Get New Clients with Business Card

I never leave home without my business cards because a potential customer could approach me throughout the day and my business card could open doors for a new gardening or landscape contract.

A few weeks ago while walking my dog in the neighborhood I saw a neighbor approaching me and they greeted me with a friendly hello and stopped to chat.   They asked me if I was the gardener at the end of the block next to the nature sanctuary and I said yes. Then told me that a group of neighbors viewed my backyard and liked what they saw.  I took this comment as an opening statement for a possible new client and reached for my gardener’s business card.  

 

 

Grass Garden gets neighborhood attention and word-of-mouth clients.

The neighbor wanted to know about my skills as well as my brief work history.  I responded by mentioning a few clients that I did work for in the neighborhood and pointed out my skills and expertise as noted on my business card. I answered their questions and then ended the conversations by telling them to call me if they needed my garden services while they were on vacation or for general garden maintenance or specialty plantings.  

Update: Two days later while tending to my gardens I happened to glance at my driveway and saw the neighbor coming toward me.  They said that they were going on vacation and asked if I would look after their container gardens, and tomatoes, and water their yard as well as pick up their mail.  We agreed on fees for my services and my new client signed the contract. 

I have been tending to gardens for a long time and have not needed to advertise my services.  All new and repeat clients were due to word of mouth or from a casual conversation that ended with me handing them a business card.   

My business card may have been tossed in the drawer but when they needed a gardener they called me and for this, I am thankful because I have a new client and a new gardening contract.

Advertise Lawn and Garden Business

Advertise your lawn and garden business to get the exposure needed to attract new clients.  

A spring advertisement campaign will enable you to line up contracts for the upcoming season.  Advertisement is a great way to promote your skills and expertise to your community.  

Even if you are an established business owner, an advertisement is a nice way to remind your existing clients to contact you for upcoming jobs.  When you advertise your lawn and garden services you put yourself in front of the competition and you will have access to more contracts.

What is your Advertisement Budget?

Before you begin your advertisement campaign you need to determine your budget as you do not want to overextend yourself and then not have money to support your business needs.  

Determine your budget by listing your positive cash and then subtract your bills and all of your supplies that are needed for the upcoming season.  The money that is left over can be applied to your advertisement.  

Basic Advertisement Campaign

Start with a basic advertisement campaign such as making business cards.  Personalize your business card with business and contact information; name, phone, email, and website.  Also, add your company motto on the card.  

Give your business card to managers of garden centers, and local nurseries, and introduce yourself to local home builders.  

Here are some business card templates that you may like

Gardener Tiger Lily Floral Business Card

by Susang6

Purple Irises Flower Garden Mighty Business Card

by Susang6

Garden Services Business Card

by Susang6

Gardener Peace Lily Business Card

by Susang6

Word-of-Mouth Advertisement

Word of mouth is an effective way to gain new clients.  When a client is pleased with the service that you have rendered they will praise you to their friends and neighbors and thus you will gain new business.  

One way to exceed in word of mouth is to offer referral compensation.  This is a way to thank your client for sending you a new customer.  Award the client that has brought you new business by taking a percentage off their next garden or lawn service.  By giving referral compensation you have not only gained a new client but have also a guarantee of a repeat client contract because in order to get the percentage off they must hire you for another job. 

Another way to develop word of mouth business is to make sure that your lawn and garden is perfect at all time and then install a sign in your yard with a plastic cylinder that holds your lawn and garden service flyers.  Install your business flyer holder close to the sidewalk so that anyone walking by your yard can get a flyer.  They will see firsthand that you are skilled in your profession and will take your flyer.  Maybe they will contact you for a job or maybe they will tell a friend or co-worker about you.  The cost of this type of advertisement is minimal and the benefits are great.

Next Level Advertisement

Join local garden clubs and your local Chamber of Commerce.  Attend the monthly meetings and network your lawn and garden service  If there is a monthly newsletter where you can purchase a spot then consider advertising your lawn or garden service in the newsletter that goes out to all of the members, businesses, and alumni. 

Practice supporting other members of your club and they will support you by reciprocating.

Business Tips for Lawn and Garden Advertisement:

1. Purchase a business listing in your local yellow pages. Advertise your name, the name of your business, your motto, and contact information.  Write "learn more about (name of your business)  and direct customers to your website.
2.  Design a website that will feature photographs of your skills; specialty-designed gardens, before and after photographs, contact information, and client testimonials.