Ultimate Guide to Marketing for Landscapers
Introduction
Marketing for landscapers isn’t just a task—it’s the backbone of growing your business. A great landscaping website is not a silver bullet! Over the past few years, we’ve helped home-service businesses generate over 3,000 leads. From small family-owned landscaping companies to established teams looking to scale, we’ve been in the trenches, and seen what works and what doesn't.
Here’s the thing: marketing isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s about building consistent habits and creating systems that work for you, even when you’re busy running your day-to-day operations. That’s why this guide is different—it’s not a quick-fix approach. It’s your roadmap to sustainable growth.
Bookmark this page. Seriously. Great marketing isn’t about learning new things constantly, but rather doing simple things exceptionally well...and if you want more tactical marketing ideas for landscapers consider reading "7 Marketing Ideas for Landscapers to Grow Your Business Fast".
From building a solid foundation with branding and Local SEO to scaling your business with advanced strategies, we’ll walk you through every step.
Let’s turn your marketing from a hassle into your biggest asset.
Ready to get started? Let’s dig in.
Marketing for Landscapers: Understanding Common Challenges
Running a landscaping business is tough enough without adding marketing to your plate. Between managing jobs, handling clients, and keeping operations smooth, finding time to promote your business can feel impossible. Add in the challenges of seasonality, local competition, and tight budgets, and it’s no wonder marketing often gets pushed to the back burner.
The good news? You don’t need to do everything at once. The best approach isn’t to dive headfirst into every platform and strategy—it’s to be deliberate and strategic about how you implement marketing. A consistent, focused effort over time always wins out over trying to do too much too quickly.
Start by dedicating a specific time to marketing each day.
It could be 30 minutes every morning or at the end of the day when things quiet down. Even better, weave marketing into your workflow.
For example, after completing a job, snap some photos for your website or ask a happy client for a quick review. Small, consistent actions like these build momentum without overwhelming your schedule.
The key is to make marketing part of your routine, just like any other aspect of running your business. With the right habits, you’ll start seeing results without feeling like marketing is taking over your day.
Building a Strong Foundation for Marketing Success: Branding and Online Presence
Branding is more than just a name or a logo—it’s what people think and feel about your business. It’s the reputation you build and the trust you earn. When clients think of your landscaping services, does your name bring a smile to their face? That’s the goal: to make your brand a positive experience that sticks in their minds.
Define What You Are About First
Before you design a logo or pick your colors, think about what your business stands for. Are you the go-to team for elegant, high-end projects? Or maybe you’re all about affordable, practical solutions for everyday homeowners. Once you’re clear on what makes you unique, you can create a name, logo, and colors that reflect that. A business focused on luxury might have sleek branding, while a family-friendly company could use warm, welcoming colors.
Reflect Your Branding Across All Digital and Physical Assets
Your brand should look the same everywhere—on yard signs, trucks, ads, websites, and even your Google Business Profile. Consistency builds recognition and trust. If someone sees your logo on a truck and then visits your website, it should feel like the same business. This also applies to your team’s uniforms, business cards, and any other materials. The more cohesive your branding, the more professional your business looks.
Reviews Are King in the Online World
Your reputation and your brand go hand in hand. A strong brand is built on a strong reputation, and online reviews are how that reputation is perceived. When someone searches for landscapers in your area, those stars next to your name mean everything.
Positive reviews show potential clients that you deliver excellent results and are trusted by others in your community. Make asking for reviews part of your workflow. The more positive feedback you collect, the more confidence new clients will have in choosing you.
Essential Digital Marketing for Landscapers
Start Small: Master One Channel Before Expanding
Trying to market your business everywhere at once is like trying to mow five lawns at the same time—it’s not going to work. Instead, pick one channel that makes the most sense for your business and focus on it. Whether it’s optimizing your website, building your Google Business Profile, or running a simple Facebook page, consistency is key.
The goal here is to learn what works for your business without spreading yourself too thin. Once you’ve created a system that runs smoothly—like regularly posting updates or generating client reviews—you can pass it off to someone else (a team member or freelancer) and move on to the next channel.
Begin with Local SEO to Build a Strong Foundation
If you’re starting anywhere, start here. Local SEO is the simplest, most cost-effective way to get your landscaping business in front of nearby clients. It’s all about showing up when people search for services in your area.
Here’s how to get started:
- Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile: Make sure your information is accurate, upload high-quality photos of your work, and keep it updated. Link: Set up your Business Profile on Google
- Collect Reviews Consistently: Encourage every happy client to leave a review. A steady stream of glowing feedback helps you climb search rankings and builds trust.
- Add Location Pages to Your Website: If you serve multiple areas, create pages on your site dedicated to each location to help people (and search engines) find you.
Local SEO is like planting seeds for your business. The more effort you put in, the more it grows over time.
Expand to Paid Advertising or Email Marketing Once SEO is Established
When your Local SEO is bringing in steady traffic and leads, it’s time to scale. Paid advertising and email marketing are great next steps, but they work best when layered on top of a solid foundation.
Here’s how to approach it using the "More, Better, New" framework from Alex Hormozi:
- More: If something is working—like a successful Google Ads campaign or a Facebook ad that’s generating leads—do more of it. Increase the budget, run it for longer, or expand the audience to capture even more results.
- Better: Once you’ve maxed out “more,” improve the campaign. Test different ad designs, refine your targeting, or adjust the copy to increase conversions.
- New: When you’ve exhausted what’s possible with one strategy, add a new channel. If you’ve nailed Google Ads, try Facebook Ads. If email follow-ups are driving repeat business, consider texting campaigns for quicker responses.
This step-by-step approach ensures you’re getting the most out of every channel before moving on to the next. It’s not about doing everything—it’s about doing what works, and then doing it better.
FREE Course: Need to bring your knowledge of lead generation to the next level, watch the 100M Lead course by Alex Hormozi here.
Advanced Marketing for Landscapers
Once your landscaping business has a steady flow of leads and reliable systems in place, it’s time to take things to the next level. Advanced marketing strategies can help you scale, stand out, and maximize profits. Here’s how to level up your efforts.
Niche Down to Focus on Your Top Clients
As your business grows, you earn the luxury of being selective about the clients and jobs you take on. Instead of trying to serve everyone, focus on your top 20%—the clients who are most profitable, enjoyable to work with, and located close to your service area.
Niching down allows you to:
- Specialize: Offer tailored services that let you stand out from competitors.
- Charge More: Position yourself as a premium provider for specific projects.
- Simplify Operations: Spend less time on jobs that aren’t worth the effort, freeing up resources for higher-value clients.
For example, if you love working on high-end outdoor living spaces, market yourself as the go-to expert for patios, fire pits, and luxury landscaping. Your marketing efforts will be sharper, and you’ll attract the type of clients you truly enjoy working with.
Build a Customer Referral Program That Works
Your happy clients can be your best marketing team. A well-designed referral program encourages them to spread the word about your business while rewarding their loyalty.
Here’s how to create a referral program:
- Offer an Incentive: Provide a discount, gift card, or small free service (like a garden tune-up) for each referral that turns into a client.
- Make It Easy: Give clients simple tools like a referral card or a personalized link to share with friends and neighbors.
- Promote It Everywhere: Highlight your referral program on your website, invoices, and follow-up emails.
Referrals not only bring in new clients but also help you build stronger relationships with existing ones.
Network with Local Realtors and Businesses
Building connections with local realtors and complementary businesses can unlock a steady flow of high-quality leads. Realtors often work with clients who are preparing homes for sale or sprucing up newly purchased properties, making them great partners for landscapers.
To get started:
- Reach Out: Introduce yourself to local realtors and offer to be their go-to landscaper.
- Collaborate: Offer a discount or special service for clients referred by the realtor.
- Expand Your Network: Connect with other businesses like home improvement contractors, garden centers, and pool builders for cross-referrals.
The more relationships you build, the more opportunities you’ll create for consistent business.
Use Professional Photography and Videos to Showcase Your Work
Your landscaping projects create stunning transformations that deserve to be shown off. High-quality photos and videos let you capture every detail of your hard work, making it easy for potential clients to see the value you bring. But here’s the thing: this isn’t the time to cut corners. To get the most out of your efforts, you need visuals that do your work justice.
You’ve got three options:
- Invest in Equipment and Learn the Skill: If you’re passionate about photography or video, consider buying professional-grade equipment and dedicating time to learning the craft. There are plenty of online tutorials to help you get started.
- Train Someone on Your Team: Identify a team member who has an eye for detail and the interest to learn. Equip them with the tools and training they need to document your work.
- Hire a Specialist: The simplest option? Bring in a professional. A skilled photographer or videographer knows how to make your projects shine, saving you time and effort while delivering impressive results.
High-quality visuals are a powerful marketing tool.
They can:
- Highlight Your Expertise: Show potential clients exactly what you’re capable of.
- Increase Conversions: Beautiful photos and videos make it easier for prospects to trust your work and choose you over competitors.
- Extend Your Reach: Compelling visuals get shared more often online, amplifying your marketing efforts.
Your work produces stunning results—don’t let that go to waste. Invest in professional visuals to capture the full impact of your projects and squeeze every last drop of juice out of your hard work.
Content Marketing for Landscapers
Content marketing isn’t about overwhelming your audience with words—it’s about showing them why your landscaping services are the perfect fit for their needs. For landscapers, nothing speaks louder than stunning visuals and compelling stories. Let’s dive into two powerful ways to make your content work for you.
Showcase Your Work with a "Projects" Page
A "Projects" page on your website is a game-changer. It’s where potential clients can see your skills in action, from beautifully trimmed hedges to full backyard makeovers. This page isn’t just a portfolio; it’s a chance to tell the story behind each transformation.
Why it matters:
- Builds Trust: People want to see proof of what you can do. Before-and-after photos show the real impact of your work.
- Improves SEO: Each project page can link to your service areas and keywords, boosting your visibility in local searches.
- Drives Conversions: When prospects see your results, they’re more likely to pick up the phone or fill out your contact form.
If you’re ready to elevate your website and boost your SEO, check out this landscaping SEO guide for expert tips and strategies.
Focus on Visual Storytelling to Attract and Convert Clients
Landscaping is visual by nature, and storytelling can turn those visuals into an emotional connection. People don’t just want to see what you did—they want to imagine how their own yard could look. By combining images and words, you can take your audience on a journey they can’t resist.
How to nail it:
- Use Before-and-After Shots: These are irresistible. Show the problem, the process, and the polished result.
- Write a Short Narrative: Add a few sentences about the client’s goal, the challenges you solved, and how they felt about the final outcome.
- Showcase Your Unique Touch: Highlight the extra details or special features that make your work stand out.
Post these stories on your "Projects" page, share them on social media, and use them in email marketing. Not only will you attract more clients, but you’ll also build a stronger emotional connection with your audience.
Tracking Marketing ROI for Landscapers: Measure, Analyze, Improve
Marketing isn’t just about getting your name out there—it’s about understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how to get the most return for your effort and money. To do that, you need to track your results. Here’s how landscapers can measure and analyze their marketing success to keep improving.
Work with a Web Design Company to Set Up Tracking
Your website is the hub of your marketing efforts, so it needs to be set up to collect valuable data. A professional web design company can integrate tools like Google Analytics, conversion tracking, and lead forms that show exactly where your traffic and leads are coming from.
Why this matters:
- You’ll know which marketing channels—Local SEO, ads, social media—are driving results.
- You can track visitor behavior, like which pages get the most views or lead to contact forms.
- You’ll have real numbers to back up your marketing decisions.
When your website is built for tracking, you’re not just guessing—you’re making informed choices that help your business grow.
Create an Executive Dashboard to Streamline Insights
An executive dashboard puts all your important marketing data in one place, making it easy to spot trends and measure success. Think of it as your marketing control panel, showing you the big picture at a glance.
What to include in your dashboard:
- Website traffic and conversion rates.
- Leads generated by source (Google, ads, referrals, etc.).
- ROI for paid campaigns.
- Number of reviews and average ratings.
By having this information at your fingertips, you can quickly identify what’s working, adjust strategies that aren’t, and make smarter decisions.
Understand Your Cost Per Acquisition and Lifetime Gross Profit Per Customer
To truly know if your marketing is paying off, you need to crunch two key numbers:
- Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): How much are you spending to gain a single new client? This includes ad spend, marketing tools, and time invested.
- Lifetime Gross Profit Per Customer (LGTV): How much profit does a typical client generate over their relationship with your business?
Once you understand these metrics, you can:
- Identify which marketing channels deliver the highest ROI.
- Adjust your budget to focus on strategies that bring in the most valuable clients.
- Scale your efforts without overspending.
Use a CRM to Manage Leads and Improve Follow-Up Efficiency
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is essential for organizing your leads, tracking follow-ups, and ensuring no potential client falls through the cracks. Think of it as your digital assistant, keeping everything in one place.
Why a CRM matters:
- It tracks where leads come from, helping you see which marketing efforts are driving results.
- It reminds you to follow up with prospects so you don’t miss opportunities.
- It helps you manage client relationships, making it easy to upsell or ask for referrals.
With a CRM in place, you can turn more leads into clients and build stronger relationships with the customers you already have.
Avoid These Marketing Mistakes That Hurt Landscaping Businesses
Even the best landscaping businesses can fall into common marketing traps. Avoiding these mistakes can save you time, money, and missed opportunities. Here are the pitfalls to watch out for and how to steer clear of them.
Overlooking the Power of Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are gold in today’s digital world. When potential clients are searching for a landscaper, those star ratings and testimonials can make or break their decision. If you’re not actively collecting and managing reviews, you’re leaving money on the table.
Why reviews matter:
- Build Trust: Positive reviews show potential clients you’re reliable and deliver quality work.
- Boost Local SEO: More reviews (and responses to them) can help your business rank higher on Google.
- Close the Deal: Many customers decide to hire a service provider based on online feedback.
How to avoid this mistake: Make collecting reviews a habit. Ask happy clients to leave feedback on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook. It only takes a moment to ask but can lead to years of trust-building.
Wasting Money on Low-ROI Advertising
Not all advertising is created equal, and spending on the wrong channels can drain your budget fast. Whether it’s newspaper ads that don’t reach your audience or pay-per-click campaigns without proper targeting, poor ad choices can hurt more than help.
Signs of low-ROI advertising:
- You’re not seeing measurable results, like leads or calls.
- You’re targeting too broad of an audience, wasting impressions on people outside your service area.
- You’re investing in channels without tracking their performance.
How to avoid this mistake: Start small and track your results. Test campaigns with a modest budget, and use tools like Google Ads to target specific locations and audiences. Focus on what works and drop the rest.
Failing to Follow Up with Leads
Generating leads is only half the battle—turning them into paying clients is where the magic happens. If you’re not following up promptly and consistently, you risk losing those opportunities to competitors.
Common issues with follow-ups:
- Forgetting to respond quickly, especially during busy seasons.
- Following up only once and giving up if you don’t hear back.
- Using unorganized methods like sticky notes or scattered emails to track leads.
How to avoid this mistake: Set up a system for follow-ups. Whether it’s using a CRM to track leads or simply dedicating time each day to return calls and emails, staying consistent makes all the difference. A prompt, professional response can often seal the deal.
Mistakes happen, but avoiding these three can make a huge difference for your landscaping business. Focus on collecting reviews, spending your ad dollars wisely, and staying on top of leads, and you’ll be well ahead of the competition.
Seasonal Marketing for Landscapers: Year-Round Growth Strategies
Landscaping is a seasonal business, but that doesn’t mean your marketing should hibernate during certain times of the year. With the right approach, you can keep leads coming in and clients engaged, no matter the season. Here’s how to tailor your marketing efforts to each time of year.
Landscape Marketing in the Winter
Winter may bring snow and freezing temperatures, but it’s also an opportunity to stay top-of-mind and prepare for the busy months ahead.
- Promote Off-Season Services: If you offer snow removal or holiday light installations, highlight these services in your ads, emails, and social media posts.
- Offer Early Booking Discounts: Encourage clients to book spring landscaping projects now with a small discount for planning ahead.
- Share Maintenance Tips: Create content around winter yard care, like protecting plants from frost or preparing gardens for spring.
Winter marketing keeps your business active and sets the stage for a strong spring.
Landscape Marketing in the Spring
Spring is prime time for landscaping businesses, and your marketing should reflect the buzz of the season.
- Advertise Seasonal Services: Promote spring cleanups, lawn care, and planting services through social media, email, and local ads.
- Leverage Before-and-After Photos: Showcase your best transformations to inspire potential clients.
- Run Limited-Time Offers: Create urgency with special deals on services like mulching, aeration, or garden design.
Spring is also the perfect time to collect reviews and referrals while clients are thrilled with their freshly revived yards.
Landscape Marketing in the Summer
Summer means busy schedules and plenty of opportunities to shine. Focus on keeping your brand visible and staying connected with clients.
- Highlight Outdoor Living Projects: Promote patios, decks, and other outdoor spaces that clients can enjoy during the season.
- Use Social Media to Show Off Your Work: Post regular updates of your summer projects to engage your audience and attract new leads.
- Stay Connected with Email Marketing: Share lawn care tips, reminders for summer maintenance, or upsell services like irrigation system repairs.
By staying visible, you ensure your business remains the go-to choice for summer landscaping.
Landscape Marketing in the Fall
Fall is a transition period, making it a great time to prepare for winter while wrapping up the year’s projects.
- Promote Leaf Removal and Fall Cleanup Services: Target homeowners looking to tidy up before winter.
- Encourage Winter Prep Projects: Offer services like lawn aeration, fertilization, and pruning to help clients protect their yards during the colder months.
- Thank Your Clients: Use the season of gratitude to send thank-you emails or small tokens of appreciation to your loyal customers. A little goodwill goes a long way.
Fall marketing ensures you end the year strong and sets the tone for future client relationships.
Crafting a Marketing Plan for Landscapers: A Blueprint for Success
A solid marketing plan isn’t just a document—it’s your roadmap to growing a landscaping business that thrives in any season. By setting clear goals, balancing your efforts across channels, and fine-tuning your approach over time, you can create a strategy that delivers results and keeps your pipeline full.
Set Clear Marketing Goals and a Realistic Budget
Start with the end in mind. What do you want your marketing to achieve? Maybe it’s generating a certain number of leads per month, boosting your Google reviews, or increasing revenue from specific services. Define these goals clearly and give them a timeline.
Once you know your goals, set a budget that aligns with your business size and resources. Remember:
- Invest Where It Matters: High-impact strategies like Local SEO and paid ads typically deliver the best ROI.
- Be Realistic: Start small, and scale up once you see what works.
Goals and budgets keep your marketing focused and prevent overspending on ineffective tactics.
Combine Digital and Traditional Marketing Channels
A well-rounded marketing plan uses both digital and traditional channels to reach clients wherever they are. Here’s how to balance your efforts:
- Digital Channels: Focus on Local SEO, Google Ads, email marketing, and social media. These are great for building online visibility and generating leads quickly.
- Traditional Channels: Use yard signs, flyers, and local sponsorships to build trust in your community and reinforce your digital efforts.
By combining both approaches, you create a marketing plan that’s comprehensive and adaptable to your audience.
Review and Refine Your Plan Regularly
Marketing isn’t a “set it and forget it” activity. To see consistent results, you need to review your plan regularly and make adjustments based on what’s working—and what’s not.
- Track Your Metrics: Monitor data like leads, conversions, and ROI for each channel.
- Be Flexible: If a strategy isn’t performing, pivot to something new. If one channel is thriving, double down on it.
- Set Quarterly Reviews: Dedicate time every few months to evaluate your plan and tweak it as needed.
This ongoing process keeps your marketing sharp and aligned with your business goals.
A great marketing plan is never one-size-fits-all. It’s a living strategy tailored to your business, your audience, and your resources.
Need a new website to supercharge your marketing?
Marketing for landscapers starts with a good online presence—and that includes your website. If you’re ready to supercharge your marketing, we’d love to help.
At Supersonic Sites, we create stunning, high-converting websites tailored to landscapers, and we’ll even provide a free mockup of your site in just 7 days—no strings attached. Reach out to us today and see how we can take your business to the next level!