We believe that the internet will phase out the phone book similar to how the computer has phased out the typewriter. It will progress fast in some cities, with other areas following suit.
It may not do much for work this week, but consider starting a website. Start with one page if need be. Then it can be added onto, step by step.
That allows for less in ads and flyers - a cleaner look - since most of the information can be put on the website with a reference to it in ads.
Flyers do work. Black on white has brought the same results as color paper which is more.
The lawn service idea in the other reply rings true for us.
I call through my customer list - 10 a day - whenever we change a phone number or something. I usually get at least one job right away for every letter in the alphabet.
I know I have no competition on this forum that it would hurt to share this:
GOOGLE ADS
Its only cost per click. Experiment with their evaluation feature.
Oh, you need a website for it to work. But if you do it, split the ads into different ad groups.
Don't put tree pruning and stump grinding in the same ad.
Do one for tree pruning
Do one for arborist
Do one for tree service
And consider splitting it further into say:
Portland Arborist
Beaverton Arborist
When you do key words, you will get your but kicked if you only list "Tree Service" for a keyword. You'll get clicks from the whole USA and it will screw up your ratio called a click-through-rate so bad, that Google will shut the ad down.
The way to avoid it is to list relevant keywords. For example, my Tree Pruning ad will pop up with the following keywords
Portland pruning
Beaverton pruning
Tigard pruning
Etc..
All the suburbs I work in.
Then I have a separate ad for arborist, landscape design and tree care.
It doesn't bring in a lot, but it brings in something. Cost me less than $50 in the past 6 months - needs a visa or similar card number to bill.
I remember seeing an Arizona service come up one day in a Google Ad when I experimented typing "Portland Tree Service." I knew immediately that he did not ad his city names to his keywords.
