CUTTING EDGE BAY AREA SMACNA’S
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
RECAP: BOARD RETREAT GIVES MEMBERS INSIGHT INTO LEGISLATION & TRAINING
ELECTION OFFERS NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMACNA
WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER: STRATUS
MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: MONTEREY MECHANICAL WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER: INSPERITY
ASSOCIATE MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: BUILDINGPOINT PACIFIC
WELCOME NEW CONTRACTOR MEMBER: S3H MECHANICAL
SAVE THE DATE: 2025 MEP INNOVATION CONFERENCE
SAVE THE DATE: SAFETY & HEALTH CONFERENCE 2025
RECAP: MEMBERS GATHER FOR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
SAVE THE DATE: CAL SMACNA’S 2025 DAY AT THE CAPITOL
RECAP: 100+ MEMBERS ENJOY ANNUAL DINNER IN NOVEMBER
RECAP: MEMBERS AIM FOR FUN
RECAP: DESPITE LOSS, MEMBERS ENJOY GIANTS GAME
SAVE THE DATE: CAL SMACNA 59TH ANNUAL CONVENTION 2025
RECAP: SAFETY SEMINAR REPORTS ON CAL/ OSHA REGULATION UPDATES
RECAP: FALL PM PROGRAM GRADUATES
RECAP: FOUR CHALLENGES EMERGING LEADERS ARE STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME
RECAP: SEVEN CRITICAL DECISIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR TEAM AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
RECAP: CPR/FIRST AID CERTIFICATIONS
ASSOCIATION NEWS
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PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
The conclusion of the year invites us to reflect on the past while also envisioning the possibilities that lie ahead. This year our emphasis was a self-examination of how we can prepare ourselves for the future — both as an association and as individual companies — by focusing on nurturing internal leadership and training our workforce to remain updated on industry trends. It has been a privilege to lead our association, and I eagerly anticipate the guidance Bobby Bramlett will provide for us.
I would like to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Duane for his efforts over the past year. Duane was the very first mechanical contractor I met when I entered the industry back in 1977. He was the first person I met within my office, and he has been my friend now for well over 35 years.
It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as the President of this remarkable association. I truly believe that our successes will stem from the effort and commitment of the entire board and leadership team. Together, we can accomplish great things, fostering growth and innovation within our industry. Thank you for your trust and support.
Updates from Duane Davies & Bobby Bramlett
RECAP | Safety Seminar
SAFETY SEMINAR REPORTS ON CAL/OSHA REGULATION UPDATES
Twenty Bay Area SMACNA members attended the free Safety Seminar on October 3, presented by CAL SMACNA’s Safety Consultant Steve Bowers, CSP, CIT, President of Global Safety Management Consultants.
Participants met in the Bay Area SMACNA Training Room to review the new and upcoming safety regulations. See below for a summary of the Cal/OSHA updates covered.
INJURY REPORTING
• Employees in construction with 20-249 workers must use the 300A form for injury reporting.
• Recordable injuries include fatalities, work-related medical treatments or illnesses beyond first aid, and certain work-related diagnosed illnesses.
• Failing to report injuries that require hospitalization to Cal/OSHA within eight hours results in citations.
INDOOR HEAT ILLNESS REGULATIONS
• Effective July 23, 2024; applies when indoor temperatures exceed certain thresholds.
• Requires suitably cool water provision and monitoring of workers for symptoms.
• Training on heat illness signs and first aid is essential, with documentation required.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION
• Implement a comprehensive plan prohibiting retaliation and conduct violence assessments.
• Four types of workplace violence include external threats, customer-related, internal employee and personal relationships.
• Maintain logs and assign responsibility for the prevention plan.
NEW LEAD STANDARD
• Effective January 1, 2025; significantly lowers permissible exposure limits from 50 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air and lowers the action level from 30 to 2 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
• Requires air monitoring and compliance programs to prevent overexposure to lead.
OSHA’S FOCUS FOUR HAZARDS
• Falls: Emphasize fall protection and mitigate complacency among workers.
This conference, presented by MCAA, SMACNA and TAUC, was designed to foster collaboration, facilitate the sharing of best practices and important resources, and drive collective progress towards the future of the industry.
Hoppe and his wife Mitch Hoppe
MEMBER FEATURE | Monterey Mechanical
DELIVERING 80 YEARS OF RELIABLE SERVICES AND EXTRAORDINARY PROJECTS
Monterey County Plumbing was founded in 1942 during the heyday of World War II. At the time, President Roosevelt had just authorized the largest armaments production in U.S. history, so the primary focus of Monterey County Plumbing in the beginning was to support barracks construction for the war effort buildup.
In 1946, the company relocated to its current corporate headquarters in Oakland, California, and became the main plumbing subcontractor for Stolte Company, working in plumbing, HVAC and non-residential utilities.
Mechanical subcontracting was added to the Monterey portfolio in 1968 with the Oso Pump Station project, built to deliver water into the Los Angeles basin via the Department of Water Resources aqueduct system. By the mid-1980s, Monterey had come into its own as a prime contractor on public works projects throughout the Bay Area. In 1996, the company acquired Contra Costa Metal Fabricators in Concord, California, giving them the capability to perform custom industrial and specialty metal product fabrication and installation.
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“We’re more diverse than many. Our core business is the construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities, which is a pretty unique market,” said Jim Troup, president and CEO. “There are all disciplines at work on a job, and with our eight labor agreements we are capable of selfperforming excavation, concrete, metalwork, piping, machinery installation, HVAC, odor control and more on a project. It’s a very sequential process and very complicated work. In the Bay Area, I don’t know of another SMACNA contractor with our operational diversity.”
We’re more diverse than many. Our core business is the construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities, which is a pretty unique market.
JIM TROUP
President & CEO of Monterey Mechanical
Now known as Monterey Mechanical, the company has experienced tremendous growth in its 80 years of innovative engineering solutions, accelerated project delivery and lower costs. Their projects can be found throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and California, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada and Micronesia.
Troup pointed to several examples that showcase Monterey’s expertise, including the company’s biggest job to date — a $2.5 billion upgrade and modernization project for the San Francisco Biosolids Digester Facilities. The Monterey team’s scope of work stands at $65 million, and a joint venture with MWH Constructors brings another $228 million. Their combined efforts will help replace and relocate the outdated existing solids treatment facilities with more efficient and modern technologies to produce higher quality biosolids, capture and treat odors more efficiently and maximize energy recovery.
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“A lot of times relationships are built on needs. For example, San Francisco requires a large percentage of local participation on projects, so we often partner with smaller local contractors,” Troup said. “We have had to mentor, teach, learn and help each other be successful because if our subcontractors are not, we’re not. I take a lot of pride in mentoring and bringing along other contractors.”
The Monterey Mechanical line of work can be especially hazardous, and the team takes safety seriously by maintaining a certification with the Common Ground Alliance. This first-of-its-kind excavation safety program entails a rigorous evaluation process to ensure best-inclass safety practices are enforced. Monterey’s safety team includes a Director of Health and Safety, a Field Safety Manager and a Field Coordinator, who support all projects and maintain all programs in compliance with local and state agencies.
In addition to water and wastewater treatment plants, Monterey also specializes in the construction of large chemical facilities, power generation plants and other complex industrial facilities, offering full-service construction, emergency services and alternative project delivery methods.
“For many years in California, public works projects were required to be awarded to the lowest bidder. Over the last few years, legislation has been passed to allow public agencies
to use alternative delivery methods statewide, which allows a best value approach,” Troup said. “To me that’s a huge change in the delivery mechanism in the public works market. Your qualifications, track record, experience all mean something, and it should.”
For Troup, creating a workplace culture where employees feel valued, respected and part of something bigger is just as crucial to the company’s success as the complex work they perform in their community.
“Different generations have different things that are very important to them, and we’ve learned how important community service is to the younger generations.”
Since Troup took over as president in 2011, he has helped initiate more community service opportunities. It started with beach cleanup days and has steadily grown to include coat drives, neighborhood cleanup initiatives, blood drives, food drives, toy drives and a summertime backpack-filling event to make sure Oakland students have the essentials to succeed in school. One of the company’s favorite servicerelated activities was in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, where the team built play structures to be donated where most needed.
Monterey Mechanical is a proud longtime member of Bay Area SMACNA.
RECAP | Project Management Class
FALL PM PROGRAM GRADUATES
This year’s Fall Project Management Certificate Program received a refreshing update with new instructors and classes!
A total of 20 students participated in the six-week course and were excited about the program’s enhancements. They enjoyed engaging Bluebeam workshops, sessions on building relationships to enhance your career and classic topics like change order management. Students left with a wealth of knowledge and practical skills to implement in their roles. Each instructor contributed their unique expertise and insights, creating a well-rounded
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GRADUATES
ERICH ANDERSON
DANIEL ARIAS
JUSTIN BARRIENTOS
CLAIRE DREWERY
RIGO GARCA
ALFREDO GUTIERREZ
KAMERON HSIUNG
JOEL JOHNSON
JUAN MARTINEZ
RAMON MUNOZ
VICTOR NAVARRO
JESSICA OUYANG
LIOR RASKINS
MILES ROBINSON
REID SHERWOOD
ZACHARY SMITH
WENDY WANG
MAX WINNER
EVENT RECAP | General Meeting & Holiday Luncheon
MEMBERS GATHER FOR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
We had a fantastic turnout for our general meeting on December 11. Led by our new President Bobby Bramlett, the meeting covered several key updates.
Chris Walker provided the CAL SMACNA update, covering topics such as the elections and the upcoming convention in Ojai, scheduled for April 23-26. A significant emphasis was placed on the Day at the Capitol and the importance of attending this year. Duane Davies added, “We understand that Day at the Capitol takes time away from your company, but not participating is more damaging.” We need to inform legislators about how their bills impact our industry.
Mark Napier presented the financial report, while Paul Irwin shared insights on the training trust and apprentices. Additionally, Sean O’Donoghue gave the pension report and discussed board nominations, which will open at the March general meeting and close at the general advisory meeting in June, with elections to follow.
The meeting concluded with Bobby Bramlett expressing heartfelt gratitude to Art Williams for his dedication and many years of service to our industry, wishing him well in his retirement. A festive lunch followed the meeting, complemented by a fun coffee and mocktail bar cart, giving everyone time to socialize before heading back to the office.
RECAP | November 4
FOUR CHALLENGES EMERGING LEADERS ARE STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME
Building partnerships, attracting talented individuals and producing quality work remain essential; however, emerging leaders are now facing an array of new challenges.
The industry’s expansion is being limited by leadership capacity and the need to train upcoming managers to lead effectively. As leadership shifts to a new generation, many technical leaders are adapting to lead with a strategic and cultural focus.
This session provided contractor members with solutions to four key challenges emerging leaders struggle to overcome:
• How to lead at work and at home without sacrificing one for the other
• What it takes to maximize the potential of the people on their team
• Three decisions that need to be made by owners and emerging leaders to lead their teams into 2025
• Why a leadership cadence must be implemented immediately with their teams
All participants were given an evaluation tool that will enable them to assess their team’s performance, prioritize and make progress.
February 10-11, 2025
CAL SMACNA’S 2025 DAY AT THE CAPITOL
Join us for an informative session about industry initiatives followed by a morning of legislator appointments for your business areas. This year it’s more important than ever to attend, with more than 50% of the legislature having two years or less of experience.
All member firms are encouraged to attend. Students in the fifth grade and above are also welcome to attend. It will not only give them a unique opportunity to see how our legislature works, but also shows our politicians that the younger generation cares about what goes on in Sacramento.
Mitch Hoppe and his wife Mitch Hoppe
100+ MEMBERS ENJOY ANNUAL DINNER IN NOVEMBER
Bay Area SMACNA’s Annual Dinner and Installation of Officers took place for the second consecutive year at the Meritage Resort in Napa. The event saw a great turnout, with over 100 contractor and associate members in attendance.
The evening kicked off with a heartfelt welcome from Sean O’Donoghue, Executive Vice President. He introduced Duane Davies, our outgoing President for 2024. Duane expressed his gratitude to everyone for joining and highlighted that this event allows us to set aside our competitive differences and unite as a family in our industry. He reflected on the organization’s accomplishments throughout the past year and thanked the Bay Area staff for their support.
Following Duane, SMACNA National President Tom Martin took the stage to share updates on national initiatives, including website enhancements, workforce development efforts and the transformation of white papers into podcasts.
The highlight of the evening was the introduction of Bobby Bramlett, our incoming 2025 Bay Area SMACNA President. Bobby shared his vision for the upcoming year,
emphasizing a “one for all, and all for one” approach within the organization. He encouraged members to actively engage and reminded them that the association belongs to them. While acknowledging that differences of opinion are natural, Bobby stressed the importance of mutual respect and recognizing the dedication each individual contributes to advancing the industry. Bobby also presented the 2024 Lonnie Michael III Achievement Award to Keith Atteberry, recognizing his outstanding leadership and contributions to the sheet metal industry. The presence of Lonnie’s daughter, Tiffany, made this moment even more meaningful to Bobby, a longtime friend of Lonnie’s.
The event not only provided a chance for networking and socializing, but also served as a celebration of the season with colleagues and friends. We hope everyone who attended had a wonderful time and left feeling inspired and revitalized!
RECAP
| October 4
MEMBERS AIM FOR FUN
2024 SPORTING CLAY WINNERS
National Air Balance Company, Inc.
1ST Brian Bingham
John Bingham
Trevor Davies
Sam Melo Ewan Schut
Allied Mechanical
2ND Jason Tilley
Randy Freitas
Julian Hole James Kastellic
Fairview Heating & Air
3RD Bradley Conner
Robert Conner Ryan Fithian Joe Poupore
Duck and Cover: Allison Will-Crutchfield
High Overall Shooter: John Bingham
With 110 shooters representing 28 member companies, this year’s Sporting Clays event on October 4 was a huge success! The day was full of camaraderie and friendly competition as the participants demonstrated their skills on the ;Bird’s Landing Hunting Preserve. After playing the course, everyone gathered for a BBQ lunch where stories of the day’s best shots were shared. The event concluded with the belt buckle awards and raffle drawing. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!
1ST
2ND
3RD
RECAP | September 22-24
BOARD RETREAT GIVES MEMBERS INSIGHT INTO LEGISLATION & TRAINING
A total of 23 board members participated in the September 22-24 Board Retreat at Carneros Resort in Napa. The consensus on the industry is that conditions are currently slow or steady; however, there’s a sense of optimism for 2025 and completing backlogged work.
Everyone acknowledged that this slower period allows us to take a more proactive course rather than being reactive.
During the main session, Chris Walker gave the CAL SMACNA update on upcoming legislation and propositions that were on the November ballot. He also encouraged members to save the date for Day at the Capitol on February 10-11. This event is dedicated to educating our legislators about our industry. In 2025, it will be even more important since over half of the legislature will be either new or have less than two years’ experience. They are not as familiar with Sacramento or our industry and we need to make them understand the issues we face. Children in fifth grade and older are welcome to attend.
The Executive Board then gave updates on the finances, training trust and pension.
A highlight of the session was an exciting conversation about the new class recently conducted at the San Jose JATC. For the past several years, Bay Area SMACNA has
held contractor orientations to set contractor expectations for first-year apprentices. Led by contractors, the program expanded to fourth- and fifth-year apprentices this year, focusing on the fundamentals of running a business and covering essential topics like project costs and the business owner’s perspective. This hands-on approach gave apprentices valuable insight into the financial and operational aspects of the industry. Executive Board members emphasized the importance of continuing to enhance educational opportunities for apprentices, as these classes play a crucial role in shaping our future workforce. Apprentice feedback was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the success and impact of the expanded program.
Overall, the Board Retreat left everyone with a positive tone for navigating the challenges and opportunities in the upcoming year.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER | BuildingPoint Pacific
BUILDINGPOINT PACIFIC OFFERS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY
The future has come to the construction industry, including 3D laser scanning, autonomous robotic layout printers, mixed reality project mapping and so much more.
If you want to stay competitive it would behoove you to learn how to use this stuff, as it can save you a lot of time and money. But where is the line between luxury and practical competitive edge?
BuildingPoint Pacific can help you figure it out.
BuildingPoint is the Trimble corporation’s distribution partner network, launched in 2015 to provide focused sales and services to DesignBuild-Operate contractors and construction managers.
“Trimble’s total stations are significantly impacting the construction and surveying industries by integrating advanced technology to enhance precision, efficiency and productivity.”
The company is dedicated to selling and supporting Trimble’s high-tech tools — hardware and software that allows construction firms to create and transfer deeply customizable, interactive, digital building models from the concept and design phase in the office to the construction phase in the field, and back again.
TIFFANY WHITE Operations Coordinator
BuildingPoint Pacific is the authorized Trimble dealer for the company’s buildings portfolio in the California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii markets.
“We specialize in vertical construction layout and scanning/3D modeling equipment and software,”
BuildingPoint Pacific Operations Coordinator Tiffany White said in an email interview. This, she said, includes HP’s SitePrint construction layout printing robot, which utilizes GPS,
BIM and CAD models to autonomously print detailed layout plans on project slabs. One trained worker with an HP SitePrint, a Trimble total station and a tablet can knock out a layout project in one day that would otherwise take a team of several people multiple days to accomplish.
“Trimble’s total stations are significantly impacting the construction and surveying industries by integrating advanced technology to enhance precision, efficiency and productivity,” White said.
Total stations and layout printing robots are just one piece of the larger Trimble DBO suite BuildingPoint Pacific offers. Every piece of the suite is designed to work in concert, seamlessly.
If you’re a construction veteran, the latest crop of hightech construction tools — 3D laser scanners, autonomous layout printers, mixed reality hardware and software — may seem a bit daunting to adopt. But the time and money savings they offer are too big to ignore. Thankfully, BuildingPoint Pacific’s team of 18 employees knows this stuff like the back of their proverbial hands and can offer assistance as needed.
Not sure exactly what will help you complete your project early and under budget? BuildingPoint Pacific’s knowledgeable, experienced project managers, tech specialists and business consultants are there to help you figure it out and guide you every step of the way. They also offer hardware and software training to help you and your team learn how to wield Trimble’s cutting-edge tools proficiently.
“Trimble is the leader in the construction technology world,” White said. “The software used with our equipment is best in class, and our cloud-based solutions allow for better collaboration among teams, facilitating easier access to shared project data and promoting transparency and coordination in large projects.”
To learn more about BuildingPoint Pacific and the industry revolutionizing tech they offer, visit www.buildingpointpacific.com.
RECAP | September 15
DESPITE LOSS, MEMBERS ENJOY GIANTS GAME
Although the September 15 Giants game didn’t end the way we wanted, it was an enjoyable evening full of baseball and great company!
With 75 members in attendance there was plenty of business talk amid the cheering. The crowd’s energy was infectious, and it was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement despite the loss to MLB rivals, the San Diego Padres.
SEVEN CRITICAL DECISIONS
November’s “Seven Critical Decisions to Maximize Your Team and New Opportunities class” was well attended by our contractor members.
The interactive workshop led by Dan Benton provided leaders with tools to evaluate team performance and make seven strategic decisions to optimize their organization’s success and triple their bottom line.
Our industry is facing a rapidly changing market and owner needs, with increased volatility requiring new holistic solutions. Companies must adapt by assessing market changes and the unique qualifications of their teams for success in 2025. Participants learned to interview clients, assess key practice areas and prepare their teams for future challenges. Benton, a seasoned leader in the design and construction industry, aimed to unlock leadership potential and foster high-impact teams.
On December 6, 30 of our contractor members participated in our complimentary CPR and First Aid class held at the Bay Area SMACNA Training Room.
This class equips individuals with crucial life-saving skills, enabling them to confidently respond to emergencies. During the First Aid portion, participants learn to evaluate the scene for safety before taking action and to perform various essential procedures. Certificates for CPR and First Aid are valid for two years.
SCAN TO REGISTER
VETCH SARKOYAN President
Mitch Hoppe and his wife Mitch Hoppe
LEGISLATIVE | Election
ELECTION OFFERS NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMACNA
Submitted by Stan Kolbe, SMACNA Executive Director of Government and Political Affairs
With the election behind us, we can visualize the outlines of what can be expected in the next Congress for SMACNA’s priority issues. We know the White House will flip back to Republican control and a new agenda will soon be on display offering challenges, but also legislative and regulatory opportunities.
While Washington awaits many more cabinet appointments and the sometimes-challenging confirmation process, many changes are expected as Congress organizes into a new committee leadership structure, which will control the legislative process for the next two years.
THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA ON KEY INDUSTRY ISSUES
The White House policies on taxes, trade, energy, housing and the workforce have the potential to shape the industry’s direction if Congress agrees to pass them to the President’s desk. Let’s take a closer look.
TAXES
The Trump transition team has advocated making a 20% corporate rate, a 15% rate for companies that build their products in the U.S. and other TCJA provisions, some of which expire at the end of next year, permanent. SMACNA advocates no less than the big three priority tax provisions: permanent extension of the bonus depreciation, R&D credits and equipment expensing incentives
INFRASTRUCTURE
Most of the $1.3 trillion infrastructure program has been committed and/or presented to local and state governments with prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship language included. These funds cannot be reprogramed or rescinded, so should largely be safe from political games and policy retribution efforts starting in January. The bipartisan funding was distributed to mostly red congressional areas, with funding even more popular now than when passed.
PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS
All PLAs signed and in process will be honored and will continue to move forward.
TARIFFS
Trump’s policy team has proposed increases in tariffs on imported products and components used in U.S. manufacturing, plus an additional tariff on goods from China. These tariff proposals are being discussed on Capitol Hill by both sides.
THE REMAINING WORK OF THE 118TH CONGRESS
All the politically conflicted activity we witnessed this year produced the fewest number of laws enacted in a century. Although we have gotten a lot passed into law (Airport Infrastructure / Nuclear Power Financing-Permitting Reform / PLA Reform), we have a few major issues awaiting action to close the books on the 118th Congress:
• Endorse Extension of R&D Tax Credit AND Section 179
• Promote the Change Order Reform / Small Business Payment for Performance Act
• Advocate for The SAFE Banking Act
• Commercial Building Conversion Tax Credits
As we continue to remain heavily engaged in legislative, political and regulatory advocacy, keep your eye on these emerging SMACNA issues of great significance to our industry that are now before Congress and targeted for 2025:
INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACT
A bill to improve the indoor air in public schools throughout the United States (H.R. 9131) is pending in the Energy and Commerce Committee.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY COMMERCIAL TAX CREDIT
The AIRBORNE Act (H.R. 9000) would incentivize non-residential building owners to conduct indoor air quality assessments (IAQ) and upgrade their ventilation and air filtration systems. SMACNA and SMART both have endorsed H.R. 9000.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONVERSIONS ACT
SMACNA boosted its support on Capitol Hill for H.R. 9002, designed to expand the conversion of underutilized commercial buildings for residential use. The bill addresses the growing demand for residential construction by creating a market-based tax incentive (20% credit) for converting older commercial buildings to residential use.
MARKETING | Online Presence
INVEST IN YOUR WEBSITE TO BOOST BUSINESS IN 2025
Too often, construction industry professionals have a dated website (if they have one at all); one that isn’t up to snuff by today’s standards, has sat static for years and/or was built on old technology. The work you’re doing as a company might be industry-leading, but it’s possible your customers would never know at first glance.
Let’s take a look at some of the industry’s biggest website pain points, and how to improve them.
YOU DON’T HAVE A CONSISTENT BRAND
Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. But when it comes to your marketing efforts (starting with your website), you want to establish clear rules and guidelines for your company brand and how it’s handled. If your logo, fonts, colors and graphics lack direction across your website, emails, social platforms and more, you run the risk of diluting your messaging, confusing customers and making your business seem careless or unprofessional.
Sound familiar? It might be time to enlist the help of a designated brand manager or agency.
YOU’RE NOT OPTIMIZED FOR SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a fancy term to improve your website’s content to help organically boost traffic to your site by making it more visible on search engines like Google. Let’s say you offer heating and air conditioning services. You’d want to make sure to include “HVAC service,” “HVAC maintenance,” “HVAC installation” and “HVAC replacement” in your web copy, along with “commercial HVAC” and/or “residential HVAC” to boost your ranking.
Search engines also use SEO for videos, and Google will see your website as more relevant to users. Include keywords in your title and description, along with a compelling thumbnail to entice users to click to learn more!
YOU’RE NOT MOBILE OPTIMIZED
Statistics show that 63% of searches are done on a mobile device (Statista), and 70% of all paid search impressions are on mobile devices (Mobile Marketer). What does that mean? It’s a must for your business to have a responsive website that adjusts for optimized viewing on a smartphone or tablet.
YOU’RE NOT CONNECTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA
The number of social media users in the U.S. is over 300 million in 2024 and is projected to hit 326 million by 2029 (Statista). What this means is social media literally gives you millions of reasons to reach and engage with your audience and grow your business. Additionally, social platforms have the capability to target highly specific people, which can lead to higher conversion rates and better ROI.
YOU DON’T HAVE A LEAD GENERATING FORM
Leads are valuable for any business, and an easy way to get them is by having a lead generating form in an easyto-find place on your website. It can be a “contact us” form, a service request form, a blog subscription form — something quick and easy to collect email addresses and phone numbers of potential customers.
EVENT | April 23-26, 2025
SOURCE:WEBFX
Bay Area SMACNA members are invited to attend the CAL SMACNA Convention for another insightful networking experience with peers. The event will feature educational workshops, a business meeting, local and national industry updates, award recognition and the installation of new officers.
Session topics will discuss trends for the industry, like AI in construction, best practices in selecting future business leaders and actionable principles of what it takes to be an unstoppable leader.
Ojai Valley Inn 905 Country Club Rd. Ojai, CA 93023 APR
APRIL 23-26, 2025
SCAN TO REGISTER
Scan to learn more about the program details.
https://bit.ly/4fnzrPQ
Mitch
Mike
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