Why the Green Industry Should Cut Back on Print Advertising

Well, that's a bold thing to say! But, hear me out.

Print advertisements can be great when they are designed for a niche area that you service. It’s an opportunity to develop name recognition for your brand while promoting seasonal services and/or events. 

However, if we’re looking at a limited marketing budget to spend, print advertisements would be one of the first that I cross off the list. The main reason is simply shelf life. Anything that you send out in print will eventually get thrown into the recycling bin.

On the flip side, digital marketing footprint lasts forever and allows for more precise, specific, and measurable campaigns. This leads to better, more quantifiable results. 

Here are a few ways you can assess your online presence, cut back on what’s not working, and double down on what is. 

Take a look at your leading and lagging indicators.

Return on investment (ROI) is a huge metric but it is a lagging indicator, meaning it will...

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Ways the Green Industry Can Use Email Marketing to Their Advantage Now

I don’t know about you, but with the Coronavirus and the Flu going around, I’m limiting everything that I physically touch. Is it time to think about shredding direct mail and door hangers? 

Maybe, maybe not. But what we do know works is email marketing. Harvard Business Review did a comparison between direct mail and email marketing and to summarize their case study: direct mail costs about 100x as much as email marketing and ROI-wise, email marketing campaigns performed about 95x better.

But, we are all inundated with emails already and Covid-19 has amplified that even more. So it’s our duty to be brief and to the point. Use imagery to show instead of tell what you’re explaining. Stick to one call to action per email (ie: what action step do you want the reader to take?) 

The majority of us welcome positivity and feel good vibes in our inbox instead of cancellations, closings and craziness. Remind clients of your commitment to buy from local small...

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How the Green Industry Can Automate Their Processes With Leaner Teams

Now more than ever, it’s important to be able to structure your business to run lean with limited office staff. You can keep important communications in place by utilizing Automations to communicate with your clients. 

Here are some ideas for automations that you can implement immediately to continue to build trust and loyalty to your landscaping company: 

  • New Lead Welcome and Introduction
  • Proposal Sent Follow Up
  • New Client Onboarding
  • Satisfaction Survey/Review
  • Scheduling Reminders
  • Service Completion Alerts & Education

One of my personal favorites is a callback/respray follow up campaign. If you’re a fertilization and weed control provider, you’ll no doubt have to go back to a client’s property to re-treat at some point. Following up after this service not only shows that you’re concerned with the client and their satisfaction, but gives your company a chance to improve with constructive feedback. 

Last year, one of my...

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How Landscapers Can Leverage Social Media Marketing During Cornavirus

Many of my clients have asked me recently what my recommendations are for posting on social media this week and in the coming days. 

  • What are some topics we can post about? 
  • Is it appropriate to ask clients for sales still? 
  • Should we jump on the Coronavirus bandwagon and tell everyone what we’re up to? 
  • Should we continue to spend money on social media promotions? 

According to Deloitte, studies show that we primarily rate brands based on personal feelings and experiences—not information. And when a positive emotional connection is created with a company, 92% of us are more likely to stay loyal, 88% are more likely to spend more, and 91% are willing to advocate on behalf of the brand.

Not only that, people are spending a significant more amount of time on social media as they’re quarantined to the house and working from home. 

My good friend Jason Cupp noted that many employees are laid off or furloughed and they may not...

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Landscapers: Keep Marketing Money Reserved for Recruiting

As of writing this, the Mexican consulate announced they will be closing on March 18th with no reopening date in sight. I’ve heard mixed information from people who are boots on the ground with other reputable sources that say they may still process after that or up until the 25th, however no one is certain. 

Even companies who received an A or B position in the H-2B lottery, may be back on the same level playing field as the companies who weren’t so lucky or didn’t apply at all.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and the one that I see for this is that the unemployment rate in the United States is going up. Restaurants and bars are closing in several states and these bartenders and servers will be seeking new employment. Actors and people in the entertainment business are also looking for work. And students that may be off school and doing online classes are wanting to fill their "time off" making money.

I think the lesson here is keep some marketing money...

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