Advice

More customers without advertising? Let your satisfied customers do the work.

Your website looks professional, your social media channels are full of photos of successful projects, and you may even have regularly share your most impressive garden creations through a newsletter. Yet there is one marketing tool that is often more persuasive than all your own communications put together: an enthusiastic customer.

Today, reviews and customer testimonials are among the most powerful marketing tools for a landscaping contractor. They build trust, boost your online visibility, and help hesitant prospects make a decision more quickly.

Why reviews bring in new customers

Having a garden professionally designed and installed is a significant investment. That’s why customers want to be sure they are choosing the right landscaping contractor, and they often rely on the experiences of others to guide their decision.

When potential customers see that others are satisfied with your work, their confidence in you increases and they feel more comfortable choosing your services.

A positive customer review dispels doubts even before the first consultation. A review not only shows that you delivered a beautiful garden and that the collaboration went smoothly, but also that the garden remains beautiful long after it has been laid out. Such a review is convincing. That’s why an honest customer review often has more impact than any advertisement or commercial message.

Reviews offer another important advantage as well. Search engines such as Google take the quality and quantity of reviews into account. Businesses that regularly receive new reviews increase their visibility in local search results and improve the likelihood that potential customers will click through to their business.

Strong testimonials make a lasting impression

Many testimonials remain quite superficial: “Very satisfied” or “Excellent collaboration.” Nice for you to read, but not particularly convincing for a prospective customer.

Far more powerful are stories that show the difference your work as a garden contractor has made to people’s experience, and the added value the garden you’ve created offers today.

For example:

“Since our climate-resilient garden was installed, we’ve had a pleasant outdoor space to enjoy even during hot summers. After heavy rainfall, water no longer pools in the garden, and maintenance has become much easier.”

A review like this immediately makes a strong impression on potential customers.

A garden that continues to thrive is the best advertisement

A strong customer reference goes beyond the handover of the project; it is built throughout the entire process. From a clear quotation and transparent communication to careful execution and reliable aftercare. Just as important is what happens months later. Have the plants established well? Does the soil remain healthy? Can the garden better withstand drought and heavy rainfall? Does it require less maintenance?

When the answer to these questions is positive, your customers will be happy to recommend your work to others.

That is why it pays to pay close attention to the basics: healthy soil, well-planned soil improvement, appropriate fertilisation and plants that can thrive in the right conditions. A resilient garden requires less repair work, remains attractive for longer and results in satisfied customers. And satisfied customers are always happy to spread the word.

Why soil quality leads to better reviews

Discover how soil quality can help you gain satisfied customers and generate positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

More reviews? Just ask for them.

Don’t wait for spontaneous reviews. Ask for them. Yet many landscaping contractors find it difficult to ask for a review because they worry about coming across as pushy. In reality, most customers see such a request as perfectly normal, especially when they are satisfied. The secret lies in the timing.

Good moments to ask for a Google review include:

upon completion of the project;
after a maintenance visit;
when a customer spontaneously gives you a compliment;
after the first growing season.

A simple request is all it takes:

“It’s great to hear that you’re happy with the result. Would you be willing to share your experience in a Google review as well? It really helps future customers when making their decision.”

How to get more Google reviews

The less effort it takes to leave a review, the more likely customers are to do so. Make it easy for them. Send a short request by email or WhatsApp, include a direct link to your Google Business Profile, or add a QR code to your invoice. This significantly lowers the barrier. Be sure to mention that it only takes a few minutes.

Don’t just ask for a star rating. Encourage customers to leave a personal comment as well.

For example:

Why did you choose me as your garden contractor?
What were you most satisfied with?
What difference do you notice in your garden today?
Would you recommend us to friends or family?

These personal stories are far more valuable than a series of five-star ratings.

Get even more out of reviews and testimonials

Give reviews a prominent place in your communications and use testimonials and customer quotes across different channels:

alongside similar projects on your website;
in quotations and project proposals;
on social media, together with photos taken before, during, and after the work;
in videos where customers share their experiences;
on your Google Business Profile.

Don’t forget word-of-mouth advertising either. Ask satisfied customers whether they would be willing to recommend your business to friends, family, or neighbours. A personal recommendation remains the most credible form of advertising for a landscaping contractor.

The most effective advertising ? Gardens that continue to thrive.

A photo of a newly completed garden makes a strong impression. But it is a garden that remains healthy, attractive, and resilient years later that truly convinces people.

When plants establish well, the soil remains healthy and the garden can withstand drought and heavy rainfall, customers experience the quality of your work every day. These are the stories that build trust with new customers.

Those who invest in healthy soil, the right soil improvers, well-considered organic fertilisers, and robust plants naturally create satisfied customers. And satisfied customers become the best ambassadors for your business.

Read here how Van der Asdonk Hoveniers, thanks to a strong focus on soil quality and soil improvement, experiences hardly any plant losses after installation.

The most powerful advertising is not what you say about your work. It is what your customers say while enjoying a garden that continues to grow and thrive year after year.

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Brief Summary

Reviews build trust, remove doubts for potential customers, and improve your online visibility via Google.

Make a point of asking for them at the right moment, make it easy with a direct link or QR code, and encourage customers to describe their experience in their own words.

Those who invest in healthy soil, the right soil improvers, a well-planned fertilisation programme, and robust plants create gardens that continue to thrive for years to come. The result is satisfied customers, strong references, and word-of-mouth recommendations that are more convincing than any advertisement.