Social Media Marketing

What is Social Media Marketing?   Social Media Marketing is an inexpensive form of marketing to increase brand awareness, customer service and other marketing goals through the social networking websites. Social Media Marketing allows business to educate and promote their products or services to consumers in an individual level.

The following are the most common social networking websites:

• Twitter  allows companies to provide information in less than 140 characters. Tweets can be linked to another website to provide the full information of the message.
• Facebook allows companies to upload photos and longer messages. Customers can provide recommendations or public comments, which increase the trust of the company.
• LinkedIn  allows companies to network with other professionals and provides the opportunity to generate business partners and sales leads.
• YouTube allows companies to provide information throughout commercials.
• Blogs allows companies to provide longer and useful information about products or services to consumers and community.  

Social Media Marketing has become a powerful tool for a business to gain potential customers and website traffic.

Maximize your Leadership

Leaders are essential for an organization because they establish the road of excellence within the organization.

The following are the main keys to maximize your leadership skills.

1. Communication: An open communication with your team members and colleagues will avoid any misunderstandings. A constant communication will lead everyone in the team to achieve the same goal sooner.  
2. Turn negative into positive: Take every comment as a constructive critique. Every day is a learning lesson, therefore is recommended to listen up to other’s critiques and apply it to become a better leader.
3. Oversee those in your team: Provide the knowledge, equipment, tools and everything necessary for your team to succeed. 
4. Be proactive: Take the initiative to accomplish the goal successfully.

A maximization of leadership skills will increase the value of the leader and the company.

Cleaning Statistics

Liquid Soap Dispenser May Harbor Bacteria

According to Discovery, a research in Ohio found that liquid soap dispensers – and even the soap itself- may harbor bacteria. The study examined the soap dispensers contaminated in an elementary school, which the bacteria are known to cause illness to the students. Researchers recommend that dispensers should be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis to prevent bacteria from building up and being transferred to the soap.

J&B Professional Cleaning Service recommends having office cleaning, facility cleaning, school cleaning and commercial cleaning done in a regular basis.

To read the full research, click here.

Selling the right product

Has your company experienced low revenues in the past quarters?   Therefore, one of the areas to be analyzed is if the product or service provided is accurate to satisfy the consumer needs.

Most individuals create a business based on their experience and knowledge, without taking into account the what the consumer wants. This is the most common mistake every business do; mainly when there has been a lot of investment without doing a research of the demand of the products or services to be provided.  In addition, the lack of renovation leads to loss of revenues as well, such as Blockbuster.

The following are recommendations to see if your business is providing the right product or services. Every recommendation has an example in the commercial cleaning industry.

1. Analyze the overall industry.
   * In the janitorial services industry, the expected annual growth for the following 4 years is 3.3%. The industry is at a mature stage. Source: IBIS World
2. See the opportunities in the area where product or service will be provided
   * There are approximately 219,324 firms in the greater Houston area where J&B Professional Cleaning Services can offer its office cleaning services.  Source: Census
3. Choose the correct marketing plan to the right consumers.
   * Since janitorial services are offered to other business (B2B), the marketing campaign used is for business not for consumers in the office cleaning line.
4. Evaluate competition
   * There are 548 janitorial establishments in the Greater Houston Area.  Source: Houston Library
5. Analyze demand of product or service by
   * Obtaining feedback from customers. J&B provides a constant communication with customers, as well as an annual client’s survey.
   * Obtaining feedback from supervisors.  Some J&B’s customers refer to the supervisor in regards any requests.
   * Keeping a constant quality of services. J&B provides supervision to continue providing a constant high quality of cleaning services.

A constant research of a potential and existing market is necessary to avoid any loss of revenues.

Cleaning Statistics

2 out of 3 Medical Students Do Not Know When to Wash Their Hands

The American Journal of Infection Control published a study in their December issue that only 21 percent of medical students are acknowledged of  the correct time to wash their hands in the clinical environment.  The researchers conclude that there should be an increase of improvement toward the use of alcohol-based hand rub in hospitals.

J&B Professional Cleaning Service assures that employees’ hands are washed before and after the clinic cleaning and hospital cleaning services are provided.

To read more about the research, click here.

Windex Invention

Windex was invented by Harry R. Drackett and has been manufactured since 1933 by S.C. Johnson & Son.  The glass cleaner was introduced during the Great Depression as an automobile windshield cleaner and it was sold in metal cans.

Vacuum Cleaner Invention

The vacuum cleaner, initially named as carpet sweeper, was invented by Daniel Hess in the United States.  The machine had rotating brush like the modern vacuum cleaners and had a bellow mechanism on the top of the body to generate suction.  Daniel Hess received a patent for his carpet sweeper on July 10, 1860.

Increasing Productivity

One of the main goals in a business is to have a continuous growth, which in most cases is reflected by the increase of productivity. How can a business achieve a continuous increase in productivity?
Productivity is defined as doing the right thing by being able to produce with a minimum effort and expense. In other words, productivity is the reflection of how effective and efficient a business is.

One main key of productivity is being effective, which is defined as doing the right thing by being able to produce a product or service. The company is effective when objectives and goals are identified, when the right products and services are provided to the customers, and when employees are doing the right thing to produce their product or services. As an example, a commercial cleaning company is being effective by providing cleaning service rather than offering accounting services to the customers.

Another main key of productivity is being efficient, which is identified as producing with a minimum effort and expense. The company must identify different ways to perform their duties and obtain the best way to save time and money. As an example, a commercial cleaning company provides vacuum cleaners instead of brooms to clean the carpet.

Since effectiveness and efficiency are essential to increase productivity, a company can provide incentives to employees such as bonuses, increase in salaries, and/or commission. Overall, the more effective and efficient a company is, the higher level of productivity the company will have, which leads to a continuous growth.

Holidays Safety

December holidays are the most fun and excited season of the year; however, they can also be the most dangerous. Based on the National Fire Protection Association website, approximately 6% of the reported fires that started with a Christmas tree resulted in death.

In order to avoid the deadly results, the following list is the top safety tips.

1. Unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
2. Choose a strong tree stand designed not to tip over.
3. Be sure to purchase a fire-retardant artificial tree.
4. Place the tree away where it may block exits and from heat.
5. Keep an eye on food. Don’t leave it unattended.
6. Keep candles away from places and items that can catch fire.
7. Keep matches and lights out of sight and reach of children.
8. Make sure the lights cord does not come in contact with water.
9. Use a fire screen.

For more holiday safety tips, visit the Texas department of insurance website at www.tdi.texas.gov.

Have safe and happy holidays!

Investing Profits

December is here! Time to evaluate the company’s performance and to allocate all the profits earned. However, how would a company be able to put aside the majority of their earnings for the expectation of higher returns in the future?  The key is to invest within the company.

The following are some ideas of how to invest the company’s profits and obtain a higher return in the upcoming years.

1. Acquire new equipment to make more efficient the production line.
2. Upgrade vehicles, computers, and equipment to lower the cost of maintenance and repairs.
3. Purchase new land to expand the facilities of company.
4. Distribute the earnings among the owned stocks, bonds, and savings accounts.
5. Hire potential personnel, who will bring higher returns.
6. Give bonuses to employees, to incentive them to be more productive for the upcoming year.
7. Increase the budget amount of the following departments: marketing, sales and product development.

An efficient investment will increase the value of the company that will lead to a continuous growth.