Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
I don't follow any groups on FB Richard so I can't comment specifically.
However Facebook groups tend to be set to private so there is nothing to see unless one joins.
Closed Facebook groups have little appeal to a mass audience and tend to be by invite only (a touch exclusive maybe?). For example closed groups cannot be indexed by Google. In contrast, LJN - which is an educational industry resource - is indexed by Google so the information on this site is available to anyone looking for help and information.
Good answer Phil. I am a member of a couple, they are ok for some things but there is lot to trawl through, here its all layed out nice!
Thanks Richard
Also bear in mind that a private group is easily hijacked by sub-groups that have an agenda.
It's exclusivity that's held the landscape industry back for so long. LJNs mission has always been to empower everyone within the industry with equal opportunities.
I'm a member of a few groups on facebook, one in particular is fantastic.
I don't wish to name it on here as I don't think it would be fair on LJN & my local competitors might read this and join it too ;)
I'm happy to answer via pm though :)
The others are very hit and miss.
Its worth noting that the leading groups are all formed of LJN members, and many have their roots here, the reasons are many and neither good nor bad, and they are a feature of the change in the online world in the last 5 years - social media allows for very quick informal discussions to take place between people, but their layout and structure does not lend itself well to becoming a library of information and discussion as LJN provides currently.
Read a snippet in The Times today quoting a Danish study that "People who gave up Facebook reported a 'lift in life satisfaction' "
So are Facebook users that depressed ?
I have made a decision to back off it again as I have been in there a lot the last couple of months. But it's hard as it's addictive. You may laugh but I think it is. People don't talk face to face anymore, it's all just FB this and FB that.
The numerous Facebook groups are different from "proper" forums, not competition.
There is little or no facility to build a resourse on Facebook: this sort of site is better for archiving threads and articles, searching for previous discussions etc. Facebook, however, is massively more immediate and sociable, with people getting to know each other, chat more and become more of a community.
Both are equally valid, and shouldn't be seen as competitors. The comments about "closed" FB groups are a little misleading though, as LJN is "closed" unless you pay a fee, of course. The "free" part is open to the public, so anyone can join to read the comments, or with their own agenda. Closed FB groups do lead to more frank and open discussions, but the discussions are finished and lost very quickly.