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The Landscaper’s Guide to Modern Sales and Marketing Newsletter
MAY 2025
BUSY IS A BLESSING WHEN YOU’RE GROWING RIGHT Don’t Just Survive the Spring Rush — Harvest It
It’s that time of year again: sunshine, green lawns, blooming schedules, and the sweet sound of phones ringing off the hook. But around here, we’re no longer calling it the 100 Days of Hell. We’re calling it the Spring Harvest. Because let’s be honest: it’s not hell when your biggest challenge is keeping up with new business. The real problem is when the phones don’t ring at all. The Spring Harvest might be hard work, but it’s a blessing. It’s a sign your business is growing. And with the right mindset and systems in place, it can be the most rewarding time of the year. This is your chance to build momentum, strengthen your team, and set the stage for long-term success. To help you do just that, I have three ways to help you ensure this Spring Harvest is seamlessly bountiful: 1. Your crew is your power; keep them strong. You can have the best marketing, loyal customers, and efficient systems, but if your team is running on empty, none of it matters. The long days and packed schedules can wear anyone down, but small gestures of appreciation can go a long way.
who bring a friend to company events — a smart move that boosts morale and helps with recruitment. Celebrate the hustle. Tyler Lombardo from MVP Snow & Lawn prints out customer reviews mentioning employees
the truth: If you don’t force yourself to step away, even for a short time, your energy and decision-making will suffer. I plan my elk hunting trip smack in the middle of peak season — not because I’m trying to escape but because it forces me to delegate, streamline operations, and trust my team with a deadline in mind. Schedule a long weekend or even a few days if a full trip is impossible. You’ll return better equipped to power through the rest of the season. Are You Harvesting Growth — or Just Hanging On? The Spring Harvest isn’t easy, but it’s not supposed to be. Hard work means your business is in demand, and that’s something to celebrate. So, will you let this season overwhelm you — or will you lean in, lead strong, and make this your most profitable stretch of the year? If you’re ready to make this harvest count, let’s talk. Book a free 15-minute Marketing Brainstorm Call, and let’s map out a strategy to maximize your growth this season. Visit LandscapersGuide.com/brainstorm to grab your spot.
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by name and posts them in the shop. Recognition matters. If your crew feels valued, they’ll give you their best work. 2. Get your operations locked down. During the Spring Harvest, there’s no room for loose ends. This is when your systems need to shine. Here’s how to keep everything running like a well-oiled machine:
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Short, no-BS meetings. Your foremen don’t need hour-long lectures. A five-minute daily huddle to cover top priorities is all it takes to keep everyone on the same page. Departments need to stay tight. If your sales team promises one thing and your production team delivers another, you have a problem. Make sure everyone is in sync. Find your company’s unique motivator. At Ramblin Jackson, we have a “Beef Jerky Club” where employees nominate teammates who go above and beyond. Recognition drives culture — create your own system that keeps your team engaged.
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Fuel them up. Host a mid-season barbecue or appreciation lunch to give your team a breather. When they know you appreciate them, they’ll go the extra mile. Make retention fun. One smart CEO, Kelly Slater of Pleasant Landscapes, gives out free work boots to employees
Let’s make this Spring Harvest one to remember.
JACK JOSTES, CEO RAMBLIN JACKSON
3. Plan a break to recharge. I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way I can take time off right now.” But here’s
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RING THE BELL SPOTLIGHT How Buckhead Landscape & Design Went From $5K to $500K Projects
Buckhead Landscape & Design used to operate in a cycle too many landscaping businesses know far too well: steady work but mostly small-scale projects. They were closing $5,000 jobs and keeping busy, but they weren’t growing how they wanted. The high-end, large-scale transformations they dreamed of seemed just out of reach. That all changed when they took a bold step by ditching outdated marketing tactics and embracing new strategies with the Ramblin Jackson team to attract luxury clients. Now? They’re landing projects worth over $500,000. Stuck in small projects with no clear growth. Stuart Ward, owner of Buckhead Landscape & Design, had tried nearly every old-school marketing approach. We’re talking print ads, direct mailers, and door hangers, but nothing was bringing in consistent, high-value leads. His son Andrew, the company’s general manager, saw the warning signs: sales were plateauing, and they weren’t attracting the high-end clients they needed to scale up. A strategy designed for bigger wins. Enter Ramblin Jackson. Unlike generic agencies, we specialize in helping landscaping businesses like Buckhead reach high-end homeowners through targeted, results-driven strategies. They started with a Landscaper’s Marketing Audit, which revealed that Buckhead’s website was not ranking well online. That meant potential clients, like those high-end homeowners they wanted to work with, weren’t even finding them. This audit confirmed that
Buckhead could reach the level they’ve always been aiming for with our Wild Frontier Sales & Marketing Partnership. Here’s how this partnership turned things around: • A high-converting website: Their new site showcased Buckhead’s craftsmanship, making it clear they were the top choice for luxury landscape design. • Tailored Google ads: Their ad campaigns were built to attract serious clients ready to invest in premium outdoor living spaces. • Lead tracking and optimization: They generated leads, tracked them, refined their approach, and ensured their marketing dollars produced the best possible ROI. Breaking into the big leagues. Soon, the impact was undeniable. The first major project came in. Then another. And another. “We’ve had some over half a million dollars,” Stuart shared. “Not that long ago, a $5,000 project was a big win. Now, it barely makes the cut.” That shift was the result of a strategic investment in marketing designed to attract the right clients. If you’re ready to attract bigger projects and take your business to the next level, let’s talk. Book a free Marketing Brainstorm session today at LandscapersGuide.com/ brainstorm . If you want to see more clients share their success stories after working with Ramblin Jackson, visit RamblinJackson.com/clients .
The growth you want is possible. You just need the right strategy to get there.
Thanks so much to our Rambler Road Crew for a successful Q1 of events across the country — from the TNLA Hort Forum in Dallas, Texas, to NCNLA’s Green & Growin’ in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the BBP Leadership & Sales Summit in Savannah, Georgia! We had an incredible time connecting with landscapers, sharing marketing insights, and hearing your business success stories. Next stop: SIMA Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 17–20! Stop by Booth #1414 to say howdy, talk shop, and grab some beef jerky. See what city we’re coming to next at LandscapersGuide.com/events — we can’t wait to see you on the road! Rambler Road Crew Recap: Where We’ve Been & What’s Next!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Schedule a 15-minute Marketing Brainstorm with one of our Landscape Marketing Assistants. In just 15 minutes, they will: • Offer game-changing feedback on your marketing ideas. • Find gaps in your existing campaigns. • Discuss your best marketing strategy. • Share next steps for success! This is a quick, easy, no-pressure call — and we’ll even send you beef jerky or candied almonds for your time. Visit LandscapersGuide.com/brainstorm to schedule your Marketing Brainstorm today. Ready to Level Up Your Marketing and Get More Hell Yes Customers?
Client Video Shoots Before SIMA Symposium
Only 3 spots left! Shoot your videos at our mobile studio with Jack in Grand Rapids, MI! Email Robert@ramblinjackson.com for details. SIMA Symposium June 17–20, 2025 • Grand Rapids, MI Stop by booth #1430 and say howdy! Ramblin Jackson Nachos & Networking Event June 17, 5–8 p.m. • Grand Rapids, MI Exact Location TBD How To Proactively Close Snow Removal Accounts June 26, 10–11 a.m. MT • Virtual Webinar Registration is free! The Landscape Industry Market Forecast for Q3 July 23, 10–11 a.m. MT • Virtual Workshop Registration: $47
TAKE A BREAK
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1 When the Phones Won’t Stop Ringing — That’s a Good Problem 2 Ring the Bell Spotlight: How Buckhead Landscape & Design Leveled Up 2 Rambler Road Crew Recap 3 Upcoming Events 4 Should You Diversify or Streamline Your Landscaping Business? INSIDE
You’re always looking for ways to grow, but does that mean adding more services or doubling down on what you do best? It’s a tough call, and making the wrong move can cost you time, money, and reputation. Let’s break down how to decide whether to expand or streamline. Don’t add services ‘just because.’ Adding more services seems like an easy way to bring in extra revenue, but if you GROW YOUR LANDSCAPING BUSINESS THE SMART WAY Diversify or Dominate Your Niche?
Bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes, the smartest move isn’t adding services; it’s refining what you already do. Some of the most profitable landscaping companies don’t offer every service under the sun; they specialize in one or two high- margin areas and dominate their market. If you’re constantly stretched thin or dealing with low-margin work, adding more to your plate won’t fix it. Instead, streamlining your current operations and improving efficiency might be the key to unlocking higher profits. Use data, not gut feelings. Your gut might be great for predicting a storm, but numbers tell the real story when it comes to business growth. Before making any major changes, review your profit margins on existing services, identify which services bring in the highest ROI, and track customer demand to see the real opportunities.
don’t have the team, equipment, or demand to back it up, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Too many business owners rush into new offerings without fully understanding the workload or costs involved. The result? Overextended crews, underwhelmed clients, and razor-thin profit margins. Before you take the leap, ask yourself:
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Can my current team handle this, or will I need new hires? Do I have the equipment, or will I need to invest upfront? Is there an actual demand for this service?
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If you’re not confident in your answers, it’s time to slow down and reassess.
Test before you invest. Instead of diving headfirst into a new service, test the waters first. Subcontracting or forming partnerships with specialists allows you to gauge demand without committing to massive expenses.
Are you thinking about expanding or refining your services? Let’s discuss strategy. Book a free Marketing Brainstorm today at LandscapersGuide.com/brainstorm !
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Get a Free, Personal Video Review of Your Website! • RamblinJackson.com/webreview
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