How To Utilize Social Media for Your Business

Is your business on social media? What's stopping you from utilizing these free marketing tools? 

Create Your Profiles

The first step is to set up your profiles. Make sure you complete all the required information to create a comprehensive, professional profile. Having all your information also helps increase your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) which helps potential customers find you on the Internet. 

Create Unique Content

Creating original content shows your knowledge and authority in the industry. Google does not like repeated content over various sites. Take the time to create and share your own thoughts and ideas to your audience.

Encourage Engagement

Create posts that encourage readers to engage in conversation. Utilize the interactive nature of social media to make connections with potential and current customers. Share industry related questions, ideas, opinions, etc. to create a place for conversations to happen.

What Social Media sites should I use? 

Facebook

Do you have a Facebook page for your company? It's super easy to set up and it establishes your company in the world of Facebook. And it's free. Who doesn't love free marketing?!

Is the world of Facebook a little foreign to you? Start simple and learn as you go.

• How often should you post?
• Ideally post 3-5 times a week -- this keeps you up-to-date and helps your page stay active. You might not have enough content to post that frequently so post when you can and as frequently as you can.
• What content should you post?
• Create posts that involve interaction -- questions or comments that encourage readers to share or like the post
• Keep posts industry relevant
• How much time does it take?
• The amount of time you dedicate to social media is up to you. You can schedule posts in advance -- Facebook gives you the option to schedule posts for future dates

Twitter

Twitter is a completely different world from Facebook. Hashtags, Retweets, and Mentions can be overwhelming and confusing. Again, start simple and go from there!

• How often should you tweet?
• Tweet up to 3 times a day to stay in followers' feeds
• What should you tweet?
• Twitter is a "Call-To-Action" platform--encourage people to contact your company, visit your website, or schedule a service with you
• What content should you include?
• Include pictures! 
• How much time does it take?
• Use tools like TweetDeck or Hoot Suite to schedule Tweets
• Who should you follow?
• Follow others in your industry and interact with them

YouTube

Did you know YouTube is the 2nd most popular search engine after Google? Make a free account to create your own channel and start uploading industry relevant videos.

• What kind of content should you post?
• "How-to" videos are the most commonly searched on YouTube
• How often should you upload a video?
• Upload a video a week

Blogs

Take the time to blog.

• Why should you blog?
• Blogs establish expertise and authority in the industry
• How do you get people to read your blog?
• Find grabber blog titles -- "5 Reasons to Schedule Your Tune-Up"
• How often should you blog?
• Once a week is recommended but you can post as often as you are able.

Instagram

Photos, photos, photos!

• How often should you post a photo?
• Post photos as often as once a day
• How do you find people to follow?
• Search hashtags
• How do people in the industry find you?
• Always add relevant hashtags to the comment of your photo

BONUS! Google+

If you have a Google account, Google+ is part of that! It's a platform that will help with your SEO. You can connect with industry groups and share your blogs and ideas. If you use Blogger (a Google based blogging site) it will automatically give you the option to share your post to your Google+ Profile. It's a simple way to have a presence on the Internet.

10 Tips To Keep Your A/C Running Smoothly This Summer

1. Keep your blinds/curtains closed to keep the sun's heat at a minimum
2. Change your air filter once a month to increase efficiency
3. Try to do chores like laundry and cooking when the outside temperature is at it's coolest-those appliances give off extra heat that can cause your A/C to work harder
4. Make sure your A/C is set to "auto" and not "fan" so it does not run continuously
5. Utilize your ceiling fans or tower fans to circulate the air
6. Get your house inspected for any air leaks
7. Keep all exterior doors and windows closed when the A/C is running
8. Set your thermostat to a higher temperature when you are not in the house
9. Keep your outdoor unit clean and clear of debris
10. Consider getting a programmable thermostat

And always remember to call your local technician for a tune-up!

A Brief History of Heating and Cooling

Do you know when heating and cooling techniques began? 

From the 1000s to the 1400s, the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, and Indians all had their ways of cooling and heating. 

• The Romans used what was known as a hypocaust - a central heating system which has the furnace in the "basement" and flutes to distribute heat. The rich were able to use this tool to heat different rooms and even create steam for baths. 
• For cooling, the Egyptians used man-powered fans while the Indians utilized rope fans. 
• Chimneys became common toward the end of the 1400s as private rooms became more common.

The 1500s and 1600s held more advancements in heating and cooling technology. 

• In France, ventilation began to be used in the mines. 
• Chimneys became popular in Europe and America and wood and coal were in high demand to heat rooms. 
• This was also the era of the invention of the thermometer by Galileo. 
• The U.S. Parliament also received it's first exhaust ventilation system.

The 1700s and 1800s was an era of inventions for heating and cooling.

• The first ventilator using centrifugal fan was created
• Benjamin Franklin invented the first stove known as the first steam heating system
• What we know today as direct fired heat exchangers started to be used in England
• The invention of the steam engine
• Hhe development of the first warm furnace
• Heat began to be used for energy
• Water spray systems began to be used in houses for humidifying and cooling
• The first cooling apparatus on record was made by American physician Dr. John Gorrie. In the 1830s, Dr. Gorrie designed a machine for cooling hospital rooms--was a fan which blew across a container of ice

The 1900's brought a flow of inventions and the evolution of the modern HVAC systems. 

• Willis Carrier, known as the father of air conditioning, designed a pray driven temperature and humidity controlled system as well as a system for offices, apartments, hotels, and hospitals
• The New York Stock Exchange was equipped with a central cooling and heating system
• A company called Buffalo Forge invented the first fan coil dehumidifying system
• The same company also created the first spray type air conditioning device
• They also created a system to remove dust from steamers
• Sturtevant created the first railway and industrial air conditioning system, including a backward inclined blade centrifugal pump
• The first centrifugal refrigeration machine was made for air conditioning large spaces
• Hydronic circulatory pumps and radiators started to be used in the air conditioning systems for circulating water in the system
• The first residential air conditioning was created 
• Room coolers that mimicked refrigeration technology were made

From there, HVAC continued to develop into the modern systems we know today. Let the innovation continue!

10 Signs It's Time To Get A New HVAC System

Call your local HVAC contractor if you have any of these signs.

1. You could dust your furniture all the time.

• Excess dust is a sign your system is not working properly. It is a directly reflection of the air quality in your home.

2. Frequent breakdown.

• Are you on a first name basis with your repair company? It's probably a time to cut repair costs and purchase a new unit.

3. Some rooms are hot while others are cold.

• There are many reasons this could be the case-from a problem with your unit to an issue with your duct work or insulation. 

4. Your utility bills are unusually high.

• Does your bill seem high? Talk to people with homes similar to yours to see if your bill is higher than it should be. It might be a time to purchase a more new, energy-efficient unit to help lower your bill.

5. You can't hear over the noise of the unit.

• This is a warning for potential problems with parts of your unit. Call a professional to take a look.

6. No one is home for long periods and you don't have a programmable thermostat.

• A programmable thermostat can help keep energy costs down while no one is home.

7. Your unit is more than 10-15 years old.8. A funny smell coming from your unit.

• Regular maintenance can help lengthen the lifespan of your unit but if it is old and showing other warning signs, it might be time to consider a new unit.

8. You're remodeling.

• Are you adding on to your home or opening up rooms? It's the perfect time to consider purchasing a new unit to help keep your remodeled home comfortable and your utility bill down.

9. You know your unit has not been properly maintained.

• Without regular maintenance, units can stop unexpectedly. Prevent this and have your unit maintained to make sure you won't suddenly be without A/C or heat.

The Ultimate HVAC Guide for Spring

Warm weather is heading our way and the last thing you want to worry about is an issue with your HVAC unit. Here are some tips to prepare your unit for the warmer weather ahead!

1. Schedule a tune-up

           Schedule a tune-up to prevent any potential issues that could happen as your A/C kicks into 

           full gear during the summer. This also helps you to avoid high energy costs by making sure 

           everything is running properly.

2. Change your air filter

           Change your air filter once a month to every 3 months. This can help with any pesky spring
           allergies and keep your air flow clean.

3. Get your ductwork checked

           Your ducts can collect all sorts of debris and dust. Have your ductwork cleaned to help with
            the cleanliness of the air in your home.

4. Dust registers and return vents

           Dust your registers and return vents before your spring cleaning dusting and help prevent
           allergies.

5. Clean around your outdoor unit

           Clean away any debris or leaves that have piled up around your outdoor unit during the fall
           and winter. Keeping the area around your outside unit clean of any debris will help it run
           more efficiently throughout the season.

6. Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat

           Don't have a programmable thermostat? This is a great tool to help to save on your energy bill
           and keep your home comfortable. With the scheduling option, you can set it depending on
           how when you are home.

        

10 Reasons to Offer Financing to Your Customers

Are you offering financing to your clients? If not, here are some reasons you should consider it:

1. Improve company cash flow
2. Increase customer loyalty
• Create a relationship with customers and create future sales opportunities
3. Increase deal size
• Research shows that when you offere financing, deals can be up to 34% larger (Yankee Group 2008)
4. Close more deals, faster
• Financing helps to make the deal easier
5. Your customers expect it!
• In a survery, 50% of customers said they expect financing options to be part of the proposal.
6. Close a more profitable deal for your business
7. Improve your personal sales performance
• Stand out in the industry! 
8. Overcome customer objections
• Help customers overcome budgetary restraints
9. Stay ahead of your competitors
10. Help your customers preserve cash and lower overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• By offering regular and predicable payments and spreading it out over time, you are helping your customers take control of their expenditures and budget.

          

5 Myths About HVAC

With so many opinions out there, how do you sort out the truth from the myths?Here are some common myths about your HVAC unit:

1. Your HVAC unit doesn't need to be checked unless there's a problem.

Scheduling regular HVAC maintenance can help you find the problem before it becomes a problem so you won't be stuck in the cold without heat or in the heat without A/C.

2. Closing off vents will save energy.

In reality, your system (if you have a modern HVAC unit) will balance the pressure load through other open vents and not reduce the amount of air pushed out. Blocking a vent could also throw your system out of balance and force your system to work harder.

3. A fan is like your A/C.

Fans are designed to circulate air in the room, not cool the room like A/C. A fan will blow cool air on you but it will not drop the temperature in a room if left on.

4. Having your A/C on for short periods of time will save energy.

Your unit uses the most energy in the first 3-5 minutes of starting up. Turning it on and off can actually increase the amount of energy used. Run it for 40-50 minutes for the best efficiency. 

5. Cranking the thermostat will cool/warm your home faster.

The temperature you set your thermostat to has no correlation to how fast your   unit will heat or cool your home. You unit will use the same power level no matter what temperature you have it set to.