Why is it free?
www.landscapingconnections.com is a new directory of landscaping and gardening services and suppliers as well as a library of ideas for the landscaping industry worldwide.
We are offering the service free in an attempt to create the most comprehensive database for both the end users and members to share ideas. Your Featured Business Listing includes:
• Your contact details
• Your logo
• Your history
• Your resume
• Your association memberships
• Your awards
• Your photo gallery
• Your ratings and reviews
• Your own personal counter to monitor visits to your page.
All of your details can be easily updated by yourself at any time.
It is very easy for clients and customers to find you.
Who are we?
I have worked as a landscape contractor on the east coast of Australia for the past 24 years (click here for details). I began building this website primarily as a way of displaying my own work to simplify the decision process for my clients.
In addition to the importance of meeting clients in person, I knew that if I could direct my clients to a website to answer most of their questions, it would save everyone a lot of time and speed up the decision-making process. Its working!
I also realised that by enabling clients and customers to have more knowledge about their landscaping needs and "demystifying" the building industry, they feel more confident about their decision-making processes. Everyone saves time and trust is developed.
If a customer or client sees photos of your work or stock, you are well ahead.
I embrace uncluttered, elegant simplicity in my own landscape work and I have tried to apply the same principles to this website.
At Landscaping Connections we are very approachable. If you have any problems or inquiries we will respond to you immediately. No impersonal jargon...just direct, polite, personal assistance.
Why do you need to be online?
Perhaps you don't consider yourself to be sufficiently Internet savvy or cannot see the value of being online? Increasingly, even in our industry, Internet exposure is important because many of our clients and customers often find it easier to source information and conduct business online.
This is becoming an increasingly common practice.
Online advertising allows you to attract new customers and clients and respond to existing inquiries.
Landscaping Connections has an easy-to-use directory through which customers and clients can search anywhere in your local area or worldwide by a range of keywords including business name, location, proximity or areas of specialisation.
What do you get?
• Your business will appear on the homepage on a rotating basis.
• You can contribute articles that will appear on the homepage and link to your profile.
• Easy-to-use search function to find a landscaping service or supplier locally, nationally or internationally. You can even search by keywords i.e. water features, land restoration, cut flowers, plant nurseries, traffic control, etc.
• Clients and customers will find you with a minimum of fuss. We all know that most people looking for landscaping work or products are in the over -40 age group. The site is designed with them in mind with a simple but comprehensive directory and an uncluttered design. It is important to consider that some new users are not highly computer literate and it is these people we want to include.
• There is plenty of space for you to express your individuality on our Featured Profile page. It is elegant and simple and since landscaping is about both exterior design and practicality, this sets a good example for your customers and clients.
• Convert inquiries into sales by editing your profile to suit each client. Use it as a changeable, portable portfolio. (One member used his spare time in Bangkok airport to reorganise his profile on his laptop, which enabled him to secure a landscape consultancy in Vietnam!)
• You can monitor the number of visitors, requests and jobs you get against the way you present yourself because your profile and photo gallery are easily altered. This is a valuable tool for assessing your own way of advertising your business.
• Your reputation will be enhanced by good reviews and ratings, giving you a distinct edge over your competitors. Ratings & Reviews offer a measure of security to clients and customers by affording them an opportunity to provide feedback on your business.
• Traffic is drawn to Landscaping Connections through our extensive and growing number of links to manufacturers, suppliers, landscaping and building associations, real estate, and training institutes.
• We will personally help you every step of the way if you need us to.
What is different about this site?
We focus only on the landscaping industry. Admittedly, when you consider all the various skills and materials involved in our industry, this is a vast area!
We arent concerned with the entire building industry; we specialise in what we know well. This makes us a more accessible target in a customer or client search.
We are global which offers valuable opportunities if you are seeking international work. Or, you can just as easily find a local professional who can design and build a backyard project.
Your work will be showcased, giving you a web presence without the trouble or expense of building and managing your own website. You will be provided with your own personal web address (or sub-domain) to use on all your advertising material, such as stationary and business cards. Inquiries will be directed to your specified contact details.
You can monitor visits to your profile, survey your successes, alter your text and photographs at any time to test their effectiveness, seek testimonials and receive ratings and reviews.
If you contribute to our growing library of great ideas, you will get even more attention and credibility.
But what if you already have a website?
If you already have your own website, this is additional exposure for your business with simplified access and a way of regularly updating your business presentation and details with minimal computer knowledge and expense.
Once you have completed a job that you are particularly proud of, you can post the photographs of it on your profile page. In addition, you can contribute your ideas, such as new designs and techniques, materials, use of renewable energy, etc to the Articles section where members can share ideas and clients and customers can find inspiration.
Consider us a global bulletin board for your landscaping talents and products.
In addition, by listing in a quality directory with subject matter specific to your own content you get a valuable one-way link which will help your own site rankings. That alone makes joining worthwhile.
How many of your clients have asked to see your work before they hired you?
We have all experienced the caution of a new customer or client. Putting customers and clients at ease is simple and convenient with Landscaping Connections by directing them to photographs of your work or products and information on your website that is specifically relevant to their requirements. Doing this will save you time and money. No more having to keep contacting previous clients and customers.
It is not just about attracting new customers and clients, it is also about securing prospective customers and clients.
What do other members say?
"Landscaping Connections provides a valuable tool for promoting our company and creates an additional platform to showcase our extensive range of products to a wider audience. A key to this revolves around our own ideals of a personalized service which Val Ockert has provided to us in establishing the Scarecrow profile on this website."
Many thanks
Phil Adamson
Charles Parsons & Co Pty Ltd
Level 4, 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel +61 2 9910 4975 | Fax +61 2 9910 4101
padamson@charlesparsons.com.au
www.charlesparsons.com.au
"I regularly travel between Australia and Asia for landscape consultancy work. Landscaping Connections has proven to be an indispensable communication tool for me to display photos, designs, and resume, all of which I edit while traveling. Val has given me enormous personal assistance in setting up my profile and ongoing advice.
Michael De Good
De Good & Associates
Bogangar, NSW, Australia
Australia
"I am really pleased with the old-fashioned personal help and politeness I have received since joining Landscaping Connections. If only all business was conducted this way! As a garden designer who doesnt have my own website I am finding that my business profile is an effective marketing instrument that I use to educate customers about my designs and previous jobs. My work is all "word-of-mouth" and I don't advertise in any other form but Landscaping Connections helps me to take inquiries "over-the-line".
Tim Hays
Tim Hays Garden Design
Burringbar, NSW, Australia
Australia
"As a landscape designer, promotion and presence is very important. Landscaping Connections provides a global-based platform for advertising, and is an excellent collective resource for users. The site is easy to use, very accessible. Customer support is brilliant, prompt and very informative. I highly recommend them".
Debbie
Total Landscape Design
Auckland, New Zealand
www.totalandscapedesign.co.nz
How do you join?
Take a tour of our website and check out all the functions and features. Have a look at the Featured Memberships already listed.
When you are satisfied that it is the best thing for your business go to Add Business and fill in your details...simple!
| 
