Behind the Bark
People keep asking: Where do the cheapest local leads come from?
The short answer: your neighborhood. Community Facebook groups, Craigslist, and yard signs aren't glamorous, but they work when you treat them like marketing, not a wish.
We heard from multiple owners over the past few weeks who used community FB pages and saw immediate traction: one owner who moved to a new town said that by actively participating on the community page and showing work, “after a month, we were booked solid for 3 months and have been ever since.” Others reported Craigslist ads produced strong ROI for part-time crews (with the caveat that some customers are price-sensitive). And several owners called yard signs “super cheap advertising” that doubles as live social proof for nearby homeowners.
The lesson: local, low-cost channels beat bought internet leads when you invest time and intent into them.
Limb of the Week
Ask: What’s the smallest, repeatable action that turns a post, ad, or sign into a booked job?
What that looks like in practice:
Join the right groups. Not every neighborhood group is a fit. Search for active groups where neighbors ask for recommendations.
Be a neighbor first. Don’t blast offers. Answer questions, share quick tips, and post before/after photos that help people. Reputation grows faster that way.
Make it frictionless to contact you. A clear CTA [call to action] in the post (“DM for a quick estimate” or “text for pictures of recent jobs near you”) works better than a vague “call us.”
Try this small test: choose one community group, make three helpful posts that aren’t hard sells (tips, one before/after, one FAQ answer), and include a direct CTA. Track calls or DMs for 30 days. If it doesn’t move the needle, change the CTA or the creative.
Sawdust
Quick templates & tactics you can use today:
FB post template: “Hi [Town]! We trimmed a maple on [Street Name] today, cleared the driveway, cleaned up, and left the yard spotless. DM if you want a quick estimate this week. Pics below. [Company Name]”
Craigslist ad idea: a short, benefit-led headline (Tree trimming: same-week estimates) + three bullet points (licensed/insured, fast cleanup, local refs) + 2-4 photos.
Yard sign copy: Company name, phone, small line: “Check out our __ Star Rating and ask about a quick estimate.” Consider adding a QR code or NFC chip that links to a one-page estimate form.
Tracking tip: ask every caller, “How did you hear about us?” and record the answer.
One extra data point a day gives you clarity in two weeks.
Kickback
Many pay-per-lead companies sell convenience, not customers. You can buy volume but not trust, and many leads are already shopping for prices. Would you rather: (A) spend $X on raw leads that competitors see, or (B) spend an hour a week building local trust that brings better-fit customers and repeat referrals? If you answer B, focus on community presence and simple tracking first.
In the last 2 weeks alone, we’ve found and documented over 300 examples of tree service companies paying for unprofitable ads. Want us to take a look at your company? Schedule a $100 audit.
It’s easily worth 10x that, and if you don’t think so after meeting with us, we will refund your $100 - just ask.
Written by Jacob Hastings
Head of Growth & Client Strategy at Growth Ring Media
