Jan 17th, 2022 | BY SCOTT MOLCHAN
A Short Story
When I was young, my father always took me to help with his landscaping business. Like any landscaper's son, my dad will teach me how to do his work and show me everything from working on the field to running a successful landscaping business.
Oftentimes, while we are on the truck, my dad will stop by and chat with people. It amazes me that it seems that wherever we go, there is someone who knows him. And even if he doesn't know someone, he will still talk with them. He loves talking to strangers.
I always get bored and think that we are just wasting time. In my mind, I was like, "Come on, Dad. We have more stuff to do."
Until, at some point, our landscaping business gets slow. We have little work.
But, I saw my father picking up his phone, making a few phone calls and voila - we got work!
That's the moment when I realized the importance of what he was doing - NETWORKING. I guess if he didn't talk to people, introduce our business to neighborhoods, colleagues, and friends, we would struggle to get leads and keep up with our revenue.
NETWORKING TIPS
Whether you are new to the landscaping business or you've already established a name in the industry, networking is still important. In fact, you should never stop networking.
Get out and visit your neighborhood. Don't be shy about talking with them. Start with someone you know. The more people who recognize you, the higher chances that they will likely recommend you to someone who needs your services.
Reach out to your friends and relatives. You can also offer discounts if you do landscaping work for them. This helps you build awareness and reach more people. Their neighbors may see your work and want your service too or your friends' friends show future interest.
2. Network with organizations you are in.
Do you belong to any social clubs? Network and get your voice heard by people there. My father networks with our church and country clubs. He also attends charity events, school events, and various organizations.
This allows him to spread the word and get more people into our business. You can also join other relevant organizations like gardening and pool clubs and meet more people. Making friends and getting your name out there puts your business at a big advantage.
3. Network With your competitors.
You may be surprised by this tip, but it actually works. Talk to your competitors about your services and what you do. Chances are they may have leads or jobs that they are not comfortable doing and may pass the customer to you. For example, they don't specialize in pond work and a potential client reaches out to them and if you do pond work, they will refer the person to you. It's vice-versa, so it's a win-win situation.
Bonus Tip:
When you go out networking, bear in mind that you are not there doing your sales pitch all the time. Also, networking is not just about giving out flyers and business cards. Networking is about building friendships and relationships. Focus on giving value and educational information, not on selling. The more you do it, the more naturally the customers will come.
Got any questions about running a successful landscaping business? Send us a message at info@milliondollarlandscaper.com
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