| The biggest mistake contractors make when | | | | |
| marketing their business is they try to "re-invent | | | | 1. Word of mouth referrals by friends, family and |
| the wheel"! | | | | work place colleagues - new start up contractors |
| Contractors need to appreciate that as they are | | | | should email every one on their list of contacts, |
| in business their first responsibility is to promote | | | | send letters to others and so on |
| and sell their services. However, their initial training | | | | 2. Get a very basic Business Card designed and |
| in the industry may have only taught them the | | | | printed - 1,000 to start handing out every where |
| skills to care for lawn and gardens. Marketing, | | | | you meet people |
| sadly, is not a skill that is easily learned, taught or | | | | 3. Letterheads, flyers can be produced |
| acquired by people in the Lawn and Gardening | | | | inexpensively using your own computer and |
| Industry. | | | | printer |
| Having said all that: Marketing techniques and | | | | 4. Website - only if you can do for little cost - it is |
| tactics used in the Industry are pretty similar and | | | | not a priority to start immediately |
| nothing out of the ordinary. The less experienced | | | | 5. Motor Vehicle signage - once again just go with |
| operators in the Industry can rely on the following | | | | very basic design for a pair of magnetic signs |
| list of marketing tools to help them acquire new | | | | 6. |
| customers quickly and inexpensively: | | | | |