To find clients for snow removal:
- Identify the right homeowners
- Hand out basic but professional flyers
- Do door-to-door sales
- Build a website
- Collect Google Business Profile reviews
Not every homeowner needs snow removal. Many shovel their own driveways, especially for light snowfall. Since these people are unlikely to pay for removal, reaching out to them wastes time and effort. This is why your first step is identifying those who need your services.
From there, hand out flyers to these houses. A flyer can be as simple as a headline, photo, service type, phone number, and free pricing estimates. It might seem old-fashioned, but this strategy is still impactful. A 2024 Market Anywhere study found that flyers have a high conversion rate of 3.4%.
To get instant clients, go door-to-door after a snowfall. Offer to clear their driveways on the spot. Since you’re offering help right when they need it, homeowners are more likely to agree. However, you need to be ready to trudge through the snow, deliver a strong pitch, have your pricing ready, and be the first to offer your service.
Want to avoid constantly chasing clients? Set up a website and Google Business Profile (GBP). ‘Snow removal service near me’ gets 1.1K Google searches during the winter. When homeowners search these terms, they’re ready to hire. A well-optimized website and GBP let them find and choose you. One Reddit user puts it best – Would you rather walk to 300 houses or put up a billboard where people already look for snow removal?
In this article, we go over each strategy with helpful tips on how to implement them. We also cover the best time to advertise, how to get repeat business, and whether you should switch to commercial snow removal.
1. Identify Homeowners Who Need Snow Removal
To identify homeowners who need snow removal:
- Observe the neighborhood during winter. Check which homes always have cleared driveways and which remain covered in snow. This helps you spot potential clients.
- Go to a higher-income neighborhood. These homeowners are more likely to pay for convenience. This is a good idea if you’re charging higher for your services.
- Target cities with heavy snowfall. In these areas, most homeowners hire a snow removal service as every day brings in fresh, thick snow.
- Look for signs of need. This includes homes with long driveways, elderly residents, or busy professionals. These people may not have the time or ability to shovel all the snow away.
- Ask around and gather insights. Casually talk to neighbors or community groups to see who is willing to pay for snow removal. To make it quicker and reach a wider audience, head over to your local Facebook groups.
- Consider homes with multiple cars or visitors. These people might need snow removal to make parking easier and safer.
Focusing on the right homes will save you time and money. Once you have your list of potential clients, you can print just the right number of flyers. This way, you won’t waste money or flyers. It saves time as you don’t have to approach every house in the neighborhood. If no one from your target list hires you or you need more clients, that’s when you visit every household.
2. Hand Out Snow Removal Flyers
To hand out snow removal flyers:
- Keep them clear and engaging. No need for fancy designs. Just make sure it has your contact info, a photo, a brief service description, and any special offers. If you have a website, add its link to make it easy for people to learn more or book your service online.
- Have it professionally printed. This makes you look more legit and builds trust. This costs an average of $24 to $65 for 100 to 250 copies.
- Hand deliver for a personal touch. Whenever possible, hand flyers directly to your target homeowners. It’s more personal and shows you’re local, which can make a difference. If it’s legal in your area, you may also leave these inside mailboxes. If not, then put them on doorsteps.
- Post on local Facebook groups. Share the digital flyer in community or neighborhood groups, especially buy/sell groups. This is a cheap way to reach a wider audience without walking to each home.
- Answer calls right away. Homeowners often choose the first available service, especially after heavy snowfall. Being responsive ensures you don’t miss potential jobs. A quick reply also shows professionalism and reliability.
- Follow up. Always check in later with someone who calls or texts to inquire about your services but doesn’t book. A simple message like, “Still thinking about snow removal services? Let me know if you have any questions!” can turn a maybe into a yes. People get busy and appreciate the reminder.
- Track your efforts. When someone hires you, ask how they found you. Keep a simple log of whether they came from flyers or somewhere else. This helps you see if your flyer marketing is working or if you should focus on another strategy.
Lawn Mowing Money, on YouTube, built his solo lawn mowing and snow removal business this way. With no experience in sales, he made basic flyers with his contact details and printed 1,000 copies. He and his friends then distributed them door to door, which got him his first clients. Seeing success, he doubled down on this method. He delivered flyers every season in the same neighborhood. This built familiarity with homeowners and helped him gain more trust and clients.
3. Go Door-To-Door for Snow Removal Sales
To do door-to-door snow removal sales:
- Time it right. Knock on doors right after a snowfall, when homeowners need you the most. Make sure you do it early, before they head out or hire someone else. However, if it was a heavy snowfall, it might not be worth your time to trudge through inches and inches of snow.
- Look professional. Wear clean, warm gear and bring your shovel or other tools to show you’re ready to work immediately.
- Start with a friendly greeting. Introduce yourself, mention you’re local, and offer a quick solution to their snow-covered driveway. Example: “Hi, I’m [Your Name], I live just around the corner, and I’m helping neighbors clear their driveways today. Would you like me to take care of yours?”
- Offer a quick estimate. Have a set price or give a fast quote based on the size of their driveway and walkway.
- Highlight the convenience. Let them know you will do all the hard work and clear their snow quickly while they stay warm inside.
- Leave a flyer or business card. This way, they can contact you if they need your service again. Even if they don’t hire you now, leave it with them in case they call later.
- Follow up. If a homeowner shows interest but doesn’t hire you, check back later or after the next snowfall. A quick visit, text, or call reminds them about you.
- Stay respectful. If they say no, thank them for their time, leave a flyer or business card, and move on.
One user from PlowSite Forum says door-to-door is their most effective strategy. Their approach is to sell their services, not just let people know they offer snow blowing. They admit it feels awkward and scary at first, but it gets easier over time. Plus, it brings in real clients, making it worth stepping out of your comfort zone.
4. Build a Snow Removal Website
To build a snow removal website:
- Use a website builder. This lets you set up a website right away with no coding. Simply choose a template design and edit it to match your branding. Site builders like Snapps.ai also have built-in SEO tools to put your site higher in Google.
- Ensure it’s mobile-friendly. According to Ahrefs, 83% of people searching for ‘snow removal service near me’ are on their phones. To make them engage with your website, it should fit into their screens.
- Make it easy to navigate and fast to load. People don’t have much patience for websites. If it’s slow to load or hard to find info, they’ll click away. Always go for a simple design with all your basic information upfront. For speed, choose a good website builder with fast hosting.
- Highlight your services. List what you offer, such as driveway clearing, sidewalk shoveling, and seasonal contracts. Clear details reduce confusion and attract serious leads instead of just inquiries.
- Use local SEO (search engine optimization). Mention your city, service areas, and type of snow removal in headings, page titles, and descriptions. This way, when people search ‘snow removal service in [your city]’, your site will show up.
- Show your pricing. A Sutherland Weston study found 72% of people get frustrated when sites lack pricing. What’s more, transparency builds trust. Include clear costs or a way for clients to get a quick and free quote.
- Add a contact form. Your phone number and email should be visible throughout your website. Make it as easy as possible for visitors to request service or ask questions.
- Include call-to-action (CTA) buttons. Encourage visitors to take the next step. Example: “Call now for a free quote!” or “Book your snow removal service today!”
- Upload high-quality photos. Before-and-after driveway and walkway shots show the quality of your work. Photos of you working with your tools prove you’re real and hardworking.
- Include client reviews. This builds trust and credibility. Plus, ProfileTree says 88% of people decide on a business after reading up to 10 reviews. Make sure you display at least 10 reviews on your site.
NYRSR is the top website for ‘snow removal services in New York City’ on Google. Because of this, their website received 688 visits in October, 599 in November, 576 in December, and 642 in January. Ranking high on Google attracts a steady flow of potential clients in peak snow season. And their website is very basic. Their homepage has their name, services, a ‘Click to Call’ button, license info, and packages.
5. Collect Snow Removal Reviews on Google Business Profile
To collect snow removal reviews on Google Business Profile (GBP):
- Create and verify your business profile. When setting up your GBP, fill out as many sections as possible. Provide accurate business details, like name, location, category, and service. You must also verify your account with Google to go live.
- Ask happy clients to leave reviews. After removing snow from a home, kindly ask the homeowner to share their experience on your GBP. Timing is important – request feedback when they’re happiest with your service.
- Offer incentives. Give a small reward to clients who leave a review, like a discount on their next service, a free add-on, or even a gift card. Unfortunately, people often forget or don’t prioritize reviews. This encourages them to take action.
- Make it easy. Provide clients with a direct link to your review section. On your GBP dashboard, click ‘ask for reviews’, shorten the link in Bitly, and send it through email, text, or your site.
- Encourage clients to include photos in their reviews. Visual proof of your work makes reviews more compelling and attracts new clients.
- Send a follow-up message. After a while, thank your clients and remind them to leave a review. Admit that it will help your business a lot. Most of the time, satisfied clients will be glad to support you.
- Encourage honest feedback. Honesty improves your services and assists others in finding reliable snow removal. Only asking for positive feedback misses opportunities to grow.
- Respond to all reviews. Acknowledge clients’ feedback, positive or negative, and show appreciation for their time. A BrightLocal survey found 89% of people prefer a local service that responds to good and bad reviews. It builds trust and demonstrates good customer service.
- Promote your reviews. Display your top ones on your website, social media, and other platforms. This strengthens your online presence.
- Monitor and manage reviews. Enable Google notifications to get alerts for new reviews. Respond quickly to engage with clients.
Reviews on your Google Business Profile are crucial to gain trust and put you at the top of Google Map listings. Google reports that 17% of your listing placement depends on reviews. If you rank #1, you get 44% of the calls from potential clients. What’s more, 74% of people trust local businesses with positive Google reviews. More reviews means more trust, more calls, and more clients.
When to Start Marketing for Snow Removal Services?
The beginning or end of fall is when to start marketing for snow removal services. Homeowners in snowy areas usually start thinking about their driveways around this time. If you offer your services early at a discounted price, they’ll be happy to book and get it off their minds. Plus, big snow removal companies aren’t active yet. This is a great chance to secure your clients before they do.
In areas with minimal snow, it’s best to advertise during the winter season. It’s also good to offer one-time services instead of a seasonal contract. This is because homeowners only think about snow removal when there is actual snow.
Now, that doesn’t mean you should relax during the off-season. Use this time to plan your marketing by creating flyers and improving your website. Start going out and seeing which homes are likely to need snow removal when winter arrives. Encourage clients from the last winter season to leave reviews.
How to Keep Snow Removal Clients Coming Back Each Year?
- Provide consistent, high-quality service. Always show up on time and do a thorough job. Client will remember and trust you for the next season.
- Build a strong relationship. Be friendly and approachable during jobs. A good impression makes them more likely to call you again. If possible, remember small details about their preferences or property. Personal touches show you care and build long-term loyalty. Check in with clients occasionally, even when it’s not snow season. A simple message to see how they’re doing keeps you in their minds.
- Offer seasonal contracts. Give returning clients the option to lock in their service early with a discounted rate. This makes it easier for them to commit year after year.
- Send reminders before winter. Reach out to past clients to remind them about your snow removal services. Many appreciate the convenience of rebooking instead of searching for a new provider.
- Stay in touch year-round. Use email or social media to keep your business on their radar. Share winter prep tips or occasional updates. Or, why not offer other services, like lawn mowing in the summer or leaf blowing in the fall?
- Offer referral rewards. Give clients a discount or small incentive for referring new clients. This not only brings in new business but also encourages loyalty.
Should You Scale to Commercial Snow Removal?
You should scale to commercial snow removal if:
- You have steady residential clients and want to expand your business.
- You have the right equipment to handle larger areas efficiently.
- You can manage a team to take on bigger snow removal contracts.
- You want a higher, more stable income from seasonal contracts.
- You meet the liability and insurance requirements for commercial jobs.
- You’re prepared for stricter service deadlines and expectations.
- You have reliable storage space for equipment and de-icing materials.
- You can handle emergency snow removal for businesses that need 24/7 service.
