Winter work

[Tree Machine]

Keep it simple. Infuse some way to get a chuckle. Make them feel your passion toward your work, your love of caring for trees. Express your gratitude for them referring you on to their friends. Sign in pen.

That about fills up a postcard.

There's exactly 64 million ways to word this.

 

[bottlefed89]

TJ, If you do any BIG mailings, let me know - my parents own a bulk mailing company...

 

[TreeJunkie]

will do...

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

And don't let your ego get in the way of your business. If you don't write well (don't know if you do), hire a professional proofreader!

That Guerilla Marketing book would be money well spent.

 

[tophopper]

My prices are the same year around.

Mine too! I also relay that to propective clients who ask about winter discounts. I always give my best price.

 

[okietreedude1]

As for winter work, I know a guy here locally that will offer a discount (5% or so) to people that will let him put off work until winter. That way he's not over booked in summer and will have work to do in the off season.

 

[bottlefed89]

I do that, if it's something the customer wants removed, and it's being done for their pleasure - not because it's posing a danger, then I'll save them something little if I can put it off until I'm not busy... Why not??

 

[Tree Machine]

Mailings part 1

I'll save them something little if I can put it off until I'm not busy... Why not??

The key is to do just that, deliberately and consistently From July 5, regularly, one at a time. If you create a "Winter Work' file, keep dropping sold jobs in there and by November 15, most of your Winter is already booked. Sound too good to be true? It's really not so crazy an idea. To late to employ that now, though. We're mid November and we're talking about Winter marketing strategies.

All I can offer are the ways that have worked well for me. Every formal marketing attempt I've done has worked beautifully and has expanded my client base in a very localized area. It's not a magic bullet, though. Every guys' situation is different as to where their range is and where their population areas are. My efforts have been to specifically target as many people in a very tight zone, with a radius of about three minutes in any direction from my home. That's 4 neighborhoods.

I tell you this because that's the strategy I went in with. No Yellow Pages, no website, no advertising in any way. Just direct mailings to specific people in a localized area whom you already know. Certainly not everyone can cultivate their commercial tree care business with a three-minute-or-less work drive time to get to their trees, but that is what I set out to do.

 

[Tree Machine]

Mailings part 2

Since the mailings have such a laser-focussed intent, large mailing are not necessary. This keeps mailing costs down. If you send a postcard, you get postcard-rate postage, saving more money. On a postcard, there is only so much you can fit on it, so the amount of actual time to write it can only take you so long, ya know... The writing, stamping and sending of the postcard is the easy part. Determining to whom you will be sending and getting all their names and addresses all printed on adhesive-backed mailing labels. THAT will be the hard part for most of you, and while you're at it, make sure everybody's phone is up to date, and you should have all these names and numbersin a tidy place.

See how sending a postcard just conglomerated with updating your customer database? That's really the hard part for most of you. Not all of you... There are a lot of guys who's customer list is up-to-date and computerized and they can spit out a list of client addreses on labels in minutes. If you are that guy, I applaud you. if you are not that guy, you need to become that guy. This is only the first mailing; the first of five in the coming three years.

Again, I call attention to the simplicity of this. It's only a postcard and an address label and a stamp (I will encourage a business card also). You do this first one and you only have four more to go, in the next three years. You can calculate the costs on this pretty easy. Wanna see?

 

[Tree Machine]

Mailings, part 3

Heres the breakdown:

Twenty three cents multiplied by (let's say) two hundred clients. 46 bucks. Four postcards fit on a page, 50 sheets of nice cardstock, 20 cents a page, 10 bucks. Having Kinko's copy onto those sheets, 0.10 per copy 50 sheets X 10 cents, 5 dolla. Two cuts to Quad the 50 sheets, 50 cents each, one dolla. whatever cost in 10 sheets of adhesive mailing labels, let's say ten pages at 50 cents each, five bucks. Grand total =$67

Those are the numbers. Over your three years you will spend around $335 total, or one hundred-twelve dollars a year. This is your new marketing and advertising budget. You don't believe me, do you?

 

[Tree Machine]

Summary

There is one other cost to this; your business cards. Expect a thousand to last you three years. Add that cost to the $335 total for a new, three-year advertising-marketing campaign.


I would not jive you out on this. :angel: :angel: :angel: you are my Arbo Brothers. It really can be this easy and inexpensive.

 

[Redbull]

I started a customer database after reading this thread. I did it in Excel so I could see exactly how many customers I have and what info is missing. Now, after entering the info I have on each customer, I can see how many I need to call for things like, "Hello, Mr. Jones. I was updating my customer information database and realized I don't have your zip code. Also, are there any tree needs that I could assist you with at this time, or do you have any questions before this winter sets in?" The missing info. is a good ice breaker without looking like your just soliciting business. And, now you have your mailing list. I purchased Christmas cards to send out like TM suggested, and spent 10 dollars. After the cost of mailing I won't have spent more than about $30, but even if it generates one job, I would say it was money well spent.

 

[TreeJunkie]

Where did you find christmas card for your entire customer list for 10 bucks?

I just spent 15 for a couple dozen thankyou cards....Tell me where...Please

 

[Redbull]

My customer list consists of only 64 people, and growing , so I did not need too many. At Walmart, a box of 30 cards costs $4.89, but I have to personalize them myself, which is okay.
Did the rain shut you down today Brandon?

 

[TreeJunkie]

Pretty much. Gave me an excuse to catch up on some paper work and go out and do some estimates. You?

 

[Redbull]

I worked this morning. Wrapped up just as the rain started. I bid this job at 7hrs and it only took 3. Not a full day, but a good one $$$!! It sure is nice to have a groundman who knows what to do and can at least prune ornamentals. Anyway, I had a ton of paperwork and phone calls to do as well.

 

[Tree Frog]

I've used a company called Vista Prints online and once you order the minimum business card order they send you discounts for other products. I got 1100 very high quality postcards printed up for under 85 bucks. I use them for all of my quality printing needs such as calander magnets, post cards, business cards, etc.

 

[StewartTreeCare]

Winetr Mailer

Just wondering if I can get some feedback for my winter mailer. Tell me what you think.

 

[gr8scott72]

Just wondering if I can get some feedback for my winter mailer. Tell me what you think.

Looks good. I don't know how it looks on the actual paper, but on the computer screen, the text is a little hard to read through the snow flakes. Other than that, I like it!

 

[teamtree]

I try to sell winter work during the summer to established customers. I have a few customers that have weekend farms and they like to keep it clean. I sell them the clean up work in the winter time at reduced rates. Or if I see something in late summer or fall that can be pushed back to winter...i.e. clearing, multiple removals. I do this with well established customers. It also helps to be Johnny on the spot for those calls coming in during the winter.

We do some snow plowing in the winter as well.

My main idea is to sell winter work in summer and fall. The other idea is go back to good customers with an idea on what you can do for them. Also, follow up on all your "stale" estimates.