How to Generate More Leads for Your Landscaping Business

Landscaping businesses often struggle to find enough qualified leads due to high competition and limited resources.

A strong lead generation strategy can increase new customers, provide a clear growth plan, and help your business stand out.

Our step-by-step guide will equip you with effective strategies for attracting more landscaping leads and growing your landscaping business efficiently.

1. Get to know your target clients

Before advertising, it's crucial to understand your ideal client and your target audience. Define this group based on factors such as:

• Age and gender

• Education level

• Household income

• Family structure

• Neighborhood

• Project value

If you aim to secure high-value jobs worth over $10,000, your ideal landscaping customer might be a new homeowner needing a comprehensive backyard design for family use.

Alternatively, if you specialize in building structures like decks, patios, and gazebos, your target client could be an empty-nester in a mature neighborhood looking to upgrade their landscape design.

Defining your ideal client and their specific needs will help you craft messages that resonate with them. This targeted approach is essential for your marketing strategy and will help attract high-quality leads.

Aspire’s business management system provides detailed client profiles and analytics, ensuring your landscaping marketing efforts are effectively directed.

2. Set up your landscaping brand

Your branding communicates to potential and new customers who you are, what you offer, and what sets you apart from competitors. Your brand should include:

• A Memorable Name: Choose a landscaping company name that's easy to spell, say, and remember. For example, "GreenScape Solutions" is simple and descriptive.

• Recognizable Logo: Create a landscaping business logo that customers will easily recognize. A logo generator like Looka can help with this. For instance, a logo featuring green leaves or garden tools instantly conveys your business's focus.

• Consistent Visual Identity: Maintain consistent brand colors, patterns, icons, and photos across all marketing materials. This helps create a cohesive and professional look. If you use green and brown tones, ensure these are used consistently on your website, business cards, and social media.

• Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Clearly describe what you do differently from other landscapers. This could be same-day communication, using sustainable materials, or offering custom structure designs like pergolas and water features. For example, "We offer eco-friendly landscaping solutions tailored to your unique needs."

The Marketing Pro integration with Aspire combines landscaper’s CRMs with targeted direct and email campaigns, tracking campaign performance with custom dashboards, ensuring your brand resonates with your target audience and providing visibility into ROI for marketing intiatives.

With your brand established, let's set up your Google Business Profile.

3. Set up your Google Business Profile

Gone are the days of flipping through the Yellow Pages. Today, business directories are online, and the most significant and popular one is Google Business (formerly Google My Business). It's free and incredibly effective for landscapers.

Google Business is an online directory that showcases your business's contact info and details. Creating and optimizing your GMB listing allows you to reach a broad audience and improve your visibility.

For example, if you run "GreenScape Solutions" and create a business page listing, potential clients can easily find you on Google Maps, see your services in search engine results, and read reviews. The average business has 1,009 searches per month, so you can expect increased calls and quote requests from potential lawn care leads.

Here's how to get started:

1. Create Your Google Business Listing: Go to the Google Business website and follow the steps to set up your profile. Include accurate contact information, service areas, and business hours.

2. Optimize Your Listing: Add high-quality photos of your work, regularly post updates, and encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews. Use relevant keywords like "landscaping services" and "lawn care business" in your description.

3. Engage with Customers: Respond promptly to reviews and inquiries. Engaging with customers shows you value their feedback and can boost your ranking.

By optimizing your Google Business profile, you can increase your visibility and attract more leads.

Next, let's explore building a professional landscaping website.

4. Build a landscaping website

A professional website is essential for promoting your services and attracting new leads. Your landscaping website should include:

• Home Page: Clearly state who you are, the areas you serve, and how potential customers can contact you, such as email and phone number. For instance, "GreenScape Solutions—Provides top-notch landscaping services in [Your Area]. Contact us today!"

• Services Description: Detail your services, including seasonal options like snow and ice removal in the winter, or holiday light installation. Make sure to highlight unique services, such as sustainable landscaping or custom garden designs.

• Portfolio: Showcase photos or videos of previous projects to demonstrate your expertise and the quality of your work. High-quality visuals can make a significant impact.

• Social Media Links: Include links to your social media pages to help visitors connect with you and see more examples of your work.

• Customer Testimonials: Display testimonials from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility. For example, "GreenScape Solutions transformed our backyard into an oasis. Highly recommend!"

• Online Quote Request Form: Allow visitors to request quotes or book consultations directly from your website. This convenience can increase your conversion rates.

Aspire’s in-platform client communication capabilities can help you collect, track, and manage new customer requests, estimates, and signed contracts.

A well-designed website effectively showcases your services and makes it easy for potential customers to contact you.

Next, let's discuss the benefits of starting a landscaping blog.

5. Start a landscaping blog

It’s easy to assume your customers won’t read blogs and are only interested in finding the best landscaping companies. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Blogs are part of a content marketing strategy where they educate your customers and nurture them down the sales funnel.

For example, a customer unhappy with their lawn might google search for ‘DIY lawn care tips’, ‘best flowers for spring planting’, or ‘how much does a landscaper charge’. As they read articles on these topics, they realize lawn care is challenging, and hiring a landscaper is the best solution.

Launching a landscaping blog lets you publish online articles to rank on Google and build brand awareness and trust with potential customers. Companies that blog receive 67% more monthly leads, making a landscaping blog a free and effective lead-generating tool.

A website with a landing page, services pages, and contact info only caters to the ‘Decision’ stage. A blog, however, guides customers through their ‘Awareness’ and ‘Consideration’ stages.

Next, let's explore investing in an email marketing campaign.

6. Invest in an email marketing campaign

Email marketing using Aspire’s Marketing Pro integration allows you to connect with past, current, and potential customers from your CRM with targeted campaigns. Here are several ways you can utilize marketing emails:

• Introduce Your Services: Inform new leads about your services and encourage them to purchase. For example, send an email highlighting your seasonal lawn care packages.

• Request Reviews and Referrals: Follow up after a service with a request for a review or referral. A simple "We’d love to hear about your experience!" can go a long way.

• Gather Feedback: Send a survey asking customers about their experience with your business to identify areas for improvement.

• Offer Promotions: Share special promotions, packages, or discounts to entice potential and returning clients.

• Provide Useful Information: Send tips and advice, such as "How to Maintain Stone Walkways" or "Best Practices for Fall Cleanup."

• Reconnect with Old Clients: Remind previous customers about your services, offering exclusive deals to reignite their interest.

Aspire’s Marketing Pro helps create, send, and track these emails efficiently. With Marketing Pro, you can segment your audience, personalize your messages, and automate follow-ups, ensuring your email campaigns are targeted and effective.

Consistent email marketing keeps your business top-of-mind for clients and helps maintain a steady flow of lawn care leads.

Next, let's discuss setting up your social media accounts.

7. Set up your social media accounts

Social media marketing allows you to connect with potential customers, drive traffic to your website, and boost sales. Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn are ideal for reaching your audience where they spend their time online.

Here’s how to get started:

• Create Business Pages: Set up professional profiles on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Ensure your pages have your business name, logo, contact information, and a link to your website.

• Share Engaging Content: Regularly post content that resonates with your audience. Share before-and-after images of your landscaping projects to showcase your work, like a transformation of a client's backyard with a caption highlighting the services provided.

• Customer Testimonials: Share testimonials from satisfied customers. Positive reviews and stories can build trust and encourage new leads. 

• Maintenance Tips: Offer valuable tips for lawn or landscape maintenance. Post seasonal advice, such as "Top 5 Spring Lawn Care Tips" or "How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter."

• Engage with Your Audience: Respond promptly to comments, messages, and reviews. Engagement shows that you value your customers and are attentive to their needs.

Aspire’s social media integration tools can help you schedule posts and track interactions, ensuring consistent and effective communication with your audience. Regular social media activity can significantly enhance your online presence and attract new leads.

Next, let's explore running some paid search ad campaigns.

8. Run paid ad campaigns

No list of lead generation tactics is complete without mentioning Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns. PPC campaigns can be run on various platforms, but we'll focus on the most valuable ones:

• Google Ads

• Facebook Ads

• YouTube Video Ads (run through Google Ads platform)

The primary advantage of running a paid ad campaign versus a free strategy like search engine optimization (SEO) is the precise targeting. With PPC, you can ensure your search ads will reach the exact customers you want to target.

For example, if you specialize in "affordable landscaping solutions," a page on your website might attract visitors from all over the country. 

However, some might live 500 miles away, some might not have the budget, and some might just be browsing out of curiosity. With a PPC campaign, you can target homeowners within a 20-mile radius of your business who are over 45 years old and earn more than $70,000 household income annually.

Google Ads and Facebook Ads allow micro-level targeting, helping you generate high-quality leads. This precise targeting makes your message highly relevant and reduces wasted spend by ensuring your ads appear to those most likely to become customers.

To set up a PPC campaign:

1. Google Ads: Use Google Ads to create search and display ads that appear when users search for relevant keywords. Target specific geographic areas, demographics, and interests.

2. Facebook Ads: Create Facebook Ads to reach potential clients based on detailed demographic and interest criteria. Use compelling visuals and clear calls to action.

3. LinkedIn Ads: For commercial landscaping services, use LinkedIn Ads to target commercial businesses and professionals in your area. LinkedIn ads are expensive, but it is worth trying for more industrial and commercial cleaning contracts.

4. YouTube Video Ads: Create video ads demonstrating your services and expertise. Target specific audiences based on their viewing habits and interests.

Aspire’s marketing analytics can provide insights into ad performance, helping you optimize your campaigns for better ROI. Regularly monitor your ad campaigns and adjust your strategy based on performance data to maximize your investment.

Next, let's explore the benefits of following up with ad retargeting.

9. Follow up with ad retargeting

Did you know that 97% of people who leave a website never return?

Most will still slip away even if you attract site visitors with SEO or paid ads.

Ad retargeting can help you attract returning visitors. It shows ads to people who have visited your website as they browse other sites.

For instance, if someone clicks on your blog about 'luxury landscaping designs' but leaves without requesting a quote, ad retargeting will display banner ads (through the Meta and Google Ad platforms) for your luxury landscaping services on other websites, keeping your business top of mind.

The average customer needs to see your brand seven times before purchasing. Each retargeting ad helps you reach that magic number, reinforcing your brand and increasing the likelihood of conversion.

You’ve likely experienced the power of ad retargeting yourself. If you’ve ever seen ads for a product you recently searched for while browsing your favorite search engine or websites, that’s ad retargeting. It's a proven strategy to re-engage potential customers after they leave your site, ensuring your business stays in their minds.

Next, let's look at creating a customer referral discount program.

10. Create a customer referral discount program

A customer referral program can turn satisfied customers into potential new clients for your landscaping company. 

After completing a job, ask customers to refer your services to family, friends, and neighbors. Offering incentives such as service discounts, upgrades, gift cards, or cash rewards can motivate them to spread the word.

For instance, offer a $25 discount on their next service for each successful referral. This encourages clients to contact friends and family interested in landscaping services, using your existing customer base to generate new leads.

A referral program offers significant benefits:

• Increased Engagement: 81% of customers are more likely to engage with businesses offering referral programs.

• Higher Value: Referred customers have a lifetime value 16% higher than non-referred customers.

This means you bring in more business and attract more profitable clients. By leveraging your current clients, you can efficiently expand your customer base and enhance profitability.

Next, let's discuss the importance of asking for 5-star reviews.

11. Ask for 5-star reviews

A collection of positive reviews can help you build a reputation as a trusted landscaping business and stand out from the competition. Here’s how to effectively gather 5-star reviews:

1. Request Reviews in Person: Ask satisfied customers to leave a review after completing a job. 

2. Follow-up Over the Phone: Call clients after the job is done and request a review. Personal interaction shows you value their feedback.

3. Automate Requests: Once clients have paid their invoice, use Aspire’s automated tools to send review requests via text message.

Here’s why reviews are crucial:

• Build Trust: 82% of people read online reviews for local businesses. Positive reviews assure potential customers that you are reliable and provide quality service.

• Drive Leads: A strong reputation built on positive reviews can attract new clients without additional advertising costs. Potential clients may decide to hire you based solely on your reviews.

• Boost SEO: Reviews contribute to your ranking in Google’s ‘Local 3-Pack’. More positive reviews improve your chances of ranking higher on Google, increasing your local SEO visibility.

• Influence Purchasing Behavior: Online reviews influence nearly all purchasing decisions. If you have testimonials that showcase your expertise with termite issues, then future customers are likely to choose your termite removal solutions.

A strong review request strategy can enhance your online reputation and drive more leads.

Next, let’s discuss networking and partnering with other local businesses.

12. Network and partner with other local businesses

Joining local community associations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, community leagues in your target neighborhoods, and neighborhood Facebook groups, can significantly boost your business. These platforms help you stay updated on community news, identify advertising opportunities, and connect with other business owners.

Here are a few steps to effectively network and partner with local businesses:

• Join Associations: Become a member of local business groups and community organizations. These memberships provide valuable networking opportunities and can help you stay informed about local events and needs.

• Attend Trade Shows: Participate in trade shows and landscaping industry events. Engage with other businesses and discuss how your landscaping services can complement their offerings. You might find valuable partners in related fields like roofing, construction, and home improvement who can refer clients to you.

• Leverage Social Media: Actively participate in neighborhood Facebook groups. Share your expertise, answer questions, and offer tips related to landscaping. This will build your reputation as a local expert and keep your services in mind.

By building strong relationships with other local businesses, you can create a network of referral partners who send leads your way. Collaborations and partnerships can enhance your reach and bring in a steady stream of new clients.

Next, let's explore getting involved in the local community.

13. Get involved in the local community

Customers prefer to support businesses that give back to their communities. You can build a strong reputation and increase visibility by participating in local events and initiatives. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Volunteer at Events: Participate in local fundraisers, holiday celebrations, or community clean-up days. Your presence at these events advertises your landscaping business and shows your commitment to the community.

• Donate Services: If possible, donate your landscaping services to create or maintain community spaces like gardens, parks, or playgrounds. For example, you could offer to design and build a community garden that residents can enjoy year-round. This not only showcases your skills but also contributes positively to the neighborhood.

• Sponsor Local Initiatives: Consider sponsoring local sports teams, school events, or other community programs. Your business name on jerseys, banners, or event flyers helps keep your brand in front of potential customers.

For instance, if "GreenScape Solutions" sponsors a local youth soccer team, it demonstrates community support while promoting your business to area families.

By engaging in these activities, you foster goodwill and create lasting relationships within your community, which can lead to increased referrals and customer loyalty.

Next, let’s focus on creating a sustainable long-term strategy.

14. Create a sustainable long-term strategy

Landscaping businesses often face seasonality, with fluctuating demand throughout the year. Adapting your lead generation strategies to these seasonal changes is crucial to maintaining a steady flow of leads.

For example, promote your core landscaping services during peak seasons like spring and summer for offering mowing services. In off-peak times, highlight services such as winter yard maintenance or pre-season planning.

Turning leads into landscaping contracts is an ongoing process.

Stay adaptable by regularly reviewing and adjusting your digital marketing strategies based on market trends and seasonal demand. This flexibility ensures a continuous influx of potential customers needing your lawn care services, leading to sustainable growth for your business.

Next, let's summarize the key ways to grow your landscaping business and include a strong call to action.

Find new ways to grow your landscaping business

Following these steps can effectively generate more leads and grow your landscaping business.

To help your business grow, you can use Aspire’s robust features to streamline operations, make informed decisions, and achieve your business goals.

Aspire is the only end-to-end business management system for landscaping businesses that provides visibility into their operations. With real-time data accessible via custom reports and dashboards and accurate, immediate job costing, landscaping businesses can make timely, informed decisions that dramatically improve sales, productivity, accountability, and profits.

Ready to transform your landscaping business?

Book a demo with Aspire today and see how our end-to-end business management system can help you build lasting success through ongoing growth.