Posts Tagged ‘Irrigation’
Internet Marketing & Social Media for Irrigation Contractors Presentation
by Tom Barrett
Internet Marketing is Just Plain Confusing!
On June 12, 2013, I had fun presenting “Internet Marketing & Social Media for Irrigation Contractors” at webinar hosted by the Ohio Irrigation Association. Here are my thoughts and comments.
Why a Website?
Why Not a Camel?
I’d Walk a Mile for a Camel”– Groucho Marx
Most irrigation contractors are as confused about website, internet marketing, and social media as Groucho was about Camels. There is an overload of information available about the which social media channel to use and how to use it.
And a lot of doesn’t work for irrigation contractors.
In this presentation Tom Barrett cleared up a lot of the myths about internet marketing, websites, social media, and email.
Comments
This is excellent information. Just what I am looking for to help my customers.”
– John McKay, Rain Bird
This really cleared up a lot of my confusion. I like seeing the great results we received from our (Ohio Irrigation Association) test of Facebook Advertising.”
– J.C. Wheaton, Centerville Landscaping and Irrigation
Key Points on Internet Marketing
- Why you, as an irrigation contractor, need a website.
- You can not judge the effectiveness of a website by its appearance.
- What you pay for a website varies dramatically and is not always a reflection of its effectiveness in bringing in new business.
- The audience for your website is both the consumer and the search engines. Here a small change in wording can have a huge impact on being found by an internet search.
- How social media, and Facebook in particular, can amplify your marketing.
- Internet marketing is less expensive but more time consuming than conventional marketing.
- Email converts consumers from looking to buying your product and services.
Here is a copy of the presentation. Feel free to share it with others…
Drip Irrigation
Water Your Garden Easily and Efficiently
Water Only Where You Need It
Drip Irrigation is the most efficient method of watering your garden available. Conventional irrigation systems may only be 50% efficient. A properly installed drip irrigation system is over 90% efficient. Drip irrigation applies water directly to the soil, only where you need it. The water is immediately available to the plant roots. Water is not wasted through evaporation, wind, or surface run off.
Better than Soaker Hoses
Additionally, the technology used in today’s drip emitters dramatically improves the efficiency over soaker hoses. Today’s drip systems use pressure compensating emitters. With a soaker hose, more water is applied where the soaker hose connects to the hose bib than at the end of the soaker hose. With pressure compensation, water is distributed evenly throughout the entire drip irrigation system.
Stop Sending Money Down the Drain
A properly installed drip irrigation will save you time and money. It is less expensive than you think. Systems start at $100 installed. We can use your hose bib or rain barrel.
Drip is the perfect solution to watering your vegetable garden, flower garden or newly planted trees.
Your garden will thank you for it!
Contact us today at (641) 209-1891
Sustainable Site Development – Rain Water Harvesting Presentation In Chicago March 1, 2012
New Tools for Sustainable Site Development
Rain Water Harvesting and Condensate Recovery
Presentation by Tom Barrett
WHEN:
Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE:
The Chicago Center for Green Technology
445 N. Sacramento Blvd
(between Chicago Ave. and Lake St.)
Chicago, Illinois
COST: FREE
AIS Continuing Eduction Units: 2
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” wrote Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers rated our nation’s wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water systems a “D” minus. This is the lowest grade in any infrastructure category. The most alarming conclusion is the next lowest grade is “F” – FAILURE. Over the last fifty years America has not invested in new practices and technologies which can enhance our infrastructure and our environment. Rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery are transformative approaches to sustainable site development.
“The over-borrowing, over-consuming, and under-innovation (is) now in the US. . .,” Antonio van Aqtmael said in an October 2007 issue of Newsweek. As engineering solutions to water management that protects, restores, and mimics the natural water cycle. Rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery incorporates both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystems, and provide a wide variety of benefits for people and wildlife. Additionally, all this can be accomplished at a significantly lower cost than conventional concrete and mortar infrastructure.
Join Tom Barrett as he explains how the use of locally produced water helps develop a “natural approach” to efficient use of water and relieves stormwater management issues.
WHAT OTHER SAID ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION
“. . . best class at CCGT so far, rainwater data, new ideas, charts and stats, all the different ways I can use the rainwater for my home.”
” . . . great speaker, the positive outlook, no blame game, examples (drip system), knowledgeable, class got to participate.
Speaker’s Biography – Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett is an accomplished corporate growth and change agent with over thirty years of industry experience. Tom’s leadership experience, holding executive level positions, drives corporate revenue growth through change and innovation for business start-ups, corporate expansions, and divisional turnarounds.
Tom Barrett has been delivering energetic, dynamic presentations and training for over twenty years. These presentations empower people to become masters of change rather than victims of circumstance by developing tools for transformational thinking.
“Tom’s been a leader with smart water technologies, green roofs, rainwater harvesting and other emerging technologies well before they became buzzwords at water conferences. It’s impressive to work with Tom because he knows his stuff from the ground up.”
– Jeff Carowitz, Strategic Force Marketing
Event Registration
Please fill out your information below to register for this event.
Reflections on Brave New World: Trends in the Landscape Irrigation Industry
Recently, I spoke to the Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council’s Winter Education Session. I presented my seminar, “Brave New World: Trends in the Landscape Industry.”
I feel the seminar was incredibly helpful to the folks in the audience. Based on conversations I had with audience members, some of the points they found most interesting were the changing roles of women in work and current trends in the landscape industry.
I also feel I learned a few things through interaction with some of my class attendees. Some of the lessons I will take away from the class are contractors are ready to invest in marketing to grow their business.
I am look forward to my next speaking engagement on February 24th on Permeable Paving at the Chicago Center for Green Technology.
“SMART” Landscape Irrigation
Orlando, Florida
Febraury 4, 2011
The water we use to irrigate our crops is vital and still we as a nation continue to practice inefficient irrigation methods. Current irrigation practices waste an exorbitant amount of money and water using our current process.
Commercial and residential outdoor water use in the United States accounts for more than seven billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation.”—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Learning Objectives
- Understanding that stormwater is the largest source of water pollution in the United States.
- Sustainability starts with the landscape. Developing a functional landscape is the most effective and efficient means of remediating the environment.
- Combining “green infrastructure” with existing, conventional “gray infrastructure,” as well as combining new technology with old technology creating a sustainable future.
Relaxed style with great input!”–Kris Keckley, Rain One Irrigation
Open mined approach to “green” building and use of landscapes.”– Judy Benson, Clearwater Products & ServicesEPA WaterSense 2010 Partner of the Year
Tom, as usual you did a great presentation!”–Brent Mechan, Irrigation Association
Resource Efficient Landscape Irrigation from the National Green Centre
National Green Centre
Saint Louis, Missouri
January 10, 2011
The water we use to irrigate our crops is vital and still we as a nation continue to practice inefficient irrigation methods. Current irrigation practices waste an exorbitant amount of money and water using our current process. The EPA states, “Commercial and residential outdoor water use in the United States accounts for more than seven billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation.” The EPA estimates over three and a half billions gallons of water are wasted every day with inefficient and ineffective irrigation practices.
More than fifty percent of irrigation water used in residential and commercial irrigation systems is wasted. In his presentation, Barrett presents the “State of the Art” in irrigation design and installation. Barrett will present a comprehensive and sometimes controversial exploration of alternate water sources as well as the EPA WaterSense Program, SMART irrigation technology and current regulatory trends in the irrigation industry.
Learning Objective
- Efficient use of irrigation water
- USGBC LEED point system for landscape irrigation systems.
- Alternate water sources for landscape irrigation.
View more presentations from Tom Barrett.
Tom Barrett Announces New Speaking Engagement
Tom Barrett has recently announced upcoming speaking engagements for January 9-10, 2011. Please see the video below for more information.
For more information or to register, please go to www.nationalgreencenter.org.
State of the Irrigation Industry
The Irrigation Association brought together a panel of experts for a two day water conference to predict what they see for the future of the irrigation industry. Lawn and Landscape Magazine, a national publication, published an excellent summary of these expert’s views. Below are what the experts predict:
2010 Water Conference Report
How Can the Irrigation Industry Take a Leadership Role in Addressing our Water Challenges?
A report from the Irrigation Association’s 2010 Water Conference
By MaryLou Smith
“Rainwater is beautiful water. Why aren’t we using it?” Tom Barrett asked. He then proposed justification and techniques for keeping rainwater on site so that it can be used to help fulfill water needs.
Designing impermeable surfaces to capture rainwater is key, he said, and that requires being able to hold water from when it falls to when we need it. He cited the example of Chicago, which receives average rainfall, where a three-acre commercial lot could capture and utilize almost three million gallons a year. Alternatively, Barrett posed, that water becomes stormwater, which is considered our number one source of water pollution and which costs a considerable amount of money to manage.
How can we effectively use that rainwater and keep it from becoming stormwater? Barrett suggested a variety of solutions, including:
- Size the landscape to absorb anticipated rainwater, including roof and hardscape runoff
- Use the harvested rainwater within 30 hours. . .
- Create a concave landscape. . .
- Collect runoff, filter it, apply it to the landscape and create habitats
Though rainwater barrels have received much publicity recently, Barrett pointed out that they can be unattractive, the water must be used soon, and the barrel must have a sealed lid to keep out mosquitoes. Alternatively, both above and below-ground cisterns are available, which can be set up to provide water for all kinds of non-potable uses and can even be fitted with automatic sensors which switch to the use of city water when the cistern is out of water.
Tom Barrett to speak at IICC 2010 Summer Field Day conference
Danville, IN – Local environmental expert Tom Barrett will be the featured speaker at the 2010 Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council’s 2010 Summer Field Day on Thursday, August 26. The event will be held at the Hendricks County Conference Center & Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main Street, Danville.
Barrett’s presentation, “Developing a Resource Efficient Landscape Irrigation System,” is a hands-on field session where contractors will learn to conduct a water audit. Attendees will even be able to learn about the equipment needed to run a water audit first hand in a working test area.
“An irrigation audit is one of the best ways to ensure that water is being used efficiently,” said Barrett. “Most irrigation systems use more water than they really need to maintain a healthy landscape. The savings in water is well worth the time and effort of an audit.”
About Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council
The primary goal of the Indiana Irrigation Contractors Council (IICC) is to promote professionalism throughout the landscape irrigation industry. The Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council provides legislative advocacy, educational sessions, and networking opportunities in order to advance the success of the professional irrigation community. The Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council (IICC) is a section of the of the Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association.
For more information or to register, please call 317-575-9010.