Many garden designers use online advertising to generate work. A quick Google search illustrates this. The figure below shows an extensive list of garden designers advertising in Google, both as sponsored and non-sponsored links when the phrase "garden designs adelaide" was typed into the Google search text box. It would be a good exercise to try the same search in your city. It is our view that garden designers should be using the Internet as one one marketing vehicle.
Of course, to get liisted in a Google search, you need some content in your web site. We thought that it would be a useful exercise for you to visit some designers web sites.
Paul Ashford Landscapes - http://www.paulashford.co.nz/
This consultancy is based in Dunedin, New Zealand. Paul's web site is comprehensive. Any visitor can quickly judge the quality of work done by this landscape group. There are details of many completed jobs and links to a comprehensive set of information about native New Zealand plants.
Paul Ashford Landscapes uses many 2-D and 3-D software tools to assist clients visualize proposed designs. Movies are used to show walk arounds and views through proposed developments.
Here is a link to a small movie showing an early stage in the development of a landscape plan.
Note that the services offered, the price and the manner in which the consultancy goes about delivering its services is clearly stated. Let's look at the above site in more detail.
Phone or email to arrange a convenient time for garden designer Rachel Mathews to visit, both weekday and weekend appointments are available. Once we’ve arranged a time, an appointment letter and questionnaire will be sent to you so you can get some thoughts down on paper before we meet.
This is an in depth discussion to discover your tastes and discuss the style of garden you wish to achieve. A portfolio of completed gardens will be incorporated into the discussion to show the kind of results that we can produce. If you have lots of ideas this process will help refine what you do want or if you have no ideas at all, it will enable you to get a clearer idea of what can be done.
When we’ve discussed your design needs a scale plan will be drawn up. This plan shows the garden layout to scale with suggested materials. Perspective sketches are also shown on the plan; enabling you to see how the garden will look from certain view points, this can be especially useful if you are not used to reading plans. The design pack will include 3 plan copies.
This will show the position and quantity of plants required. Each planting plan is designed to suit your needs, location and garden style. A laminated booklet is produced for each scheme which shows colour photos of the plants along with a general guide on plant care as well as information on height, flowering and other relevant information.
Once you are happy with the design we can then quote to build the garden. We can quote to build your garden from start to finish in one go or it can be done in phases that suit you.
When you have accepted the quote we will issue you with a start date. Rachel, the designer works closely with the construction team during the construction process so that any adjustments needed during the build, work within the design.
Here is a link to showcase some of the work our construction team do: A discussion of materials used
How does a garden designer create a web site?
Let's look at a site under construction.
Assignment
Use the word processor in Google Docs to discuss the effectiveness of garden designers web sites that you have been able to visit.
