9 Sales Promotion Ideas for Your Landscaping & Gardening Business

The competition in the landscaping industry is fierce. If you’re tired of being undercut by the other guy, you are going to have to get creative with sales outreach and promotions. Fortunately, the Internet makes that easier than you might realize. Promotions are all about catering to the audience, and in the world of landscaping and gardening, that’s often relying heavily on local optimization and visibility efforts. 

Of course, there are plenty of ways to use promotional marketing and the Internet to build your client base in the landscaping and gardening industry. It’s about getting creative and getting the basics down so that you can leave a lasting impression. 

1. Off-season specials

Here’s a simple way to drum up some extra business. Try to find ways to offer specials and deals during the off-season. For example, you might give people a discount on landscaping jobs booked in December that will be done in the spring to reward people for planning. Perhaps you’ll run some other type of promotion or deal for your customers, but however you do it, make sure that it adds value and gets them thinking about their future relationship with your landscaping or gardening business. 

2. Trade shows and local events

Local garden shows, home expos, and other events are a great place to market your business that might be untapped. Do some research to see what’s going on locally throughout the year, as well as what types of events there are across the country. There are so many ways you can promote your business, including local events and special occasions where they need sponsors or advertisers. In any case, you’ll be set up to attract the perfect audience and even network professionally to build your audience of peers and partners. 

3. Direct mail campaigns 

Even though technology is changing the way that we handle marketing, direct mail isn’t dead. When used correctly and creatively, direct mail campaigns can revolutionize your landscaping business. You can send “welcome” flyers to those new to the area, or even just create some discounts and specials to offer on a large postcard to capture people’s attention. However you do it, do it well and it will show. 

4. Use social media to show off 

Part of your social media strategy needs to include using the images and stories to promote your work. In addition to your website portfolio, take to social media and showcase your previous work, any jobs that you’re especially proud of, and so forth. You can even choose the ones where customers were blown away by the results or skeptical at first to help convince people who are on the fence. 

5. Take advantage of word-of-mouth

Word-of-mouth is still going to be one of your most valuable assets. Especially in this industry, getting people to talk can help you grow without much effort on your part. Offer specials, discounts, or premium services for people who refer friends. You can even offer an incentive for both parties to sweeten the deal. While it’s nice to get these leads organically, sometimes you’ll want to get them faster and that’s where an incentive program can come in handy. 

Consider giving people a discount for referrals, or even offering ongoing services at a lower cost. Perhaps you’ll want to give both parties a free service along with their next landscaping job to show your appreciation. Whatever it is, make it worthwhile for your audience. 

6. Make sure that you’re on local listings

In this industry, making sure that you get the local listings is a must. Business directories, online profiles, and things like your Google My Business page need to be properly set up and put into place. You can’t expect your local audience to find you organically if you’re not using these directories or focusing on local keywords. Speaking of local keywords, don’t stress—usually, it’s just a matter of adding a city, state, or region to your keywords to enhance them for local search. 

7. Have a mobile-friendly website

Not only do you need to have a website, but you need to make sure that it’s functional, updated regularly, and full of resources for your audience. It should also be mobile-friendly so that people can find you on the go. The majority of people search for professional services on their phones these days, so if you’re not easily found, you’re not going to get their attention or get the business you deserve.  

8. Offer discounts for bundles or contracts

If you provide an array of services, it’s a great promotional idea to offer discounts and bundles to your clients to help promote your business and give people what they deserve. Some of the best landscaping and gardening companies, and businesses in general, are the ones that offer discounts for ongoing contracts, bundles, and other situations. 

You don’t have to give away the business, by any means. Even a simple 20% off coupon here or there could go a lot further than you think. In landscaping, it’s often advantageous to lock people into contracts, so offering an incentive there can help, too. 

9. Partner with Smith.ai for outbound sales assistance, outreach campaigns, and more

You’ll also want to make sure that you have systems in place to handle the new leads that these promotions and marketing efforts will generate, including a 24/7 answering service to ensure that you never miss another lead or opportunity. But that’s not all—when you partner with Smith.ai, we’ll have outsourced sales teams ready to help with outreach campaigns and promotions to get the word out in the first place. 

In addition to handling outbound sales and support, we can also handle text messaging and live website chat, along with helping you master lead intake and qualification. Plus, our team can assist with appointment scheduling and so much more. 

To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss what the 24/7 virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can do for your landscaping business. You can also find us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.