"Have you got a website? We started out in business last year and were advised by our local Business Initiative to get a website, we weren't convinced because our 'target audience' were older people that could no longer manage their…"

"I've just gone though this situation myself.   I used leaflets and although we have only managed to deliver about 300 so far I have already secured 2 new maintenance contracts, 2 hedge cuts, 3 tree jobs and also taken a couple of decent…"

"It costs me about £50 a month for the local one, but then i offered to write a small gardening column for them. I now get a double page spread with my advert next to the column. I now do a couple of these. They bring in so much work along…"

"I had thousands of leaflets printed, but the time they take to deliver is unbeleivable. I have had 2 jobs from these so Ill keep posting them as and when I get time, but I was referring more to local advertisements. In Yorkshire we have On Your…"

"best way we have found by far is advertising in small local glosy magazines that cover a small area. People like to use local tradesman. We get so much of our work from this and it has lead to a large amount of repeat wok and recomendations as well.…"

"I am assuming you have a whole list of satisfied previous customers,  some of whom may have even talked about a future project.  Get your thinking cap on, ring a few up.  The last time this happened to us was 1999 and I knew someone…"

"Exactally I know of two local landscapers who depending on area, now get all my prospects - From this I have gained so far 1 maintenance contract - and the odd clearance here and there prior to any landscaping work."

"Thats a really good point David, and that could be flipped around as well.   When I used to be landscape contractor I would regularly get requests for maintenance.  I suppose the key is just to network as much as possible and to get your…"

"As london stone said above, ALso keeping in contact wiht local Maintenance only business would help, these guys will be on the front line every day dealing with dozens of clients who may want landscaping work - and if the maintenance guys dont offer…"

"Dan, I never suggested cold calling/selling to a client homeowner.  I think if I was in Chase landscapes position I would be looking to contact garden designers and property developers by telephone to see if could offer my services.  Both…"

"I agree that trying to sell a landscaping project by cold calling people is about as likely to work as an ashtray on a motorbike. I would focus on building a simple website, putting out fliers and perhaps an ad or two. The market has tightened up…"

"There is a big difference between selling materials to a business who uses materials on a daily basis and is always looking to save some cash, and selling to a client/homeowner a multi-thousand pound project which they do not require. Cold calling…"

"How about a good old advert in your local paper ??!! Get a website Leaflet drop Register on all the free business indexes on the the web"

"Appreciate BWC is not nation wide, but separately thru TS nationwide any area can set up a no cold calling zone : http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/policy/doorstopperswelcome.cfm I wasn't implying its wrong if done within law/guidelines, but…"

"Sorry, I did try to differentiate by stating 'physical cold calling' rather than by telephone.> "

"You will probably find that there are more rules and regulations about calling people on the phone than calling at home. The TPS telephone preference register is just one example that should be followed. The Trading standards BWC scheme is not a law…"