Texting a business card

[Evo]

I've been asked if I have a "cherry picker" (bucket truck, aerial lift) and when I answer in the negative, I've often heard something like - " well, this tree needs one so we'll have to call someone else" assuming that upper canopy access can only be granted via a lift. If I'm quick enough I can talk about climbing, but even then, some people are highly skeptical of that approach due to unfamiliarity and perceived danger.

Yeah I get those too..

 

[southsoundtree]

I've been asked if I have a "cherry picker" (bucket truck, aerial lift) and when I answer in the negative, I've often heard something like - " well, this tree needs one so we'll have to call someone else" assuming that upper canopy access can only be granted via a lift. If I'm quick enough I can talk about climbing, but even then, some people are highly skeptical of that approach due to unfamiliarity and perceived danger.

We use an aerial lift as needed/ and practical. It's a great start/ end, occasionally.

Our professional climbing skills allow us to do things aerial lifts will never be able to do, like reach to 60' from 1/4 mile from the tree from the place we can park the lift.

As well as climbing to any height, anywhere with the same safety levels that all vertical-rope technicians require, we can do it without impact of a 30k-50k pound vehicle, and we never sink a climber up to the axle in soft soil from a hidden spring/ seep, nor do all the extensive damage prevention because eye professional climbing arborists.

All of this, of course, comes from years or training and safe experiences.


Yes, sure we have 5000 pounds of professional ground protection mats.

Sure, we can bring all that unnecessary equipment, but it's likely to cost you twice as much.
Cheaper to bring in a crane.

Which of the 3 options sounds best to you, knowing the relative expenses?

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I’ve encountered this once or twice.

Another thing you can do is call everyone back who leaves a message instead of texting, say “Hi, this is (your name) with (your company name), I’m returning your message from earlier. Listen to what they have to say, schedule your appointment, and then before wrapping it up maybe ask them if there is any other tree or shrub care (if you do shrubs) services that they would like you to check out while you’re there?

That might just be their cue to say, “Well, do you grind stumps?, etc. etc.”

Another thought, is if you automatically collect certain info such as email addresses from potential clients during the initial point of contact, you could send out a confirmation email confirming your appointment with them, and as @Reach mentioned, have some details about your company in your signature. Whether it’s your logo, website, a pic of your business card, or a combo of all of that. It’s free marketing and you don’t come across as being overly sales pushy trying to sell them work they don’t need, but at the same time, making them aware as to what your business offers in case they require additional services later on.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I've been asked if I have a "cherry picker" (bucket truck, aerial lift) and when I answer in the negative, I've often heard something like - " well, this tree needs one so we'll have to call someone else" assuming that upper canopy access can only be granted via a lift. If I'm quick enough I can talk about climbing, but even then, some people are highly skeptical of that approach due to unfamiliarity and perceived danger.

“If we set up an appointment I can assess the tree and property in-person and better determine the appropriate and safest way to complete the work, how does (offer a date / time) work for you?”

People who aren’t arborists might just be used to seeing a big bucket truck on the side of the road and don’t understand all the different ways we do this work. And some people are already nervous to begin with trying to find a company they feel comfortable working with. I used to get anxiety talking on the phone with customers, feeling like I have to get all the answers about the whole project right then, or what they may ask me and how I might need to respond, etc. And then I realized, keep it simple and just get the basic info you need, and then look at it in-person.

Explaining to a homeowner in-person how you would do that job without a bucket will probably give them more assurance and make it more understandable than telling them over the phone. For all you know, when you say climb they may think you mean free climb with ladders and stuff.

Just this past week, I had the opposite, someone reached out looking for a climber because there is minimal access into their yard, and in the past I guess they had a company out with big equipment and it damaged their house. So you can imagine they’re probably a little uneasy to start with considering past experience.

When I asked what the access was like, they said maybe around 10-12ft. I said, okay, we both climb but also have a spider lift capable of getting into areas a typical bucket truck can’t, and it’s lower impact. They responded saying they just had their driveway done and don’t want heavy equipment traveling over it.

Now in my mind I’m thinking, this problem could possibly be solved with mats or plywood, but I didn’t say that. Instead I said, let’s setup an appointment, and we’ll come out to assess the situation and figure out what the best course of action is. They seemed appreciative, and that put an end to the back and forth of them telling me their concerns and me trying to address those concerns or give them assurances.

Because ultimately, getting eyes on it is the only way I’ll really know what the right decision is, and if I think we can or should use our lift, I’ll have an in-person conversation with them showing them exactly what we would do, how we would do it, etc. Or perhaps it will be a climbing job.

Answering questions over the phone during that initial point of contact is great, but one thing I have found helpful that others have pointed out to me at times, is that sometimes you have to take control of the conversation, get to the point, and then get on with it.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Back to the original question about sending a business card

My brother and I had to take our iPhones in for an hours work at the store Genius Bar.

Both of us found out lots of new things in the Upgrades

Off hand I’d bet there is a way to take pics of your card and let the phone do its thing

AppleCare or Help is great

 

[Lumberjack]

Back to the original question about sending a business card

My brother and I had to take our iPhones in for an hours work at the store Genius Bar.

Both of us found out lots of new things in the Upgrades

Off hand I’d bet there is a way to take pics of your card and let the phone do its thing

AppleCare or Help is great

I've had Genius Scan on my phone for years to scan documents with the camera and create PDF's that are on par with typically scanned documents.

iOS added the feature a while back under attachments in notes, then iOS26 added the Preview app which has document scanning functionality.

I still use Genius Scan (Paid a one time fee, it works, nothing I know of to gain using something else).

 

[southsoundtree]

Just thought of this...

When texting a business card, follow up with a 'text' audio message or quick video clip to say hello and put a face (and PPE -clad crew in the background) to the name.