Creating a site for a landscape designer, your thoughts appreciated

That's very true, Dana - I create small networks of 3 to 5 'related' topic sites with WP - a few original posts and feeds for content - stripped of all 'bloggy' features such as date, author, and often even content - and they usually are not only indexed but have a PR 2 within a few weeks.

I don't know why either, I am sure it's the combination of original content and WP - but it sure works quickly for about 90% of my sites done this way!

Melody

Yes, I totally agree!! Why not set up a simple squeeze page - even a video squeeze page and build a list of interested local people. Give them great info delivered to their email
and she can sell her services to them and even create and sell info/digital products plus physical how to products to them. She could easily build relationships with the local people doing this.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. I typically open up Notepad! But that's not always a very smart or efficient way to get things done, when there are so many great programs out there to help you create fantastic sites.

I think I'm going to start with Open Source Web Design - Download free web design templates. and look at some simple templates, that will be easier for me to customize down the road.

I helped my hardscaper/landscaper put together a site. He is swamped with work in this bad economy and his site contributes to getting customers.

1. Use a WordPress SEO template with SEO plugins
2. Stay keyword rich and make sure you include the area served on every page. People will search for city+landscaper.
3. Take lots of beautiful pictures of landscape work done. Always include flowers and lots of breathtaking color. Make sure you put your copyright with your domain at the bottom of each photo. At least if people rip you off . . . sometimes you will at least get some free advertising.
4. Include lots of customer testimonies. Some of the articles on my hardscaper's site are even written by customers with a photo of their project.
5. If you can do fixed prices to give people a general feel for the cost . . . it will help to prequalify.
6. Use a .com domain. Do NOT use domain.com/blog. Put everything under the domain.com/. Integrating everything is easy.
7. Make a YouTube video slideshow of landscape examples with a link back to your site
8. Write informative articles about gardening and pitch these articles to the media for free publicity. If you include links to photos, many magazines need filler. When you get picked up, add the article to the site.

Hope this helps.