|
|
 |
Feature Articles
Find the latest feature articles here! We generally post new articles every week, and most of them can be found right here. Click on any headline below to find the full article. And be sure to click the 'view more articles' link at the bottom of the page to read articles you may have missed.
|
Forget About Design Fees -- Try Retainer Agreements
Jody Shilan, Editor
One of the biggest struggles we all have is whether or not to charge design fees. The problem is that we don't want to lose the installation because of a design fee, but we also don't want to waste our time working for free. A retainer agreement is the greatest concept of all times . . . keep reading
|
The Site Analysis -- Part 1
Jody Shilan, Editor
Anything that you can do to streamline your design/sales process is a good thing. As we all know, the quicker that you can turn around a design and proposal to a client, the better the chances that you will get a signed contract . . . keep reading
|
If You Want To Sell Yourself, You Have To Be Yourself
Jody Shilan, Editor
For those of you that have the responsibility of "selling" for your company (and virtually everyone does in one form or another), you should know that one of the most important adages in sales is, "people by from people they like". Plain and simple. Think about it. When was the last time you purchased anything from someone who was a complete and total jerk (unless you had to)? . . . keep reading
|
Online Portfolios -- Show Off Your Best Work - Professionally
Mike Swift
Many landscape professionals and firms have web sites. It is very common for these sites to include portfolios of sample work. The portfolios range from a series of photographs of various project sites to organized collections of photographs organized by project or type of work . . . keep reading
|
Co-opetition--
The Value Of Working With Your Competition
Jody Shilan, Editor
Business 101 has always taught us that your primary goal is to "beat the competition" at any and all costs. With the current state of the economy, the pressure to sell work is greater than ever and having a competitive advantage has never been more critical . . . keep reading
|
Bag Of Tricks -- What You Should Bring To Every New Appointment
Jody Shilan, Editor
Last week's Trade Secret was entitled "Travel Heavy", where we discussed the importance of your crews having all of the tools and materials on their truck that are necessary to properly complete an installation. This week I want to discuss the same idea but explore the concept as it relates to your designers and sales people . . . keep reading
|
|
Bid Is A Four Letter Word
Jody Shilan, Editor
Throughout my career I have never been one to participate in the bidding process. I know that for many landscape contractors "bidding" is a very successful business model, but clearly less so these days . . . keep reading
|
Too Much Information (TMI) -- When less is truly more
Jody Shilan, Editor
In the early stages of my career I used to bring every piece of sales paraphenalia I had to my initial client meetings. Sample drawings, my leather bound portfolio of my installation work with my resume as the first page, and so many brochures and marketing pieces that I often had to take two trips to my car just to bring everything into the client's house . . . keep reading
|
The Not So Odd Couple -- Landscape Design and Production
Jody Shilan, Editor
The ultimate goal of any landscape design is to see the "plan" ultimately installed. The role of the designer is to create a vision of the client's goals and desires and develop these "dreams" into a thoughtfully created landscape plan. The role of production is to take that plan and build it . . . keep reading
|
Extra! Extra! Read All About You!
Rod Dickens | Contributor
There's no mystery to getting your company name and projects in a magazine, newspaper, or other publication. The process begins by targeting the right publication, understanding who the reader is, and knowing what the editors want . . . keep reading
|
|
|
|
|
About this Site
