B2Bs And B2Cs Are Using Pinterest To Sell More Products . . . You Could Too

Previously available by invitation only, the ‘internet pinning phenomenon’ that is Pinterest is now open to all.

You might easily be forgiven for thinking that Pinterest is just for craft enthusiasts, after all Etsy has 128,000 followers and counting. But with an average of almost 1.4 million users daily, major brands are quickly waking up to the marketing potential of Pinterest and are using the medium to wave the banner in favour of their latest products. Not only to create greater awareness of their brand, but interestingly, also make direct sales.

Pinterest it seems has the ability to engage its followers for longer than other popular social media sites. The average user spends 15.8 minutes on Pinterest, in comparison with 12.1 minutes on Facebook and 3.3 minutes on Twitter. Only YouTube squeezes more attention from its users – an average of 16.4 minutes spent on the site per visit (source: Modea).

And if your target audience is predominantly female this statistic will grab your attention even more: 68.2 per cent of Pinterest’s users are currently women and 50 per cent of users have children. Finally, 28.1 per cent of Pinterest’s members have an annual household income of $100,000+ – little wonder that the retail giants like Apple, Dell, Harrods and Sears, are pinning their hopes on Pinterest to increase their market share.

If you are thinking that Pinterest could be a good fit for your business, here are some tips to get you started:

1. It’s important that your pins are visually attractive, or at least visually engaging, so don’t rush the process of selecting pins – think quality rather than quantity and allow your boards to grow organically.
2. If your business sells products direct to the public or you are an affiliate, be sure to include a link with relevant pins so that your followers can click through and buy the product direct from your board.
3. Don’t make everything on your board about your brand – that smacks of the hard sell. What other things are your customers interested in? For example if your company makes designer wellies, consider creating ‘mood boards’ around things like camping, gardening and music festivals. If you are a banner or sign maker, what about birthday celebrations, weddings, or football hoardings! (I’m sure you will be able to come up with lots of great ideas for your brand).
4. As a social media site Pinterest is all about engagement, so think about the best way to communicate with your audience and encourage a two-way conversation. You might like to organise a competition. It’s a great way to engage with your followers and frankly, less restrictive than trying to organise a Facebook comp.

If after reading this you are thinking ‘why aren’t we on Pinterest, yet?’ Well, why not go ahead and sign up now?

What Is Whey Protein And How Is It Used?

Whey protein is very easy to digest and has one of the highest protein quality ratings amongst the various protein sources to be found in the body. It consists of a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey (the liquid which is formed as a by-product of cheese production). Cow’s milk typically consists of 20 per cent whey protein and 80 per cent casein protein. Proteins are essential for developing and maintaining muscle cells.

Whey is removed for the cheese to be processed, and after this the fat is removed from the whey and what remains is prepared for human food products. The whey can simply be dried, or it can be processed in a more concentrated form by removing other non-protein materials. It can also be denatured by heat to make it safer for humans.

For human consumption, whey protein often comes in the form of whey protein powder, of which there are three main varieties: concentrates; isolates and hydrolysates. Often these powders will be taken by bodybuilders or other athletes because of their ability to help build up and maintain lean muscle cells.

Whey protein concentrates have a fairly low level of fat and higher levels of bioactive compounds in the form of lactose. Isolate is the purest form of whey protein as it has been further processed to make it virtually fat-, lactose- and carb-free. However, this does cost more than the concentrate when taken as a supplement so this is something that the user would have to consider.

Hydrolysates are proteins which have been pre-digested and partially hydrolised to make them easier for the body to absorb. However, their cost tends to be even higher so they may not be practical for frequent use. There is also another option, whey protein blends, which are a mixture of both concentrates and isolates. This makes them a popular choice for the average athlete as they are relatively low in fats whilst being a little easier on the bank balance.

Whey protein powder is generally taken as a shake, either before or after exercising although some people will also add it to their meals when cooking or perhaps even sprinkle it on their cereals. Whichever way you choose, it is an easy and convenient way for those who use up a lot of energy in their day-to-day life to get the right levels of protein in their systems.

Aside from the benefits it holds for bodybuilders and other athletes, there has also been some interest in the other health benefits whey protein may have. As a source of amino acids, its possible role in reducing the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer is still the subject of ongoing research. As whey is a source of branched chain amino acids, which are used by the body to fuel muscles and stimulate protein generation, it is thought that it may help to speed up recovery in some cases too.

Whether the above proves true or not, it is clear that all the many possible benefits of whey protein have yet to be discovered. If you do decide to take it as a dietary supplement, just make sure you purchase it from reputable supplier whose products come certified from a recognised body.

First Aid Books . . . A Worthwhile Investment For Your Business

Whatever size of business you run, if you employ staff you will need to ensure adequate first aid provision for them. If you don’t currently provide first aid books for your personnel to refer to, or your first aid books are not up to date, now is a good time to get your information updated.

As an employer, The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, require you to provide “adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people, so your employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work.”

While the HSE does not spell out exactly what is required in terms of ‘provisions’ for each type of industry or size of business premises, it does state that the minimum first aid provision for every workplace is:

A suitably stocked first aid box

An appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements

Information for employees about first aid arrangements

Although by law you do not have to provide a qualified first aider in your place of work, you are required to appoint someone to take charge of first aid arrangements.

So what does this actually mean?

It means that the person you appoint will need to take charge of the first aid equipment, look after any designated first aid treatment or recovery areas and they will also need to be responsible for alerting outside medical personnel or the emergency services if necessary. You should also assign a deputy in case the appointed person is away from the premises when such an incident occurs. If you have a qualified first aider on your staff, then you will only need to appoint a secondary person to take charge of arrangements for when your first aider is absent.

As a responsible employer providing first aid books your staff can readily refer to is a really sound idea. First aid training books are generally a better investment than videos as your first aider or appointed first aid person can readily refer to them any time they need to, whereas videos tend to get watched once and then get shut away in a drawer.

If you decide your workforce needs to appoint a first aider, then they will need to undergo formal training for an HSE-approved qualification. They will also need to attend a refresher course of an annual basis to keep their skills up to date.

Creating A Vinyl Sign For Your Business

Every business needs a well-designed sign to create the right impression on customers and a distinctive image. Signs can be displayed outside shops, in windows, on vans or cars or throughout the city to direct customers to your business. Whilst you will sometimes need temporary signs for one-off promotions etc., it’s a good idea to design one sign with a strong image that conveys your company’s brand and can be used again and again.

For this reason, vinyl signs are a good choice. This material is strong and waterproof and so it can be displayed outside for extended periods of time without losing its visual appeal. A vinyl sign with a glossy finish can look very impressive and you have a wide range of colours to choose from so it will certainly make your business stand out from the crowd. Furthermore, if you use UV-resistant inks the colour won’t fade.

Before you get too far along in the design process, you should find out who is going to make it for you. It’s a good idea to use a specialist signmaker because vinyl signs need to be cut by an expert with special tools if you want it to look professional. Go and visit a few signmakers, look at previous examples of their work and compare costs to help you decide which will work best for you.

Once you have decided which company to use, find out their specifications for sending artwork in. There is no point designing something in the wrong format if their systems are not compatible with this. For example, some companies can’t use Microsoft programmes because they work with Adobe. You should also check the resolution requirements, whether you need to include bleeds and whether to send the artwork in CMYK colour or RGB.

When it comes to design, simplicity is key. Some people try to include too many graphics but this can be confusing and detract from your essential message. Depending on the size of your sign, graphic-wise often just the company logo displayed prominently will be sufficient. The colour scheme should be simple too: go for bright contrasts and no more than three different shades as too many colours will make it look busy.

In terms of text, do remember to include the bare minimum as you want it to be large enough to be read from a fair distance. Make sure you include essential details such as contact information, your location (if it is to be displayed on a company vehicle rather than at your premises) and a clear description of exactly what it is you do. Many companies like to include some kind of tagline or motto, but remember that this should also be brief and snappy so it can be read in an instant and will stick in the mind. Above all, try to be original. If possible, you want your sign to look different to those of your competitors.

Trust Telehandlers To Make Light Work Of Your Toughest Tasks

You might think that construction companies and building contractors hire telehandlers to whip their construction sites into shape. Well that’s certainly true of course, but telehandlers can do so much else besides.

Through the use of smart and practical attachments you can transform your telehandler into anything you want it to be – the perfect accessory for whatever you need doing.

Here are just a few possibilities for you to consider:

Speedblade
Need to move snow swiftly and easily?

An hydraulically controlled ‘Speedblade’ can shift volumes of snow in just a few minutes. Highly manoeuvrable and available in 15’-18’ width versions as you prefer.

If the snow is extra deep, then grab a Strongbox Blade and Strongbox Adaptor Plate attachment – this reinforced double-skin construction will make light work of the thickest or highest snow.

Grapple Bucket

This is designed for shifting silage and manure from your site but we’ve discovered that it’s perfect for moving hay bales as well – an added bonus!

Square Bale Fork

Shifts square bales stacked two high – at this rate you’ll have the yard clean in no time.

Hydraulic Fork Positioning

Need to move a wide load such as plywood or gypsum? Then this is the tool you’ll need. It’s designed for easy sliding and lifting from the comfort of your cab.

Round Bale Spear

Lightweight and durable this is the tool you’ll need if you need to shift lots of bales. Rest assured this attachment will make short work of your load.

Excavating Buckets (Teeth Optional)

Dirt and snow won’t stand in your way armed with one of these. You can plough through (practically) any weather-related or environmental obstacle.

Fork Extensions

Slide the plates over your existing forks and extend your reach by up to an impressive 76”.

With these handy telehandler attachments in place you can easily automate many of the labour intensive tasks which used to be done manually, freeing up your employees for other jobs.

There are various attachments available which are suitable for simplifying just about any task – here we’ve barely scratched the surface.

When you come to hire telehandlers from your preferred online hire company, ask about the added attachments that can make every job so much easier and far less labour intensive.

Whatever end goal you have in mind, there’s sure to be a telehandler attachment that can handle it.

Hire telehandlers with confidence from your preferred online telehandler company and you might just feel that you’ve gained an extra member of staff – or two.