For more than 30 years, Arbor Age magazine has been covering new and innovative products, services, technology and research vital to tree care companies, municipal arborists and utility right-of-way maintenance companies
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/55123
1030 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068 www.arborage.com jkmitta@m2media360.com Integrated Content Team Executive Vice President Charles Forman Editor John Kmitta Editorial Direction Richard Brandes Production Team Art Director Adam Lane Production Manager Karen Kalinyak M2MEDIA360 President/CEO Marion Minor Vice President, Finance and Operations Gerald Winkel Vice President, Circulation and Collateral Services Joanne Juda-Prainito Production and Operations Director Mary Jo Tomei Direct Mail List Sales Cheryl Naughton, 678-292-6054, fax 360-294-6054 e-mail cnaughton@m2media360.com Reprint Service Cheryl Naughton, 678-292-6054, fax 360-294-6054 e-mail cnaughton@m2media360.com For subscription inquiries and customer service questions please call: 845-856-2229; 845-856-5822 (fax) ARBOR AGE SALES TERRITORIES Charles Forman, Executive Vice President Advertising Account Managers Glenn Datz ph: 213-596-7220 fax: 213-624-0997 gdatz@m2media360.com 626 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Bruce Loria 626 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213-596-7226 bloria@m2media360.com Leslie Palmer 16267 W. 14 Mile Rd., Ste. 202 Beverly Hills, MI 48025 248-530-0300 lpalmer@m2media360.com FROM THE EDITOR Just you, me, and a few thousand "Friends" The rise in popularity of social media has led to a whole new range of meanings to some common words. If someone asks you to "Follow" them, you can be pretty sure they are not asking you to join a cult. If they ask you to "Like" them, they are not just trying to build their self-esteem. And, thanks to Facebook, we all have more "Friends" online than we've ever had in real life. "Like" it or not, the social network is an omnipresent part of our personal and professional lives. Used properly, it has a multitude of benefits — both from a user standpoint and from a business management standpoint. Social media allows us to connect and interact in ways that previously were not possible. We can, of course, keep up with "Friends," but also connect with other industry professionals, thought leaders, news outlets, etc. We can keep up to date on topics that are of interest to us, and share information and opinions with others. For those maintaining Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, LinkedIn accounts, etc., social media presents new ways to reach out to "fans," "followers" or "connections," and share news, information, opinions, photos and more. In business this can be a very effective tool. In this issue of Arbor Age, Les Robinson, social media specialist for Stihl Inc., shares his expertise on how to utilize social media outlets for business success (see "The Power of Social Media" on page 26). Robinson outlines the careful planning and dedication required for successful social media interactions. Publisher's Notice: We assume no responsibility for the validity of advertising claims in connection with items appearing in Arbor Age. Reader Service Numbers are given to facilitate further inquiry. Commercial product names are used for the convenience of the reader. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by Arbor Age or Bev-Al Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. 360 1030 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068 What's not to "Like"? Realizing that we need to practice what we preach, Green Media — publisher of Arbor Age, Landscape and Irrigation, Outdoor Power Equipment and SportsTurf—recently introduced GreenMediaMags, the official Green Media Facebook page. On the new fan page, which will be regularly updated by our staff, you can find the latest Green Industry news, content, photos and commentary. Topics will cover all aspects of the Green Industry —including tree care, outdoor power equipment, sports turf management, landscape design/build, lawn maintenance, irrigation, and much more. You can interact with our editorial staff, as well as other professionals from throughout the Green Industry. The fan page is a great way to provide feedback, share ideas, and follow industry trends. Simply "Like" our Facebook page to start interacting with the Green Media community. Just search for the GreenMediaMags page from your profile, or go directly to the following link: www.Facebook.com/GreenMediaMags and become a "fan." John Kmitta Editor 847-720-5613 jkmitta@m2media360.com www.arborage.com Arbor Age / January/February 2012 5 I hope you "Like" what you see.