Strategies to Attract Clients and Retain Existing Customers for Lawn Care Operators
Competition can be fierce in the lawn care world. Not only are you up against homeowners who want to take care of their own lawn mowing and tree trimming, but you also encounter customers who don’t make brand loyalty their priority.
Despite these two factors making it challenging to attract new clients and retain existing ones, you might find manage both tasks easily when you take some of the following actions:
Focus On Marketing
If you’re a new or long-standing lawn care operator struggling to drum up new customers, consider whether your marketing efforts are to blame. While word-of-mouth advertising is a powerful form of marketing, you might also see the value in social media, flyer drops, and search engine marketing.
When you purchase a franchise, you can receive helpful guidance on marketing your business for success. However, sole traders can also find plenty of practical information on the internet regarding creating social media ads and organising flyer drops in your lawn care service area.
Offer Incentives
It can be in the back of some people’s minds that they wouldn’t mind receiving help with lawn mowing, gardening, or another yard task. However, they don’t always give it much thought until they encounter marketing materials with an easy way to access the help they need.
By offering incentives in your marketing materials, you might experience great success in welcoming new clients aboard. Something as simple as a discounted first mow or free tree trimming with the first lawn mowing service might be all it takes to have customers lining up for your lawn care services.
Provide Referral Deals
Word of mouth is already a powerful form of advertising, but it can be even more powerful if loyal customers are rewarded for it. Consider offering your long-standing customers discounted services if they refer others to use your services.
Your current customers likely already know of people who could do with the extra pair of hands for lawn mowing, hedge trimming, or water blasting, but a financial incentive might have them contacting them sooner rather than later.
Post On Noticeboards
You might be wary about going all-out with your marketing methods because you’re worried about spending too much money. However, you don’t need a huge marketing budget to be noticed. Sometimes, you can gain long-term, valuable clients by posting on noticeboards.
Both social media and supermarket noticeboards can be excellent places to advertise your services. Simply include your business name, contact details, and the services you offer, and you might be surprised by how many people contact you to find out more. Don’t forget to ask how they found out about you to learn which of your marketing techniques is proving to be the most effective!
Drive a Sign-Written Vehicle
Many lawn care service providers receive new and repeat business just by driving a sign-written vehicle. If someone sees your vehicle outside a house on their road or street as you’re mowing their lawns or providing other services, they might be inclined to approach you and inquire about your services.
Sometimes, this can mean you earn multiple clients on a single street, keeping travel costs low and making your job far more convenient.
Follow Up Past Clients
Some clients only require a one-off lawn care service – and that’s okay. You can provide that service and enjoy knowing you’ve made their life much easier. However, some clients show interest in a long-term service but never make contact after you’ve visited their property the first time.
Don’t let those clients fall away without following up and learning if you can be of further assistance. Ask if there’s a reason they no longer require your services or if there’s anything you can do to change their mind. Some past clients will stay in the past, while others might need a gentle reminder to book their next lawn-mowing or hedge-trimming service.
Charge Competitive Rates
The lawn care industry is competitive, so your pricing must also be. Otherwise, there’s potential for you to miss out on repeat work. Consider more competitive rates for ongoing work, and don’t be afraid to check out what your competition is charging to make sure you’re in the same ballpark.
Provide Excellent Service
While marketing, competitive pricing, and referral incentives can go a long way toward helping you grow your client list, providing excellent service is typically one of the best ways to attract clients and retain your existing ones. If you do a great job and leave your customers satisfied, there’s a high chance that they’ll contact you again when they need your services in the future.
If you’re unsure whether your customers are satisfied, ask them. You can also provide them with feedback cards to help you learn and grow.