Keep'em coming back - Why you should consider a blog

Published in the Maryland Nursery Landscape Association   •   "Free State Nursery & Landscape News" Spring 2013 magazine.  Page 28. I wanted to share this with all of you.

In this day and age everyone has a website. If you don't you're already 2 steps behind! It's not too late to start. With so many social media's how do you keep up with it all? What do you put your time into? Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, Myspace, Twitter, Wordpress**, Blogger, Instagram and so on... How can anyone keep up with it all?  Let alone find time running a full time business, family life and find time to manage social media! You can't?!  But you should. I like to describe the power of a blog like the "Butterfly Effect" (1963 Meteorologist Edward Lorenz). Could the flap of a butterfly's wings in Singapore affect a hurricane in North Carolina? YES. *



Why blog? Current information, A blog can be added to a website or you can just start a blog all on its on. What is a blog? Think of it like a newspaper delivered to your door as often as you choose to read it. Maybe you just want the Sunday paper nothing else. I started a blog and made it my website. The down side to a website is its a lot like a book. Once you read it do you pick it up and read it again? Not likely. Now think of a blog as the newspaper. A blog keeps you up to speed on current events, what's new, the weather, auctions, classifieds, any topic you can write about. In return, you're giving and sharing knowledge.

With my RockinWalls Blog I write about, How to, finished/project stories, tools.. with the blog I can tell a story. The benefit is that by blogging viewers have a sense of who I am without meeting me. They can see what I do and how I do it. They can follow my stories, see my photos, my work, what's my favorite tool..... The power of a blog with strong images dominates over every other social media I believe. Many would think Facebook would be a top pick but I feel that unless you understand Facebook or have an account many don't get it. Your not capturing your optimal audience like a blog will.

50% of my customers have chosen me over other stone masons which offered services for half of what I quoted. How did I win them over? I didn't. My blog did. I just told my story about what I do and how I do it. With my stories and photos they can see for themselves what services I offer. The biggest value of the blog a client has the opportunity to get to know you before you meet making it easy to connect when they reach out to you for your services. They feel like they already know you!

With a blog you have several choices to start a blog. Blogger (owned by google) Wordpress or your current website should have a blog tab or app to allow you to start today. I run all of my blog/website with Blogger = Google. Yes I did say Google. You don't even want to know what it would cost to get what I get for free. By blogging your website will continue to get higher rankings because of search engine optimization. (SEO) Anyone can start today with blogger, all you need is a Gmail account. It's free and no one needs to know if you just want to set one up. Choose the name you like then blogger will do the reset. RockinWalls = Rockinwalls.blogger.com this will get you started then if you decide to make this your website, like I have, you would just have your web domain name directed to your blogger address. Kind of like snail mail being forward to a new mailing address.

You only need a few tools to get started. A computer, digital camera with HD video, time to write, time to photograph, and topics. My highest viewed blog projects have over 30 images with descriptions. I'm not sure if viewers keep coming back to read after a quick glance at the start to finish photos or that the images show a great deal. Tip:  Photos placed on a web/blog should be able to be enlarged so viewers have control to increase the viewing size for more detail. Watermarks** should also be included on all of your photos to protect your intellectual property**. (Ie people stealing your photo's to benefit themselves.)



In addition to blogging you should also consider setting up YouTube or a Video account. If you don't have a YouTube account, set one up. Use the business name if you can. I use YouTube = Google owns it. MORE Free Advertising. People don't care about some fancy production. You can use an Iphone and get great video, documenting a project, a keynote speaker, new inventory, services you offer. I have spent a great deal of time videotaping silly stuff, How to's all the way to documenting Dry Laid Stone Master Craftsman from around the world. Building a library of content for viewers BRANDING MY NAME AND LOGO. (business identity)

Some other great things with Blogger and YouTube are the back-end statistics.  Who cares?  Right? Wrong! I can tell you details from week/day/month/all time. Overview on posts, (posts, pages) traffic sources, (referring URLs, referring sites, search keywords) audience, (country, browser, operating systems). YouTube goes even further to tell you age, sex, how long they viewed... Do you get this from your current website? Does it matter- DO YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? YES it all matters! Keeping your finger on the pulse is easy with the right tools in hand.  Tip:  I recommend writing a blog every 7-14 days, any more is to much, any less is too little. This is just a personal feeling from other blogs I follow. Remember a blog can be as simple as just a photo and a few key
words.





Yes anyone can do it.  Once you start you can't stop. The biggest downside I see like anything in life you have to stay committed. Many don't even make it a few months before they fall short.  You can do it yourself, involve your staff to contribute and be a part of the story you have to tell.


Rockin Wall Stats:
YouTube: 98,137 video views, 82 subscribers. (Since 2009)
Blog: 82,000 page  views. Current page views 500-600 (Since 2010)

These days, everyone has a gadget. I believe content is KING! With content your viewer can choose to read everything or nothing. With the internet, consumers in a pinch can scan an item and know everything about it. So why would you not choose to offer them the same? Start blogging.

I'm available to talk on any of the topics or services I offer. We can all learn and grow when we all share. 

I've created 3 different blogs by using one tool blogger. Take a few minutes to see for yourself the versatility of this tool.

www.DryStoneResource.com . industry . blog . web .
www.MotoStrada.com . Francis motor scooter dealership - blog . web .

Blogs I follow:
Dan Snow Stoneworks
Hammerhead Stoneworks
Old World Stone & Garden

Footnotes:
*Harry Beckwith, Selling The Invisible. pg 9-10

**Topics listed below can be found in more detail on this blog.
- Blogger Vs Wordpress
- Watermarks (protecting your photographs from theft)
- Intellectual property - who's stealing your images?

Round Hill Road, Frederick VS - Starburst Arch Story 2013

Round Hill Road, Frederick MD April 2013. Western Maryland Stone used for starburst - roman arch (semi circle). Colonial PA Lilac stone used for 3' high wall with flat caps. 

Wall 3' h x 9' 4" l PA Lilac /  Arch 31" w x 19" h Western Maryland

In 2009 I took an advanced workshop were me and 9 others learned to build a starburst arch with field limestone. The frame for the arch was already built. In 2 days we moved around the wall. Each working on one section at a time. 

The wall is just about finished here. Just need to finish off the remaining with a traditional vertical cap stones. 

This is the finished starburst arch. 

Related Video:

Dry Stone Wall w/ Arch DSC Workshop 2009 KY

When one of my former clients requested a new build he showed me his drawling of an arch. (above) I couldn't have been more excited to take on the project. After learning the method of how to determine the size of the arch from Bill Noble. I felt confident to take on such a great opportunity to put my mind to creating something amazing. 

Related Video:

Video - How To Build A Segmental Arch for Natural Stone by Bill Noble Master Craftsman DSWA 

I started out building my first arch frame. I started with two bottom ends and one top. In order to determine the batter. I just used one of my traditional wall frames for a 3 foot high wall. The only mistakes I made was I forgot to subtract the thickness of the plywood on the outsides. The other was the fact that when you place your frame into place to build your arch. You need to install boards to help in the removal of the frame once completed. As seen this below. Frame is 15" h x 30" w.



The arch frame is sitting on two 2x4's. The arch sits on dry laid stone platform. Do you see the string line attached to the arch frame?



The wall frames in place as I'm building up the wall. The most important part of the arch frame is a string attached in the middle bottom with a screw. This string allows me to move it around the arch to see where I should be placing my stones as I go around. Its not a magic trick. Just like a clock I move the string and place the next stone.



Little by little. As you can see with the photo work in progress. Nothing to hide here. Little stone here a little stone there. Always nice to have some stones sitting right by your feet. Keeps it easy. All you have to do is look down to find the next one for the wall. ha ha



The biggest focus for the client was having the contrast of a red stone with the white. He wanted to enjoy seeing the contrast between the two. But more importantly having the star burst look like a sun beams. The other request was the direction the wall was facing so the sun would shine on it during the later afternoon as it sets over the mountains for bed time.



In front of the arch I built a bench with a local stone from the property. Now the arch is finished time to pack the stones tight. Some other tips to keep in mind as you build your arch you need to follow the same rules. Cover your joints, Pack the middle, Build to your string line (on the arch) As you place a arch stone keep them the same size as you go across from front to back.

The most important part as I build is keeping all the plates between the stone tight. Packing the insides keep the arch tight.



With the wall finished now its time to pull out the 2x4 boards under the arch forum so it can now drop down. Kind of like releasing a casting from a mold. (YouTube to Follow).

The wall without the frame. This is the back of the wall with 1' high wall and bench around the side. I originally didn't plan to used the white western Maryland stone on the back. I figured why not!  It would just give me one more chance to practices. I didn't focus on the design or pattern as much as the front.

Front of 3' high dry laid stone wall.

Side - back view.

Back view.

Dry Laid Stone Double Arch Bridge Kentucky

This bridge has had several repairs threw its life. The last make over in 2007 by a KY group / partnership correcting many of the errors others made before. The new limestone fits nice and tight to each other. Notice not only is this a double arch, but the angle of the bridge creates an additional challenge in building this structure.  Shaping each stone to fit correctly. 

Located on Glass Mill Rd, Wilmore, Jessamine, Kentucky 40390 close to the intersection of Figg Lane.

When I went looking for this structure I drove right over it not even know I had just missed it. I had to turn around and check each bridge in the area just to see if it was the right one. You can see from the photo above's above just how easy this would be to miss!

Once I got down under I was amazed at just how well every stone was place in each spot. Covering all the key rules. Making sure to break each joint. Locked tightly to each other. This is a  great example of just why arches have been used by builders from the earliest times. I always get a good laugh when people always say don't you need mortar? Ya NOPE. What's that. Stone on stone contact - Gravity and Friction! This bridge handles full size trucks driving over it.

2 major methods are used to cut these stones into the sizes and shapes needed. 1) Feather and Wedges as seen above drilling large stones into smaller pieces. The dead give away when you see stones with drill marks. 

Related Blogs: 

How To - Wedge and Feathers Voodoo Magic

Wedge and Feathers Railroad Bridge Alesia to Lineboro Rd MD

2) The next major method used on this project was a Hydraulic Stone breaker called Stone Mason Mobil M50. Manufactured by CEE-JAY Tool Company. 

No matter how big or how small the same rules apply when building an arch. This is a great example dry laid stone construction. 

Related Blog:Video - How To Build A Segmental Arch for Natural Stone by Bill Noble Master Craftsman DSWA

Video - How To Build A Segmental Arch for Natural Stone by Bill Noble Master Craftsman DSWA

Bill Noble Master Craftsman DSWA explains a simple method on how to build a segmental arch. Bill is well known for his years of shaping natural stone, taking on dry laid stone construction that no one else would. He is 4th generation with his daughter and son following his footsteps. Bill resides in Yorkshire UK.

Footage taken in Hanover Ontario Canada at the StoneWurx international festival 2012, Hosted by Ground Effects Landscapes, Project leader and creator of the Stable DSWA  Master / Examiner - Dean McLellan - Canada 

Related Blogs:

Video - Dry Stone Wall w/ arch - Advanced Workshop KY USA 2009

Oldetown Historic Landscape - Stone Archway. 

Coursed Random with Jumpers - Walling style

Illustrated by Mark Jurus - Rockin Walls, Copyright 2013

I set up a page called Stone Examples. I've included my drawling of my preferred walling style called Coursed Random with Jumpers. Like music a guitar can make sounds based on the listeners desired taste. The same holds true for Dry Laid Stone Construction. Not all walls are created equal. Just like a guitar you can't get the same sounds as you might with a violin. What am I getting at? Stone has different shapes. Just like a musical instrument they each have there places.

The stone I work with is more like the shape of books. Square with flat surfaces referred to as level bedding stone or sedimentary stone (blog to come).  This is the common stone in my area (Butler, Western Maryland stone). PA Blue stone would be a good example most people may know about.

To start I'd like to show you an example of Coursed Random Wall. Built by Dean McLellan project manager of the StoneWURX Stable Hanover Ontario Canada 2012. This picture shows the outside. Notice double stagered protruding tie stones 3 ft set on center. The best way to describe a Coursed Wall - think of it like brick work just using natural stone. Notice each stone next to the one after etc etc all are the same thickness. Now add in the Random this means bigger stones at the bottom with smaller stones at the top. 

This is the same section Dean's wall just the inside of the building.  

Dean McLellan working on his section for his Advanced DSWA certification requirement.

This section of the StoneWURX Stable would be Coursed Random with Jumpers. Built by DSWA Master Craftsman Philip Dolphin. Now you know what a Coursed Random looks like. You will see with this section larger stones which break the patter of brick work called a Jumper. Think of it like driving throw a parking lot then hitting a speed bump. The jumper lets you switch up your patter. This style can be quick and typically lets you grab a variety of stone at your feet much faster Unless your Andrew Loudon then your the definition of COURSED WALLING. I worked on this project for 5 days the speed at which I watched Philip moved was mind blowing. He wasted no time picking and placing . After all he's a MASTER.

Philip Dolphin working on the same section inside because he's so fast!

StoneWURKS Stable - Dean's section on the left. Philip's on the right. As seen in photos above.

Beechdale Project level bedded stone - Butler w/PA Blue stone

I prefer Coursed Random with Jumpers primarily because I believe it gives a beautiful focus on key placed jumpers. Like a well balanced painting you should always have strong focal points the eye is drawn too. With out this you do not have a strong composition and it all just blends into one another. We've all seen walls like this built by "landscape company's" If your spending the money to build a wall it should say something as it becomes part of the living space. Jumpers just break the patter for me. 

Glenville Project irregular stone - Field stone on site - old corn crib

Special thank you to DSC Journeyman Ashley Meadows for showing me the light.
The walling styles listed are only two of many! To read more check out Dry Stone Walling a Practical Handbook. By Brooks, Adcock, Agate BTCV (coming to this website soon for sale)

Hoffmanville Project level bedded stone - Butler w/ Red sand stone

Trained and certified DCS/DSWA mason 

Dry Stone Principles

Blogger - WordPress - show down, site make over

Yup Rockin Walls had a face lift. After some time back and forth.... blogger... word press.... blogger (google) .... conversations with my wife Teresa ( who got me started blogging in 2010, spent countless hours listing to my latest blog/website idea, from time to time checking or assisting me with spelling) my stone buddy Mark (Hammerhead Stone) who has used wordpress for over 10 years... They both gave me guidance to understand the bigger picture. Content is key, keep it simple, focus on what I do not what I thinking I should be doing.

What was that?? With a BFA in visual communication in graphic design from MICA Maryland Institute in Collage of Art I've had a hard time doing my own design work. I could design anything for someone else but when it comes to myself I go crazing thinking about what I want or don't want. Designing for yourself when your a designer is one of the hardest things. So it was great to have the feedback from the two I can trust.

I read all kinds of articles. Why to move, almost all bloggers upgrade at some point. Why? You own your own content, more choices for templets....

What was I hating about blogger? What's with the strange spacing? No options for sub menu's? Font sizes all over the road at times with different colors... Ya lots of little bugs? Did I say google owned this? One might think this was owned by Window's.......Heck you can try Safari, Chrome (google) But Firefox seems to work the best to fix some glitches. Go figure. That's funny chrome googles own product doesn't work any better to solve the glitches.. why would google have glitches? I'd like to know? I keep asking thinking one day some representative from Google will call me to chat about his issue. But I keep dreaming. A man can dream. Kind of frustrating I don't blame those who jump ship..

So why did I decide to hang around a little longer? Well if somethings working and you can see the benefits over the down sides and work threw the hick-ups why not.

What does google (blogger) got over the other guys? Google will always do everything they can to keep their blogger fitting into the latest gadget, smart phone, tablet, mac, windows, android..... You just can't say that with wordpress.

What else? They up load your images to their library- wow one more great way to promote your business as long as you have that watermark with your website plastered across your image. When someone wants to see the photo google will shoot them right back to your website.

Since google owns blogger and youtube you can't ask for a better way to avoid paying for search engine results... You can look at this world of the internet in different ways. The biggest a world of free information right at your finger tips. How cool is that. A endless resource - one giant library... Fun for everyone.

Please take the time to notice a few inter-active items on this new site. On the right side of the screen you will see a black bar on the edge. This is a slider bar that comes out when you move your mouse over it giving options. Next big thing for your viewing pleasure you can change the way you see the site on the left next to the word "BLOG". I have it set for Magazine. But you can change the site in any formate you see fit to review my content.

Enjoy!

Thank them for helping me by viewing their Websites:

My Wife's Teresa site's ( a horse whisper )
www.meadowcreeklife.com
www.themeadowcreekfarm.com

Mark Archambault - Hammerhead Stone
www.hammerheadstoneworks.com

Please feel free to chime in if you blog what platform your using. Likes and dislikes. Or you would just like to comment on the new site layout.