Every month, we manage over $160,000 in ad spend across 130+ land clearing and forestry mulching companies. That gives us a dataset nobody else in this industry has.
Here’s what March 2026 looked like — the real numbers, no cherry-picking.
The Big Numbers
- 4,000+ leads generated across all clients
- $41 average cost per lead
- 130+ active companies managed
- 99% client retention rate
What’s Working Right Now
Speed to Lead Is Still King
Our top-performing clients all share one trait: they respond to leads fast. The data shows that companies responding within 5 minutes close at nearly double the rate of companies that wait an hour or more.
The magic number? Under 2 minutes for the first text, under 5 minutes for the first call.
Follow-Up Volume Matters More Than You Think
Closed deals average 24 touches before they convert. The average lead that doesn’t close? Only 7 touches. That’s a 3.5x difference.
Most contractors give up after 1-2 follow-ups. The winners are making 6, 8, 10+ contact attempts. The 6th call is where the money is.
Spring Surge Is Real
March saw a noticeable uptick in lead volume across nearly every market. Homeowners are coming out of winter and thinking about property projects. If you’re not advertising right now, you’re leaving the best leads of the year on the table.
Top Performer Spotlight
Without naming specific companies, here’s what our top 10% look like:
- Close rate: 15-24% (vs. industry average of 8-11%)
- Speed to lead: Under 5 minutes
- Average touches per close: 20+
- Revenue per lead: $500+
These aren’t companies in “easy” markets. They’re in competitive areas where multiple contractors are advertising. They win because they execute better, not because they have less competition.
The Pricing Power Trend
Something we’re seeing more of in 2026: contractors raising their prices because they have too much demand. Multiple clients have raised prices twice in the last 120 days — and their close rates actually went UP.
When you have a consistent pipeline of quality leads, you gain leverage. You stop taking every $2,000 lot clearing and start cherry-picking the $15,000+ projects. That’s the real power of marketing done right.
What to Watch for in April
Spring is your highest-leverage season. Here’s what to focus on:
- Increase your ad budget 20-30% — demand is peaking and CPLs are still reasonable
- Tighten your follow-up process — every missed call is a missed $5,000+ job
- Update your Google Business Profile — post photos, respond to reviews, keep hours current
- Get video content — before/after drone shots and job walkthrough videos are crushing it on Facebook right now
The companies that go hardest in March-June set the tone for the entire year. The data proves it every single time.