M.A.C. Report: 13 June 2013 Turning Ideas Into Action

Busy; slammed; swamped; flat out like a lizard drinking: words and phrases that have been heard few and far between the past five years are making a comeback.  From speaking with many of you, it seems that business is booming and will hopefully continue past the peak season and for a time to come.

MemberExchange

Easier ways to connect and learn

The last major update to Aquatech Society, soon to be known as United Aqua Group’s “Member Exchange,” was years ago. While it was fresh and new at the time, it is now showing its age.    Not only will Member Exchange look completely different, it will offer an array of new features – with much more on the way!

Using feedback provided from members, a team of M.A.C. volunteers have been working with Nathan, Tracy, and their teams to help design a more streamlined Member Exchange, focusing on members’ wants and needs.  For the purpose of this article, I am leaving out the ordering system and search features; as they are also being worked on as part of a different initiative.  For this update, we are focusing on some much-mentioned topics: the layout and navigation, online education, an updated forum, and a U.A.G. resource center.

As we delved into the site, we immediately noticed that there is a lot of great information on the existing site.  Unfortunately, the current layout makes it difficult to navigate and see what is available; thus, the site has turned solely into an ecommerce store for many of our member companies.  The idea was to start by repackaging the information into a more familiar and streamlined site in the mold of Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn and many other notable sites.

After the new layout was conceptualized, the next step was to figure out what to feature.  This year will mark a new focus on education based on members’ feedback.  As a first step, M.A.C. has worked with Sharon to advocate online education as an essential part of the new Member Exchange.  The plan is to amass an audio/video library of webinars, audio series and other educational videos for members to easily access on the Member Exchange, at your convenience.  In addition, we asked for a simple way to view, get information about and register for all upcoming educational events; including webinars and events held at UAG Headquarters, such as a soon to be announced fall event.

In addition, the Forums continue to be a much discussed topic.  While there is a functioning forum on the current site, member feedback has suggested an adjusted layout, easier search capabilities and the ability to use your company email vs. an @aquatechsociety email will help these forums grow, increase member interaction and facilitate communication. 

 The site will also feature a UAG resource center. This area will host the newly updated UAG 101, ARP, logos and a marketing toolbox that is still in development. This is an area that will continue to be built out and offer more and more to the membership. It will be the go to resource center for all things UAG.

While the next rendition will not be the last; there is much excitement surrounding the new Member Exchange.  This release helps to accomplish one of the M.A.C.’s goals of increasing member interaction, networking and communication.  As we strive to become “more than just a buying group;” we need a site that is more than just an ecommerce site. This is a critical step in the right direction.   

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. – Henry Ford

                                                               

Stay Connected

Aquatech Pools Social . . . Facebook, Pinterest, and Houzz.

United Aqua Group has gone social

Did you know that United Aqua Group went social? Like or follow UAG on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on important announcements, access webinars and training events through a single click and everything else that happens that you don’t want to miss. 

M.A.C. Report: 6 May 2013

Turning ideas into Action

Based on your feedback, we embarked on a number of new initiatives following the conference.  Your ideas have helped us to identify and launch several new projects to improve the organization. Some of these include a new member ambassador program that helps newcomers better integrate and familiarize themselves with our company and fellow members; educational improvements to better serve your needs; and a new Member Exchange, developed in collaboration with our corporate office. As we move further into the year, I look forward to providing you more detail about these initiatives in future updates.

Be Social

Facebook, Houzz, Pinterest and the Future

The M.A.C. is always seeking ways to better serve the organization. In this endeavor we also identify opportunities to immediately help our fellow members. One that has continued to surface is Aquatech’s social media presence, or lack thereof. But now, no more.

At the beginning of March, M.A.C. began assisting with and promoting Aquatech Pools Facebook and Houzz pages. Our goal was to connect with and promote other members’ pages and businesses. Since that time we have found over 100 Facebook pages and more than 40 Houzz profiles associated with our members . . . and we continue to search. If we have inadvertently missed you, please like Aquatech on Facebook and follow us on Houzz. By doing so we can easily connect with you and begin promoting your page.

We are currently running a photographic series on Facebook for United Aqua Group’s 2013 Awards of Distinction winners.  If you were awarded one, why not let us show it off for you?

On Houzz, we have begun a master collection of images from Aquatech builders. These images were originally posted by individual members, and used collectively to form the master gallery where homeowners can view images in a centralized location. It also allows members to grow their individual profiles, because each image links back to its respective owner.

On Pinterest, Platinum Pools started a board Work by Aquatech Pool Builders and invited other members to join. As of today, there are over 8,400 followers! In addition, we have recently created an Aquatech Pools page and created a board called Aquatech Inspiration.

We still have a long way to go; however, with management support we are moving forward and not looking back. This is the now generation of marketing. And while your target audience may not be on every social media channel, chances are, as the population ages, they will be soon.

It’s time to evolve our marketing efforts and focus on the future. With your help, we can build our brand and grow all of our businesses. I want to encourage each of you to connect, promote and support your fellow members through these social media channels.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. – Henry Ford

                                                               

Stay Connected

United Aqua Group has gone social

Did you know that United Aqua Group went social? Like or follow UAG on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on important announcements, access webinars and training events through a single click and everything else that happens that you don’t want to miss. 

Watermarking Photos

MAC has received some questions asking if there is an easy way to watermark photos.  Undoubtedly, there are many ways and many types of software . . . here we will describe one such method.

The first step is to secure a preferably white "PNG" image of your logo.  To do this, ask your web designer or marketing professional to create one from your standard logo.  You can use other formats, such as JPEG or Tiff, but the PNG will work best.

Secondly, you need to secure a photo editing program to add the watermarks to your photos.  Although we do not recommend, refer or make representations to any particular program; we will describe one such program as an example only.  You will need to research the programs and decide on one which fits your needs best.

After securing the program, you are ready to go.

When using a free program named Irfan View the process is such:
1) Launch the program
2) Select File > Open > and find the photo you wish to watermark
3) Select Edit > Insert overly/watermark image...
4) Select location > select level of transparency (usually around 45%ish depending on your image and taste) > Select the "Choose" button and find your PNG logo image > click "OK"
5) If you do not like where it is, or how it looks > hold down the "control key" on your keyboard and press the "z" to undo and then follow steps 3 & 4 again until you like it
6) Save the image

We reiterate that there are many programs that will accomplish this - including some you may already have on your computer, and they might have a similar process to follow.  Our goal is solely for you to realize this is something you can do yourself as often as you feel the need.

Happy Watermarking!

Create a Houzz account

Last year Josh Atkinson of Atkinson Pools and Spas posted a blog describing a site called Houzz, and explaining some of the benefits to creating a profile.  After this years conference, MAC has received a few requests asking how to set up an account.  Fortuitously, Jamie Friedlander with AQ Magazine posted a great video to walk one through the basics of the set-up.





In addition to the video, here are a few other recommendations from those who have been using the site:

1) Complete your profile:
 Find the "Your Houzz" pull down menu at the top right of the page >select edit profile
 >Add your website > upload your logo as a profile picture > add a company description > and link your Social Media Profiles by pasting in the URL's into the applicable boxes.
2) Create a few Projects:
Find and select the "Upload" button at the top right of the page>
Follow the prompts to create a project and then select some photos to upload.  (These photos should have your logo on them as a Watermark - see next post for a how-to.)
3) Visit and follow Aquatech Society of Pool Professionals - so we can follow you back!
4) Select the list of who Aquatech Society is following to find other Aquatech Members to Follow.

Now you should be set and ready to explore others work to get inspiration and to showcase your work . . . Have Fun!

Houzz (How to reach your target Audience)

How I discovered Houzz, and how it can be highly beneficial to your local and social media exposure.

As I sat down with a prospective client recently, she asked me a question I had not heard before which caught me a little off guard. "Can I share my idea book with you?" I said sure, but didn't really know what she was actually talking about specifically.

She proceeded to open her laptop and go to a website I was unfamiliar with called Houzz.

www.houzz.com

She then proceeded to show me her pool idea book, which can consist of builders, architects, designers, etc from across the country who have posted pictures of their finished work. Each one of these finished projects, spaces or designs can be categorized into design styles and into metro areas, in which the user can create an account and begin saving these ideas and compiling them into their own personalized idea book. She told me which pools she liked the color of, which types of decking materials she liked better and even shared shape/size photos in which she wanted her pool designed after.

After meeting with her I went home and immediately began to research the website and found myself stuck for hours browsing through the photos. I soon found that several of our members were posting here, and thought to myself, "I wish I would have known about this sooner."

Two basic tenets to consider.

1. Houzz.com can drastically increase your visibility on the web because it ties back into SEO (search engine optimization). It will help to drive traffic to your website, if you create a profile and link it back. You can also link it to your Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts for people to follow you through those sites.

It also gives you a free and extremely useful outlet to publicize your work by allowing both end user consumers as well as builders, designers, architects to view your work. You can also "follow" other vendors (architects, builders, etc) in the same way Twitter and Facebook allow you to follow, which will lead them to see your work as well.

2. I've been telling my clients about Houzz, and asking them to take a look and compile their own idea books, so when we meet some of their favorite design ideas and tenets have been not only developed, but have visuals for both of us to discuss. They can also share their idea book with you as well via email.

Since joining, we have had two prospective clients contact me through Houzz, and one of which we have closed and will start building soon.

Take a look at www.houzz.com, and read below to see what they describe themselves as.

About Houzz

Houzz is a leading destination site for home design enthusiasts-- professionals and homeowners. The Houzz site and mobile apps feature over 250,000 high quality interior and exterior photos, thousands of highly-engaging articles written by design experts, product recommendations and social tools to manage the remodeling and decorating process.

On the Houzz platform:

Design professionals showcase their portfolios, sharing their work with a community dedicated to home and landscape design. 40,000+ professionals have uploaded more than 250,000 inspiring photographs, making Houzz the Internet's largest database of design and decorating ideas.

Homeowners collect their favorite photos, find design professionals in their areas, upload photos of their homes and gardens, and swap tips and questions with other members. More than a million ideabooks have been created by Houzz members, and new ones are added every minute. 

Welcome to Aquatech’s MAC blog. 

What is MAC?

Here’s our mission statement:

The MAC exists to serve and educate Aquatech as a whole by:

• Providing a continual array of pre-emptive initiatives aimed at the betterment of management and the general membership.

• Advocating any issues emanating from the membership and serving as communication conduit throughout the group.

• Assisting management and/or the B.O.D. in whatever capacity is needed.

We’ve elected to create this blog in order to better communicate with the membership. We’ll post news of our work along with ideas and tips we pick up from around our industry. Feel free to send us contributions as well. As always, should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, don’t hesitate to contact us.