A question about those big Yellow Pages ads arborists.

[Sunrise Guy]

OK, I want to know, from someone who has worked for 'em, just what kind of tree jobs do those companies who advertise with full spreads in the Yellow Pages do? I mean, I know from past experience that full-page ads in the YP can cost $3-4G's/mo. in major markets. The way I see it, those companies probably have at least a few full-timers working for them on salary and so they have to pay WC, SS, etc. Then there's office expenses, rent, utilities, etc. Before a company like that makes a penny, at the start of a given month, they're already in the hole to the tune of about $7-8G's. I figure anyone who owns a company like that wants to be pulling in at least $50G's/yr. Taken altogether then, this represents a total cash in-flow of about $150G's/yr. So, where are these companies working? What are they doing to make about $12-13G's/mo.? I'm working all over town, and I NEVER see any of these guys anywhere, with the exception of Asplundh, who's in bed with most major municipalities in the US via sweetheart contracts and other little sweet deals, and Davey. Do these other big advertisers just work big new construction-type gigs? I never see them on sites like that. Do they work in other cities but use my local YP to place their ads? I just don't get it.

 

[frashdog]

I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure there are companies out there making the $1000+ days but, you should know the price quoted to you for the yellow pages is not always what it costs.

The yellow pages folks up here work off comission and they CAN lower the prices. My friends's father does the advertising for a local car dealership...$800 for a full page add that I was quoted at something like 4g's. Now sure they have been loyal customers for years but that does not help a new small buisness owner get going does it. My buddy and I both paid $600ish (seperate adds)and ended up getting a deal cut, two adds that were supposed to cost $1600. I found that the closer to the deadline you wait and jerk these folks around, they can be wicked anoying, I just keep asking when the dead line is and tell them it seems to much I'm not sure I'm going to do it this year are you sure there is not something cheaper? Sadly most of our buisness came from flyers and word of mouth.

 

[Tree Slayer]

OK, I want to know, from someone who has worked for 'em, just what kind of tree jobs do those companies who advertise with full spreads in the Yellow Pages do? I mean, I know from past experience that full-page ads in the YP can cost $3-4G's/mo. in major markets. The way I see it, those companies probably have at least a few full-timers working for them on salary and so they have to pay WC, SS, etc. Then there's office expenses, rent, utilities, etc. Before a company like that makes a penny, at the start of a given month, they're already in the hole to the tune of about $7-8G's. I figure anyone who owns a company like that wants to be pulling in at least $50G's/yr. Taken altogether then, this represents a total cash in-flow of about $150G's/yr. So, where are these companies working? What are they doing to make about $12-13G's/mo.? I'm working all over town, and I NEVER see any of these guys anywhere, with the exception of Asplundh, who's in bed with most major municipalities in the US via sweetheart contracts and other little sweet deals, and Davey. Do these other big advertisers just work big new construction-type gigs? I never see them on sites like that. Do they work in other cities but use my local YP to place their ads? I just don't get it.

If a company is paying 3-4 grand a month in the yellow pages they better be pulling in way more than 150K a year. my ads are 500 a month in 2 books. But we have been around a long time and have a lot of repeat customers. as far as 50k a year in salary it better be a least that much plus a truck,gas, health ins. and some other nice perks. I would think any big tree service with 3-4 crews is pulling in at least 100k a month. we run 4-5 guys and do around 35-40k per month weather permitting.

 

[diltree]

Our yellow pages ad cost 11k per year( about a half page with full color)......On a bad day a 3-man crew with an 60' aerial lift and a 12" chipper should be able to cover $2500.00 in the residential market........multiply that by a 5 day work week and one week covers the advertisement in yellow pages. Thats not even considering a crew that has a log truck and crane and specializes in tree removal......

 

[Sunrise Guy]

If a company is paying 3-4 grand a month in the yellow pages they better be pulling in way more than 150K a year. my ads are 500 a month in 2 books. But we have been around a long time and have a lot of repeat customers. as far as 50k a year in salary it better be a least that much plus a truck,gas, health ins. and some other nice perks. I would think any big tree service with 3-4 crews is pulling in at least 100k a month. we run 4-5 guys and do around 35-40k per month weather permitting.

So, you're telling me that you make around 10K a week, or so, right? That means you're pulling in around 2K/day. Let me ask you an honest question: How many tree companies are in your town/area, and what is the effective population base you serve? I have a tough time believing your income figures, with all due respect. The 4-5 guys you run are working separate gigs, or together on 1-2 jobs/day at 1-2K/gig? Are you doing mostly residential or commercial, single-timers or contract work?

 

[diltree]

I said one three man crew does over $2,000 k a day, our removal crew does $3,000-$5,000k on avg. and our contract Line clearance crew does between $800-$3500 per day depending on the job. We do residential and municipal work and usually run 3 crews daily from April until January 1st and shut down to a skeleton crew for the winter

 

[lawmart]

every body math is very confusing the only way to compare, well there alot of ways , but your gross 150k divided by what the number of days in the year, number of work days you actually worked , or the days that could of worked, this gets even harder if you live in a climate where it is not conducive to work ever day in the winter.

Lawmart

Playsafe

I cant tell you if this is just yellow pages but it is my phone bill 2000/ per month advertising population area is 750 000 thats in 3 phone books with gross sales of 175k per year can. funds with a 2-3 man crew

 

[diltree]

Well, we cant compare companies because there are just too many variables. We have been in business for almost 50 years have all new equipment and great tree men with lots of experience on staff. We are in a pretty good market and also do municipal work. I cant attest to any one sales market, ability to complete work or anything else. All I can say is what we pay for our yellow pages add and that it is not a huge expenses in the grand scheme for our company, I would say it is worth the 11k a year.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

I said one three man crew does over $2,000 k a day, our removal crew does $3,000-$5,000k on avg. and our contract Line clearance crew does between $800-$3500 per day depending on the job. We do residential and municipal work and usually run 3 crews daily from April until January 1st and shut down to a skeleton crew for the winter

Impressive web site! How many tree companies are in your immediate area? What size population base do you serve?

 

[rebelman]

Many of them advertise topping. And do it. And have great reputations. Go figure.

 

[Tree Slayer]

So, you're telling me that you make around 10K a week, or so, right? That means you're pulling in around 2K/day. Let me ask you an honest question: How many tree companies are in your town/area, and what is the effective population base you serve? I have a tough time believing your income figures, with all due respect. The 4-5 guys you run are working separate gigs, or together on 1-2 jobs/day at 1-2K/gig? Are you doing mostly residential or commercial, single-timers or contract work?

The little town where our shop is has a Pop of about 30K,but most of our work is in the country.Suburbs of Phili. there is 4-5 other tree services in that area that we have to compete against. Most of our jobs are are 1 day gigs and we almost always stay together 4-5 guys. sorry you don't believe me but what do you think a company should make with a triaxle log truck, 2bandit chippers ,1672 stumper, F750 chip truck, F5504X4 chip truck, F 450,t200 bobcat.and 4 full time employees. Ask some others around here that are in better markets than me, I'm probobly on the low end.

 

[John464]

I just started running 1/4 page ads. Cost is approx $500 each book x 2 =$1,000 per month. A very large portion of our business is referrals(established in 1960) however the ads in the phone book more than pay for themselves if you have the equipment and the right sales approach. I have a dedicated salesman driving doing estimates nonstop 6 days a week for approx 10 hrs a day, commission based and highly motivated.

We do between $2500 - $3500 per crew per day without a crane. 4-7 guys on each crew.

The way I look at it is, we can grow bigger, but we must have the staff, equipment, and tolerance for more headaches. Right now Im bordering insanity!

 

[alanarbor]

A huge yellow page ad will help make the phone ring for sure. So does having your co. name begin with "A". The question is, do you want to have to take the time to weed out every lowprice shopping clueless prospect from that list of incoming calls.

A good number of the big ads around here are some of the worst arborists, mainly low price big ass removal guys.

Most of the really well regarded, high quality arborists have a business card size ad.

Targeted mail pieces to the demographic you want to reach will probably give you more bang for your buck, and you can save money with a smaller YP ad.

 

[Treeman587]

WOM is the best advertising you can have. It is exponential growth. One person tells four people, those four tell another four etc. I once did trees for an entire fighter jet squadron out of Oceana. Because I cut down one tree for their CO. Yellow page ads get you a lot of people who either want a cheap price or are considering having the work done. WOM gets you serious inquiries. And usually they hire you. I would say with the marketing I have done. The mass "hey call me"everyone sees it type, like paper ads or online referals I usually sell 10% of the work. But from WOM I sell around 70%. The only time a YP ad is beneficial is storm work. But after a storm there is so much work you can make all your money in a single neighborhood without even turning on the phone, just show up. Do good work, and the phone will ring with people who really want YOU to do the work.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

WOM is the best advertising you can have. ...

But you need time to build up the clientel to get the referals. Getting the good customers that are revolving accounts that will tell their freinds does not happen over night.

I usually sell 10% of the work. But from WOM I sell around 70%.

This is usually called your closing rate, havign them be a referal will naturally increase your closing rate. Meeting with them face to face will do this also.

 

[treevet]

Getting the good customers that are revolving accounts that will tell their freinds does not happen over night.

When you get those"good customers and they are revolving accounts. and then they tell their friends" when they tell their friends they have gone past the top level and become ADVOCATES. They talk about you w their foursome on the golfcourse. The can t wait to yell your name when someone mentions needing tree work. They have good taste, they drive a nice car, have a nice home, do smart stuff, and know a real good tree guy, too.

 

[Treeman587]

But you need time to build up the clientel to get the referals. Getting the good customers that are revolving accounts that will tell their freinds does not happen over night

Good Treemen arent made over night either.