Arborist Business Growth

[YWPD]

To increase an arborist business, have you ever, or would you hire any kind of service provider for any form of marketing to promote your tree business? This would include websites, business cards, logo designs, brochures, signs, truck decals or wraps, roadside signs and billboards, radio or TV ads, printed promotional material like fridge magnets or pens.

I'm really curious, and I'm sure many others are too, what have you done to gain new customers? What worked & what didn't? DIY or hire someone? Word of mouth? Door knocking? Phone calling (gawd, please say NO!)

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Telemarketing- hell no, who ever actually like getting those phone calls? Hi, we are currently in your area and available to do your tree work..... click.

Word of mouth is your best ever and free advertising. Hard to establish and easy to loose. It is based hugely on client satisfaction and you are only as good as your last worst job- as the worst one will be talked about for years, no matter how many good ones you do in the meanwhile!
Business cards are great to leave with clients, hand to walk in enquiries, or use as note paper- coincidentally having your service details on a note that may have originally had nothing to do with the service you provide.
In this day and age- some form of social media attention is kind of essential. Not many folk have a newspaper delivered, pick up a corded telephone or consult the yellow pages, but most everyone is online and will search Facebook for a service long before a paper brochure.
If it is small and just you, with one truck- sure, wrap, personalised plates and signage are great- IF YOU are the perfect courteous driver and never cut any one off, or fail to indicate in an easily identifiable vehicle! If staff drive your vehicles and are paid by the hour, maybe less conspicuous signage as they will often not have the same concerns around advertising and drive accordingly.
Radio and television advertising for small business- WAY too expensive to justify for the return.

Start working and go the extra mile, make the perfect clean ups, split and stack the firewood rounds left (free of charge) leave the job better than you agreed to when you took the job on, be pleasant and polite, never leave a job with a disgruntled client, do that and word of mouth will spread faster than any paid for advertising- upset a client and that word of mouth will spread faster!

 

[YWPD]

Telemarketing- hell no, who ever actually like getting those phone calls? Hi, we are currently in your area and available to do your tree work..... click.

Word of mouth is your best ever and free advertising. Hard to establish and easy to loose. It is based hugely on client satisfaction and you are only as good as your last worst job- as the worst one will be talked about for years, no matter how many good ones you do in the meanwhile!
Business cards are great to leave with clients, hand to walk in enquiries, or use as note paper- coincidentally having your service details on a note that may have originally had nothing to do with the service you provide.
In this day and age- some form of social media attention is kind of essential. Not many folk have a newspaper delivered, pick up a corded telephone or consult the yellow pages, but most everyone is online and will search Facebook for a service long before a paper brochure.
If it is small and just you, with one truck- sure, wrap, personalised plates and signage are great- IF YOU are the perfect courteous driver and never cut any one off, or fail to indicate in an easily identifiable vehicle! If staff drive your vehicles and are paid by the hour, maybe less conspicuous signage as they will often not have the same concerns around advertising and drive accordingly.
Radio and television advertising for small business- WAY too expensive to justify for the return.

Start working and go the extra mile, make the perfect clean ups, split and stack the firewood rounds left (free of charge) leave the job better than you agreed to when you took the job on, be pleasant and polite, never leave a job with a disgruntled client, do that and word of mouth will spread faster than any paid for advertising- upset a client and that word of mouth will spread faster!

You are correct, sir! Newspaper? Phone book? What's that? lol
Paper brochures get lost, and are delivered to folks who don't care, and aren't in the market for the service.
Digital promotion is the way. It's not sent to folks who don't want it. They have to use a Web search engine for the service in order to find it, and therefore, they're asking for your service. It's less expensive than radio or tv and you can be SURE that it reaches people who want it (as opposed to broadcast media like radio and tv).
Yes! Over-deliver with extra service. Great idea, Bob.
It's so true that people will spread bad news or reviews faster and more often that good news, so always remember to do the right thing when you're out there. Take it from @Bob Hedgecutter boys and girls.

 

[Nutball]

Start working and go the extra mile, make the perfect clean ups, split and stack the firewood rounds left (free of charge) leave the job better than you agreed to when you took the job on, be pleasant and polite, never leave a job with a disgruntled client, do that and word of mouth will spread faster than any paid for advertising- upset a client and that word of mouth will spread faster!

Around here, word of mouth is common. I'm a huge fan of meticulous work, excellent cleanup, making it look like you know what you are doing.

But splitting and stacking for free... no way, that's a lot of work and time! Unless you need to make up for some problem. I just don't think it is worth the effort vs reward, but I would definitely offer the service.

I think doing excellent work and cleanup, with a business sign left behind, like what landscapers use, is the way to go.

 

[YWPD]

Social Media Marketing is mandatory for an arborist business or a chainsaw repair business or any related business.

1. Everyone who wants to drum up business should minimally have a FB page for their business, not their personal account. Post every job. Look what we're doing on https://www.facebook.com/DaytonaOutdoorPower
2. Google My Business page. Post abilities, area served, hours, office location, photo updates (can be same photos uploaded to FB).
3. Solicit Reviews. GMB and FB have a reviews tab.
4. A YouTube business account should be considered second most important. Record and post about jobs, equipment, ...
5. Instagram is also a great venue. Show off your job site and equipment pix. Have some fun.
6. Pinterest might help for getting women's attention to the quality of your jobs.
7. GET EMAIL ADDRESSES of jobs and job requesters. Send mass email blasts (at least seasonally) via free MailChimp.

 

[Ass]

Referrals: i.e. Offer incentives for referrals, like a finder's fee. Buyers love recommendations from someone they know. This kind of goes along with job/task/business REVIEWS like you can get on Facebook, Google and Yelp. Those are close to a referral but on a less personal 1:1 level. Like @Bob Hedgecutter said, "Word of mouth is your best ever and free advertising."

 

[emily.kennewell]

A professional and user-friendly website is essential in today's digital age. It serves as an online storefront for your arborist business, allowing potential customers to learn about your services, read customer reviews, and contact you easily. Brochures can be distributed at local events or placed in public spaces where potential clients frequent. They should highlight your services, expertise, and contact information. If your budget allows, strategically placed roadside signs or billboards, along with automated data enrichment in your marketing efforts, can attract local customers.
The decision to handle marketing efforts in-house (DIY) or hire professionals, including automated data enrichment tools, depends on your budget, expertise, and time constraints. Some businesses prefer to outsource marketing to experts who can create more polished and targeted campaigns.