Your landscaping business is off to a great start. Now, you just need more customers.
If you’re ready to grow your landscaping business, it’s time to do some marketing. We’ve separated our tips into two sections, depending on your level of need: quick marketing tips to bring in customers now, and longer-term strategies that take a little more time to bloom.
Read on for tips to grow your landscaping business.
How to get landscaping customers now
If you need more customers quickly, these tips are for you. Follow these marketing strategies to build your landscaping business from the ground up.
1. Create and distribute landscaping flyers.
You can pin your flyers on community boards at local coffee shops and small businesses. Ask happy clients if you can leave a few with them to share with their friends and neighbors. You can even hand them out door-to-door.
When designing your landscaping flyer, use professional photography and bright colors that draw the eye. Include an easy-to-read, bulleted list overviewing your landscaping services. Add your contact information in bold text, with a special discount code — so you can see the number of clients your flyers generate. Finally, print on quality, durable paper.
Pro Tip: Experiment with personalized door hangers. They’re easy to distribute and hard to miss.
2. Network with other home professionals.
Think about the other types of professionals who work with homeowners. These folks have already established a relationship based on trust with their clients, so when they refer them to your landscaping business, you’re as good as hired.
Network with local realtors, plumbers, handymen, home builders, property management companies, hardware stores, garden supply stores, and home renovation professionals. Return the favor by referring business back to them, too.
3. Send direct mail.
You can target homeowners in a specific area or neighborhood with glossy postcards delivered straight to their address. Make it personal with a tagline like “The #1 Landscaper Trusted by [Their Neighborhood Name].” If possible, include high-resolution photos of lawns from their neighborhood. Keep these bright, colorful, and eye-catching like your flyers, and print on quality paper with a glossy finish for a touch of professionalism.
Pro Tip: Look into “new movers” mail programs in your area to target new homeowners. Over 5 million homes were sold in 2020 alone.1 That’s a lot of potential new customers for your business!
4. Buy print ads.
Just like with direct mail, you can use print ads in magazines and local newspapers to target niche audiences. These may include a magazine for local homeowners, community newsletters, city newspapers, or local coupon books. Use a compelling tagline, professional photographs showing your landscaping work, and a quick list of your services with a call-to-action to call you or visit your website.
5. Order lawn signs.
Ask your clients if you can display a lawn sign in their yard advertising your services. To get clients to agree, you may want to consider offering them an ongoing discount for as long as the sign is displayed. Also, make it tasteful so it doesn’t look tacky. A simple design that includes your name, website, and phone number is all you need.
6. Start a referral program.
Who can vouch for your work better than your existing clients? Exactly.
Encourage your clients to spread the word and refer you to their neighbors, friends, and fellow homeowners. Make it an offer they can’t refuse. For each client they refer, your current client gets a discount on their next service, while their referral gets a discount on their first service.
Referrals not only generate a ton of new leads for a low cost, but they are one of the consistently top-converting marketing channels.2 It’s worth investing in your top-referring customers. Consider thanking them with a potted plant or flowers during the holidays.
7. Turn your trucks into moving advertisements.
Brand your truck. It can sit out front while your crew trims, mows, and cleans up yards to perfection — giving the neighbors plenty of time to notice your name.
How to get landscaping customers later
As your client list grows, so will your marketing budget. Here are a few more ideas for putting your marketing dollars to work.
8. Create a website.
You can only get by without a website for so long. Sure, your clients will refer you to a few of their friends, but for your landscaping business to really take off, you’ll need a digital presence where new customers can easily find you. Plus, a website is a quick, easy way to build trust and reassure customers you’re a professional.
Use a website builder or work with a designer to spin up a website that includes photos of your past work, testimonials from customers, a list of your services, and a contact page.
9. Support your community.
Sponsor local nonprofits or sports teams. The key is to choose organizations that throw a lot of events, or have a lot of games, so your sponsorship gets the most visibility. The larger their attendee list is, the better. You want to reach as many potential customers as possible.
10. Create video ads.
Advertising on your local TV station can be more affordable than you think. Plus, you can edit the videos in different lengths, formats, and sizes for use on social media and YouTube.
Work with an advertising agency in your area to create ads that showcase your beautiful work. Consider including testimonials from your customers, or share the story behind how you started your business. Brainstorm a memorable tagline. End with a clear call-to-action that drives viewers to your website, call you, or email you.
11. Leverage online advertising.
Want to fast-track your way to the top of the Google results? Pay for a pay-per-click (PPC) ad. These local advertisements enable you to put your business in front of local customers whenever they’re searching for key phrases like “landscaper near me.”
Pro Tip: Add clickable phone numbers to your ads with Call Extensions. 3
12. Get online reviews.
Create and claim your profile on websites like Google My Business, Bing, Yelp, Houzz, Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, and Angi.
Then, ask your current clients to write you a review. Let them know it’s the best thing they can do to help your business grow. They’ll be happy to help!
13. Purchase a billboard.
People need something to look at when they’re stuck in traffic. Why shouldn’t it be a billboard advertising your landscaping services? Include your name, website, and phone number, along with your tagline and a photo of your best work.
14. Start an email newsletter.
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your current clients — and keep them loyal. 80% of businesses agree that email marketing increases their customer retention.4
Keep your clients engaged by offering DIY lawn care tips and reminding them of your referral program. You can also use your email newsletter to announce new landscaping services or seasonal discounts.
15. Advertise on social media.
With Facebook and Instagram advertising, you can target people who live in your service area and who match other demographics in your target audience. Don’t worry, these platforms are designed to make advertising intuitive and user-friendly, even if you’re not an expert. You can use the same videos you’ve created for YouTube and other channels. You’ll also want to create graphics just for your ads.
Don’t forget to use these channels to market your landscaping business organically, too. You can post photos of your finished work, videos of your crew in action, and share how-to lawn care tips.
Grow your landscaping business with marketing
Just like water and plants, it only takes a little bit of marketing to help your landscaping business grow. Follow these tips to get more customers:
- Create and distribute landscaping flyers.
- Network with other home professionals.
- Send direct mail.
- Buy print ads.
- Order lawn signs.
- Start a referral program.
- Turn your trucks into moving advertisements.
- Create a website.
- Support your community.
- Create video ads.
- Leverage online advertising.
- Get online reviews.
- Purchase a billboard.
- Start an email newsletter.
- Advertise on social media.
Finally, here’s one last tip. Invest in Landscaping Insurance. Whether you cater to commercial or residential customers, your clients will feel better knowing your work is protected with solid business insurance. Get started with Thimble’s Landscaping Insurance today. It only takes 60 seconds to get your free quote.
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