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We want you!

Have a question about your business but no one to answer it? Just go to www.linkedin.com, click on the "Groups" tab and search "Lawn & Landscape." Send a request to join and we'll approve you (There's no secret handshake to get in.) Once you're signed up, you will have access to all the green industry consultants and professionals who are part of the group. You can ask questions, give advice or just check out what others have to say about certain topics. Here's an example of what your missing if you haven't joined.

We asked about different questions you could ask when hiring, and received this helpful tidbit from Mike Lysecki, director at Landscape Management Network.

"One of the best things we ever did was include a pre-hire question form with the job application. Applicants have to answer 5-10 straight forward questions about things like where they heard about us and why they're applying for the job. We only get about 50 percent of these back ... which is great. We cut out the 50 percent that aren't that interested, that won't show up on the first day, that will work three days then stop coming ... we have a lot less of that and a lot more people that take their jobs seriously. Plus, we use the answers to scan for people who write good answers. It's like a mini-interview without us investing any time/effort."

Your thoughts, please

See a story in this issue you want to comment on? Go to lawnandlandscape.com, visit the current issue tab on the left and leave feedback on any article. This month the story on the death of ValleyCrest founder Burt Sperber, bit.ly/vcsperber, received a lot of traffic, and here are some of the comments.
 

I am honored to be alongside ValleyCrest as one of their competitors in the Eastern region. We have to stay on top of our game because Burt " ValleyCrest" has built a machine in the landscape industry. ValleyCrest is superior and rooted with integrity and that is why ValleyCrest is the world's leader. – Mike Osbourn Lawn Care

I'm deeply sorry for the lost of Mr. Sperber in the Green Industry. They are a well known and recognized company in the Louisville, Ky., market. I've always looked up to ValleyCrest and the position they held in this industry. They are a great role model and always will be. I wish Richard and his family the best. – Bladerunners, Inc.

Burt was a true visionary and what a great loss for the green industry. Had the honor to work alongside Burt, when they purchased a company I was employed with in the Midwest. My deepest regards to Richard, the family, and to all ValleyCrest employees. – Jerry Riley

Facebook and your business

We recently moderated a webinar with Chris Heiler. The webinar, "Use Facebook to Build Your Business," discusses how building an active fan base that generates business is a real challenge, but also a huge opportunity.

Visit bit.ly/heilerfb to listen to the webinar.

Top Tweets Some stories our Tweeps liked: Brutal Winter Predicted for U.S. Another La Nina in the Pacific Ocean will make it a cold and snowy winter in most parts of the country. bit.ly/brutalwinter Facebook 'likes' small business The social media site is giving away $10 million in advertising credits to smaller companies. bit.ly/fblikebiz 'Dead tree forest' art to some, blight to others A California couple is defiant as city says landscape doesn't meet standards bit.ly/deadforest