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Have you tried Twitter's new publishing tool yet? A collection is turned into a moment.

Progress Photos on Wamco’s TI – Twitter Publishing

Today I read on Mashable that Twitter is allowing you to embed a collection of tweets, emphasizing the photos instead of the text. Thanks for the great tweet, Inspire Social.

A collection is turned into a moment.

What better way than to test this out on our current tenant improvement project for Wamco? Currently the progress photos are part of our Instagram Monday campaign but I always tweet at least one photo of the front of the building. Perfect. I know exactly how I’ll use this.

First, the embed. Then the instructions.

About this TI

Wamco’s new exterior and interior improvement is a beautiful project but focusing on the exterior, more storefront was cut in and an aluminum fascade is being added. You can see the progress from Week 5 to 21 in these few photos.

So, how do you do this?

  1. In TweetDeck (yes you have to use TweetDeck — at least for today) click the plus sign on the left sidebar, add column, add collection.
  2. Click on the blue create collection button.
  3. It will open up a new column where you can name and describe the collection.
  4. Drag tweets into the collection (with the 4 arrow thing). It helps if your collection column is next to a search or favorite column. That stupid “Add To Collection” choice doesn’t work.drag tweet to collection
  5. In the collection column, click the sliders at the top, click share.
  6. In the share dialog, choose View on Twitter. It will open up this collection (used to be a timeline) in a new window.
  7. Copy the link (url) of Collection (mine is https://twitter.com/RigginsConst/timelines/656959892314435584 ). It is a timeline, technically and very linear. Don’t worry the next steps will make it more beautiful.
  8. Go to publish.twitter.com.
  9. Enter URL from your new timeline (step 7) in the dialog box and press the arrow or enter key on your keyboard. The moment will come up.
  10. If you like what you see, click the blue copy code button. If you don’t like what you see, go back to TweetDeck and add or remove tweets to your collection. My tip is to have an odd number (3, 5, 7) of tweets. It looks better.
  11. For WordPress, go to your post/page, click text (it doesn’t work in visual), then paste code where you want it to appear. Now, for me, it didn’t live preview but when I clicked publish, it was live. So don’t freak out like I did.
  12. Don’t forget to save.
  13. Proofread post.
  14. Publish.
  15. Pat yourself on the back.

Are you going to try Twitter Publishing?

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Why does a contractor’s proposal matter?

Why does a contractor’s proposal matter?

There is is a world of difference between naive and cynical. Between the two extremes is experience. It’s amazing the things we do when we were young and naive. Am I right?

I did some crazy things when I was young. Looking back, it’s hard to believe I drove home from college in a clunker of a car – a 1972 Beetle. My youthful exuberance didn’t break even after my 1970 AMC Hornet died during my move. I did this by myself in the days before cell phones were commonplace. You were lucky enough to have call boxes on the highway.

Today, I’m in a panic if I don’t have my cell phone. What a difference twenty years makes.

Buying a car is like hiring a general contractor.

I think we’d all agree that only a naive person would buy a car on the internet based price alone. Continue reading

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“The Conductor” by Christine Schmidt on Flickr

Does a project need a superintendent? Does an orchestra need a conductor?

“Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble.” Wikipedia 

You just bought tickets to see a symphony. You and your Plus One are in black tie, expecting the night of your life – a night to remember.

The curtain opens. Puzzled, you don’t notice a conductor. It shouldn’t matter. You look at each other and smile. The orchestra begins. How will it sound?

Just like a symphony, tradespeople and their teams need to be coordinated. If there isn’t onsite supervision and project management, where do they look to?

Does the floor go in first or the doors? Does it matter? You have drawings so everyone’s on the same page. You think. Continue reading

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Lego Bricks by Benjamin Esham, on Flickr

Why Design-Build is Like Building the Millennium Falcon from the Lego Kit, Not Garage Sale Finds

As an avid Star Wars fan you promised your nine-year-old son that your next project together would be building the Millennium Falcon. Great Father-Son time, right?

Then you go to the Lego store and the cost seems steeper than you had imagined. But it does come with 6 figures including Han Solo and Chewbacca, of course. And who can turn down a rotating laser cannon?

Plus, it has the directions. Now, you can go online and download them but pfft, it’s not original.

Still, your wife says it’s not in the budget so you get creative.

You decide to download the directions and use the lego bricks from the seven collections you already have. Good thinking – frugality is a plus.

The Falcon needs thousands of pieces! Who wants to start a project you can’t finish? Continue reading

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Is your building watertight? Creative Commons Attribution Seaglass by Ken on Flickr

Is Your Building Watertight?

 

There is more to a building’s waterproofing than its roof.

Now, the roof is important don’t get me wrong, but there are other areas that should be carefully monitored.

We’re talking about a force of nature whose erosion created The Grand Canyon. Water is not to be ignored. Remember, water always travels the path of least resistance.

Water is great for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Who doesn’t love a cup of coffee? But you do not want it invading your building. Its damage isn’t limited to rusting steel rebar within concrete. The smallest amount of moisture can allow mold to grow. Yikes. Who wants to breathe that?

In Southern California we are spoiled with a Mediterranean climate and an average annual rainfall of just under 15 inches (Seattle is 37 inches). This weather dynamic gives us beautiful days and awesome sunsets but the lack of rainfall causes us to forget and possibly neglect these waterproofing issues.

Roof

Depending upon your roof type, there are many areas of concern. These areas can be caught during regular roof maintenance (see more detailed blog post here).

HVAC Condensate

Condensate from roof-top equipment is required to exit to an approved receptor through approved piping. In no way do you want any kind of water, condensate or otherwise, just dripping and pooling on your roof. Continue reading

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Anne Street - Before and After - Tilt-Up Panel Replacement

Project Profile: Anne Street Fire Damage Repairs

We are proud to announce the completion of the design-build restoration to a building recently damaged by a neighbor’s fire.

The client took the opportunity, since much of the roof structure was damaged, to replace the entire roof with four-ply built-up roof system. Six skylights were replaced and two were added, increasing the natural light throughout the warehouse. Additionally, a self-flashing galvanized steel roof access hatch was installed.

A 3-ton heat pump unit was replaced and it was relocated onto a factory curb to minimize leak potential.

During reroofing is the best time for a volunteer seismic retrofit of the building and that is precisely what our client opted for. We also replaced the tilt-up panel that had been compromised structurally (it bowed outward) with two new concrete tilt-up panels.

Continue reading

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RBC Transport Dynamics - This is the new entrance of the building which is more inviting and makes a statement.

Project Profile: RBC Transport Dynamics

Riggins Construction & Management, Inc. is proud to announce the completion of the design-build RBC Transport Dynamics project right in the heart of Orange County, California.

The goal for this project was to create a cohesive facility on this two-building, two-shift manufacturing campus. The caveat is that the work had to be performed while maintaining their production levels at 100%.

The building unification combined the manufacturing and production area, test labs, and chemical storage with a new, engaging office space and high-end training facility. Two existing buildings were connected by a new building addition. A new steel-framed, metal building for chemical storage and bead-blasting was also added on site.

The second phase of this project was twofold: create fluid access and incorporate additional security features. Monument and site signage was added as well as the creation of a focal point from the street. The new metal-clad entry with its aluminum sun shade louvers does this beautifully. Continue reading

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Buying a Building is a Risky Business – Get a Survey First

samplesurveyRisk. We all crave it to one extent or another. Whether we surf 20′ waves, mountain bike on a narrow path in the dark, or cross the street where there’s no crosswalk, risk is part of our daily lives. And, to be truthful, every decision has a degree of risk.

An example of a low-level risk is when you’re at a diner. You could order the cheeseburger with onion rings and run the risk of an upset stomach. The risk is whether or not the momentary pleasure is worth future discomfort.

People often say the “bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.” That may be true but the risk is still big in that scenario.

When you start looking for a building, presumably with your real estate broker, emotion sets in. You may feel charmed, intrigued, and, well, ready to make the deal. Endorphins kick in. Like eating the cheeseburger and savoring all of its flavors, you have now entered the lizard brain zone where logic is not welcome. Continue reading

Listening on Social Media - #ConstChat 11/5/15

Social Listening – #ConstChat Recap

Construction Chat is a weekly chat on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you’re free, we’d love you to join us.

Thanks to Tess Wittler for the topic suggestion:

Twitter turned their favorites (star) into likes (hearts) this week.

Some of us weren’t that happy. Gifford Associates pointed out that it’s not very professional looking.

I’m not that happy but Twitter didn’t ask me.

But on to the topic and recap.

Listening:

As marketers, sometimes we do a lot of the talking. Imagine if you went to a party and you never allowed anyone else to speak. If all you did was talk about your troubles and triumphs, people may be interested for a while, but at the next party your tales may be actively avoided.

Another scenario is your stories aren’t relevant for the crowd. They struggle with putting food on the table and you’re complaining about reading a book on the beach. Wrong topic for the wrong crowd. Change the demographics and your complaint is heard and empathy outpours. We call this being relevant.

A key factor to social media relevance is listening and conversation. I mean, this is how you really know if yourre relevant. Yes?

So, how do we optimize our social media efforts to factor in listening?

The Questions & Highlighted Responses:

Q1. How can you listen on social media?

Continue reading

Listening on Social Media - #ConstChat 11/5/15

Listening on Social Media – #ConstChat 11/5/15

Are you in construction? Do you want to build up your following? Are you looking to connect with the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) community?

You’re in luck!

Joining our weekly Twitter Chat may just be the right thing for you.

Construction Chat is on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

How to Join a Chat:

1. Follow the hashtag on Twitter (but don’t forget to add #ConstChat manually after your tweet or we won’t see your tweet).

2. Use Hootsuite or TweetDeck and make a column for #ConstChat (but don’t forget to put #ConstChat manually after your tweet).

3. Go to the Twubs page for #ConstChat.

4. My preferred method is using TweetChat. Just go here and log in with your Twitter account. You can even highlight the moderator so you don’t miss questions.

Listening:

As marketers, sometimes we do a lot of the talking. Imagine if you went to a party and you never allowed anyone else to speak. If all you did was talk about your troubles and triumphs, people may be interested for a while, but at the next party your tales may be actively avoided.

Another scenario is your stories aren’t relevant for the crowd. They struggle with putting food on the table and you’re complaining about reading a book on the beach. Wrong topic for the wrong crowd. Change the demographics and your complaint is heard and empathy outpours. We call this being relevant.

A key factor to social media relevance is listening and conversation. I mean, this is how you really know if yourre relevant. Yes?

So, how do we optimize our social media efforts to factor in listening?

The Questions:

Q1. How can you listen on social media?

Q2. Do you use lists to separate demographics?

Q3. Do you have Google alerts setup?

Q4. Do you listen to people talk about your competitors?

Q5. What kind of ratio of tweets / replies shows someone is listening?

Q6. How can you listen offline?

Q7. What are your listening tips?

The Mysteries of Building #ConstChat Topic 10/29/15

The Mysteries of Building #ConstChat Topic 10/29/15

Are you in construction? Do you want to build up your following? Are you looking to connect with the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) community?

You’re in luck!

Joining our weekly Twitter Chat may just be the right thing for you.

Construction Chat is on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

How to Join a Chat:

1. Follow the hashtag on Twitter (but don’t forget to add #ConstChat manually after your tweet or we won’t see your tweet).

2. Use Hootsuite or TweetDeck and make a column for #ConstChat (but don’t forget to put #ConstChat manually after your tweet).

3. Go to the Twubs page for #ConstChat.

4. My preferred method is using TweetChat. Just go here and log in with your Twitter account. You can even highlight the moderator so you don’t miss questions.

The Mysteries of Building

Today’s topic and question suggestion comes from Carol Stephen via Window Works.

Questions:

Q1. Have you ever encountered a mysterious noise?

Q2. Did any unplanned errors occur?

Q3. How about unexplained events overnight at the job site?

Q4. Have you felt like a zombie when you were expecting an inspector?

Q5. How do you protect your jobsite from mystery?

Kitchens #ConstChat Topic 10/22/15 with Co-Host @Fabuwood

What’s in your kitchen? #ConstChat Recap Co-hosted by Fabuwood

Construction Chat is a weekly chat on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you’re free, we’d love you to join us.

Let’s Talk Kitchens!

Courtney Moore from Fabuwood Cabinetry has volunteered to co-host this week’s chat.

 

 

Q1. Okay fellow contractors let’s get personal. What’s in your kitchen?

Continue reading