Landscape contractors and golf course superintendents are increasingly using mobile devices and social media. Apple devices are popular among both groups for their phones and tablets. Facebook and LinkedIn are widely used social media platforms, while Twitter and industry blogs are also common for superintendents. Visual platforms like Pinterest and photo sharing may grow as contractors and superintendents get more comfortable online.

1. Contractors get
mobile and social
Landscape contractors and lawn care operators are clearly comfortable using mobile
devices and social media in the field – to communicate with both clients and their
own employees. Apple devices are the clear favorite when it comes to handhelds,
thanks to the ease of integration across phone and tablet platforms. Facebook and
LinkedIn get the most love when it comes to social media, but look for visual services
like Pinterest to grow in popularity as contractors get more comfortable online.
33% 7%30% 28%
iPhone
Blackberry
Droid
Regular cell phone
(non-smart phone)
What kind of cell phone do you use?
Which of the following does your company
have? (check all that apply)
Which of the following tablets do you use?
iPad
Android based
Amazon Kindle Fire
Amazon Kindle 1.0
I do not own a tablet
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Industry blogs
I do not use
social media
Which of the following social media
platforms do you engage in?
How old are you?
Company website
Facebook page
Twitter feed
LinkedIn page
Company blog
None of the above
22-29
30-39
40-49
50-65
Over 65
67% 25% 2%5% 1%
59% 12% 5%32% 8% 56% 14%32% 8% 6%38%
Data compiled from 2012 Lawn & Landscape survey of 138 readers.
11% 18% 24% 40% 7%
39%

2. Superintendents are
increasingly connected
Golf course superintendents, like their counterparts in the landscape
industry, love their mobile devices. Again, Apple dominates the market
in both phones and tablets. Superintendents have embraced Twitter and
blogs, as well as the more generally popular platforms of Facebook and
Linkedin, as a way to communicate course conditions with members and
to help troubleshoot problems with colleagues across the country.
46% 16% 20% 23%
iPhone
Blackberry
Droid
Regular cell phone
(non-smart phone)
Which of the following cell phones
do you use? (check all that apply)
Which of the following tablets do
you use? (check all that apply?)
Which of the following social media do
you engage in? (check all that apply)
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Industry Blogs
I do not use
social media
Company website
Facebook page
Twitter feed
LinkedIn page
Company blog
None of the above
Which of the following does your
company have? (check all that apply)
How old are you?
40% 2% 4% 3% 2% 52%
iPad
Android based
Amazon Kindle Fire
Amazon Kindle 1.0
Barnes and Noble Nook
I do not own a tablet
70% 43% 49% 4% 41% 16% 91% 59% 31% 14% 22% 7%
22-29
30-39
40-49
50-65
Over 65
10% 27% 24% 36% 3%
Data compiled from 2012 GCI survey of 186 readers.