Are you tired of watching potential customers drive by your landscaping truck without a second glance? 

Spending more time wrestling with crabgrass than with customer bookings? 

If you’re knee-deep in mulch but light on leads, you’re not alone.

The thing is, landscaping is a competitive industry. This means that having the sharpest shears and the greenest thumb isn’t always enough. For landscaping companies, driving new business requires the same attention to detail as creating a perfect hardscape installation.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro with a fleet of mowers or just starting out with your landscaping business, these 18 landscaping marketing strategies will help you turn casual prospects into loyal customers quickly. From creating a Google Business Profile to mastering local SEO, we’re digging into tactics that are especially effective in marketing for landscapers and landscaping businesses. 

Let’s jump in so you can start spreading the word and recruiting more customers.

Online and digital marketing strategies

Building an online presence is a non-negotiable for landscaping businesses looking to make a name for themselves today. With 97% of consumers searching for local businesses online, your business could be missing out on a steady flow of new customers if you aren’t easily findable on the Internet. The good news is that it’s easier than ever to build a digital presence for your business. These strategies for landscaping marketing online are a great starting point.

Develop a professional website

Your website is often your first impression with a potential customer, and you only get one chance to make it count. A user-friendly, mobile-responsive website is a must-have for any landscaping business. 

Make sure your website: 

• Clearly showcases your services
• Includes eye-catching before-and-after photos
• Has clear calls-to-action (CTAs) on every page, like “Get a Quote” or “Schedule Lawn Care Now” 
• Includes your company’s contact information front and center, typically in the top header or site navigation.
• Is mobile responsive (loads quickly and accurately on smartphones) since over 62% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices.

An easy-to-navigate landscaping website is key to a strong online presence. (Source)

Search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO might sound like some overly complicated technique, but it’s not as daunting as it seems. Plus, an SEO strategy is essential if you want your landscaping business to show up when potential customers search for services online. 76% of people who search on their smartphones for something nearby visit a business within a day, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. 

By optimizing your website content with keywords related to the services you offer, you help Google and other search engines understand what your site is about—increasing your chances of ranking higher in search results. Incorporating keywords like “lawn care” or “tree trimming” into the content on your website will help people searching for these services in your area find your website.

Local SEO is especially important for landscapers. For example, targeting phrases like “best landscaper in Miami” or “Portland lawn care services” can significantly boost your visibility to local homeowners. Make sure to include these keywords naturally in your website copy, headers, and meta descriptions. GorillaDesk’s Local SEO Playbook walks you through implementing this strategy for your business.

Dominate local SEO with our playbook!

Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is arguably the most crucial online channel for landscaping companies. Since it pops up in search engine results, this profile is often the first thing people see when they search for landscaping services in their area. To maximize this channel, claim your Google Business Profile and fill it out completely, including your: 

• Address
• Phone number
• Hours of operation
• List of services 
• High-quality project photos

The most important factor here, though, is reviews. In fact, 53% of consumers want to read reviews that showcase people’s positive experiences with your company, and businesses with more reviews generate 54% more revenue than those with fewer reviews. And with Google hosting nearly 60% of all online business reviews, recruiting customer reviews on the platform should be a top priority.

As you foster loyal customers, encourage them to leave positive reviews to build your credibility and attract more leads. GorillaDesk’s review generation feature can be especially useful for automatically requesting customer feedback

With GorillaDesk, you can send automated emails requesting customer feedback. (Source)

Blogging and content marketing

Starting a blog on your website is a great way to showcase your landscaping expertise and attract customers to your website. By sharing informative articles about landscaping topics, you not only provide value but also position yourself as an industry expert. Some potential topic ideas include, “5 Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Backyard” or “How to Winterize Your Garden in Chicago.” Tailoring your content to the region will make it more applicable to your local audience.

Regular blogging also gives you more opportunities to include relevant keywords naturally, which will help boost your SEO over time. Businesses that blog regularly receive 55% more website visitors than those who don’t, putting you at an advantage over competitors without an active blogging practice. Plus, fresh blog content gives people a reason to keep coming back to your site and provides fodder for email newsletters to keep prospects engaged and increase the chances of converting customers.

But blogging is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to content marketing for landscapers. You can also leverage other types of content, like:

• Infographics: Design visually appealing graphics that deliver seasonal lawn care tips, plant selection guides, or landscaping design trends. Infographics are easily shareable on Pinterest and other social media platforms.
• Customer case studies: Highlight successful landscaping projects with before-and-after photos, project descriptions, and client testimonials. This can be turned into a landing page, sales email, or social media post.
• Guides and eBooks: Offer downloadable guides on topics like “The Ultimate Homeowner’s Guide to Lawn Care” or “Plant Care Tips in the Phoenix Summer Heat” as a lead magnet to collect emails and generate leads.
• Email newsletters: Send regular email updates featuring landscaping tips, seasonal reminders, special promotions, and customer success stories.

Social media marketing

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are perfect places to engage with your local community. To build relationships with your audience, consider sharing: 

• Completed project photos
• Customer testimonials
• Landscaping tips 
• Promotions
• Behind-the-scenes videos of your landscapers at work

Visual content gets 650% higher engagement than text-only posts—and visuals are especially relevant when it comes to landscaping services. 

A visually engaging Facebook post helps showcase your expertise and services. (Source)

Running targeted ads on these platforms is a powerful way for landscaping businesses to attract local customers. Facebook ads, for example, offer an average conversion rate of 9.21% across industries. And since both Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta, it’s easy to run the same ads on both platforms. Here are some tips:

• Define your audience based on location, demographics, and interests. For example, if you’re a residential landscaper, target homeowners in your service area who have shown interest in gardening, home improvement, or outdoor living. 
• Use high-quality images or videos showcasing your best landscaping projects to grab attention. 
• Run seasonal promotions like discounts on spring lawn care or fall clean-up services to help increase conversions. 
• To maximize ROI, monitor ad performance using Facebook Ads Manager, testing different ad creatives and adjusting your budget based on which ads generate the most engagement and leads.

Not sure which ad type to go for? Facebook’s Lead Ads allow potential clients to request a quote directly within the platform without leaving the app, making it easy to capture leads. Additionally, retargeting ads can be used to reach users who have visited your website but didn’t take action, keeping your business top-of-mind. 

Email marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to stay connected with leads and past clients and drive more business. Marketing emails have a 2.8% average conversion rate for business-to-consumer (B2C) emails, which is higher than paid social media ads (2.1% B2C) and other ad types. When you send emails to people who have already used or expressed interest in your services, the barrier to entry is lower and the chances of them reengaging your services are much higher.

The most effective email marketing strategy is email newsletters. Send regular newsletters to your email list (including prospects and current and past customers. In your monthly or bi-weekly newsletter, share: 

• Business updates (new service offerings, updated contact info., introduce new employees, etc.)
• Landscaping tips 
• Special promotions
• Customer testimonials
• Before and after project spotlights
• Links to blog or social media content

Follow-up emails are incredibly influential as well. When you personalize follow-up emails, you significantly increase your chances of engaging a prospect, leading to up to 6 times higher transaction rates. 

Not sure where to start with your business emails? GorillaDesk provides excellent resources like local service business email templates, promotional email templates, and transactional email templates to streamline your email campaigns.

One of the customizable local business email templates provided by GorillaDesk. (Source)

Online advertising

Investing in online advertising can bring immediate traffic to your business website. Here’s a breakdown of key ad types and how they work:

• Google Business Profile (GMB) ads: These ads appear alongside the local Google Map when users look for nearby landscaping services. They enhance your visibility and increase credibility by prominently displaying your business information.
• Google Local Services ads: Local Services ads appear above traditional Google Ads and only charge you for leads, making them a cost-effective option. They also feature a Google Guarantee badge, which helps build trust among potential customers.
• Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising: PPC ads appear at the top of search engine results based on targeted keywords. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it a great way to attract high-intent leads. PPC campaigns yield an average ROI of 200%, though they tend to be more costly per click compared to social media ads.

A Google Business Profile ad promotes your business within the local service area. (Source)

Offline marketing strategies

While digital marketing is a must for landscaping companies, many traditional, offline marketing strategies can be quite effective also. Because you’re running a field service business that operates visibly in your local community, it’s important to establish trusted relationships and brand awareness with the locals. Try these strategies to cultivate local word of mouth for your landscaping business.

Networking and community engagement

Getting involved in your local community is a powerful way to build brand awareness and establish trust with potential customers. Landscaping businesses thrive on relationships, and networking can lead to direct referrals and long-term client relationships. Consider:

• Participating in local events and trade shows: Attending home and garden expos, farmer’s markets, or community fairs gives you a chance to showcase your services, distribute marketing materials, and meet potential customers in person. 
• Sponsor local events or teams: Supporting a local little league team, school fundraiser, or neighborhood cleanup initiative increases brand visibility and demonstrates your commitment to the community. A recent study found that 62% of consumers are more likely to recommend brands involved in local causes.

By actively engaging in community events, you create opportunities for word-of-mouth referrals and build trust with local homeowners who may need landscaping services.

Print advertising

It may seem like an outdated tactic these days, but print advertising—distributing printed marketing materials directly to your target audience—is still an effective way to reach potential customers who may not be searching online. Two proven types of print advertising include:

• Distribute flyers, brochures, and business cards: Door-to-door marketing can be surprisingly effective, especially in neighborhoods with large yards or high homeownership rates. Direct mail pieces have an average engagement rate of 95%, and direct mail that includes a promotion is effective 89% of the time compared to other marketing methods. 
• Advertise in local newspapers and magazines: Many homeowners still read community publications. Local newspapers, lifestyle magazines, and neighborhood newsletters are therefore valuable advertising platforms for local service businesses like landscapers. Research shows that 82% of consumers trust print ads more than other forms of marketing.

Direct mail pieces like this postcard can be an effective form of offline marketing. (Source)

Print advertising allows you to target specific areas where your ideal customers live and maintain a consistent presence in the community.

Referral programs

Word-of-mouth marketing remains one of the most effective lead-generation strategies for landscaping businesses. Satisfied customers are often willing to recommend your services, especially if you offer an incentive. Here’s how to get started:

• Encourage happy customers to refer friends and family: Personal referrals are highly trusted, with 92% of consumers saying they trust recommendations from friends and family over other forms of advertising. Simply asking loyal customers to spread the word can lead to valuable leads.
• Offer incentives or discounts for successful referrals: Consider offering a discount on future services or a small reward (gift card, etc.) for every new client referred. Referral programs increase customer retention and bring in new leads at a lower cost than other marketing methods. In fact, referred customers have a 37% higher retention rate than non-referred customers.

A structured referral program not only encourages existing clients to promote your services but also creates a steady pipeline of high-quality leads. You can even add a page on your website promoting your referral program, and include it in your newsletter to encourage more customers to participate.

Vehicle branding

Your company vehicles are moving billboards with the potential to generate leads 24/7. Vehicle branding is a cost-effective way to increase brand awareness and convey a professional image to your local community. Vehicle advertising generates between 30,000 to 70,000 daily impressions depending on location.

When you’re branding a company vehicle, make sure to include: 

• Your company name 
• Logo
• Phone number
• Website 

It’s important for the design of your vehicle wrap or decal to be eye-catching and professional. We recommend: 

• Using bold fonts
• Including a striking logo that’s large enough to read easily
• Incorporating high-quality images of your best landscaping work (if there’s room) 

Branded landscaping vehicles help drive leads and exude professionalism. (Source)

A well-branded vehicle acts as a constant advertisement whether it’s parked at a job site, driving through neighborhoods, or even sitting in a driveway.

Partnerships with local businesses

Collaborating with other businesses in your area is a smart way to expand your reach and attract more leads. Forming strategic partnerships allows you to tap into another company’s existing customer base that aligns with your services. Businesses that engage in co-marketing efforts see a 34% increase in brand awareness compared to those that market alone.

Ideal strategic partners for landscaping businesses include: 

• Home improvement stores
• Local contractors, painters, and roofers
• Pest control businesses
• House cleaning companies
• Real estate agencies

When you approach a business for a partnership, propose joint promotions or bundled services that will add value for customers while increasing your referrals. For instance, a package deal for “Total Home Refresh” that offers a landscaping upgrade, exterior painting, and pressure washing could attract homeowners looking for a complete property makeover. By building strong relationships with complementary businesses, you create a win-win situation where everyone benefits from increased referrals and a larger customer base.

Even more landscaping marketing strategies to try 

But that’s not all! Here are 6 more landscaping marketing strategies to add to your gameplan.

Customer loyalty rewards

Research shows that 75% of consumers are more likely to make another purchase after receiving a reward or incentive. Try rewarding repeat customers with discounts or exclusive deals. For example, offer a free lawn trimming service to celebrate a customer’s 1-year anniversary with your company.

Seasonal and holiday promotions

Limited-time offers can generate up to a 200% spike in sales during promotional periods. Sometimes, a small discount can be the push someone needs to encourage them to take action. Try:

• Offering seasonal deals to drive sales during certain times of year, like Fall Leaf Cleanup Special or Winter Snow & Ice Removal Plan.
• Promoting limited-time offers to create urgency. For example, an Early Bird Lawn Care Discount offering 10% off lawn maintenance plans for customers who sign up before April 1st.

User-generated content (UGC) and testimonials

An overwhelming 93% of consumers say user-generated content is extremely helpful for making purchasing decisions. To encourage UGC, you can:

• Ask customers to share before-and-after photos with a branded hashtag.
• Feature customer success stories on your website and social media and ask customers to reshare on their own profiles.

YouTube and video marketing

There’s a reason why video is so popular in marketing, with 86% of businesses experiencing increased website traffic from video marketing. You can start a YouTube channel and also share your videos on your blog to educate prospective and current customers on landscaping best practices. Some ideas for video content include:

• Create time-lapse project videos 
• Create instructional content offering landscaping tips
• Showcase client transformations or video testimonials to build credibility

SMS marketing and appointment reminders

SMS open rates are as high as 98%, making it easier to reach and engage with prospects and customers. Use landscaping management software like GorillaDesk to automate this messaging for maximum effect. Start by:

• Sending automated SMS appointment reminders and promotions.
• Using text campaigns to notify customers of seasonal services.

GorillaDesk enables you to send automatic “en route” text messages. (Source)

Online directories and landscaping marketplaces

Online directories for local businesses and landscaping services are an excellent way to reach more customers. Start by:

• Getting listed on Angi, Houzz, and Thumbtack.
• Optimizing each profile with current contact information, professional images, and positive customer reviews.

Connecting your online and offline landscaping marketing

Bringing together your online and offline marketing efforts creates a seamless brand experience for potential customers. A consistent approach across channels ensures that whether someone finds your business online or through a local event, they receive the same strong impression of your landscaping services. Keep these two recommendations in mind.

Consistent branding

Your branding should be instantly recognizable across all platforms, from your website and social media pages to business cards and vehicle wraps. A cohesive brand image is anchored by a strong logo and brand colors, helping build trust and making it easier for potential customers to remember and engage with your business.

• Maintain uniform branding across all platforms and materials: Your logo, color scheme, and messaging should remain consistent everywhere your business appears. 
• Ensure offline materials direct customers to online platforms: Your business cards, brochures, and vehicle branding should include your website URL, social media handles, and a QR code leading to your Google Business Profile or contact form. This bridges the gap between physical interactions and digital conversions. 

Cross-promotion

Maximizing visibility for your landscaping business requires a strategy that ties together your offline and online efforts. Cross-promoting events, community involvement, and promotions through multiple channels will help you reach a broader audience.

• Promote offline events through online channels and vice versa: Use social media, email newsletters, and your website to advertise upcoming community events, trade shows, or sponsorships. Likewise, at offline events, encourage attendees to follow your business online by offering exclusive digital discounts or giveaways.
• Use online platforms to highlight offline community involvement: Share photos and videos from networking events, sponsorships, and community partnerships to showcase your active presence in the community. 

By effectively merging your online and offline marketing efforts, you’ll create a well-rounded, high-impact marketing program that keeps your landscaping business top-of-mind among local residents.

Level up your landscaping marketing with these strategies

Marketing for landscapers and landscaping companies requires a healthy mix of digital and traditional strategies to maximize visibility and attract high-quality leads. From optimizing your website for local SEO and leveraging Google Business Profile, to engaging in community networking and vehicle branding, each landscaping marketing strategy plays a vital role in growing your business.

The key to success is consistency, which involves keeping your branding, messaging, and customer experience cohesive across all platforms. By blending online and offline marketing, you create multiple touchpoints with potential customers that help reinforce your presence in their minds.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your landscaping business, these 18 strategies provide a roadmap to achieving steady growth for your company. 

If you’re interested in automating your landscaping business operations, marketing, and customer communication, GorillaDesk is an all-in-one platform designed specifically for field service businesses. Sign up for a free, 14-day trial today.