Spring Clean Your Website: Drive Customer Satisfaction

Last month, the association published

12 Reasons Every Business Should Have

a Website touting that a site is like a welcome mat for your business. But just as important as having a website is maintaining and updating that website.

Here are eight tips to spring clean your company website.

1. Is Your Contact Information Up to

Date? Company email addresses always seem to be changing as an employee leaves or as we change internet providers. Ensure that the phone, email, physical and mailing address haven’t changed. Ensure customers know if you have moved and if the billing address has changed. Some companies opt not to have their email on their website. That’s fine too. Many opt just to have a contact form, which is standard. Ensure that the contact form is linked to the correct active email as well. Test the contact form, ensure you get the emails.

2. Update Your Copyright Date. Each website has a copyright date on the footer. Many web gurus recommend updating the date. Denver Data Web mentions,

CALLIESTEWART Marketing Representative o/713.381.4586 m/832.264.4775 CBStewart@eprod.com

“Seeing an old copyright date on a website can elicit similar feelings to seeing an expiration date on your favorite snack package: you’ll still probably eat it (or at least consider it), but you might ask yourself how old is too old? Although a lot of your site visitors might not scroll that far down the page, if any of them do and see an old year, they’ll interpret this as you are neglecting your website, your audience, and your business image.”

3. Link to Your Company Social Me-

dia Accounts. Is your company on social media? Ensure all your social media is linked so your customers can find you on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or whatever social platforms your company has a profile.

4. Broken Links Can Hurt Your Web Ranking. It’s easy to link to an article, news story, or other external content. Sometimes that content is short-term and may no longer be online or archived. You can type your URL into a broken link finder like www.brokenlinkcheck.com to find and fix broken links. Broken links can negatively impact your web ranking, where you appear when someone googles propane company and the city they are in.

5. Test Drive Your Website. Ensure all components are in working order, especially if you have features like bill pay or chat, and other website features. Website functionality is key. Ask an employee or family member, who might not be as familiar with the site, to give it a good test drive. They might find holes that aren’t apparent to you.

6. Refresh Content. One thing many SEO and web marketing companies suggest is periodically refreshing web content and images. Never use images from other websites or off of Google without permission. Some companies have found themselves in hot water because some images are licensed. Need propane-specific images? PERC can do that. As part of their Propane Can Do That campaign, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has an abundance of images for the propane industry’s consumer sectors from residential to agricultural. Browse and download images at https://propane. com/resource-catalog/.

7. Personalize Your Website. Make sure the customer knows who your company is, no matter how big or small you are. Add a personal touch or story and company photos.

8. Customer Testimonials. Do you have customers who just rave about your propane service? Or do you have great Facebook or Google reviews? You can reference and post a few of these on your website to showcase your company’s customer service. Don’t be shy about asking longtime clients for a review you can publish. Many customers are glad to help companies they feel strongly about.

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Private Bridge Crossings

You may find private bridges where a private road or driveway crosses a river, stream or other waterway. Over the years, several private bridges have been damaged by trucks driving over them. Damage can range from a minor crack to the floor boards to major structural damage. In some cases, trucks have fallen through and overturned, causing major damage to the bridge, truck, driver, and the environment.

Many of the private bridges that are crossed each year were most likely built many years or decades ago. If possible, the bridge’s vehicle weight rating should be determined before crossing. If this can’t be done, a company representative should at least examine the bridge with the customer to observe the general condition and determine if it safe to drive over.

Vehicles were likely much smaller in size and weight when most private bridges were built. Are you required to drive over a private bridge? No. You are not required to drive over a bridge that you think is unsafe to cross. Most municipalities, for example, do not require an employee to drive across a bridge that he thinks is unsafe.

Federal, state and county laws

The Federal Highway Administra-

FEATURING SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR LP GAS DEALERS

•Worker’s Compensation •General Liability •Business Auto Insurance •Property •Commercial Umbrella Building and Maintaining Confidence in the Insurance Industry since 1949

Member

Contact John S. Porter, CIC Mark D. VanDover, CIC Miles T. McFann Rhonda Wood

1305 South First Street • Lufkin, Texas (936) 634-3326 • 1-800-223-1289 Emails: john.porter@lumbermen.net • mark.vandover@lumbermen.net mmcfann@austin.rr.com • rhonda-wood@lumbermen.net • www.lumbermen.net

tion (FHWA) has no legal authority to require private bridge owners to inspect and maintain their bridges. The FHWA encourages, but does not require, owners of private bridges to follow the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Some states or counties may have standards and codes.

Inspections – Load Ratings

Your company is encouraged to visually inspect any private bridges it has not crossed before. Before making deliveries to a new customer, consider asking if they have any unique conditions – such as a private bridge – on their property. Ask the customer if and when they had an inspection performed and if the bridge has a load rating or axle limit posting. A private bridge that has been driven over previously may not always be safe.

The bridge will age every year, the structural integrity can deteriorate, and factors such as flooding and heavy vehicle use can cause additional damage.

Don’t let the sale of a product become more important than the safety of the driver, other people, or the environment. Be cautious. Below is a sample photo showing a vehicle weight rating.

Flooding Effects

You may have crossed a bridge successfully for the past few deliveries, but what happens in the event of heavy rain and flooding? The force of water running under or over the bridge may cause extensive damage, much of which cannot be seen from above the bridge. If there is flooding or major rain fall, consider what damage it may have done to the bridge by getting out, taking a look at it and ascertaining its condition before crossing. Bridges with wood planks, metal, or concrete can deteriorate and shift with heavy rains. If you have any concerns, stop and before crossing, ask the homeowner to have a qualified inspector look at the bridge.

This material is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be a representation of coverage that may exist in any particular situation under a policy issued by one of the companies within Crum & Forster. This material was developed as a general guide to safety from sources believed to be reliable and is not intended to provide legal, technical or other professional advice.

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People in Propane

Stan Mallory, 82, of Mineola, passed away on January 24, 2021. Mr. Mallory’s family moved to Mineola when Stan was 12, where the family owned a general appliance goods store and butane business. Mallory’s would stay in business throughout East and North Texas for the next 63 years. The propane business flourished, eventually expanding to locations in Tyler, Lindale, Whitewright, Dallas and Greenville. Mr. Mallory was very involved in civic duties, serving on the Mineola school board, as president of the Rotary Club and president of the Mineola City Cemetery board. He was also director of the Mineola National Bank, served on the ACU Advisory Board, and was a deacon at the Broad Street Church of Christ. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please donate to the West Erwin Church of Christ Building Fund, 420 West Erwin St, Tyler, TX 75702.

Bobby L . Holly, 72, passed away on February 13. Mr. Holly served in the US Army in Vietnam. After marrying he worked as a painter/sandblaster for Brown and Root for 25 plus years, and later retired from Victoria County road and bridge crew. He also worked for Kellogg Propane making deliveries. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, and run trot lines. Bobby was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic church, American Legion, and SPJST.

Propane Presents: Technology Series

Join PERC in this webinar series about propane technologies, and hear directly from OEMs who are leading the future for propane-powered equipment.

Sign up for upcoming live presentations and watched archived ones at https://propane.com/propane-presentstechnology-series.

Young Gassers: 30 Under 30

The Young Gassers, in conjunction with the National Propane Gas Association and Canadian Propane Association, is very proud to announce that the open enrolment period for the 2021 30-Under-30 program is now underway. Applications will be accepted until March 8, 2021.

Nomination form and more information can be found at https://www.younggassers.org/ or for questions regarding the program, please contact Steph Hennen at younggassers@gmail.com.

U.S. Department of Energy Withdraws Proposal Propane Non-Condensing Furnaces Now Safe

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed to increase the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) to 92%, which can only be accomplished by a condensing furnace. Just recently, the DOE withdrew the proposal that would have impacted thousands of non-condensing furnaces, which include propane. “Non-condensing and condensing gas furnaces use separate and technically distinct types of venting systems. Neither type of furnace can be installed with a venting configuration designed for the other type of furnace according to design certification standards for safety covering gas furnaces, gas installation codes, and safe installation practices. Therefore, in the case of a furnace replacement, a change from a noncondensing to a condensing furnace will require a new venting system for the furnace and may require significant modifications

to the venting system of the existing water heater to maintain safe and proper venting of its flue gas. The requirement for a new venting system in a replacement application will force the consumer to incur significant additional costs, which may cause the consumer to switch fuels from propane to an electric alternative,” according to a recent NPGA Reports.

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) partnered with other gas associations to petition the Department of Energy not to adopt the proposal and made a case for non-condensing technology highlighting that it is an item protected by the Energy Policy & Conservation Act (EPCA). The act prohibits DOE from adopting regulations that would likely exclude a product type of performance characteristics. NPGA contended that the proposal violates EPCA because it would likely exclude non-condensing furnaces, because these furnaces would not be able to conform to the proposed energy efficiency standard.

The U.S. Department of Energy agreed with NPGA’s petition to uphold noncondensing technology as a feature protected by EPCA.

SBA Stands Ready to Assist Texas Businesses Affected by the Severe Winter Storms

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Texas businesses as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced.

The declaration covers 108 Texas counties as a result of the severe winter storms that began on Feb. 11, 2021. Counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kendall, Lavaca, Liberty, Limestone, Lubbock, Madison, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, Medina, Milam, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Polk, Rusk, Rockwall, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Shelby, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Taylor, Tom Green, Travis, Tyler, Upshur, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise, and Wood. A map of affected counties is at https://gis. fema.gov/maps/dec_4586.pdf.

In consideration of the public health concerns due to the Coronavirus pandemic, SBA has established a Virtual Business Recovery Center to provide personalized assistance to business owners. Customer Service Representatives will be available to business owners and individuals to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application. Virtual Business Recovery Center

Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EDT

Contact Virtual Center at FOCWAssistance@sba.gov (800) 659-2955

Application can be found at https:// disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.

GO

FURTHER

Garrett Insurance Agency, Inc Formerly, Southern Star Insurance Agency, Inc Cecil Joiner, Risk Manager cecil@garrettinsurance.com 936-756-2222 www.garrettinsurance.com

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CHERYL@LONGHORNPROPANE.COM or WENDY@LONGHORNPROPANE.COM, 830-964-2525

MARCH

4-5 2021 Spring Benchmarking Council Meeting

Charlotte, NC

7-9 2021 Spring NPGA TS&S Committee Meeting 8 Young Gasser 30 Under 30 Nominations Due

8-12 Work Truck Week

Virtual

10 Texas Propane Magazine New Ads Due

14 Daylights Savings Time begins 17-19 Energy Independence Summit

Virtual

24 Virtual Texas Energy Day

APRIL

2 TPGA & PSC office closed for Good Friday 10 Texas Propane Magazine New Ads Due

22 PERC Council Meeting Virtual

MAY

10 Texas Propane Magazine New Ads Due

13 LPG Charity Fund Bowling Tournament

Houston, TX

BLT Tanks 13

Cordell Insurance 18

Cunningham Gas Products 14

Enterprise Gas Products 22

Ferrellgas 17

Fisk Tank Carrier Inc. Outside Back Cover

Gas Equipment Company 11

Lone Star Energy Group 12

Longhorn Propane 28

Lumbermen’s Insurance Agency 24

Marshall Excelsior 19

Marshall Young Insurance 15

Meeder Equipment Co. 5

Pinnacle Propane Inside Front Cover

Propane Service Corporation 26

Quality Steel Corporation 25

RegO Products 11

Rural Computer Consultants 23

Westmor Industries 27

White River Distributors 9

Propane Snow & Ice Melting Systems

TPGA did not think we would have to or need to cover this topic, but with last months’ arctic blast, we thought this might be on some of your commercial customers’ minds, and hey, maybe even your propane company might want to try out this technology. The Propane Education & Research Council touts that “Snow-and-ice-melting systems offer clear benefits for commercial property owners. They reduce maintenance costs for snow removal and minimize liability by reducing the risk of slip-and-fall accidents.”

According to Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer, “Hydronic radiant snow- and ice melting systems are a smart way to make easy work of clearing surfaces so people can walk and drive unencumbered during inclement weather. These systems can be effectively used in any exterior area, including stairs, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, parking ramps, loading docks, building entrances, wheelchair access ramps, hospital emergency entrances, and even helipads on rooftops. Almost any area that accumulates snow or ice can benefit from one of these systems.” Here are three examples that the Propane Education & Research Council highlighted in a recent article on their site:

For instance, Steamboat Springs School District in Colorado keeps kids playing outside year-round with a hydronic radiant system in the playgrounds of Strawberry Park Elementary and Soda Creek Elementary, keeping surfaces safe and dry. The system uses its own gas boiler with hydronic lines that circulate through the concrete to warm it and melt the snow and ice, said Pascal Ginesta, director of maintenance, operations, and transportation for the school district.

Also, Klamm Mechanical installed a snow-and-ice-melting system in the concrete platforms of a Northstar Line commuter rail station in Ramsey, Minnesota, to ensure commuters’ safety.

Like the Jay Peak Resort in northern Vermont, propane boilers can fuel extensive snow-melting systems cleanly, efficiently, and affordable in more remote applications.

Read the full article “Tech Topic: Unique, radiant snow and ice-melting applications” in Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer at https:// www.pmengineer.com/.

WE’RE ALWAYS IMPROVING SO THAT YOU CAN, TOO.

EXPLORE ALL THE NEW COURSES AND FEATURES IN THE LEARNING CENTER

We’re constantly adding new safety and sales training courses to the Learning Center. Make sure you’re checking regularly to see what’s new. If you don’t have an account, create one today (it’s free) so you can access everything the Learning Center has to offer — including convenient new features like the ability to print certificates for completed courses directly from the site! Get started at Training.Propane.com.

NEW & IMPROVED: DISPENSING PROPANE SAFELY COURSE

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