Tag: social media

30 Years and Going Strong

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brylcrene

I’ve been derelict in getting my hair cut and one of my co-workers made comment that I needed to use some Brylcreem. I chimed in with the  Brylcreem jingle from back in the 50’s. Two of the younger co-workers had no idea of what we were talking about since this product was popular 30 years before being born (watch video). Yes those were simpler times and the graphics were not as elaborate as they are today. Never the less, if they are remembered 30 years later, their message had to have been effective.

While some commercials stick in our minds, others rise to the pinnacle of fame such as the sound track for the famous Alka-Seltzer” No Matter What Shape  your stomach is in” commercial. It actually made the top ten music list.

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EXAIR is completing its 30th year anniversary and I am coming up on my 20th year anniversary.We have our own print ads which stuck in people’s minds and one or two that may be famous, perhaps infamous (and never made the cut). That is part of the beauty of EXAIR, a company that allows us to let loose now and then so we can produce a spoof ad or two which may include a boss speed skating against Apolo Ohno or a good-humored co-worker playing Jack Black’s role in Nacho Libre (internal office consumption only – sorry). Looking back over my tenure with EXAIR, I’ve experienced the growth of the company into the premier supplier of Intelligent Compressed Air Products®. During that time we have expanded the product line which was originally covered in only 48 pages of a  hand-made spiral bound catalog to our current 168 page full color catalog.

To compliment the catalog, we have an internet presence www.EXAIR.com where drawings and technical is downloaded. We are also on twitter and Facebook. Not to mention this 65-year-old blogger.

We sincerely welcome the opportunity to serve you with your compressed air product applications.

Joe Panfalone
Application Engineer
Phone (513) 671-3322
Fax (513) 671-3363
Web: http://www.exair.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/exair_jp
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exair

5 Years Blogging

Published on by Brian FarnoLeave a comment

As Kirk Edwards mentioned earlier this week, we’ve blogged for more than 5 years now.  The EXAIR Blogstarted before I was part of EXAIR, and it continues to grow more and more with every post which is almost a daily occurrence.  If you look at some of the first blog posts they are fairly straight and to the point on applications, the first one even included a video of a popular application.

first blog

Now if you look at them, we don’t just cover applications, each Application Engineer has an individual voice and message that can almost always loop back to an experience here at EXAIR.  Over the years our blog has grown to include pictures, polls, and videos from all different areas, even some crazy videos from Professor Penurious (search “professor”).

When we started the blog, it launched EXAIR into the Social Media world, we now have a presence on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and You Tube.  Not only are we on these sites, we are constantly posting new information, new ideas, and new ways to utilize our products.   Over the five years we have seen some social media attempts from similar companies come and go.  We have also seen some stellar examples from other manufacturers. Oddly enough, the companies who have been able to sustain their social media campaigns and remain proactive also seem to sustain new product development and remain proactive with their customer service efforts. We consider ourselves in good company and have learned many things from other manufacturers who have chosen to remain committed to blogging and other social media platforms.

One reason we sustain and remain committed is to ensure that our customers have the most up to date information about optimizing your compressed air system.  We also enjoy being able to express our personalities through a different platform. We want you to have as many ways possible to contact us, learn about us, but also get a response.

If you have any questions, or would like some more information on anything we post on a social media site, feel free to contact us.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF

Social Media and the Age of Technology

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Thirty years ago I was at a Sears store shopping (ugh) with the wife. I noticed a young pre-teen playing with some new contraption called a computer. It was then I had an epiphany. He was 12 years old and I was 35. In ten years he will be entering the job market and competing for my job. Time and time again I witnessed middle-aged employees being replaced with younger talent with newer ideas. I vowed that would not happen to me so I delved into the world of computers.

Those were the days of DOS and green monochrome screens. If you had 64 kilobyte of memory you had a screaming machine. The functionality of computers back then was limited but I sensed it would mature as did the calculators. I remember trading in my old mechanical Comptometer for an electronic calculator. All it could do is add, subtract, multiply, and divide which was a leap over the Comptometer. Todays calculators can do complex math and are the size of a credit card.

I was right in that computers evolved into complex machines that have permanently permeated our lifestyles. The rate at which the technology is changing is overwhelming. Either you go with the flow or you get left behind. As I sit here in my cubical, I marvel at what I can do with my computer and wonder how I ever was able to do my job before computers.

Today, social media is in its infancy stage as was the computer. While it may be difficult to envision how to integrate this into your business model and question the economics of implantation, keep in mind that it is evolving. I believe Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and the like are platforms to get the masses engaged. Once engaged, there will be a demand for specialized features and there will be a migration to new platforms and networks.

It’s happening as we speak.  Doximity, a Facebook style social networking tool for physicians has come on the scene. This allows doctors to collaborate on a secure network, overcoming the limitations of their clinics software. As a core part of their strategy, many businesses are developing a network of connections to suppliers which moves communications into real-time.

Times are changing and at break neck speed. EXAIR is doing its best to keep up with new forms of communication via the internet, email, live chat, and social media.

Joe Panfalone
Application Engineer
Phone (513) 671-3322
Fax   (513) 671-3363
Web: www.exair.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/exair_jp
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exair

Exactly Who Are You Dealing With Anyway?

Published on by Kirk EdwardsLeave a comment

I received a message from LinkedIn this morning. They have requested I add “skills” to my profile. They even gave me some suggestions. More specifically they suggested I add the skills of “Psychology”, “Africa” and “Silicon” . They even gave me the opportunity to see an expanded list of skills I could add to my profile! So I begin to think…

I use psychology every day while raising three kids, two “tweens” and one kid without a fancy label – and that one is particularly fond of Weird Al. For those reasons alone I must dabble a bit in behaviorism. I minored in psychology in college. I know about Jung and Freud, and spent portions of my college career with an “unconscious mind”. I learned about abnormal psychology and I have seen Young Frankenstein MANY times.

In other words, I am seriously considering adding “psychology” to my skills profile.

And coincidentally just yesterday I looked at a map of the world, found Africa, and then zeroed in on Zambia. Can you find Zambia? (If you can you should add “Africa” to your skills). I know it is a continent and shaped like a horses head and is home to some of the most fascinating animals on earth. And it has a large island off its coast called Madagascar – again I have seen all the Madagascar movies made by DreamWorks. Add “Africa” to my skills? I think so.

And then there is “Silicon” which I don’t know much about, but I looked it up on wikipedia and now I feel much more informed and skilled in reference to it. It might be a stretch but I think it could be added to my skills on LinkedIn. And in looking over the long list of things they said I could add I am also considering “Festivals” (I have been to many), “Estate Planning” (I have a will) and “Debugging” (I worked a summer temp job for an exterminator years ago).

Here’s the point, so many times it is difficult to know who you are dealing with, what skills they actually have and what their experience may be. If you think the above illustrations are a stretch, I would typically mumble something about how big of a world it is and that people are generally crazy – don’t put it past ’em.

Fortunately, at EXAIR, we have vehicles to prove who you are dealing with. A phone call, e-mail or chat will get you the expertise you are looking for from a staff of experienced Application Engineers with varied backgrounds and insights. You can also see more of our personalities on Twitter and Facebook. And then we round it out with this blog so you can be confident you know more about the people you are dealing with. (You may now consider one of them to be mildly crazy, but hey – I’m just trying to fit in).

If you need assistance with saving your compressed air and keeping it safe, let us know.

Kirk Edwards
Application Engineer
kirkedwards@exair.com