Got a few minutes between appointments for septic system work? Is your smartphone or tablet handy on the road, or are you sitting near your desktop computer in the office? Then we have a bonus for you – additional Onsite Installer content is available online. Find more of the latest wastewater industry news – from product releases to videos and podcasts to my editor’s blog – at www.onsiteinstaller.com. Here’s just a sampling of the latest content you can find online:
EDITOR’S BLOG: SAFETY ALERT – WORKER PINNED DURING TANK INSTALLATION
A news account of a septic system installer being pinned by a concrete tank is a sober reminder about the dangers of your job and the importance of stressing safety in a work zone. The worker escaped serious injury after a cable snapped and trapped the lower half of his body under the tank. This incident prompts two important safety reminders. First, be sure to always situate workers out of harm’s way in the event of an equipment failure. And second, check your equipment every day to make sure it’s working properly and won’t let you down. Turn this bad situation into a learning opportunity by talking about it at your next tailgate safety meeting. Learn more and see a video in my online blog.
TOP 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CREATING OR UPDATING A WEBSITE
Writer Beverly Lewis explains how a website is an important marketing tool for today’s installer. Her story shares the questions you should ponder as you build a new website or retool your current site for the future. She suggests hiring a professional designer rather than using a do-it-yourself program to put together your site. “Good design combined with an effective optimization strategy is an investment that will be returned — with interest. In today’s marketplace, we never get a second chance to make a good first impression,’’ she says. Her first three questions to answer are: How does a website work with my overall marketing strategy? What is search engine optimization and why is it important? Are Google analytics and webmaster tools installed? Go online to see the other seven questions.
SMARTPHONE APPS FOR SKILLED TRADES
How did we get along in business without a smartphone? That’s a question business writer Erik Gunn asks in this online-only story. It’s interesting to think of all the ways small businesses have benefitted from all the technologies this pocket-sized computer and telephone have brought onsite installers. Gunn shares some of the latest phone apps that can help your business run more efficiently and build profits in many ways. Among other things, the apps mentioned help manage vehicle and equipment fleets, generate project reports figure out time and materials costs and track business expenses. For more details on money- and time-saving apps, read the online exclusive story.
