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Keep getting landscaping leads in the winter months with these ideas
When most people think about landscaping, images of lush summer greenery come to their minds. For you, as a year-round landscaping business owner, however, things look a little different. You consistently need landscaping leads. If the climate allows, you can work on backyard and patio projects every month of the year, but when it doesn’t, you need to look for ways to combat the off-season drop in clients. Fortunately for you, there are many winter jobs for landscapers that will keep you and your team plenty busy.
This blog is for every landscaping business owner, no matter your experience in the industry. If you are just now starting your business and lack the capital generated from summer projects, surviving your first winter can be extremely tough. Here is what you can do to keep your company profitable in the off-season and have a steady flow of landscaping leads coming your way.
What if you’re thinking of starting a lawn care business in the colder months? You’re right, why wait for next summer when you can start building your company today. We have the answers to that too.
So, landscaping business 101: how to make money when it gets chilly outside? We have all the lead generation tips and tricks you need right here!
The Key to Getting More Landscaping Leads Is Diversification
Brace yourself, finding steady sources of income for your landscaping business during winter doesn’t necessarily mean doing more work, it is about doing different work. You need to be prepared to acquire new skills or build on ones you already have, so you can stay competitive during times when other companies simply shut down or explode with new service offers.
Either way, it is all about meeting the winter needs of clients by leveraging the resources you already have. In most cases, those resources are your team, skills, know-how, and equipment. The list we have compiled below contains easy to apply service ideas to help secure more landscaping leads for your business.
Snow Removal
Think about it. What is the thing many people love about winter, but also the thing that gets them annoyed the most? Yep, it’s snow!
Snow plowing is probably the most typical off-season service that constitutes the majority of winter jobs for landscapers. If you already have the trucks, you just need to add a detachable snowplow to the front, and you’re ready to clear parking lots and driveways from piles and piles of snow. It is a little investment with great returns for you, and it doesn’t require too much training to complete. The essence is in having the right equipment.
When the snow starts falling, businesses and residents all start looking for someone who can get there quickly and plow the snow away. The sooner you start advertising this service, the better. You should take it up with your online advertising agency or the internal team that manages your marketing campaigns, and ask them to add snow removal to your service list. This will not only expand your customer base but it will also bring recurring leads month after month.
Holiday Lights Installation
No matter if people care about having too much snow on their driveway or keeping their landscape well-maintained during the winter, the majority of them love to keep the festive spirit of the winter holidays. So, if they don’t hire you for snow removal, they will surely need your help to put up their Christmas lights. Here is yet another group of prospect landscaping leads you probably didn’t think existed.
Before thinking about all the money you can make on this type of service, you need to make sure you have the proper insurance to cover your team as they will be climbing on ladders and roofs. Installing holiday lights is not as simple as it may sound. It will require your meticulous planning and design skills, but the profit you can make in return is more than worth it.
What is more, the same people who need you to put up holiday lights on their properties will also need help taking them down. Don’t forget to leave them your business card so they can call you for the takedown as well. Or, better yet, offer a combo price for both the installation and the takedown, so you can secure them as return clients. Who said there were no winter jobs for landscapers? Not us!
Plant Trees and Shrubs
As long as there is no ice on the ground, fall and winter are the ideal time to plant trees and bushes. Aside from planting, the off-season is a good time to do other tree-related activities, such as trimming, raking the soil, and planting winter annuals (plants that bloom during the cold months). Landscaping jobs can be incredibly versatile if you add complementary services to your offer.
It’s a good idea to educate your clients on how important it is to think about their landscapes before the snow melts, so when it does, they have a good-looking starting point for the spring and summertime. Educating customers can happen both face-to-face when you are delivering some other service as well as through your online presence. The latter includes the blog page on your website, your social media profiles, newsletters, and more. Leverage the online platforms you have to educate people, so landscaping leads start looking for you, and not only the other way around.
Leaf Removal
Do you know anyone outside of the landscaping business that enjoys raking leaves? Exactly. This is a great opportunity to keep busy in the fall and colder months because leaves won’t stop falling, and there should be someone to pick them up. Of course, not many people go through the trouble of booking just a leaf removal service (unless they have a big garden with many trees), but you can always make it an add-on service to other types of winter maintenance you are offering.
It’s a great idea to advertise bulk services since they bring extra value to property owners. That way, they would be much more likely to book your team for something they wouldn’t normally pay for. This is how you expand your list of landscaping leads. Keep in mind your ads, content, and images need to show the big difference a leaf-free outdoor property can make both to the eye and to the client’s business (for commercial landscaping jobs).
Winter Lawn Fertilization
As a landscaping professional, you know that many of the early winter jobs for landscapers revolve around preparation for the cold season. Before grass experiences the first freeze of the season, it needs to be thoroughly fertilized so the roots of the lawn can be fed all winter long. This is something many homeowners and business property managers may not know, so it is your job to communicate these useful maintenance tips to the clients.
Again, you can use your blog section, social media profiles, and direct communication with clients to “spread the word.”
Drain Sprinklers
Any person with a lawn knows that the irrigation system needs to be shut down once temperatures fall below freezing. It is how sprinklers are preserved and protected from damage due to water freezing. Not many homeowners know how to drain their sprinklers even if they have the user manual right next to them. Make sure to start advertising this service once fall comes, so there is enough time for people to understand the value behind it. Are you beginning to see the full scope of winter jobs available for landscapers who want to keep things profitable in the off-season?
Wrap Protective Burlap Around Trees
Young, weak, and hard-pruned trees need extra protection to survive the winter cold with as little damage as possible. You know this very well, but do your clients know it, too? You have to assume that many of your prospect landscaping leads aren’t as educated about winter landscape maintenance as you. This is why it is imperative to post tips and details about it as soon as fall begins. It will give you enough time for your posts/articles to gain traction and establish your company (through your website and social media) as a knowledgeable source. Make sure to explain the reasoning behind and benefits of wrapping burlap around weak trees.
Other Activities to Generate More Landscaping Leads
In addition to these, you can also handle a wide range of other jobs that don’t require special equipment or new training. Some of these include:
- Lawn fertilization
- Sprinkler draining
- Lawn aeration and dethatching
- Wrapping protective burlap around young trees
- Moving patio furniture
Landscaping Leads in the Off-Season? Mission Possible.
It is true that summer is usually the time for new designs and landscape makeovers, but once complete, the entire landscape needs maintenance and care. This is where your effort to create lasting relationships with clients comes in.
Don’t be shy to call and revisit one-time clients to check if they need your year-round maintenance services. Don’t just wait around for them to find you. If you don’t have a well-made and managed website and online presence, they won’t even know how to reach you! So, if you’re considering starting a lawn care business, or a full-service landscaping one, getting a professional website should be among your top priorities!
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Advertise your business online the right way.
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Instead, be proactive and educate them about the importance of continuous landscape and yard maintenance and let them make the right choice. Also, don’t forget to promote your seasonal services (Christmas lights installation, snow plowing, etc.). As long as people know you are available, they are your prospect landscaping leads!
Managing a small business can be tough, but we hope our suggestions helped. If you are willing to invest more in advertising your winter services or your entire business throughout the year, there are affordable small business advertising options you can benefit from.
