Improving LawnSite.com

[Sean Adams]

This is a very important question. In the forum announcement, I announced that effective today I will be taking over where Chuck left off in regard to ownership and operation of LawnSite.com and PlowSite.com.

I want to know everyone's opinion about what improvements and changes could/should be made to this site.

It is your community, and I beleive it is important to know what everyone thinks. There are a lot of changes and exciting new additions that are going to be made very soon.

Let me know what you think everyone....

I'm all ears....

[kutnkru]

I looked to see if you were taking comments in the Off Topic Forum and you werent, then I went to Community Support and it was posted as an announcement there too.

So therefore I will post this here because its about the business of LS and its forum members. I think Charles should be re-instated to the Off Topic Forum (only cause he doesnt post much elsewhere -LOL!!)

One other thing which might be of interest to the masses here could be a section for us to post our agreements and other paperwork materials here for review etc. like they have at other sites.

This way if your looking for a preventative maintenance checklist or a 14pt. Lawn Care Analysis you can simply look at this section for those documents shared by others to get ideas etc.

Otherwise,
Best of Luck on Your New Venture!!

[dougaustreim]

Let me be the first to say congratulations. For the most part, the site could continue as is. Last week, when one thread strated getting out of hand an individual was banned. I think it is very important that the site be policed appropriately and kept professional.

One of the competing forums has gotten really out of hand recently. Very very negative. I started a thread there on Sunday pointing out how the good info was getting buried under garbage. I am not sure if I was responsible in part or what else may have happened, but the site did improve this week.

The format for these sites is so much better than some others, it is really easy to use.

I think the best approach is keep up the good work and fine tune.

Doug
Austreim Landscaping

[Hamons]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I have really enjoyed and benefited from this site tremendously!!!

Ideas that I have for the site -- hmm...

One thing I thnk would be nice if everyone was a verified , valid lawn care professional. If there was some way to atleast have part of the forum only available to those who could prove to be licensed, insured, certified, etc.

Others could view posts -- but not submit posts. or... maybe if there was some way to identify those with valid credentials. I know I have ran across that when reading a post and I take it as good advice and then find out it comes from someone who is 15 years old and never actually run anything close to the type of machine he was commenting on. I know this information is available in the profile -- but maybe something that could be attached to their signature and more easily identifiable.


I can't wait to see the changes you make -- I know they'll make it a better place -- and it's already terrific!!!
-------------------------------------------------
Jeff Hamons
Hamons Custom Landscaping
Overland Park, KS

[bob]

Spell checker and Stone on a short leash.

[dougaustreim]

Just last week someone listed a link to ieSpell that you can download free that spell checks e mails etc. I downloaded it and it works quite well. In fact I just used it on the first part of this message, but I had to add ieSpell, because it didn't recognize it.

Do a search

Doug
Austreim Landscaping

[DLS1]

Hey Bob their is no short leash for Stone. I look at other sites once every full moon and he is bashing over their more than he ever did here.

Try to get Stone to be civilized would be like the UN inspectors trying to get Sadam to turn over all his weapons of mass destruction. Sadam gives up a few but still holds out the big stuff just daring you to come and get it. Just like the US will take out Sadam, Lawnsite would have to ban Stone again after the umpteenth time giving him a chance. Some people will never change. Stome gets his kicks stirring up trouble.

[Tim Canavan]

First off, congrats. I hope you know what you are getting into.:D
I absolutely love this site. I try to visit every day.
I do not think the site should waste time with a spell checker. People should just learn how to spell.
Maybe you could have a Lawn Site South and North. Besides the drastic difference in seasons, there are alot of things you can or can't do in the south that you can in the north and vice versa.

[dklawncare]

First off let me say this site is wonderful. With that said...<p>I do agree with the North/South proposal. Also, let me add to what kutnkru said...i think it would be cool to have a document section where we go and upload/download different documents such as...<p>Residential/Commercial Contracts, Advertisements (yellow page, newspaper,etc.), Flyers, door hangers, proposal/invoice sheets, mission statements, etc. <p>So many times people ask for suggestions about stuff like this and this would save some time and a lot of questions. Alot of times people ask about the wording about stuff, not really the design of things. And this way we can suggest/take suggestions to/from other LCO's. <p> Also, a lot of people ask about postcards, flyers, and especially doorhangers and where the best place on the net to find them. And a good idea for you might be to set up an agreement with a company to give us a link on here with cheap doorhanger, flyer prices. That way we can hopefully purchase the doorhangers for a pretty cheap price and you can make money by referral/advertisement fees. Just a thought though.
<p>A couple of other suggestions: Yard/Landscape Picture of the month, LCO of the month, website of the month. A poll of the month, etc... Again if you just left it like it is it would be fine with me. I love this site and I learn something everyday from it.

[greenman]

I would like to see this be a paysite only to certified, licensed green industry professionals, but that won't happen.

[stevelsc1]

:blob4: I really enjoy the site, most people are honest a hard thing to find in this world. We are all in the same ballgame here.

This type of work is hard on your body and mind. I appreciate the web sites people recomend and their input, expecially Jason from florida with that funnny picture. If anyone caught his recomendations that site anywho and his trick is worth it's weight in gold.

Good luck in your new position

Steve

[cclllc]

Congrads.I like this site alot and have learned alot of valuable info here .I just wish there was a way to weed out all of the repeated topics and some that don't mean a hill of beans .I know there will always be new comers here that want to learn but I get tired of seening the same stuff over and over.People need to use the search feature before posting anything.I see alot of unnecessary pics being posted also.Also when someone tries to post a pic that doesn't work should be removed to save server space.imo,john

[Nebraska]

Different levels of membership. There is getting to be a lot of "excess information" to wade through. Maybe lawnsitepartimers.com and lawnsitepro.com

[DLS1]

How about also showing the following over to the left when a person posts. Some or all of this has probably been mentioned somewhere on this site.

1. Age
2. Location - at least show zone since some don't want to show city due to worries of competition seeing their post related to prices they charge,etc.
3. Status (part-time or full-time)
4.Years in business

People sure have been making a lot of comments about teenages giving advice (ie., finances) when they don't have any experience or knowledge to give advice in certain areas. Actually that can pertain to any age but when your young it is a lot easier to be singled out. Not to bad mouth teenagers but some here like to make comments just to make comments.

At least people can use the above information right away instead of going to the profile area to see how serious they want to take a persons comments about a subject. I know some people will lie about their age,experience,etc. but most people will tell the truth.

[1stclasslawns]

Hey Sean I Just thought of somthing I don't like about lawnsite! :cry:

It's all of the LONG quotes!!

Is there some way you as administrater limit the legnth of a quote to say 4 lines??

Thanks Jim

[Threeponys]

How about also showing the following over to the left when a person posts. Some or all of this has probably been mentioned somewhere on this site.

1. Age
2. Location - at least show zone since some don't want to show city due to worries of competition seeing their post related to prices they charge,etc.
3. Status (part-time or full-time)
4.Years in business


I agree with LSDLS.
Drop the # of posts and replace with the above catagories. :)

[rvsuper]

A place where you can post wanted items only. i.e. someone wants a new 36" w/b for home use (me, hehe) I could post in that forum for someone who is trying to sell one.

[Casey]

I would really appreciate if we could cut the swearing or the symbols people use to imply swearing. I must admit that I do have a tendency to swear in my day to day speaking, trying to quit. And I know a lot of people swear without even knowing it but when you type the word out and then use the spell check and actually have to go back and skip or fix, you are quite aware of what you are doing. My 6yr old grand-daughter likes to sit and read the screen with me and it sure would make things a bit easier for me.

[dougaustreim]

Amen

[DLS1]

Casey, I'm with you about swearing. I wish curse words would be rejected on this site but you can't have everything. Things have gone downhill in this country ever since I think it was Reagan got rid of censures on TV all in the name of less government. Been downhill ever since. Now you can hardly censure anything or you considered trampling on someones freedom of speech.

[crawdad]

First, I want to thank everyone who works to make this such a great site. You will never make everyone happy, but you are doing a fantastic job.
Maybe we could all use widdle baby talk words so no one is offended. "Cheese Whiz, gosh-durn it."
What's the big deal about "swearing?" Personally, I think using the wrong words to be more of a pain than "bad words."
Here's just one example of something a spell-checker won't catch. The word was spelled correctly, but it isn't the word that the writer intended to use.
If you're not sure, use the "gosh-durn" dictionary, dag-nab it!
Crawdad


Main Entry: cen·sure
Pronunciation: 'sen(t)-sh&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin censura, from censEre
Date: 14th century
1 : a judgment involving condemnation
2 archaic : OPINION, JUDGMENT
3 : the act of blaming or condemning sternly
4 : an official reprimand

Main Entry: cen·sor
Pronunciation: 'sen(t)-s&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from censEre to give as one's opinion, assess; perhaps akin to Sanskrit samsati he praises
Date: 1531
1 : one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
2 : one who supervises conduct and morals: as a : an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter b : an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
3 : a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness

[KenH]

Heres a serious suggetsion:

I posted this in another Forum, but received no reply:

Is it possible to have threads which I have read already be highlight in a different color.?? I frequent some other non landscape related BB's which are the same format as Lawnsite. All the threads which I have looked at in these BB's turn a different color. Makes it alot easier to find threads I posted in or am interested in following.

Just a thought for improvement.

[AltaLawnCare]

I think you're already doing a great job of improving.

And it means alot you're concerned enough to look for ways to improve.
;)