October 15, 2010
Denis Flanagan CLD
Director of public relations and membership services

Denis FlanaganJust over two years ago, following a directive from the provincial board, a new consumer website for LO was created.

The board invested funds to create a professional and informative website for the consumer by forming a branding committee, under the name Green for Life. Through public focus groups, the committee arrived at its main objectives, which included:
  • Promote horticulture — We do this with online information and videos and by linking with numerous other partners in the original green industry.
  • Be a source for consumer questions — We do this by partnering with the Master Gardeners to answer questions and by directing the public to our garden centre members for advice.
  • Create awareness and business — Members of the public can easily access a list of LO members who work in their home area, and find out more about the member by viewing that member’s online profile.

As I travel around the province, members often tell me about the work they are getting via the Green for Life site. In fact, at a landscape designers’ meeting the other day, it was a topic on the agenda. Here is some feedback:

“The LO web site has connected my company with a far greater number of people than I could have reached alone. It has also publicized this company’s website. As a result, I have received a variety of calls from prospective clients requiring the services of a qualified landscape designer.” Judith Humphries CLD, A Garden for All Seasons, Mississauga.

“I have found that customers are using all the tools that are available to them to make a more educated and informed decision with their purchases. The LO website has generated a good number of leads for us, while providing an opportunity to introduce ourselves, without even speaking to them.” Tony Lombardi, Dr. Landscape, Scarborough.

“The Landscape Ontario website has been a good source of leads for us over the years.” Harry A. Gelderman, Gelderman Landscaping, Waterdown.

As we all know, maintaining a quality website can be a challenge. To ensure this happens we made some internal staff changes in order to have the website updated and edited on a regular basis. Rob Ellidge is doing a great job on your behalf. He compiles a monthly report. The following was recorded last month.

Total visits to website are up 7.5 per cent over the previous year. Total visits to the website: 14,224 in Aug. 2009, 15,252 in Aug. 2010.

Don’t forget that Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life is your website. Please use it to your advantage by uploading your profile information and link to your own company’s website to take full advantage of your membership in your association. It’s easy, just visit www.horttrades.com/greenforlife for instructions.
Denis Flanagan may be contacted at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.