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,...

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...