Mike Stewart was having one of those days where everything went wrong.

“I started thinking, ‘I think there are a lot of people out there in our industry who could relate or experience the same things we do day in and day out – the good times, the bad times,” says Stewart, president of Stewcare in Delaware, Ohio.

So in summer 2010, Stewart decided to start filming the everyday stuff with his cousin, a computer programming major in college who was helping Stewcare launch its new website. Stewart created a YouTube channel called Mowing Pains, and he started with a basic introduction to the company: an interview with his father and a tour of the shop.

Then Stewart started carrying his camera along on job sites to document the crews at work. The result is a series of YouTube videos that share a true day-in-a-life experience with fellow landscapers and customers who are interested in knowing more about what goes on behind the scenes at Stewcare.

“Our target audience is other industry professionals and the average homeowner who, on the weekend, loves to get out in the yard,” Stewart says. “I feel we can offer something of value to them because of our experience.”   

So far, the feedback on Stewcare’s YouTube channel has been positive. “I got a comment from a 13-year-old who said he loves our videos and our company is inspiring him to go out and do this work,” Stewart says.

Also, the exposure Stewcare gains from posting videos online is helpful for driving traffic to the company’s website. YouTube is one more tool for getting the word out about the services the company offers.

“We can tell potential customers if they want to see what we can do, go to our YouTube channel or our Facebook page,” Stewart says. “The social media outlet (including YouTube) has been a huge company builder for us.”

This is one of three stories that appeared in Lawn & Landscape's A Cut Above e-newsletter. To continue reading about stewcare:

Fueling the tradition: Stewcare has run an all diesel fleet for 20 years and stands by this alternative for its efficiency edge.

Rain, rain …: What to do when weather conditions keep you out of the field.