PRO
I have just read an interesting story on New Media Age about the use of Facebook to launch an application for your company and surprisingly, not every well known brand is successful. I was also flabbergasted to read that "Applications rolled out by top brands such as MTV, Warner Bros and Woolworths were found to have as little as five daily active users." Five users! If I use that a rule then Landscape Juice has blasted off to the moon with my loyal readership. I have just launched this facebook style gardening network so that professional and amateur gardeners can interact, share and learn from each other. Using a platform such as Ning to promote your business in itself is not exactly launching an application but one thing that is very, very clear to me is the level of businesses who start a project and then expect the wave of web 2. to whisk them into the stratosphere without any further or at least very little input. Behind any successful business needs to remain a driven person or group of people who can return to the 'shop' day, after day, after day, with that same passion for their product. I think that this is why so many smaller gardening businesses are so successful because there is a passionate person who is at the helm. One of the reasons you may have joined the Landscape Juice Garden Network is because you are looking for that extra opening or opportunity to deliver something of value to your clients. Part of the secret, and it is often over looked, to making a network successful is self promotion and interactivity. I once made a friend on a financial bulletin board many moons ago and ended up designing their garden in Oxfordshire because of this successful online relationship. You can never be sure where a lead or introduction is coming from and for sure, if you are not active, success is going to be limited. And, that is the reason that I return day in day out to Landscape Juice and try and help. There are other successful sites on the web who are providing an excellent service for information, experience and interaction. Stuart does a great job at Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas and of course on his (fairly) new Blotanical site. What makes Stuart so successful is his ability to present what his readership wants and to a certain extent demands on a daily basis. The demise of so many gardening sites is due, mainly, to the fact that management has enjoyed (at the readers expense I suspect) too much of the good times as web 1. found it's feet but, arrogantly or naively, failed to respond to the demands of what came after. Only today, I have looked at the Gardening Answers site (readers of Landscape Juice will know how critical I have been) only to see that new editor, Geoff Stebbings, has not updated his garden diary since the beginning of January. I was wary at the time that by promoting from within was not the right move because it just means the same train of thought will lead a band of apathy. No disrespect to Geoff because I am sure he is a good guy, but to me, Garden Answers is dead on it's feet. Have you any previous experiences with the value of social media? - add a comment to this post.
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –
PRO

Phil

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Billybop replied to PAUL's discussion Small, compact battery strimmer with variable speed trigger?
"Hi your FSA60R is on the AK battery system? I use the AP system Stihl FSA85 which is just the ticket for the jobs you describe. Which offers infinitely variable speeds from barely turning, upwards. Mine must be about 10 to 15 years old now ( I have…"
1 hour ago
PAUL posted a discussion
I am looking for a small, compact, lightweight strimmer that is battery powered for small garden edging - I already have a Stihl FSA60R but its just a bit to powerful and unweldy for some of the smaller, finnicky edging. The strimmer MUST have…
2 hours ago
Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd replied to Dan Nate's discussion Brendon 2000psi pressure washer
"We had a petrol washer and this electric one blows it out of the water!
https://kranzle-pressure-washers.co.uk/products/kranzle-quadro-11-1...
Benefits over the Brendon one are a longer hose spray hose (15m) , built in tank, uses someone elses power…"
3 hours ago
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thanks Ian! "
9 hours ago
Ian Harvey replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"I would also look at the feasibility and cost of adding a tow arm and 2nd hand small trailer to your car. This instantly adds to your ability to undertake multiple tool jobs and to remove waste. A gardener in my area has been doing this for decades.…"
14 hours ago
Sean Clarke replied to crawford smith's discussion Brass trigger,lance and fittings on CP15 Evolution
"I have two sprayers, one with the brass Lance and the other with the plastic one. I have to say, I prefer using the brass one 'upside-down' with the anvil nozzles. It soon becomes very easy to use, requiring only downward pressure from the thumb -…"
15 hours ago
PGM posted a discussion
A question for those offering lawn treatments. Does anyone use a specific product, separate to their normal treatments, that's specifically used when we have long, dry periods? Can anyone recommend a good product? I imagine it would likely be a…
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Good move Andrew... Get someone to proof read them before you use them, its so easy to miss obvious things, becasue you are so close to it - and preferably get them printed professionally..you would only need a few hundred
I started with a Honda…"
yesterday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you for your thoughts and support! 😊"
yesterday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you! I've changed the website a bit and simplified things.... I wasn't going to offer mowing as I'm operating out of a small car, but with hindsight I see I need to offer this! I use Ego battery kit and think I can get my mower in the car if I…"
yesterday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you for your constructive feedback! Not brutal at all... I have taken onboard what you are saying and changing things...😊"
yesterday
John F replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Had a look at your website Andrew I feel your skill set will appeal to those discerning clients who will value your honesty and your integrity shines through .
Most likely they will have a fair sized property but they don't want to pay contractors…"
Monday
Peter sellers replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Think you also have an issue with using your name as your trading style. It does not say what you do. Just put gardeners Winchester into google and you are not there. You need to trade as EG Bentley Garden Services for google to pick you up when…"
Monday
Dan Nate posted a discussion
So a couple of customers have asked for pressure washing and I saw the above machine for a good deal. Has anyone experience with it at all?It's a honda gx200 so not blazing power but with 13lpm should be OK for most smaller domestic jobs I assume. 
Monday
Adam Woods replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Like "
Monday
Peter sellers replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Andrew, following on from Adam's reply and having a look at your website I am struggling to see where your market is? 
Without coming across as a know it all and unless comments from members contradict me  the bulk of work is for grass mowing and…"
Monday
More…

Lawn Water Conserver

A question for those offering lawn treatments. Does anyone use a specific product, separate to their normal treatments, that's specifically used when we have long, dry periods? Can anyone recommend a good product? I imagine it would likely be a…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 15

Finding work

Hi everyone After a couple of years employed as Head of Horticulture for a charity, I decided to return to self employment as a freelance gardener at the end of March. I am struggling to find clients and don't know what to do! I have a website, a My…

Read more…
22 Replies · Reply by Andrew Bentley 9 hours ago
Views: 405