Growing landscape business in Baldwin and Mobile (purchasing, company, economy)

[TURFNSCAPE]

I am trying to grow my business in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. As a consumer how would you prefer to hear of a new business? Postcard mailers, email distributions, billboards, local paper, etc. Both Mobile and Baldwin Counties are growing rather quickly, and I would like to expand my business into these beautiful areas within this less than desirable economy.

[PortCity]

All but E-mail.

[TURFNSCAPE]

Thank's PortCity, I don't care for the email either. Although I am worried many people trash postcards before even reading them. I am guilty of it myself, but I do try to atleast read them now that I know a business is attempting to spread the word.

Any other opinions?

[tortoise]

Online resources:
Website . . images are worth a thousand words . . videos exponentially more. For a short print media URL, use a redirect like Snurl or TinyURL (http://tinyurl.com/ - broken link).
Craigslist services posting . . for a more professional looking ad, utilize Postlets or vFlyer. To avoid looking like a nuisance spammer, delete previous ad before reposting (maybe once a week).
Submit your website to Google and Yahoo.
Some TV station websites offer free classifieds.

Pass-It-On . . resurrect this thread in a few months and let others know which resources were most effective.

[GeminiGal]

Originally Posted by PortCity

All but E-mail.

don't forget ... the piece of paper & a small rock in a baggie tossed in the driveway.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by GeminiGal

don't forget ... the piece of paper & a small rock in a baggie tossed in the driveway.

Actually, if you think of it as lawn "trimming" that could be effective as a one time gag intro. Buy a bunch of dollar store scissors, and have the ad relate to rock, paper, scissors. A marketing company would charge a few thou for that type of creative advice. I can think of a few lines of text that would be humorous, memorable, and get the point across. Sorry though, that type of stuff I don't do for free.

One aspect that would strongly influence me, if I was in the market, would be that the trailer have facilities to pressure wash out the decks, wheels, and equipment to prevent the spread of diseases and pest plants. Prior to leaving, the equipment would be pressure washed and sanitized with a little bleach, while over a storm drain. I've seen too many dirty guys riding around on dirty equipment.

[Carrie Blackford]

Are you looking to expand your business by purchasing another landscape company in your area? My company has a very succesful landscape business that they are selling due to the retirement of the owner. Let me know if that is something you are interested in.