Originally Posted by
glassngrass
Off peak, while slow, can be a good time to pick up clients. The dash for cash cowboys have returned to their 'real' jobs, leaving many good clients without a provider.
Decent signage on your trailer will be the best value advertising ever spent. Flyer drops can work - esp if you find an area with some neglected homes. People often keep these attached to their fridge and I've had calls five years after a flyer drop. Knock on these doors and offer to quote whilst there. In peak periods more are looking to the papers, but likely by then you won't need to be advertising for work. It is time consuming tho, but is useful in building rapport and experience dealing with people. Even a knock back at the time is still an opportunity to introduce yourself, give them a card or flyer, and an opportunity for a call at a later time.
Suggestion - make a habit of asking those who enquire just how they learned about you. That is valuable info.
Pick up a great new client as a referral? - be sure to reward them. A free mow for them may be in order - but I don't believe in devaluing our service by providing it free regardless. Online you can get a nice carton of red wine delivered for under $200. Grab a case and give a bottle to every client where their referral becomes a new client. You think they are now even more motivated to generate more decent leads for you?
So my tips for lowest cost leads (in order) - signage, uniform (you're not a dash for cash cowboy), and tell clients you offer a reward for referrals, cold canvass homes, flyer drops.
Off peak can be a struggle to survive. The regulars become less frequent and quicker. Build your client base to survive. Come spring, you'll be time poor - likely need more than double the work hours possible.
That is the time to employ. I never counted on making much if anything on casuals. The financial benefit isn't about capitalising on peak period - but keeping a good, regular client base serviced and hanging onto them for the next off-peak. Filling in the income gap in winter is the life-saver. As work slows in autumn, use your casual less until you no longer need them.
By turning a dash for cash cowboy into an employee, they now working for you instead of against you !