Discover Local Demand: Exploding Topics vs Google Trends for Lawn Care & Landscaping

The Quick Answer

Use Exploding Topics to find new services before everyone else offers them. Think "bee-friendly landscaping" or "water-wise garden help." This helps you be the first to offer what's next. Use Google Trends to check if basic services, like "lawn mowing prices" or "leaf removal service," are searched a lot in your town, and when. It also shows you if "snow plowing residential" spikes only in winter. Combine them: Exploding Topics for new ideas, Google Trends for local proof and timing.

Side-by-Side Breakdown

Exploding Topics: You can try a limited version for free, or pay $39–$299 each month for full access. It gives you a list of growing ideas across many areas. For you, it might show "drought-resistant landscaping" or "outdoor living space design" gaining steam. Its strength is finding these new ideas early. Its weakness is that it only shows what their team picks, not every single small trend. Google Trends: It's always free. You get raw search numbers for any term you type in, going back many years. Its strength is showing you exactly how many people search for "lawn care near me" or "snow removal services" in your town. You can compare up to five terms, like "push mower" vs "riding mower." Its weakness: you have to know what to search for; it doesn't give you new ideas on its own.

When to Choose Exploding Topics

Use Exploding Topics when you're looking for new services to add to your business, beyond just mowing. For instance, it might show "sustainable landscaping practices" or "small garden vegetable planting" starting to get popular. These are not common searches yet, but they are growing. It can give you 6 to 18 months to learn about "xeriscaping" (low-water landscaping) or "tree pruning fruit trees" and offer it before other local businesses catch on. This tool is for finding new ideas, not for checking if "basic lawn cut" is popular (you already know that).

When to Choose Google Trends

Use Google Trends when you have a specific service in mind, or a tool, and want to know how popular it is *right now* in your area. For example, you might want to know: Is "gutter cleaning service" growing or slowing down in your town? Is "snow removal near me" only searched for in winter, and how big are the spikes? You can compare terms like "spring cleanup" versus "fall cleanup" to see which is bigger. It’s also great for seeing if "power washing decks" is a popular search across your whole state or just in certain cities. This helps you plan your service offerings and advertising where it counts most.

The Verdict

Check Exploding Topics every month for fresh service ideas. Look for things like "wildflower meadow planting" or "eco-friendly pest management." When a new idea, say "native landscaping design," catches your eye, switch to Google Trends. See if people in your area are also searching for terms like "drought tolerant plants" or "low maintenance yard ideas." If Exploding Topics shows a new service growing, and Google Trends confirms related terms are searched a lot locally, that's a real chance to add a profitable new service.

How to Get Started

This week, spend 30 minutes on Exploding Topics. Look at categories like "Home & Garden" or just general popular trends. Find three new service ideas that you think you could offer, like "vertical gardening setup," "compost delivery service," or "holiday light removal." Next, open Google Trends. Type in each of your three ideas. Look at the search trend for the last two years in your city or county. Compare each idea to two similar but more common services. For example, compare "native plant installation" to "flower bed planting." See where the interest is highest in your area.

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