How to Follow Up With Tree Service Leads Effectively

So you’ve got leads. That’s great—better than most tree service businesses who are still wondering why their phone isn’t ringing. But here’s the real question: what are you doing with those tree service leads once they come in?

You wouldn’t let a $1,000 chainsaw rust in the garage, right? The same goes for leads. If you’re not following up effectively, you’re leaving money on the table—plain and simple.

This guide will show you exactly how to follow up with tree service leads effectively so you can land more jobs, fill your calendar, and grow your business without wasting your marketing dollars.

But first, here’s a quick snapshot of what you’ll learn…

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Speed matters: Contacting leads within 5 minutes can drastically increase your chances of closing the sale.
• Persistence pays off: Most sales happen after 5+ follow-ups. Don’t quit too early.
• Mix it up: Use a combination of calls, texts, and emails for best results.
• Automate smartly: Use CRM tools or follow-up automation to stay organized without losing the personal touch.
• Track and improve: Monitor what works and tweak your follow-up process over time.

Why Most Tree Service Businesses Lose Leads

You wouldn’t believe how many tree service owners lose leads not because of price, competition, or bad timing—but because they simply don’t follow up. Or they do it once… then ghost the lead forever.

We hear this all the time:

“They never got back to me.”

“I reached out, but they didn’t respond, so I moved on.”

“I couldn’t remember if I called them yet.”

Ouch.

This isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s wasted money. You paid for that lead, whether it came from Google Ads, SEO, Facebook, or referrals. Now it’s your job to turn it into a customer.

Let’s break down how to do that the right way.

Step 1: Respond Fast—Like, REALLY Fast

Studies show that contacting a lead within 5 minutes makes you 21 times more likely to qualify that lead compared to waiting 30 minutes.

Think about it: someone just filled out your form or called you because they need help now. If you wait, someone else will beat you to it.

📌 Pro Tip: Use call notifications or lead alerts on your phone. Better yet, have someone on your team dedicated to answering new leads during business hours.

Step 2: Be Human, Not Robotic

When you call, don’t jump straight into the sales pitch. Lead with something simple and friendly:

“Hi, this is Mike from Mikez Tree Service. I saw you reached out about some tree work. How can I help?”

Make it a conversation, not a script.

You’re there to solve a problem. Listen, ask a few questions, and make it easy for them to say yes to a quote or site visit.

Step 3: Use a Follow-Up Sequence (Not Just a Single Call)

Most leads won’t answer the first time. That doesn’t mean they’re not interested—it just means life happens.

Here’s a simple follow-up sequence you can use:

Day 1:

• Call
• Send a text if no answer
• Send a short email

Day 2:

• Call again
• Leave a voicemail

Day 4:

Send another text:

“Hey, just checking in to see if you still need help with tree removal. We’ve got openings this week.”

Day 7:

Final follow-up email or call:

“If you’ve already found help, no worries—just let us know! We’d love to assist if you still need us.”

That’s five touches over a week, without being pushy. It shows persistence, professionalism, and respect.

Step 4: Automate Without Losing Your Personal Touch

If you’re handling more than a few leads a week, it’s time to automate your follow-ups.

Tools or CRMs like BookedFor.Me:

• Automatically text or email new leads
• Send reminders to follow up
• Track where each lead is in the pipeline

Just remember: automation is a tool, not a replacement for real human interaction. Use it to support your follow-up game—not to replace it entirely.

Step 5: Stay Organized & Keep Score

What gets measured gets improved. If you don’t track your leads, you won’t know what’s working.

Use a simple spreadsheet, CRM, or lead tracker to monitor:

• When a lead came in
• When you followed up
• How they responded
• Whether they booked, ghosted, or declined

Over time, patterns will emerge. You’ll see which follow-up messages work best and where most leads fall off.

Step 6: Train Your Team (Or Delegate Smartly)

If you’re a one-man show, this is all on you. But if you have an office assistant, sales rep, or even a spouse helping with admin work—train them on this system.

Create a simple checklist or flowchart so everyone knows:

• What to say
• When to follow up
• How to log lead activity

Consistency is what turns average tree companies into booked-out businesses.

FAQ: How to Follow Up With Tree Service Leads Effectively

Q1: How many times should I follow up with a lead before giving up?

A: Aim for at least 5 follow-ups over 7–10 days. Most conversions happen after the third contact attempt.

Q2: What should I say in a follow-up message?

A: Keep it short, friendly, and helpful. Mention your company, their tree needs, and your availability.

Q3: Should I call or text leads?

A: Do both. Some people prefer calls, others respond better to texts. A mix increases your chances.

Q4: What if the lead says they’re still deciding?

A: Stay respectful. Set a reminder to check back in 3–5 days with a helpful message or offer.

Q5: Can I use software to help with follow-ups?

A: Absolutely. Use CRMs or apps like Jobber to send reminders, automate emails, and track lead status.

Stop Wasting Leads—Start Closing More Jobs

The best tree service marketing in the world means nothing if you don’t follow up with your leads. That’s the truth.

But once you put a consistent follow-up system in place, you’ll start booking more jobs, filling your schedule, and actually seeing ROI from your ads, SEO, and website traffic.

Need help getting more leads in the first place? That’s where we come in.

At Local Tree Service Marketing, we specialize in helping tree service companies just like yours generate exclusive, high-converting leads—then show you how to close them with smart follow-up systems that work.

Give us a call today at (610) 708-0606 to get started. Let’s turn more leads into loyal customers—together.