[Brad2332]

So I had my first customer today(well technically yesterday). Severley underestimated the amount of work, and kept my rate pretty low, but it is my first customer and I want him to spread a good word. Anyway, things went well, and he has some other residences that he would like done, as well as more material of other services I can offer him. This is excellent. I mean yeah, he only wants it done once every few months to each(3) of his properties, but I'm hoping he will spread the word!

I did 6 hours of work, and charged(at a reduced rate) for 4 hours, which was my initial estimate. So I told him since he was my first customer that he will always have the same low rate, as well as anyone he wishes to tell about my services. Good idea? Or no? I thought this would help build a good relationship with him...

So now, I still need to think of ways to advertise on a very limiting budget.. very.. haha. Thats always hard eh... you need to be effective, yet cheap!

Hypothetically speaking, if I were to give you $150 to work with in advertising, total. What would you do? Ive tried a number of things (as most of you know). And only one customer...

So any other thoughts would be great. But from what I've read, you always start with one customer, and then hopefully it snowballs...

Anyway, thanks for reading this long winded drivel...

[Dus10]

I am not sure I remember what you are doing. Are you doing the cleaning service?

You could just make some flyers and take them to businesses and see if they would be interested in passing the information to their employees. Tell them they will get this special rate if they mention their company name (this way the employer can call it a benefit )

While you are at it, what about cleaning services for businesses?

[Karen]

Congrat's on a job well done.

Affordable advertising ideas:

Have some cheap (cheap as in price, not in looks) signs made up. Stick some on the front lawns of everyone you know that owns a house. Well, don't stick one on any lawn that looks terrible.

Look in your paper for investors. Call the 'we buy houses' ad's and see if you can strike up a deal to maintain the lawns of the investors homes.

Vinyl lettering on cars. Get everyone you know to advertise on their car for you.

Email signatures. Same as above... recruit all your family and friends to advertise your business in their email.

Online forums. Add a signature line to all your forum posts.

Local work at home offices. Track down some people who work at home ... these people have clients come to their house and always want their lawns look great. Set up a partnership deal... mow for free or discounted in exchange for a sign on their lawn,

Karen

[sonnyrizo]

I am thinking of going into lawn maintenance also, but the "big boys" scare me. They're all very experienced in lawn maintenance, but they are pretty expensive.

I am not sure if I should battle big companies. I am afraid I will not get anywhere.

And I don't want to make a fool of myself if a customer asks "So, what's causing this and that?" I don't know anything about lawn maintenance, espechially pesticide. I was thinking of mowing lawns, cutting bushes, and at most lay bricks. I am not that experienced.

[waveformpc]

Originally posted by sonnyrizo
I am thinking of going into lawn maintenance also, but the "big boys" scare me. They're all very experienced in lawn maintenance, but they are pretty expensive.

I am not sure if I should battle big companies. I am afraid I will not get anywhere.

And I don't want to make a fool of myself if a customer asks "So, what's causing this and that?" I don't know anything about lawn maintenance, espechially pesticide. I was thinking of mowing lawns, cutting bushes, and at most lay bricks. I am not that experienced.

My cousin owns a lawn maintainance business, his customer base is around 100/week, and at $30/lawn, that's close to $3K/week. It's a good business because grass always grows, and there are always people who won't want to cut it themselves. He just saved his money and bought a used truck, used trailer, and used equipment... Then went out on his own with about 20 accounts per week. As he did more advertising via flyers, and word of mouth, he hired a couple of people to go with him to do trimming and blowing (last year)... This year, his base increased to the 100/week that I mentioned, and he purchased another mower, and hired another employee... He then backed out, and now his "crew" goes out on their own, cuts the lawn, all while he stays at home (or goes and bids on potential customers lawns). He also maintaines a $70K/year job at DuPont, working midnights...

So, find some people willing to go in with you (invest), so you can buy a big lawn mower, trailer, used truck, etc.. My thought would be to go nationwide... Have "home bases" in certain areas where grass grows (i.e. not Las Vegas), and make it like a franchise...

[Brad2332]

Wave, that is really great to see, and probably easy to do on paper. I can just say, forinstance, that when I myself have 100 customer's a week then I will mkae this much money, and then expand and then franchise. But the thing is getting the customers, andright now I have one and im hoping word of mouth will help me out. My familly doens't want to help me out, meaning the dont want to spread the word so Im kinda relying on me and some friends... but they dont really have the contacts.
The only reason I am doing this is because of the HUGE potential for growth. If there is a mess somewhere, then there is money to be made. It's just getting those customers that is the problem.

I made another flyer, tho this time it is in the form of a pamphlet. This time around I kept it simple, a few catchy phrases on the front and my logo, and on the inside pages, I list all my services and prices. Hopefully this route goes better then the one offering free estimates...

[mpnetwork]

Hey Brad,

Congrats on your first customer!

Just a concern about "the same low rate" though. I would go with "$x off per referral".

I say this because, 1 year or so from now when you are busy you will be stuck servicing this guy at 1/2 price (plus all his friends).

It can be difficult to change the agreement or raise your prices in one year and still keep the customer satisfied.

$x off per referral encourages him to send other clients your way, while you dont have to worry about pricing down the road.

Since you've already made the deal with him, next time bring some paper and ask for a testimonial. At least you can use that to help get new clients.

If you made the flyers up, make a few hundred copies at Kinkos and distribute them around the neighbourhood.

Flyers (and most other advertising) only work if they reach the small % of people who are interested in your service at any given time. Many people might throw them out, so deliver the same flyer each week for a month (because now they may be needing a cleaning service).

Its so cheap even 1 new client would be worth it.

[Brad2332]

I understand what you are saying, and most likly within a year I will be kicking myself in the @$$. And I am probably not thinking straight seeing as I am desperate for customers, but I really just wanted to build a good relationship with this one and see where it takes me, as judging by his house that I saw, he probably knows some wealthy, and hopefully lazy, people.

Next time I see him I am going to ask him to write me a testimonial to put on flyers.

I will be heading to my local Business Depot to make some copies... (16 bucks for 200 copies on colored paper.. not bad at ALL) And then tomorrow I will hand them out early in the morning, and pray nobody throws them out on me.....

As far as handing them out, I was just thinking of going to wealthy neighborhoods? Good idea? Or would this just make it more likly to throw out my 'junk mail'?

[mpnetwork]

I would say most weathy individuals will choose a professional cleaning service from the yellow pages or something like that.

Choose middle class neighbourhoods, they are more likely to be "cost conscious" which right now is your biggest selling point.

If you can get in touch with a few landlords, see if you can clean their units for a flat rate before a new tenant moves in.

Once again with the flyers, hand them out each week (or every other week) to the same houses for a month or two. This will significantly increase your chances of success (or calls saying "dont give me any more flyers )

[sonnyrizo]

Brad, its obvious you're having an advertising problem. You know you can do the job, so focus on advertising.

I am not an expert on advertising, but be creative. Get a large sticker for your vehicle that states the company's name, phone number, AND prices. Don't forget prices, because people won't bother with something that sounds like everyone else's. If they see the price, they already know if they can afford it, and don't have to waste their time.

If you know neighborhoods with terrible lawns, why not pick up a phone book and start making calls?

What about free advertising on the Internet? Do you know any friends with websites, businesses, or whatever? Maybe on the website they can place ads.

I work at a place with a lot of customers..and it may be a little embarassing to do some shameless advertising at your regular job, but its worth it in the end.

I know you live in Canada, but you guys may also get Geico commercials. If you've seen them, you see how effective and funny they are at the same time. They look like they're people friendly, and customers will probably want to go to them. Come up with something innovative and people friendly. You have to create advertising that will be stuck in people's minds.
Check out:

http://advertising.about.com/

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/advertising.htm