A Competitor Is Targeting My Clients/Area. What Would You Do?
So what would you do if you competitor in the town placed a big 3x3ft sign for their painting company in between the two houses that I’ve painted on my office road? I feel disrespected. I’ve done all my due diligence and I’ve paid all my dues to this town in my community. He’s not from here. What do I need to do to ignore it or mediate this situation? I am just beginning my business and he has been in business for a few years. I feel like he is trying to commit espionage… he also hired an old friend from my past Self, that could potentially harm the repetition of who I am now..What Marketing Actually Works for Outdoor Service Businesses During Slow Seasons?
I run a small land clearing/brush clearing business in Ohio, and with how wet it’s been in our area lately, things are starting to slow down a bit. I’m trying to be proactive and focus on marketing so I can keep work coming in and continue growing the business. For those of you who’ve been in a similar spot, what marketing has actually worked best for you to bring in more customers and keep jobs lined up? Facebook ads, Google ads, yard signs, referrals, local networking, something else? I’d especially love to hear what’s worked well for seasonal or outdoor service businesses when weather starts affecting the schedule. Appreciate any advice or ideas you’re willing to share.Dial In Your SEO without an Agency
Hey team! i wanted to share a really good episode of the Waste No Day podcast. I just listened to it today and it had some really good tips on what things are important, things you can do, etc to organically strengthen your google business profile. One thing I learned that's it's ok to have an agency but you want to approach them after you already have the basics covered. If you try to completely hand off your marketing, you are asking for disappointment. When you take responsibility for this part of your business, you will understand how to measure success with an agency, and the value they provide will be like putting gas on the fire instead of trying to start the fire. Check this episode out, it's definitely worth the hour. Waste No Day Podcast - Lorne SederoffWhy Is It So Hard to Get Your Business Verified on Google Business Profile?
So....I have been trying to get "validated" by Google for about 2.5 years now and I dont understand why I need to and why it isn't easier. I own a Junk Removal company and Google is sending me through the ringer! PLEASE TELL ME IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS? Does anyone have insight on what to do? Thanks in advance, Hannah, DriveBy Junk Removal, Ltd.How Often Should Home Service Businesses Market to Their Existing Customers?
I recently started a discussion asking: "What's one Jobber feature you wish you had started using sooner?" One response really stood out to me. The member mentioned that while many businesses use Jobber to manage jobs, schedules, quotes, and invoices, one feature that often gets overlooked is the Marketing Suite. The point they made was simple but powerful: Many of us do a great job serving customers, but we don't always stay connected with them after the work is done. Instead of only reaching out when it's time to sell something, sending regular educational emails and staying active on social media helps keep your business top of mind. When customers eventually need your services again, or know someone who does they're much more likely to remember you. They also shared that Jobber's upcoming Marketing Calendar will make planning emails and social posts much easier, especially for teams that collaborate on marketing. It got me thinking, How many of us already have a list of past customers but rarely communicate with them? A simple monthly email with seasonal tips, maintenance reminders, or homeowner advice could be enough to keep those relationships alive. I'm curious: How often do you market to your existing customers, and what's worked best for you? I'd love to hear what others are doing.How I Create a Landscape Design, 2D Plan, and 3D Rendering Before Leaving the Client's Driveway
To close premium landscape deals on the spot, I use a fast, mobile-and-AI workflow that visualizes the final project before leaving the client's yard. Here's my method, and links to the programs I click on. Map I walk the property with Cam to Plan to instantly generate an accurate 2D layout using augmented reality. Sketch I drop that map into Procreate on my iPad with my Apple Pencil and start listening and observing. As the client shares their vision and seatbacks, I sketch design layers and notes directly over the map layout to build instant trust. This part is where you really design. You're listening to the client and creating solutions based on your breadth of knowlege and your uncanny talent to see the past, present, and future by looking at a plot of dirt. That part is 100% you. It’s about this point that I go sit in the client's driveway for 10 minutes and hash out my design, and when I’m getting close, I turn to AI. Polish I run that rough sketch through my own app that I spent months developing (not a developer) called PlotTwist: GrowingShade, created with Opal. It instantly transforms hand-drawn sketch into a clean 2D landscape plan with legible text, improved symbols, and architectural shading. It’s my design, but presentation ready. I use these glow ups in website and social media posts. Close PlotTwist 3D, another of my Opal apps overlays that finished 2D plan directly onto the original photos of the client's yard. Seeing a realistic 3D concept of their future space layered onto their actual home creates an immediate emotional connection that closes the deal. You do want to emphasize that it is conceptual, because this app isn't as accurate at the previous. Now you know all my secrets! Comment below on the programs and apps that you use! -La Madrina
Do handwritten thank you notes still make a difference?
Random thought: Have handwritten thank you notes become a thing of the past? In a world of emails, texts, and automated follow ups, I wonder if a simple handwritten note stands out more today than it did 20 years ago. Do any of you send them to customers, employees, referral partners, or vendors? If so, have you seen an impact? Curious to hear what others are doing and whether personal touches like this still move the needle.Networking ahead of our launch – looking to connect with builders and GCs
Hey everyone, I am currently in the pre-launch phase of setting up a specialized spray foam insulation business out here in Nebraska. Once fully operational, my son and I will be running the company together. Right now, we are doing all the groundwork behind the scenes—working with our business advisors and securing our physical infrastructure so we can open up the right way. We are an SBA-certified SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business), and since we are mapping out our launch schedule in advance, I want to use this time to network and build direct relationships with general contractors, builders, and concrete crews in our region. When we go live, we will be handling specialized foam work from standard residential envelopes down to subgrade foundation prep before concrete pours. Because we focus strictly on the insulation scope, we will always be in a position to pass framing, building, and concrete leads over to the right people. I am looking to connect early with reliable pros who want to share local leads and have a go-to insulation sub they can depend on down the road. Drop a comment or send me a direct message so we can swap info and connect ahead of time.How much free advice is too much before you ask for a paid visit?
Got a call today from someone on an acreage outside of town. They accidentally Roundup'd two acres of grass. All of it. We talked through it on the phone. I was honest — there's no cheap fix for this, free seed isn't going to cut it, this is a full restoration. I suggested a paid site visit as the next step. But after I hung up I started wondering — did I give too much away for free? Enough that they'll try to handle it themselves and never call back? Or was being upfront the right move to build trust and set realistic expectations? As a solo operator my time is valuable. I don't drive around to do free estimates anymore, but I also don't want to be the guy who won't answer a basic question without charging for it. Where do you draw the line between being helpful on the phone and protecting your time with a paid visit?
