This blog post originally ran in December 2023. It has been updated.The end of the year is a great time to prepare for the new one, whether that means getting together your editorial calendars or mapping out plans for how you hope to reach your next set of goals. It is also an ideal time to look back on what you did for the last 12 months to see what worked and what didn’t – and where you might choose to focus your energies. This...

Several FGIA staff members participated in GlassBuild America this year, which took place in Dallas, TX. The show was a big success, and we asked staff to share their biggest takeaways from the trade show floor. From industry forecasts and sustainability innovations to products trends and professional development, here’s what resonated with FGIA staff after the show wrapped up on October 2.Janice Yglesias, FGIA Executive Director“I attended a session by economist Connor Lokar, who shared that companies in the commercial sector should be preparing for...

It was a big deal when Facebook bought Instagram in 2012, and the social media landscape hasn’t been the same since. The company broke further ground in 2016 with the advent of Instagram Stories, the answer to what was then dominating the disappearing video platform: Snapchat. Facebook, now Meta, has come out swinging at its other competitors, as well. Last year, Meta launched Threads, the text-based app that looks an awful lot like X (formerly Twitter). Today, with these three different but connected platforms, Meta...

GlassBuild is almost here! The largest event for the glass, window and door industries in North America is taking place September 30-October 2 in Dallas, TX. While GlassBuild American is known for being the place to hear about new technologies and products first, it is also a great place to make connections within the industry. Here are some tips for how to make the most of the networking you’ll be doing at the show.Before you get to the show, you can lay some groundwork for...

If your company will be represented at the upcoming FGIA Fall Conference, you should know about some extra ways you can get your name out before, during and after the event. The FGIA Events team does a great job of opening opportunities for sponsorship and next-level involvement, and the FGIA Marketing team is here to help you promote that extra step. Read on for three ways you can act now to make sure your company is front and center at the Fall Conference, and how...

One of my favorite parts about using social media to represent FGIA is getting to share “behind the scenes” moments with our followers. Many of our followers are our FGIA members. First and foremost, they are the ones we are working so hard for every week, bringing them the benefits of FGIA membership through dedicated service. But in addition to that, they are the people we look forward to seeing at conferences and catching up with every few months. While they see us hard at...

A funny thing happened on the drive to the FGIA Summer Conference. I was in a car heading from the airport to the beautiful Le Westin Montreal, our host hotel for the event. The driver of the car spoke only French, and I speak only English. I knew we were traveling to French-speaking Canada, so I had studied the travel-size copy of Rick Steves’ French Phrase and Dictionary my dad loaned me before my trip. And, of course, the second I needed some common French...

It has been a little over 10 months since the release of Threads, Meta’s answer to “X” (formerly Twitter). I thought it might be a good time to check in with how things are going at the text-based app, intended to become the premiere “X” replacement. The company seems to know it has a long way to go before it can fully compete, but they are making strides. Plus, I sat in on a webinar this week about some best practices for building a community...

It is time, once again, for another round of “Marketing Recommends,” in which the FGIA Marketing Department shares what we are getting out of in the world of social media, design and other marketing needs. The three of us have curated several tools and resources from which we’ve gained insight – plus some fun stuff, too. Take a look at our recommendations for this spring and see what you can bring back to your own team.Lori Benshoof, Web and Online Technology Specialist:A “Dream Scenario”I recently...

Even though it has been a mild winter where I am in the Mid Ohio Valley, I am ready for warmer weather and the start of youth soccer season! With warmer weather comes this reminder to parents: Screens are meant to keep bugs out, not to keep kids in. This is just one of many pieces of advice offered by the Window Safety Task Force. This industry group takes the time each year to share resources and tips every spring to commemorate Window Safety Week,...

Are you going to be in Amelia Island for the FGIA Annual Conference? Even if you can’t be on site, you can still keep up with highlights on social media. The Annual Conference is our biggest event each year, and it’s when we get the chance to recognize our members for their contributions, their tenure with the organization and more. Here are five things to watch out for on social media during the event, taking place February 19-22.A Tribute to Rich Walker: During Opening General...

While several competitors have stepped up to fill the void left by Twitter, now “X,” since Elon Musk purchased the platform in the fall of 2022 and began making radical changes. But while Mastodon and BlueSky made waves around that time, the surprise drop of Threads in July was welcome news to many still looking for that Twitter-like magic. Threads is owned by Meta and, for all intents and purposes, looks and feels more like Twitter than anything else. However, it still has some issues...

The end of the year is a great time to prepare for the new one, whether that means getting together your editorial calendars or mapping out plans for how you hope to reach your next set of goals. It is also an ideal time to look back on what you did for the last 12 months to see what worked and what didn’t – and where you might choose to focus your energies. This can also mean deciding where it might make sense to spend...

A common piece of advice I give to companies in our industry is often something they don’t always want to hear. Even if you don’t plan on using a specific social media platform, you should still secure your company’s username on it so no one else can. Now, there is a bit of follow-up to this advice: if your company has a Twitter (now “X”) account you’ve snapped up but are not using, begin posting there now. Read on to learn why.In the wake of...

Almost 10 years ago, the internet stopped what it was doing and watched the Wendy’s corporate Twitter account roast everyone from Burger King to complete strangers. This unexpected yet hilarious behavior from a major corporation sparked the great debate: can brands be fun online?The results were mixed. There were two main schools of thinking: your company could either be traditionally professional on social media, or you could be fun and get attention for your brand. The path you picked depended on a number of factors,...

This year is the 20th anniversary of GlassBuild America, the largest event for the glass, window and door industries in North America. The big show is happening October 31 through November 1 in Atlanta, GA, but buzz is already being generated in advance of it online. Don’t miss out on the chance to get your followers hyped for your appearance at GlassBuild. To get them excited between now and Halloween, and to get the most out of your event registration, here are some suggestions for...

We in the FGIA Marketing department know a thing or two about rebranding an organization. Three years ago, we underwent our own, and today, we are known as the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. Even though we made this change as of January 1, 2020, it didn’t literally happen overnight. This is why it has been so baffling to watch Twitter, a well-known company with 16 years of brand equity, announce over a sleepy July weekend that they would be called… X.CEO Elon Musk has...

If you are a marketer, you have probably been asked about the real value of social media. Maybe your company or management team has had some preconceived notions about online platforms or maybe you simply want to show the value of what your role is in the company’s broader objectives. Either way, it’s important to understand how to convey the role social media plays in your brand’s place in the industry. To do this, you need to know how to talk about social media’s return...

A version of this blog post ran in June 2021. This has been updated with new information.FGIA has several tutorials for members, detailing processes for things like how to join an FGIA committee or task group, how to access and use the FGVL or how to access meeting and conference call information. We have also started doing some short, instructional videos about how to best make use of our social media channels, including our relatively new Facebook page and our other social media accounts -...

A common question I get about social media is a complicated one: how can my company use it to make money? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are common themes to what those social media companies want from you in order to give you a cut of their revenue. They want you to have a lot of followers and subscribers, and they want you to have lots of eyes on your content. Here is a brief guide to what YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter...

Did you know FGIA offers a live-tweet feed of updates from several of the Association’s events on our Twitter account? It started with live-tweeting highlights from our conferences, but it has since expanded into coverage of our regular webinar series as well as our regional meetings and events. While attending yourself is always the best way to get firsthand information, these Twitter updates are a great way to stay updated if you can’t make it. Your next opportunity to follow along with FGIA on Twitter...

Even though it has been a mild winter where I am in the Mid Ohio Valley, I am ready for warmer weather and the start of youth soccer season! With warmer weather comes this reminder to parents: Screens are meant to keep bugs out, not to keep kids in. This is just one of many pieces of advice offered by the Window Safety Task Force. This industry group takes the time each year to share resources and tips every spring to commemorate Window Safety Week,...

I am looking forward to being in California this month for the 2023 FGIA Annual Conference! One of my favorite FGIA events each year is the Awards Banquet, because it’s an opportunity for the Association to recognize its leadership for the hard work they do the previous year. Plus, from a social media standpoint, it’s fun to have the “scoop” when we announce the winners on social media! Whether you will be participating in-person or virtually for this conference, you can get involved with #FGIAconf...

This blog is often about ways to use social media to your company’s advantage, such as how to best showcase your products and services for various platforms. However, this month’s post is going to offer a certain degree of caution about doing so in some cases. Social media has changed a lot in recent years, and perhaps no more than it did in 2022. Let’s look back on why we started using social media for our businesses, what’s happened since and what to expect moving...

This time last year, I wrote a Socially Speaking blog post about my three social media New Year’s Resolutions for FGIA. In the spirit of holding myself accountable, I wanted to give an update on how they went. My resolutions were to plan ahead better by scheduling social media content, expand my network by sharing industry updates weekly and use the existing inventory of images and video for posts. I think I did well with two out of three, and there is always room for...

Happy November! It has been a busy season for the industry, as you can tell from social media. In the last month alone, the FGIA Fall Conference took place, followed by ASTM meetings, GlassBuild and the NFRC conference. On top of those, the FGIA IG Fabricators Workshop happened this week at the Intertek facility in Plano, TX. It has been a busy time, but things are about to wind down for the holidays!With all this busyness, we’d like to pause to ask what FGIA members...

GlassBuild is next week! If you are thinking about how to promote your company’s presence at the popular tradeshow, I have some ideas for how you can do so on social media before, during and after the fact. Use the next few days to plan ahead, schedule some content and pack everything you need before you leave town for Las Vegas. And don’t forget to make sure your phone is logged into your company’s social media accounts in advance, so you don’t have to scramble...

If you are going to the FGIA Hybrid Fall Conference in Chicago, don’t forget to pack a Chicago-themed item of clothing to wear on the Chicago Spirit sunset dinner cruise! FGIA will be rocking its allegiance to the Windy City on Monday night of the conference aboard the dinner cruise out on Lake Michigan, complete with souvenir photos of all participants.If you don’t have anything yet but want to play along, there is still time to shop your closet or to buy something Chicago-centric. I...

Has your company been creating content on Instagram Stories? They are easier than ever to put together, complete with music, links to products and other creative additions to easy-to-shoot smartphone video. I took a look at what some FGIA members have recently put out on Instagram Stories to share what interesting, engaging content is already out there – and how your company can take inspiration from these social media superheroes. Let’s take a look.SolatubeThis Story shows a unique application of the company’s product. It’s nice...

Last month’s FGIA Virtual Summer Conference was a success thanks to a slate of excellent speakers and productive committee meetings. FGIA Marketing was glad to see a ton of coverage of the event by industry media. See below for a recap of the takeaways from the conference by the magazines we look to in order to stay informed about the fenestration and glazing industry.https://twitter.com/dwmmag/status/1534279052420337670https://twitter.com/USGlass/status/1534988752849977350https://twitter.com/RetrofitMag/status/1536349753323266050https://twitter.com/FenestrationRev/status/1534172528838598658https://twitter.com/GlassCanadaMag/status/1534923195278581760https://twitter.com/WindowDoorMag/status/1536678934011682816Missed the conference? Don’t worry! You can read highlights on Twitter by viewing all tweets with the hashtag #FGIAconf.Registration for the FGIA...

It’s time once again for another round of FGIA Marketing Recommends, in which the three team members of the FGIA Marketing Department serve as your personal guides through what we are getting a lot out of in the world of social media, design and other marketing needs. The three of us have curated several tools and resources from which we’ve gained insight – plus some fun stuff, too. Take a look at our recommendations for this summer and see what you can bring back to...

Does your company want to roll out a new product or service? You can use social media to help launch that, with a weeklong online campaign. FGIA does this each year during Window Safety Week, an important annual industry initiative. Companies like PGT use it to promote their tips about hurricane protection and preparedness each June during the start of hurricane season. Creating a campaign around a single issue or product takes some work up front, but it can be satisfying to watch that upfront...

Twitter has been in the news a lot lately, mostly thanks to Elon Musk’s recent moves toward becoming a large part of the company, if not its owner. His influence may be felt there already – like his campaign to get an “edit” button added to tweets. Twitter is also testing a couple other features like “downvotes” and “unmentioning” accounts. Read on for more Twitter news – plus a bonus Instagram tip.Editing TweetsAfter years of users asking for it, an “edit” button for Twitter might...

As I write this, it is snowing outside my window in the Mid Ohio Valley. It’s March, which means it is still technically winter, but we can see warmer weather on the horizon. As spring arrives, it is an important reminder to keep an eye on young children near open windows, which can be dangerous if they are not properly supervised. Luckily, the Window Safety Task Force shares resources and tips each spring to commemorate Window Safety Week, the first full week of April each...

This Valentines Day, FGIA is loving all the charitable work its members are doing in their local communities. If it feels strange to brag about your good deeds on social media, reframe that narrative: Consider it your chance to show your company’s commitment to improving the well-being of others and a way to challenge your competitors to step up and do the same. I scoped out social media to see what FGIA members have been up to lately in their efforts to not only meet...

Last month, I talked about my three New Year’s resolutions for better social media content and planning in 2022. Now, I would like to do a deeper dive into one of them: Planning ahead. Recently, I set aside a couple of hours to do some things that will make my entire next year easier, and I want to share my strategies.I will be honest: The work ahead takes time and can feel a little like data entry, but trust me, it is well worth doing...

It seems impossible, but we are about to close the books on 2021. End of year is always a good time to reassess goals and strategies whether that means personally or professionally, and it’s important to take stock of what worked – and what didn’t – in order to make plans for the coming year. Below are my three New Year’s resolutions for FGIA’s social media channels for 2022, which include planning ahead, growing FGIA’s network and making good use of the tools I currently...

As we continue to navigate our lives during the pandemic, our work lives continue to be disrupted in ways big and small. Are you and your co-workers back in the office now, or has your company decided to wait until 2022? Maybe your company has chosen to bring in only part of your team on certain days. Regardless, it’s safe to say that as 2021 comes to a close, many of us don’t have the luxury of getting the usual group photo for the annual...

It’s officially October, which means Halloween is nearly upon us. As a creative person, Halloween has long held a special place in my heart. I love coming up with costume ideas and then figuring out how to execute them. Plus, regardless of your company’s products or services, you can find some fun way to connect your business to the holiday. Below are six different ideas for surprising and delighting your social media followers this Halloween. If you do the leg work now, you’ll be set...

I first became aware of hashtags circa 2009 when I was taking a social media course about using Twitter for organizations. They appealed to me for a lot of reasons, but primarily, I saw them as a way to get your message out to a wider audience, even if you yourself didn’t have a ton of followers. But while Twitter may have brought hashtags into the mainstream, today they apply to social media platforms across the board. Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn now recognize them...

After taking a year off from an in-person gathering, GlassBuild America is back in business in Atlanta, GA next month. I went to the largest glass and fenestration show in North America just six months after entering the industry, and the experience was a real whirlwind! Maybe you’re a seasoned pro or a GlassBuild newbie, but regardless of how many GlassBuild shows you’ve attended, I have some tips for you for before, during and after the trade show. And the best part is, you can...

Here on Socially Speaking, we talk a lot about different social media platforms, how they can best be used and what’s changing with them at any given moment. But what tends to stay the same is that your content, no matter which platform it is featured on, needs to be interesting and relevant to your followers. Most individuals use personal social media accounts to share their proudest moments and accomplishments, and while you as a company can do that as well, it is important to...

FGIA has several tutorials for members, detailing processes for things like how to join an FGIA committee or task group, how to access and use the FGVL or how to access meeting and conference call information. We have also started doing some short, instructional videos about how to best make use of our social media channels, including our relatively new Facebook page and our other social media accounts - Twitter, LinkedIn company page and groups and Instagram. A tutorial giving an overview of all four...

Happy spring! It is time for another round of Marketing Recommends, the occasional Socially Speaking feature in which the FGIA Marketing department’s members share what they have been reading, watching and enjoying – marketing-related or otherwise. This time, we’re focused on some trends in design, email marketing and some social media news making waves.Angela Dickson, Marketing and Communications DirectorDesigning a Beautiful Email and LifeA few weeks ago, I attended a webinar sponsored by the American Marketing Association that focused on interesting and engaging email experiences....

In 2021, most companies already know the value of social media for their business. Having a robust social media presence is key to furthering awareness of your brand, gaining customer leads and getting more clicks to your website. But as social media platforms change, so do their features. There are tools specific to Instagram Business accounts that you probably already have available to you, whether you know about them or not. Plus, here are some examples for how to apply them.Tool 1: Get Your Website...

It’s March, which means it has now been nearly a full year since the pandemic began, keeping us mostly indoors, including me and my family. As spring arrives, it is even more important than ever to keep an eye on open windows since we are at home so much of the time. As we all know, open windows can be dangerous for young children who are not properly supervised. Fortunately, the Window Safety Task Force shares resources and tips each spring to commemorate Window Safety...

The FGIA Virtual Annual Conference is just around the corner! It is taking place February 23-25, and early bird registration is available through February 10. FGIA Marketing will be live-tweeting sessions throughout the conference on our Twitter account, and we would love for those attending to join the conversation. Follow the hashtag #FGIAconf and use it in your own posts about the event. We will be sharing your posts with our followers and tweeting highlights from speakers. As a reminder, you don’t need a Twitter...

FGIA’s webinar program has been going strong since 2015, offering information on topics of industry interest – typically at no cost and open to the public. Previous topics covered in 2020 included field testing, security glazing, Florida Product Approval Program changes and financial management in a COVID Economy. But did you know the FGIA live-tweets from every webinar that is made available to the public? You can follow along with coverage of each session on Twitter.Using the hashtag #FGIAwebinar, FGIA Marketing writes live-tweet threads during...

Prior to my time with FGIA, I worked for a start-up in downtown Chicago. It was a new company with a lot of venture capital, and they invested deeply into portraying a fun, quirky company culture. With lime green walls and indoor swing sets, word quickly spread about the company’s culture. At one point, we had a game room, but it was almost always empty because everyone at the company was always too busy to enjoy it – perhaps a more telling detail about what...