Finding new customers, as a new business

[canopyking]

So, I am starting a tree business in the spring and I am finding myself in a situation where I am trying to preload my calendar before I launch. This means that I am trying to find new customers. What have you done in your business to broaden/establish a new customer base.

Currently I am knocking on doors every spare evening or Saturday. Now that I've been knocking on doors for a while, one thing I can say is that it really depends on the neighborhood. No poor neighborhoods (like mine), ideally neighborhoods high in home ownership. I've been through about 5 neighborhoods and for whatever reason, the last one is hot fire.

Once it gets cold, I will try to shmooz as many realtors, landscapers, home insurance agents, and golf courses managers as my bank account will afford.

I'm sure we can all agree, word of mouth is where it is at, but I don't have that yet. Also, suggesting home advisor will result in me coming at you with sharp pointed objects.

What do you do?

 

[Reach]

Call a good local marketing company who has experience in outdoor services, ideally tree service marketing.

Make friends with some other local companies, maybe plant health care specialists who can refer you their pruning/removals in exchange for your referrals for treatments.

Much as you don’t want to hear it, HomeAdvisor and the like can give you a good boost, but they are pain in the rear to deal with and do send you a lot of junk.

The new Google Services sounds real good, I would try it but due to my past I do not meet their eligibility requirements so I can’t try it.

You could even try a couple of the larger removal-only companies and offer to take on the little stuff they don’t want.

Letter up your truck(s) as soon as you have commercial auto insurance in place, and keep them clean.

Wear a nicely lettered up hoodie everywhere you go, and when you hand over a business card, ask for their name and contact information so you can call them. They’ll almost always forget to call you.

 

[evo]

Find a way to teach a class. Our local nurseries are now competing with each other by giving classes on various subjects, mostly with their own employee's but I've given a few talks there. Get on their referral list!
It's not instant work, nor enough but it gets you long term high value clients.

 

[Basswood]

Become friendly with local nurseries.

 

[TimBr]

The new Google Services sounds real good, I would try it but due to my past I do not meet their eligibility requirements so I can’t try it.

It really doesn't seem fair to me that Google holds your past work as a Chippendale dancer against you. After all, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". Just sayin'. Tim.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Knocking on doors is pikey stuff.

I pay for advertising in local newspapers.

 

[southsoundtree]

Is your neighborhood party of your target market?

 

[evo]

Knocking on doors is pikey stuff.

I pay for advertising in local newspapers.

I hope your not meaning that in the racial slur definition of the word.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I hope your not meaning that in the racial slur definition of the word.

what else do you call them in the US?

 

[KTSmith]

Fellow travelers.

 

[evo]

what else do you call them in the US?

Roma.
From this side of the pond it’s my understanding that this is who you are referring to, and it’s also my understanding that the term ‘pikey’ is a slur to the Roma people. Commonly referred to other people as a comparison. Pretty fucked up.
Now if your talking about fly by night shitty as hacks I can think of many terms that fit the bill without using a racial prerogative.