Editor’s Letter
John Mesenbrink, editorial director
editor@plumbingengineer.com
Your socialscape I
would be remiss if I didn’t talk about it. Social media and networking is out there and, for the most part, it is free of charge. If you are not taking advan- tage of this invaluable business resource in some capacity, I believe you are
missing out. Information regarding social media and how it pertains to the PHC industry is becoming more readily accessible. I couldn’t have said it better than in Tim Ward’s “Are You Tending Your Socialscape?” (page 56 of this issue) when he says that HVAC manufacturers — and here I’ll interject with engineers, as well — feel that their target audiences just don’t use social media. They just don’t have enough hours in a day to spend time on their computers to engage in it. Ok, if you say so. According to Ward,
“Thousands of engineers, contractors, facil- ity mangers and a variety of professionals in all walks of life and all age groups now prefer to communicate with colleagues via social media channels. They also access much of this information on their smart- phones, so having a traditional computer is no
longer a requirement. In fact, a host of very cool mobile apps now make it eas- ier for contractors and engineers to do their jobs more effectively, regardless of whether they are calculating pump curves in a commercial building or replacing a pump in a house.” In fact, Plumbing Engineer’s sister publication, Phc News, conducted a
Internet Usage Survey in its July issue and the results were interesting. To recap, nearly 30% of of those surveyed used social media for business. C’mon people! Social media is a growing force for business marketing; it is a free resource in which contractors can connect with peers and clients, and a better way to build a stronger and generate leads. Of those surveyed that use social media, 76% claim that social networking helps them build stronger relationships with exist- ing customers. Seventy-five percent say that social networking will increase brand awareness for their business. Fifty-six percent will generate qualified leads; 54% will improve customer service experiences; and 46% of contractors will announce new products and services. The impact of social media on your business is immeasurable. Sixty-three percent of contractors said that social media has helped generate business leads. Forty-seven percent claim that social networking has increased traffic to the website; 37% said that it has enhanced customer service and support; 31% claimed that it has improved rankings in search engines; and 26% said that social media has reduced overall marketing expenses. I think it’s time. We will be conducting an Internet Usage Survey targeting engineers and the information garnered from that survey will appear in our December issue. n
PLUMBING ENGINEER (USPS 567-950) ISSN 0192-1711
PLUMBING ENGINEER (USPS 567-950) ISSN 0192-1711 is published monthly by TMB Publishing Inc., 2165 Shermer Rd., Suite A, Northbrook, IL 60062. Phone (847) 564-1127, Fax (847) 564-1264. Magazine is free to those who design and specify plumbing/piping systems in commercial, industrial, institutional and governmental buildings; as well as government officials and plumbing inspectors. Subscription rates for U.S. and Canada: $50 for one year, $90 for two years. Other coun- tries: $300 per year. Periodical postage paid at Northbrook, IL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Change of address should be sent to Plumbing Engineer, 440 Quadrangle Dr., Suite E., Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Material and opin- ions contained in contributed articles are the responsibility of the authors, not of TMB Publishing Inc., Plumbing Engineer magazine or its Editorial Advisory Board. The publisher cannot assume responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. Copyright © 2010 TMB Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Volume 39, Number 10. Plumbing Engineer is microfilmed by University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, MI, and indexed by Engineering Index Inc. Publications Mail Agreement No. 41499518. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to PO Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6
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October 2011
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