Month / May 2015

by Copley Sutton

5 Essential Tools for Advanced Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance

The difference between mediocre landscaping and perfect landscaping is often in the equipment. There are a number of excellent landscaping tools every good garden service should possess. Among the following five essential pieces of equipment are high-end lawn maintenance tools, as well as general cleaning devices. Consider each one for the enhancement of your landscaping service.

 

Zero-Turn Mowers

For precise lawn mowing and excellent manoeuvrability, zero-turn mowers are a must-have. Many medium to large gardens have complex garden bed edges which can be difficult to navigate. Every garden also has that tight area which is hard to get to without the right equipment. Bear in mind the size of the mower you opt for. Narrower models are a safer option because of their versatility. They are more gate-friendly and ideal for compact garden areas.

 

Mini Excavators

In order to perform proper, professional landscaping services, there is no substitute for a mini excavator. These excavators deliver 360 degree turning in small areas while performing digging tasks that would take a person hours to do. There are now models available in approximately 27 inches wide and even smaller. Again, a smaller model is your wisest choice so that it can fit through narrow gateways and tight garden areas. You also want an excavator that is easy to transport to your various job sites.

 

Skid-Steer Loaders

Skid-steer loaders are like mini tractors and are perfect for moving—or removing—large piles of gravel or refuse. Various attachments can also be fitted to the arm of a skid-steer loader in order to speed up landscaping tasks. Tasks include—but are not limited to—logging, clearing and rock removal. The versatility and speed of these machines deliver a great return on investment by reducing your need for laborers and resulting in less work completion time. There are also certain tasks that just cannot be done properly without the benefits of heavier garden machinery.

 

Weed Eaters & Hedge Trimmers

Neatness is what separates the good landscaping companies from the great ones. Weed eaters and hedge trimmers allow your workers to bring real refinement to garden beds and sidewalks. Large, complex gardens often have pebble-bed areas, stepping stones, and bricked sidewalks—all of which look horrible when covered in renegade grass. These devices zone in on those hard-to-reach places and render them neat and distinguished.

 

Backpack Blowers

Portable backpack blowers are perfect for large gardens. The operator can move to any section without having to worry about a power connection or frustrating cables. Strong blowers are able to clear a large garden area within a fraction of the time it would take to sweep or rake. Landscaping and lawn maintenance involves a lot of cleaning up—especially during fall when trees are dropping leaves by the thousands. These devices come in a range of battery- or fuel operated choices—either of which will suit your needs as a landscaper.

 

To remain ahead in a competitive industry, landscapers are encouraged to buy high quality tools to reduce time and fit more clients into their schedule. These tools and machines will not only increase your company’s productivity, but they will also bring a sense of professionalism to your work.

by Copley Sutton

When in doubt about what to write

Times often come when you have simply drained your creative juices and are not sure what to write anymore. That unfinished paragraph is just staring at you and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to squeeze meaningful content out of your brain and onto the screen.

 

Here are some quick-fix ideas on how to give your content a new dimension and make it more conversational:

 

  1. How-to in action

A great way to showcase your description or point is to describe it in action. For instance, if you are writing about how to create compelling essays, describe a scenario where the student receives the essay. The student then hits writer’s block, get’s stressed, and eventually reads your blog to get the much needed advice. Put yourself in your reader’s shoes and empathize with his or her situation.

 

  1. A list

Sometimes it’s easier to say something by breaking it up into multiple points. Consider creating a list of features or benefits to describe your subject better. This not only makes it easier to read, but will arrange your content in a neater, comprehendible way.

 

  1. Benefits instead of features

You may very well be stuck in the rut of only describing the features of your subject. Try taking a different approach by discussing how the subject can benefit the reader. People always respond better to benefits than features. Therefore, if you mention a feature, be sure to elaborate on how it will better the circumstances of the reader.

 

  1. Slip in a joke

Sit for a minute or two and think of a way you can add humour to a sentence or a paragraph.  A well-positioned joke can re-capture the attention of a reader and lighten up a dreary article. It also adds a touch of humanness to your writing—and people respond to human writing. This doesn’t mean you should be crude. It also doesn’t mean you should make a joke at someone else’s expense—unless it’s you. Exaggeration is a good example; or simply elaborating on what’s going on in someone’s mind when they are frustrated. Use your imagination.

 

  1. Make an analogy

A real lifesaver in writing can be an analogy—especially when you are struggling to explain a concept. Simply compare your concept with something that clearly represents it well. Make sure you use an analogy that the reader can relate to, or you run the risk of further confusing the issue.

 

  1. Give an example

Don’t confuse this tip with #1. You aren’t describing a scenario here; you are simply providing an example. Your sentence will start with, “For instance,” or “An example of this is…” It’s a great way to elaborate on your point and further solidify the concept in your reader’s mind.

 

  1. Ask a question. Give an answer

Asking questions in your article is a great way to be conversational. Pre-empt what the reader may ask once you have said something. By showing the reader that you know what they are thinking, they will see your writing as personal and authoritative.

 

Know of any other tips? Let us know on the comment section below. Happy writing!

 

About the author: Copley Sutton is an international copywriter based in South Africa. His services include conceptual copywriting, blogging, website content, proofreading & editing, press releases and product descriptions.  

by Copley Sutton

How to cope with freelancing stress

One thing I have come to notice while freelance writing is that freelancers are continually faced with a discipline issue. This issue comes up in the form of a choice that each one must make during every moment: “Do what I WANT, or do what I MUST?”

An interesting observation is that whenever they make the choice to do what they want, they are immediately struck with a feeling of anxiousness. This anxiousness comes from allowing themselves to prioritize their comfort over their work.

This results in a snowball effect of stress because the more they do what they want, the more behind they fall in their work—which leads to even more compounding stress. Even if they force themselves to do what they must, their minds are distracted by that which they want to do. And so it isn’t long before they stop working and start watching their favourite comedy or playing a favourite computer game.

So how do I counter this way of thinking? Well, it’s all in the knowledge of what is going on in my mind. If I can realize that doing what I want causes unimaginable stress, then doing what I must will be the remedy to that stress. In other words, if I decide that I do not want to be stressed out and worry about my work, I will sit at my desk and WORK!

The more work I get done, the lower my stress levels seem to fall. I think a big mistake many freelancers make is that they think it’s the work that is what’s stressing them out, when in fact it’s the procrastination that is. Making a conscious decision to work even though I don’t feel like it is NOT the answer. Making a conscious realization that one option leads to stress, while the other option alleviates stress, is the best way to approach every working day freelancers are at home.

 

About the author: Copley Sutton is a freelance copywriter in Johannesburg, South Africa. He and his team of writers handle a number of international and local writing projects for the web, magazines and students

by Copley Sutton

Copywriters in Johannesburg – Good help is hard to find!

There seems to be a great need for good writers in South Africa which is why so many local clients opt for international freelancing platforms to get their work done. As an international writer, I have often been overwhelmed with too much work. This leads me to search for writers in South Africa who have the kind of experience I need to cater for all my clients and meet their deadlines.

This is not as easy as it sounds. Upon searching for writers and copywriters in Johannesburg, I found that many fancy themselves as writers, but either lack the qualifications or the drive to do it well.

Then there’s the question of work ethic. Those who are decent writers in South Africa are often full of excuses as to why their work could not be delivered on time–or why it wasn’t checked before delivery. As a South African copywriter who has been in this industry for over three years now, I know that such writers will not get far at all. They may have talent, but you need to be disciplined and apply that talent if you want to get anywhere. They may have good work ethic too, but get the qualifications behind your name before you start promising quality to companies.

Writing has also evolved into more than just the expression of ideas. Online writing has a multitude of categories:

  • Landing page copywriting
  • Product description writing
  • Website content that is SEO friendly
  • Business blogging
  • Online magazine writing
  • …and more

South African writers and copywriters who do not stay up to date with all of these trends will fall by the wayside. That’s why I encourage my team of writers to have a serious passion for online writing so that they can continually grow with the industry. It changes so fast.

 

If you are a great writer who knows you were destined to be in this industry, I’d love to hear from you. See my contact page and pop me a mail if you are looking to make an entrance into the exciting–albeit tough–world of online writing in South Africa.