This information came from a session during the 2025 ELEVATE conference and expo. Don’t miss ELEVATE in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 8-11, 2026.
If you count on word of mouth for new business, you cannot overlook social media as part of your marketing strategy. Many potential clients are scrolling, searching and deciding through social media who they want to hire all before they ever call.
Yet 85% of businesses are failing to turn their social posts into actual revenue. Too often landscape companies focus on posting pretty pictures with no storytelling or are only posting sporadically. Not including a call to action is another reason consumers don’t respond.
Shravya Peddigari, general manager for SavATree, headquartered in Bedford Hills, New York, says the key ingredients for a successful social media presence are posting consistently, telling authentic stories, strategically amplifying posts, building an engaged community and making data-driven decisions.
The 3C Formula
Peddigari says while you don’t need to post every day, you do need to provide valuable content, post consistently and focus on conversion.
Worthwhile content should be educational, entertaining or emotional. Talk to your clients to find ideas for what sort of content they’d want to see.
For instance, if you’re a lawn care company, what are some of the frequently asked questions you encounter? There are multiple posts you could create just answering why crabgrass appears in the lawn in August, such as a YouTube video explaining the science behind summer weeds, or an Instagram post with quick tips and a call-to-action for them to DM you for a free lawn assessment.
Peddigari recommends posting at least three times a week. She suggests creating batches of content in one session so these can be trickled out over time. She says by taking the time to create a posting schedule, you can pick more opportune times to share and avoid burnout.
Instagram provides a weekly report, which enables you to see the ideal time to post to your followers.
Lastly, you need to always include a call-to-action so the viewer knows exactly what to do next, whether that’s booking an appointment, calling your company or DMing your business profile. You can also encourage engagement by incorporating polls or asking questions in the post. Sharing social proof through positive Google reviews and client testimonials can also prompt viewers to take action.
Peddigari says the biggest mistake is following the 3C formula for five to six months and then stopping. This is a practice that must be maintained in order to see results.
Stopping the Scroll
With end users consuming 600 feet of content each day, you only have three seconds to grab their attention.
Peddigari says it’s important to treat each social media platform differently rather than using a one-size-fits-all post. Each has different algorithms and audiences you need to cater to. For instance, Instagram is ideal for visual inspiration, while YouTube can provide educational content that builds consumers’ trust in your abilities.
Some of the different storytelling hooks you can use with your posts include:
- The Plea – “I’m begging you to stop doing XYZ…” creates urgency and positions you as the helpful expert who cares about their success.
- The Secret – “Why is nobody talking about XYZ…” reveals insider knowledge and makes viewers feel they are getting exclusive information.
- The Warning – “Here’s how you achieve (negative outcome)…” uses reverse psychology to highlight common mistakes your audience needs to avoid.
- The Truth Bomb – “Here’s the thing about XYZ…” establishes authority while delivering straight talk.
- The Quick Win – “Do you know about (X topic)? Here’s it in X seconds…” delivers immediate value in a bite-sized format that is easy to share.
Other ways to boost your reach include incorporating numbers or lists into your posts, such as ‘Top 5 Tips” or “4 Mistakes to Avoid.”
Peddigari says you shouldn’t be afraid to utilize paid ads as long as you are only boosting the posts that are already performing well organically, and you are targeting within your service area.
Measuring Progress and Pivoting
After posting for a week, review your stats to see what is gathering engagement and what isn’t landing. Pivot quickly and double down on the types of content that resonate.
Peddigari says 3.5% is a good engagement rate, and you can calculate yours by adding your total likes and comments together and dividing by your number of followers.
As you continue this cycle, your momentum on social media will steadily build.
“It’s not the best product that wins; it’s the best-selling one,” Peddigari says. “A great product with zero visibility loses to a good product with smart marketing.”
For more content like this, be sure to register for next year’s ELEVATE in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 8-11.
