Kelly, over at StartUpPrincess suggests using local press releases. While there are plenty of online sites that send out press releases all over the place, you’re better off sending it directly to your local paper. In my case, I would send something to the town weekly paper that is delivered to every home for free, the county paper and several local religious newspapers.
I’ll write up a list of resources and a “how to” for writing press releases this weekend. In the meantime, take a look at PR Web, Pr Newswire, and PR Leap. While they may be best for companies seeking a large audience, there
#1 by Chris N. at October 18th, 2006
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Here’s another idea when submitting to newspapers. Work out a deal where you provide “content” in the form of a “how to take care of your lawn” series. This could be written weekly, or so.
The newspaper loves you because you are providing content that fills a space that often goes unused. The readers love you because they are getting great lawn care tips on a weekly basis. Finally you benefit from the free advertising as you are now seen as the local expert and “go to” guy when it comes to law care.
#2 by John Seiffer - Business Coach at October 18th, 2006
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I used to have a client that was a lawn chemical company – they were large (about 10 trucks, 20 employees) poorly managed and in debt and didn’t have the cash flow to keep me on till we solved their problems. But I got a feel for the business model.
Since I just found your blog, I’ll post here even though my comments are about more than PR. But speaking of press releases keep this in mind: Landscaping is a local business. It will never be outsourced to India! Hence all the internet press is “wasted” in the sense that most of the people who see it couldn’t hire you if they wanted to. The good news is it doesn’t cost much.
You might do better with press releases to your local paper – many carry articles about any new business that starts up. Others carry articles about businesses with a special twist if yours has one. Shocking as it may sound some are more favorable to doing an article if you advertise.
What’s missing from this blog so far is a discussion of your market. I don’t know where you’re located or what kind of clientelle you’re serving. People in an upscale neighborhood where impressing folks is important are served differently than ones in an area where organics and chemical-free lawns are important. Places with smaller lawns are sold and serviced differently from places with huge spreads.
All this affects your business model (what services you offer and at what price and how you ramp up to offer those services). This brings up your question of why you don’t see people offering weekly mowing and chemical services and pruning etc in the same company. I don’t know the answer but I do know the questions to ask. When something is as common as that I suspect there is a valid reason and it probably has to do with business models.
Feel free to email me through my blog – http://www.TheSmallBusinessCoach.com
- JOHN