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...