VOICE done in a very garish lime green using a sort of pacman character (no real decision making went into it, I just picked the font from the printers book).
  
  After about six months when I would talk to potential clients they would say to me, I see your vans all over the place. Little did they know it was one very busy man and his mate in one very busy van.
  
  I would not choose the logo now perhaps but I certainly stood out from the crowd and it became my brand that worked well for me.
• 

  James Gardner August 15, 2008 at 11:25am

  Look for new build housing estates. A lot of the larger more expensive house will have professional landscaping done and it wont be long before it starts to look shabby as these people rarely realise how much time they need to spend on maintenance.
  Put a leaflet through the door, make sure it looks professional. Put your home address and a land line number on it, it helps to show that you are legitimate.
  Also get in with local landscapers and designers, their clients will often ask if they know anyone who will do maintenance in the area.
  Hope this helps.
• 

  James August 15, 2008 at 12:49pm

  I found in my first year or so of business its important to build a good reputation. Build on small core of clients which will slowly spread the word.
  
  I don't bother advertising in large directories eg yellow pages beacuse of cost and compation ! I found that leaflet drops seem to work early in the season and by this time in the season I get less response from them.
  
  As James says above getting in touch with local designers and landscapers worked for me, they will probably be willing to hand some work your way
• PRO

  Phil Voice August 15, 2008 at 1:08pm

  Don't forget that this network is working hard (and getting stronger) as your local and national directory too.
  
  Do a search on Landscape Gardeners in Stirlingshire for example and you will see, so soon after the group being added, that LJN is high in the results.
  
  Using your blog for your business has been discussed this morning and I cannot emphasise enough how regular posting and good use of local keywords will draw in searchers who are looking for the services and products that you offer.
• 

  ian August 15, 2008 at 4:06pm

  thanks guys great feedback!