Backyardster.com - Landscaping and Design Community

Built on the Ning social network platform, Backyardster is a community site for the exchange of ideas about gardening, landscaping, design, and in general, outdoor life. The site allows users to create their own groups, ask for advice in the forums, create their own unique profile, and even shop. There is some good advice to be found on this site which varies from “what to grow underneath that sun-monopolizing silver maple tree” to “how to best cook a turkey on the barbecue”. The shop section contains links provided by shopzilla which cover just about everything you can think of in the Home and Garden Products space.

“Backyardster is the place to exchange ideas about landscaping and design, and promote the enjoyment of outdoor living.”

Those familiar with the Ning platform will agree that it is a good and easy to use platform for social network sites. Backyardster takes full advantage of the platform and really does have some valuable information which could become even better if it is able to attract more users.

Believe it or not but there are a number of similar sites already on the web and Backyardster might have problems distinguishing itself from the others and attracting a larger user base. What ideas do they have in place to encourage more participation and a higher number of users? Perhaps they could consider hiring a well-know gardening expert to right a column every week?