Landscape Juice

An eclectic tour of Twitter with random garden and landscaping tweets

Just a few random tweets of what's going on through the eyes of Twitter. The following are random tweets from the landscapers and gardeners followed by Landscape Juice. Notting Hill London cracking on, cracking job thank you @VandeMoortelUK Ancienne Belgique 'Pearl' pic.twitter.com/EFAx9xhc66— Butter Wakefield (@ButterWakefield) September 9, 2015 Morning All, Cordyline Torbay Dazzler a wonderful looking plant and a firm favourite will our Customers. pic.twitter.com/pkHagjoVGO— North Farm Nursery (@NorthFarmNurs) September 10, 2015 A great time at #FourOaks15... pic.twitter.com/ovyA9YlpiY— Wyevale Nurseries (@WyevaleNurs) September 9, 2015 Only working half a day today so that I can have time in my own garden... Read more →

Sick leave: Social media trail may lead to problems

If you have ever run a business and employed people, you won't need me to tell you about the challenges one faces when dealing with sick leave. We all fall sick from time to time - although as a boss you'll know that bosses seldom have the same benefits to fall back on as the people they employ and often have to work through when they should be tucked up in bed recuperating. Imagine this hypothetical scene: it's Friday morning in the summer. The sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky. On opening your office door... Read more →

Rare Bird Network warns of careless social media use

You can just imagine the delight of a birdwatcher as they stumble across a bird nesting site. Maybe young chicks are in the nest or eggs are being incubated by a parent bird? It is so easy for a bird enthusiast to pull out a smartphone and snap away and immediately in the excitement share their find with friends or the wider bird watching community. By tweeting or adding a photo of a nesting site to Facebook a birdwatcher immediately puts a nest with eggs or un-hatched birds at risk. Because of social media's ubiquitous nature, recording findings and sharing... Read more →

Trade association model in downward spiral

If you are regular reader of my Landscape Juice blog you will already know that I'm certain the trade association model is a dying one. In the days before the internet the intellectuality property stored behind a physical and mental firewall was a commodity so highly valued. The old and wise, who had worked over many years gathering together skills, experience and business practices, would pass information down to the newbies as they entered - or should I say, allowed to enter - their hallowed halls. It was an unchallengeable stronghold and there was no circumnavigating the route of entry.... Read more →

Avoid the Facebook like-for-like brigade

Whilst building Landscape Juice I've always been careful to stress that it is not a recommendation service. I've always been keen to tell enquirers where to look for a practitioner or a supplier, but I've never given anyone my personal recommendation. I just don't think it's possible to give a seal of confidence on behalf of someone else when I've not been witness to their entire business operation. If I've seen their work first hand however, then that's a different matter. Not that I wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone what my gut instinct is telling me. I see many project... Read more →

Fremium business models being replaced with paid-for subscriptions

As a business that's just started to offer a premium subscription for serious professionals on Landscape Juice I'm naturally very interested in examples of other paid-for models. One could argue that Google owns much of the web or at least a high proportion of the gateway that gets a user to their destination. I've always loved the Google business model: I'm not a subscriber to the various conspirators who reckon that Google is just an evil money making machine..Google is providing what people need. Search engine technology is an ideal fremium model. The searcher uses Google for free and Google... Read more →

How social media can benefit small businesses

Have you ever wondered what Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest can bring to your company? Alison Coleman meets the firms that have used social media to their advantage. After years of avoiding social media, small businesses are starting to embrace it – but are they really reaping the benefits? Not according to Business Network International (BNI), whose latest survey found 75% of business owners have been "put off" a particular company due to their poor use of social media. How do small companies ensure they turn those likes and follows into customer engagement and increased sales? There is plenty of... Read more →

Tips on using Twitter - free downloadable guidebook

I'd like to think I know a thing or two about social media and Twitter but I needn't spend too much time writing up a guide when all you need to know has been done over at Mashable. Whether you are a beginner or a regular Twitter user, Pete Cashmore has written one of the most extensive Twitter guidebooks on the subject you'll ever likely to need. There's even a downloadable version so you can sit away from your work and read through. Read more →

New chairman and social committee at the APL

It may have taken them a while but the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) appears to be putting social media at the heart of the organisation. Recent changes to the APL committee have seen the introduction of new blood. Traditionally APL committee roles always appeared to have gone to a close group of people. The most obvious positives from the recent appointments are that all of the new committee members have social media experience. Good luck to Paul Baker (vice chairman), Richard Bickler, Dave Sewell and Claudia de Yong. Incumbent chairman Mark Gregory has been re-elected for a third term.... Read more →

Is the end in sight for Hort Week?

In recent years the 172 year old publication has been increasingly sidelined by blogs and social media as it failed to open up and embrace online. Read more →