When I first started my own garden maintenance business back in 2008, when it came to marketing myself I had no idea where to start and even less of an idea of how to see through the cheesy sales patter that I hear these days on a weekly basis!
It was a scary time. We were just on the verge of a recession and I was as reluctant to spend out on marketing as other people were on luxuries such as garden services.
I decided to list my company at the time (now sold) on Gumtree as a free listing in the Guildford area. There was really no risk at all, especially as I was still employed as a landscaper for an established company, and as soon as business picked up for me.. I was out!
I wrote a paragraph or two describing who I was pretty much being as transparent I could. It was the the summer I would go and take on new clients while I was still employed. As I was getting calls daily this didn't take long and I quit my job with my schmuck of a boss within 4 weeks and haven't looked back since!
After working for someone else again in early 2011 as described in my last post '10 months from garden maintenance business to full time garden design'I had been constantly listening to podcasts that taught me about innovation, SEO, small business marketing and loads more and I couldn't wait to put it to good use in my own business. Garden maintenance and audio are a perfect combination and it baffles me to see people going day to day not wanting to better themselves and their gardening businesses by learning something to bring them a step ahead every day.
I won't go on too much about what I use to market Ben Lannoy Landscapes but what I will say is that the world is getting smaller with the tools we have online now and it's all about loving what you do and helping each other out.
This is what I try to do with other trades that I've made friends with over the years and it seems to work in perfect harmony. You recommend them, they recommend you and so on. If your work and theirs is good, you've at least tripled your chance of a referral, which in my view is the best way to gain more business. This way you don't even have to market or prove yourself. People are a lot more likely to listen and trust friends than they are an advert or pushy sales pitch.
I guess what I'm trying to say in a nutshell is.. Go out of your way for your customers, recommend a good tradesman, try to keep it local and most of all get yourself out there!
Although i definitely am not an expert in SEO or marketing I really do like to help if I can so don't hesitate to get in touch if you're stuck, or if you're starting up yourself. I've been in that situation many a time and it's nice to be able to help a fellow landscaper!
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