7 Ways to Get your Lawn Care Clients to Refer You

Owning your own business means building your own brand following, and one of the best ways to do this is through client referrals.

When your crew does a good job, your client’s opinion means a lot to potential future clients looking for similar work. The modern consumer is always researching the best and most affordable services, and yours is more likely to come up in searches and by word of mouth if you have a good reputation.

At Arborgold, we work with field businesses across North American, helping landscaping companies and snow removal businesses streamline operations, marketing, and billing with our software. Over the years we have learned a few things about what customers are looking for. Here are 7 tips to help you get more client referrals.

1. Having Positive Reviews

When a consumer starts researching businesses they are interested in, one of the first places they look is the internet. Your online reviews could be the first impression you leave on someone, even before you’ve spoken to them as a business owner.

A great tool for reviews is Google My Business. Google My Business allows you to interact with your customers online through the Google platform. Here you can create a business profile and manage your reputation online. Benefits of Google My Business include:

• No cost
• Accessibility for customers
• Analytics
• Local listings

Achieving positive online reviews isn’t as complex as it seems. When you work with a customer and they have a positive experience, ask them to leave a review. When you receive a review, be sure to engage and thank your customer through the Google My Business app.

2. Offering Upsells They Want

A good business owner can read what a client needs based on previous services. When you curate your upsells be sure to individualize them for your current client base. Your automation software can help you determine which customers would benefit from which products and send e-mail offers based on those details.

Customers are more likely to refer you to friends and family if they feel like you are an authority on your industry. Your brand looks more in the know when the upsells you offer are in tune with your customer’s needs, rather than appearing to be a money grab. The modern consumer wants to feel valued by the companies they frequent.

3. Competitive Pricing

Money isn’t everything, but it makes an impact. When a client is considering who to refer to friends and family for a job, the cost of the job may play an important role in the referral.

You can monitor your market, by checking rates on similar services from local businesses like yours. If your prices are higher, it might be time to reconsider your pricing structure. Competitive prices will keep you in the running.

You can also compete with local competitors by offering first-time customers special offers and discounts. This creates competitive pricing for newcomers, while you continue to earn standard income from regular clients.

4. Providing Top-Notch Services

It should go without saying, but the best way to get client reviews on your business is to deliver the best services at every encounter. No client wants to refer a business that does a subpar job, especially if they are referring to a loved one.

You can ensure your services are consistently great by:

• Providing in-house training for your team.
• Hiring a customer service rep.
• Following up with your customers post-service.
• Being prepared at every worksite.
• Setting achievable goals so deadlines are met on time.

Providing high-quality services will not only impact your references but your reputation among other businesses and around town.

5. Implement Referral Rewards

More businesses are implementing a referral reward strategy to increase customer engagement, reviews, and referrals. Rewards can range from a free service to a discounted product to a gift card.

The key to ROI on referral rewards is to engage a success strategy with each reward. Before a customer can receive a reward for a referral, the referred customer must book a service, or at least engage in a consultation or request a quote. This results in a win/win situation for everybody.

You can combine a referral program with a customer loyalty program to gain points with current clients while you build brand loyalty and increase the chance of referral with new clients.

6. Being on Time

Punctuality is huge in any field-based business structure. Your customers are planning their day around your arrival and completion of a project. In some cases, your clients may be waiting for you to finish a job so they can begin other work on their property.

You can improve your time management skills by:

• Planning ahead
• Mapping your route
• Posting schedules in advance
• Keeping tabs on inventory so you have the appropriate equipment ready
• Communicating with your client when there are delays

Much of your organization can be accomplished with field-business software.

7. Being Organized with a Software System

Software is a huge help for field businesses looking to get organized. Arborgold field-business software is designed for companies like yours to manage:

• Proposals and estimates
• Billing and invoices
• Emails, calls, and communication
• Marketing and automation
• Time tracking with GPS
• Supply management
• CRM

Our all-in-one business management tool lets you follow your crew wherever they go, stay in constant communication, manage inventory, send invoices, and develop proposals from anywhere with an internet connection.

Staying organized with specialized software keeps you punctual, prepared, and focused. With less room for mistakes, you are more likely to make a good impression and have your crew perform at their best. Good work leads to good reviews and referrals.

Take a Tour with Arborgold

From landscaping and lawn care to snow removal and pest control, whatever your crew is doing in the field, Arborgold can help you track progress, check inventory, send invoices, and more. For more information on Arborgold’s field-business software, we invite you to take a tour.