A sign is a cheap and effective way to advertise your lawn care business and attract new customers.
Hey Clippers! Dave Tucker here to talk about using signs to market your lawn care business.
I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t a sign just, well, a sign? Do they really deserve their own blog post? How could you possibly have that much to say about signs?
Don’t underestimate the humble sign! Signs are great marketing tools for lawn care companies, and you can have a lot of fun with them. Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite strategies, plus a few tips.
Put up a small sandwich board when you’re working.
This is such an easy way to spread the word about your lawn care business. All you need is a sandwich board for each of your crews, which you can get for less than $100. It should include your logo, your business name, your phone number, and your website. Every time a crew rolls up to a worksite, they can set up the sign on the sidewalk. Once they’re done, the sign goes back in the truck.
This is genius for several reasons. For starters, a sandwich board takes about ten seconds to set up, so it doesn’t cut into work time. If just one person walks by with their dog and sees the sign, it’s worth it. And because sandwich boards are stored flat, they take up virtually no room in the truck.
Leave behind temporary signs, especially for specialty work.
One CLIP user swears by this strategy. “We use a 12” x 18” sign with an H bracket for all clean-up jobs in the spring and fall. They get lots of attention, especially when the property looks so great right after a service!”
Just make sure you ask your customers before putting up a sign. Most of them will say yes!
Create a “yard of the month” program.
I heard about this from a long-time CLIP user, and I just love it. Every month, he tells one of his customers that they’ve won Yard of the Month. The company puts up a sign in the customer’s yard that just says “Yard of the Month,” with their logo.
I have no idea what his criteria is for choosing Yard of the Month—or if it even exists! Everyone knows it’s silly, which is what makes it so effective. It’s just a fun way to make a customer happy and put a smile on the face of passersby. And if you can make someone smile, you’re more likely to win their business. If you pursue this idea, make sure to put your phone number and website on your signs! If you really want to go the extra mile, bring a treat when you stop by to install the sign. A box of donuts is a cheap way to make someone’s day.
Install a small sign at your commercial properties.
One CLIP user puts up a small sign, six by twelve inches, at all of his commercial properties. The sign is pretty simple, with just his business name and phone number. But he’s gotten new business that way!
Good work speaks for itself. If someone sees a beautifully groomed property and a phone number, they’re bound to make a call. And the beauty of a small sign is that it’s nonintrusive. Be sure to ask permission before putting up, but happy customers will probably say yes.
A few tips for long-lasting lawn care marketing signs.
Signs aren’t rocket science. But here are a few tricks that can save you a little heartache.
For signs that you plan to leave up for a while, it’s worth paying more for good materials. Aluminum signs are much more durable than cardboard, and they don’t warp after a little rain. Plus, you can reuse them, which saves you the hassle of getting new ones made all the time.
Don’t be afraid to shop around for price and quality. A lot of CLIP users like to get their signs online, but plenty of them have a local “sign guy.” (One CLIP user gets signs from the same guy who does the lettering on all his trucks.) As a business owner yourself, you might like the camaraderie of working with a nearby peer. Plus, a local guy can answer questions and help you pick the right stuff. That being said, the internet may be cheaper. There’s no right or wrong here!
Does your lawn care company use signs for marketing? Tell us in the comments!