You’ve got the mower. You’ve got the trimmer. Your gear is shiny and sitting in the shed, ready to go.

But the phone isn't ringing. No calls. No texts. Just silence.

It’s a sinking feeling. You start wondering if there’s actually any work out there.

There is. Plenty of it. The problem isn't the market—the problem is that nobody knows you exist yet. You’re invisible.

Most guys handle this by using the "scattershot" approach. They try five different things at once. They spend a fortune on flyers, Facebook ads, and local papers. Then, when the phone finally does ring, they have no idea which ad actually worked.

They’re just throwing money at a wall and hoping some of it sticks.

I always say marketing is like eating an elephant. You do it one bite at a time. You try one method. You track the results. If it puts money in your pocket, you keep doing it. If it doesn't, you bin it and move on.

I also see guys making the "jungle" mistake. They see a house with grass up to the windows and think they’ve found a goldmine.

Don't fall for it.

If someone lets their lawn turn into a forest, they don't care about their yard. You’ll mow it once, break your back doing it, and never hear from them again. That’s not a business—that’s a one-off headache. You want the customers who value their time and want a regular mow.

I’ve put together a list of 21 proven ways to get your phone ringing with the right kind of customers.

No fluff. No expensive "branding" agencies. Just practical ways to build a presence in your local area so you can actually start using that gear.

​[Read: 21 Great Ways to Market Your Lawn Care Business]​

Stuart Clifford
Lawnmowing101