Carpet Cleaning

Carpet Cleaning and Allergies

If you or someone in your family has allergies, you might have your carpet to blame. Regular cleaning of the carpet can make sure there is no mold or mildew that is stuck in your carpet causing allergies.

There are some things you should know about carpet cleaning though and how it can affect allergies.

Hot Water Cleaning

Many carpet cleaning companies rely on steam cleaning. However, this might be the best method of cleaning if your allergies are severe. You probably already know that you need to keep humidity levels in your home low because the higher humidity, the more things that can grow inside your home.

Mold and dust mites also are found in damp environments. Hot water carpet cleaning always leaves carpet fibers damp. Wet carpet cleaning also leaves behind some residue from the chemical detergent. This makes the carpet sticky and can attract even more dirt and mites. Some people also might be allergic to the detergent itself.

Pros

When done correctly though, hot water cleaning can still provide some benefits when it comes to removing allergens. You need to make sure you are using a reputable company though with good equipment. The better the equipment though, the faster the carpet will dry which means less mold and mildew can trap themselves in the wet carpet fibers.

Deep cleaning of the carpet removes most dirt and allergens
High efficiency
Provides regular upkeep of carpet

Cons

If not properly, it can leave the carpet wet and trap more debris
Expensive
Long drying time
Services take a long time

Dry Cleaning

If you are wary about wet carpet cleaning after learning about the long drying time and the potential for mold growth, you might be considering dry cleaning your carpet instead. This is often a cheaper carpet cleaning method as well so it might be better for those on a budget who don’t want to spend too much on carpet cleaning.

Pros

Cheaper
Can often be done DIY if you have time
Carpet does not get as wet
Quick-drying time allows for fewer bacteria to grow

Cons

Does not clean as well as steam drying
More of a surface clean than a deep clean
Might not improve air quality as much as steam cleaning

Removing Allergens

One of the main pros of carpet cleaning is that it removes allergens. If your home has a large number of allergens and bacteria, you might be affected by the indoor air quality. With all the time you spend in your home, it’s extremely important to make sure the air quality is improved so that you can breathe better.

Carpet cleaning can pull out all these allergens and other nasty things that might be hiding in the carpet.

Removing Bacteria

Bacteria can make your carpet smell if you are not cleaning it regularly. Most homes have over 200,000 bacteria in every square inch of the carpet. This bacteria can begin to overgrow and even circulate into the air which means you will be breathing it in every time you are at home.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

If you are finding that you are not breathing well or someone in your family is not breathing as well as they usually do, it might be because the bacteria and allergens trapped in your carpet are now circulating in the air and everyone is breathing them in.

Indoor air quality is one of the main concerns when it comes to your home and the health of others. Getting regular carpet cleaning will make sure all these bacteria are removed.

Carpet Cleaning Prevent Allergies

Tips for Allergy Sufferers

If you have severe allergies and want to make sure your carpet is clean to reduce asthma and allergies, you can follow some of these tips.

Vacuum Regularly. Carpet cleaning is not a regular solution for everyone because it can be expensive. Vacuuming can help you keep the carpet clean though. Make sure you are vacuuming a few times a week.
Clean Spills. It can be easy to forget about spills especially if you have a busy lifestyle. Leaving spills though can make the carpet remain wet. If the spill is a drink or something with sugar, it can also attract bugs and more dirt. Make sure you clean a spill immediately and make sure you dry the stain after if it’s very wet.
Remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These compounds stay in the carpet when they are being installed and can go into the air causing allergies. Vacuuming and regular carpet cleaning can help remove them.

Allergies can be annoying and cause you to have serious health issues if not treated. Make sure you are using carpet cleaning services and vacuuming often to help remove bacteria, allergens, and pollen. If you use wet carpet cleaning, make sure the company is using quick-dry technology.

Pest Control

Why is Pest Control Important?

Pests can invade your home at any time. Whether it’s during the summer or any point in between, they’ll find a way to get in. That’s why pest control is important.

We’ll discuss more reasons shortly. It’s also a good idea to consider pest control over nothing at all. This can be due to the health hazards that can occur. You, your family, and even people who visit can get sick if they come in contact with certain pests.

Some pests can also do damage to your home. It will leave you with hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in costs. You don’t want to take any chances when it comes to pest control.

Let’s talk about some of the reasons why it’s important.

Why is Pest Control Important?

Pest control: What is it?

Pest control is managing or eliminating pests through your home. The measures taken can be natural remedies or using chemical treatments that can kill pests. Either way, the concept is the same and is performed by you or a professional.

Why is it important?

Here are some of the reasons why pest control is important:

1. It’s designed to protect your home

Pest control measures can be used to protect your home from all kinds of pests. Think about it: termites can feed on wood and destroy the structural integrity of your home. Ants and roaches can infest your kitchen if there’s enough food scraps laying around.

The cost due to the damage will certainly add up. Overall, pests are responsible for billions of dollars in damage. From termites alone, the annual damage is $5 billion.

If you want to prevent infestations, you want to fix any damage to your home that pre-exist them. For example, seal off any cracks in the foundation, fix any windows, doors, or your roof if there are any openings.

2. You can get sick if nothing is done

Cockroaches can carry different kinds of bacteria that cause various illnesses like E. Coli and salmonella. Mosquitoes can carry malaria, dengue, and other illnesses you can get from being bit. Having the right pest control measures in place will ensure that your health is protected from pests.

Not only your health will be protected, but so will the health of your family, and those who stop by. These illnesses can get serious for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people.

3. Allergy prevention

Believe it or not, pests can also trigger allergic reactions. Specifically, skin allergies will be one of the number one reactions related to pests. However, some allergic reactions can exist to where medical attention could be possible.

Among one of the pests known for triggering allergic reactions include cockroaches. It’s one more reason why you want to keep them out of your house and keep it clean.

4. Pest can affect the food supply

Did you know that pests can be responsible for millions of dollars in food losses. This includes anywhere from the processing aspect of it all the way to when the products arrive in your home and people notice what’s inside.

Not to mention, pests found in food can trigger recalls. This can be a huge loss for food companies. If anything else, you want to protect your food from pests by storing it in proper containers.

5. It can cost a lot of money

We’ve already mentioned the costs in terms of damage (and how it can hurt the food supply in so many ways). Yet, that doesn’t stop there, the costs will continue to pile up. They will come in the form of pest control services and treatments that can cost hundreds or even thousands.

6. You can protect your personal belongings

Pests will not only destroy the structure of your home, but can also find a way to destroy your favorite things like electronics, books, and other things you might have stored away in your garage or attic.

Once again, this is where the costs will add up. This time, it’s the cost to repair or replace those items that got damaged by specific pests like termites and rodents.

Why Pest Control

7. Your carpets and furniture can fall victim

Soft materials like your carpet and furniture may be no match for any kind of pest. Especially moths. Once again, such damage can lead to repairs and replacements. As if you had enough costs to deal with.

8. Pest control gives you peace of mind

If you are able to control the pests in and around your home, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re keeping it all to a minimum. At the same time, you’ll know exactly what to do in the event of an onset of pest infestation (which is something you can handle easily).

Conclusion

If you are looking for reasons why pest control is important, there are eight reasons listed above. You want to take things seriously when it comes to dealing with them. Failure to do so can lead to so many costly losses.

Plus, your health may be affected as well. Do whatever it takes to protect you and your family from pests.

Patios

What is a Patio? A Guide To Domestic Patios

What is a Patio? Domestic Patios Guide

Things you need to learn about building your next patio project

A patio is a great place to relax with friends and family. It’s also great to host parties, and cookouts, watch movies, play games, and enjoy nature. But most importantly, a patio is an excellent place for outdoor living.

To make the most of your patio, you must understand how to design and build a patio. Homeowners have many options, so you should take advantage of these opportunities to add beauty and functionality to your backyard.

What is a patio?

A patio is a small, covered shelter or ground floor area outside a home or office that protects from the elements. A patio may include a table, chairs, plants, and sometimes a grill. Some patios are attached to homes, while others are free-standing structures. Patios are popular places to relax outdoors, especially during warm weather months. People enjoy spending time outside, and patios give them a comfortable space. In addition, patios are great spaces to host parties, cookouts, and barbecues.

Materials

Wood

Wood patios are made of wood planks attached to form a surface that can be walked upon. These surfaces are perfect for entertaining guests outdoors and great for relaxing during warm weather. Many styles of wood patios are available, ranging from traditional designs to modern ones. Some homeowners prefer wooden decks, while others opt for concrete slabs.

Cement

Cement patios are concrete slabs laid over soil and covered with gravel or sand. These slabs are commonly installed outdoors to protect against rainwater runoff and heat loss. They’re also great for entertaining guests outside and look pretty cool. Many styles of cement patios are available, ranging from small decks to large areas that cover entire homes.

Concrete

A concrete patio is a type of outdoor flooring made of poured concrete. These floors are popular among homeowners because they’re easy to install, durable, low maintenance, and require little upkeep. Concrete patio floors are available in many different styles, colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and patterns. Some are designed to look like brick pavers, stone, wood, or flagstone. Others mimic tile, slate, or pebbles. There are even concrete paver designs that resemble grassy lawns.

Brick

Brick patios are beautiful additions to homes and businesses alike. Not only do they add curb appeal, but they also provide a comfortable outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining guests.

Traditional brick patios are typically constructed of bricks laid in rows and mortar. These patios are very durable, but they require regular maintenance and upkeep. Concrete patios are similar to traditional brick patios, but they’re usually poured into forms instead of being built by hand. Finally, stone and slate patios are natural products that are entirely unprocessed. Because of this, they tend to be less expensive than other options.

Metal

Metal patios are the most modern option. They patios are highly durable and weather resistant. They are also easy to clean. However, they can be pretty costly. In addition, they are heavy and difficult to install.

While metal patio sets are gaining popularity, they are only sometimes considered the ideal choice for every homeowner. Some people prefer wooden patio sets because they offer a rustic appeal. Others choose wrought iron patio sets because they add a traditional feel to their home. Still, others opt for teak patio sets because they are resistant to weather conditions.

Location

When choosing where to put your outdoor living space, there are three main factors: sun exposure, privacy, and views.

Sun Exposure

Sunlight is essential for growing plants and vegetables. If you live in an area with lots of shade, consider planting trees or shrubs near your home. This will help block out the sunlight and provide more privacy.

Privacy

Privacy is essential when designing any outdoor space. For example, ensure you design your backyard so it doesn’t intrude on your neighbor’s property lines. Also, ensure you keep your yard away from busy streets or highways.

Views

Views are also critical when planning your garden. Try to create a picture with natural scenery and artificial features such as ponds, fountains, waterfalls, etc. Planting flowers and grasses along walkways and pathways is a great way to add interest to your landscape.

Size

Choosing the right patio size is an important decision. There are several things to consider when selecting the correct patio size.

First, you must decide whether you want a small or larger patio. Small patios usually measure between 10 feet and 12 feet wide. Large patios are typically 20 feet wide or wider.

Second, you must determine whether you want a rectangular or square shape. Rectangular patios tend to be longer than wide. Conversely, fair patios are generally shorter than wide.

Third, you need to think about the height of the patio. Patio heights vary depending on the style of furniture you plan to place on the patio. If you plan to sit most of the time outdoors, you may opt for a higher patio. However, select a lower patio if you plan to spend much of your time inside.

Finally, you need to consider the amount of space you have available. Some homeowners find themselves with limited outdoor living spaces. This means that they need to consider the size of their patio carefully.

FAQs

How does a patio differ from other outside areas?

A patio differs from other outdoor areas in many ways. First off, patios are generally smaller spaces, so they tend to be more intimate. Unlike decks, balconies, and other types of porches that are elevated structures, patios are located on the ground level of a property. They’ve also covered structures since walls enclose them. And finally, patios are explicitly designed for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying life outdoors. These characteristics mean that patios are perfect places for hosting parties, having barbecues, and spending lazy summer days. However, patios aren’t limited to these uses. They can also serve as dining rooms, living rooms, playrooms, and more. Whatever your needs may be, a patio can meet them.

How do I find the best patio contractor?

The best way to find a licensed patio contractor for your needs is to ask friends and family members. However, word of mouth is still one of the strongest ways to find good service providers, especially for projects like patios.

However, if you don’t have any recommendations, you can look around online for reviews of local businesses. These sites let homeowners write reviews of companies, allowing others to read about their experiences. By reading these reviews, you can see what kind of experience other customers had with the business and compare that to the experience you’d expect to have with a given company. You may also find that some businesses have been reviewed multiple times, meaning they’re already established in the community and have satisfied customers. This could give you confidence that they’re worth hiring.

Can I build my patio?

There are many ways to go about building a patio. Some homeowners prefer to hire professionals, while others like to DIY. You should always consider safety issues when working around heavy machinery. Plenty of tools are available to help you build a free-standing patio, but you still need to take precautions to ensure everything goes smoothly. Before starting any project, check with local authorities to see if permits are required. Also, be sure to follow all safety guidelines provided by your contractor. Finally, remember that you may need additional support beams to prevent the roof from collapsing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a patio is a beautiful space on the ground level area where you can spend time relaxing outdoors. They provide plenty of room for entertaining guests, lounging around, and enjoying the fresh air. Patios are perfect for almost anything you want outside, from hosting parties to playing sports.

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an old one, having a patio will help you create the outdoor structure you’ve always wanted. So grab your shovels and hammers because it’s time to build!

Carport

Carport or Garage: Which is best?

The difference between a carport and a garage

When it’s time to build a new home or renovate an old one, many homeowners face a difficult decision should they choose a carport or garage? Of course, both options have their pros and cons, and the choice comes down to what’s best for each homeowner. So, which is better for you a carport or a garage?

What is a Carport?

A carport is a roofed structure that is open on at least one side and intended to provide parking protection for one or more vehicles. Carports are typically made from a wide range of designs, like metal or vinyl, and have an A-frame, hip, or gabled roof at an average cost. They can be freestanding or attached to a house, or you may also consider having a single carport or a double carport, depending on your needs.

Carport PROS

Carport costs are much cheaper than garages.
Carports can be more appealing than traditional garage structures since there are different carport designs you can choose from.
Carports can be installed relatively easily and quickly and have a lot of custom designs.
Carports often do not require permits, whereas garages do in most cases.
Carports do not take up as much room as a garage, so they are great for small properties or tight spaces.
Carports can be used as additional covered storage space for other items such as lawn furniture, bikes, etc.

Carport CONS

Carports can be less flexible than full garages.
Carports offer less protection for vehicles than garages do.
Carports typically have a shorter lifespan than garages because they’re made of less durable materials.
Carports do not provide additional storage.

What is a Garage?

A garage is a building where cars, motorcycles, or other vehicles are stored. Garages can be standalone structures, or they can be attached to a house or other building. It can also be a single garage or a double garage. They typically have a door that allows the car to be driven inside and often have additional space for storing tools, equipment, and other items. Some garages also have an area for working on cars, with a workbench, tools, and extra space.

Garage PROS

Garages provide added security for your vehicles and belongings, especially locked garages.
Garages give the potential for increased home value.
Garages keep your cars 100% protected from the elements.
Garages provide extra storage space.
Garages can be used as workshops or hobby areas.

Garage CONS

Garages can be pretty expensive to build, and they’re often not included in the price of a home.
Garages can be difficult to heat in the winter, making them uncomfortable to use.
Garages can be a magnet for pests, such as rodents and insects.
Garages can take up valuable space on a property.

Building Regulations

Carport

You need to consider a few things when planning to build a carport, as there may be specific regulations you need to follow. First, check with your local authority or council as to whether or not you need planning permission for a carport. If you require council approval, get all the necessary paperwork before beginning construction.

Also, consider the size and location of your carport carefully. It needs to be big enough to comfortably fit your vehicle/s but not so big that it dominates your property or sticks out like a sore thumb. The location is also essential think about which way the sun hits your property throughout the day, and try to place the car there.

Garage

Garage building regulations will vary depending on your location. However, garages must comply with the same council guidelines as any other structure. This means that they must be structurally sound and able to withstand the elements.

To ensure that your garage complies with local regulations, it is essential to contact your local building authority for more information. They will be able to provide you with specific details about what is required in your area and can also help you through the planning process if necessary.

Conclusion: Which one is best for you?

The best way to decide is to consider your budget, the climate where you live, the level of security you need, and what other homeowners in your area have.

However, by weighing the factors involved in each option and asking yourself a few key questions, you can make a more informed decision about what’s best for your needs. We hope this article has helped clarify the topic and that you are better equipped to choose the proper structure for your home.

News

10 Best DIY Eco Friendly Pest Control Treatments

Eco Friendly Pest Control Treatments

Have you ever stopped to think about what farmers used to do centuries ago to get rid of pests? I mean it is not like pests have come with technology. Long before we invented hazardous chemical pesticides, farmers as well as householders of yester years had their own way of killing pests. These treatments kept their home garden pest free without harming the health of the environment.

In this article I have compiled a list of some of the all-natural, economic, eco friendly pest treatment methods as recommended by the team at Eco Pest Control Brisbane. They were kind enough to provide me with their secret tips and insights which I am very grateful for.

1. Salt Spray

To begin with let’s start with the most basic, salt spray as its components can be found in most homes. It is made by mixing 2 tbl spoon of Himalayan Crystal Salt with a gallon of water that has been warmed. Used in treating plants that have been infested with pest like spider mites trust a salt spray to do the job.

2. Tobacco Spray

Tobacco is hazardous to pests just as it is to humans. Tobacco spray can be used for killing caterpillars and aphids. Mix a cup of organic tobacco with a gallon of water then allow it to set (preferable overnight). The result should be a mixture that is light brown in color. If the mixture is very dark, add water. The only plant that this mixture cannot be used on is those of solanaceous family such as tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes etc) you can visit the American Chemical Society for more how to make tobacco spray.

3. Mineral Oil

Mineral oil which can also be found in most homes. Mix 15-30 milliliters of oil ( preferable high-grade) with a Littre of cold or warm water then stir. It works by dehydrating insects.

4. Eucalyptus Oil

This eco friendly pesticide is made by sprinkling some drops of eucalyptus oil on areas infested with insects. You will not even notice when they are gone. This organic pesticide does not see eye to eye with flies, bees, as well as wasps.

5. Citrus Oil mixed with Cayenne Pepper

Stir a mixture of ½ a tbl spoon cayenne pepper, citrus essential oil (10 drops) and a cup of warmed water. You then shake well before spraying focusing on affected areas. This natural pesticide works best on ants.

6. Orange Citrus Oil, Castile Soap and Water

For this organic pesticide, you simply mix 3 tbl spoons of soap ( should be liquid Organic and Castile) with an ounce of Orange Citrus Oil to a gallon of water. Stir then shake well. Most effective in treating against pests like slugs, ants and roaches.

7. Chile Pepper mixed with Diatomaceous Earth

For this organic spray all you need to do is grind no more no less than two handfuls of dried chiles and ensure they become a fine powder, then put it in a cup of Diatomaceous earth and mix. Then add two liters of water to the mixture and let it set overnight. Ensure that you shake well prior to applying.

8. Onion mixed with Garlic

This spray is made by mincing one garlic (use organic clove) and an organic onion (medium sized). Add the mixture to water (a quart). Wait for an hour before adding ½ a tbl spoon of liquid soap and ½ a tbl spoon of cayenne pepper to the mixture. Store in refrigerator to retain its potency for up to one week.

9. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum flower has pyrethrum a powerful plant chemical. This substance gets rid of insects by invades their nervous system, immobilizing them. To have this spray, boil 100 g of dried flowers in a Littre of water for about twenty minutes then strain and cool. Its potency can last for about two months. You can enhance it by adding a little bit of organic neem oil.

Eco Friendly Pest Management

10. Neem

Last but not least on this is neem the king of natural pesticides. Its oil has a rich history among Indians especially in ancient times who credited the neem plant as a powerful and all-natural means of getting rid of pests. As a matter of fact, its juice (neem juice) is regarded as the most potent natural pesticide to grace our planet, as it holds well over 50 natural pest control chemicals. To understand more on its great benefits visit this link.This leaf that is derived from a tree is extremely bitter and eco friendly pesticidal spray.

Procedure; mix and stir the following in two-three quarts of luke-warm water

Half an ounce of organic neem oil (ensure its of high-quality)
Half teaspoon of liquid soap (mild organic one is highly recommended)

N/B use immediately.

Conclusion

As you can see, these DIY eco friendly pest control treatments can save not only your money but your health.

Social Media

Using Social Media To Market Your Business

Market Your Business Using Social Media

In current day marketing, social media is one of the most effective tools around. Due to the impressive number of success rates, social media marketing is rapidly gaining popularity among business marketers.

Social media has well over 2 billion active users. It gives quick access to the largest group of prospects anywhere. By choosing not to use this to your advantage, your simply passing up a massive market base for your brand of business.

What’s more, there are already hundreds of other business using such platforms to capture the same potential prospects you are targeting. This is why social media is not only beneficial to a modern day business, it is essential.

How, then, does social media work for a business? What are the merits it holds? What exactly can you do to fully tap the potential prospects that social media so readily offers on its plate?

After reading this, those and many other questions you may have regarding social media marketing will be answered.

Benefits Of Using Social Media To Market Your Business

1. Increased Business Recognition

The main reason behind social media marketing is to increase brand awareness. Thanks to its tremendous pool of users, your business name can spread to a wide range of users from all over the world easily.

Although it might take some time for that to happen, it yields staggering effects when it does. Notably, when you play your cards right, your business’s online market could skyrocket.

In other words, that means increased knowledge about your brand or business existence.

2. Source Of Useful Customers Insights

As a business owner, you are required to understand your customers in order to keep them fully satisfied. Social media provides a platform on which you can observe and listen to consumer preference, likes and dislikes.

A business is able to get direct feedback on what people think about their brand. Such information can be used to build the business based on current trends.

Similarly, the same information comes in handy when bettering a product for increased customer satisfaction.

3. Competition Evaluation

With a field as open as social media, monitoring your competitors is a walk in the park. Knowledge of your competitors strategies levels the marketing field for you.

Even better, you can incorporate some of their strategies into your own for successful customer responsiveness.

4. Group Target Marketing

With the existence of more specific groups on social media, reaching out to your intended target is both possible and relatively easy. People give information such as age, gender, likes, dislikes and much more on social media.

Such the demographic details makes it possible for any business to get their content directly to the right audience. To top it all, you can gauge their reaction to your business content.

5. Inexpensive And Cost Effective

Perhaps the most exciting fact about social media marketing is that its mostly free. A business only needs to create an account that gives it access to the site’s users; all of which is free.

In cases where a business decides to use paid promotional campaigns, the cost remains significantly less than most other marketing strategies.

How To Effectively Use Social Media To Achieve A Business’s Marketing Goals

Now that you have an idea of what social media marketing can do for your business, let’s move on to something slightly different.

Similar to any other marketing strategy, this too calls for calculated maneuvers and planning. If done recklessly, the results could be chaotic if not disastrous for any business.

For instance, there is always the risk of spreading the wrong message about your business. Caution is of the essence when it comes to anything as fickle as social media.

Below are guidelines on how to tap into social media as an effective marketing tool for your business.

1. Identify Your Goals And Target Group

The chances of achieving a successful marketing campaign are directly defined by the initial goal plan. Having well laid goals keeps a business marketing campaign in line with its intended outcome.

The target group is also a very important aspect in any marketing strategy. This is because the target directly determine a business’s approach and methods.

Clearly outlining both the goals and the target groups goes a long way in fueling social media conversations based on the business content posted.

2. Focus On A Single Channel

Pick a channel that’s on line with your goals. Sure you can have multiple accounts on different platforms. However, it is advisable to work on building only one of these channels.

Focusing your energy on a single platform enables constant monitoring and relationship building with your online market base.

There’s a whole range of platforms to decide from ; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest among others. Your choice depends on which of them all gives you a more direct reach to your target market.

3. Establish A Suitable Approach That Clearly Brings Out The Business Message

Social media comes with the merit of diversity. There’s no shortage of ways through which you could spread your message.

Before you decide, a social media monitoring is recommended. This will help determine which strategies work best when trying to get through to a particular group.

Whichever approach you decide one, make sure it retains your initial message. Another important factor is originality; unique content almost always captures the audience’s attention.

4. Build A Relationship

Finally, once all the above is done, you can now work on interacting with your audiences. As they say, social media gives your brand a human person. A business is able to gather up direct feedback from its customers.

The kind of relationship built may contribute to achieving customer satisfaction and loyalty. Most importantly, it could grow your market base tremendously.

For a first time online marketer, this may feel like a lot to take in all at once. The Queensland Governments website has useful information on social media marketing here.

Conclusion

Social media marketing is an cost effective, easy and resourceful way of marketing your business. Compared to other marketing strategies, it offers a less demanding yet effective alternative to all types of business.

The above information should get you started on your journey. Even so, more research is recommended for the best results for your business.

News

My Top 5 Things I Love About Facebook

Things I Love About Facebook

Facebook is a social networking site that makes it easy for users to connect and share with your friends, family, and workmates online. It was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg.

Why should you use Facebook? Use Facebook if:

You run a business. Facebook pages and ads are valuable tools
Love gaming!
You want to stay updated
You love visual content

Facebook is a great social media platform. I love using it for different purposes. My reasons for loving Facebook outweighs some of the reasons. I hate using Facebook.

Here are the top five reasons why I love Facebook

1. New Friends

As a business person, I have made plenty of new friends through Facebook. This is a good thing for my business and my social life. Am able to advertise my products to potential customers.

Also, I have gotten chances to chat with other business persons who we are in the same field of business. This has led to gaining of useful information to propel my businesses.

Apart from the business partners, I have also made new friends who love outdoor activities which I also do.

We can now be able to chat using Facebook messenger and agree on what time to hang out on weekends and have some good time.

2. Milestones

Milestones is a timeline layout that allows page admins to add milestones, or major events to be highlighted on their pages.

This is useful for a business fan page. You can also use milestone to tell your story to your loyal customers who want to connect with you for a more personal thing.

3. Provides resources

This is another main reason why I love it. It gives me an opportunity to help source out business persons with interesting articles.

There a lot of pages where you can find great information which can better you. Also on those pages look at comments from other people.

This can provide you with an insight of what people want and don’t want. I can say this confidently, that this is the best place to source out resources totally for free.

4. Facebook groups

Facebook gives you an option to setup groups for your business members or employees. You can set these groups to be:

Open to anyone

Anybody can join and contribute to this group with per mission from the admin.

Closed groups

This is a group whereby other people who have not joined the group can
see the discussions but have to apply to join.

Secret

All posts, likes, and comments remain invisible to non-members and you have to be invited to join.

5. Pinning and Highlights

For up to a period of seven days, It allows you to pin selected stories to the top of your timeline. This is mainly for visitors to see the priority information.

For those who have some stunning photography use the highlight option. This is because it stretches the selected stories across two columns.

You should know that highlights combined with milestones make the selected story in your timeline pop.

Facebook is truly a great platform for different activities. You can catch up with what your family or distant cousins are doing. You can also keep in touch with your virtual quilt buddies who visit your page and give you some advice.