SunnyTimes for the industry: from fax to Facebook

Hanneke Harmeling - marketing and communications manager of Unilux

Let me get right to the point: in today's world, you can access practically any information available digitally or via podcasts. Nice! But everything takes its time. For example, the sun protection industry lagged well behind on social media. After all, the many sun protection specialists have something else to do. They'd rather still be working on the craft and the future of their business.

Still, I zoom in for a moment on the awning specialists who have now managed to find their way into the world of social media. It seems as if the industry has taken the leap into the modern age and embraced the wonders of Facebook, Twitter - X - and Instagram. And that the fax has definitely been relegated to the past tense. 

Of course, the most important thing is to create good content. Awning specialists obviously know perfectly how to install an awning, by now they have also learned how to take a good photo of an installed product. You can imagine the surprise of their customers when they see a picture of the professionally installed awning on their house on their awning company's Facebook page. With a review and a big thumbs up! 

You also see this in abundance on Instagram, perhaps the fastest growing channel for the blinds industry. Most awning specialists are well aware that sharing photos, both before and after their projects, is a great way to showcase their craftsmanship to the world. Meanwhile, they post photos of their customers smiling under their new awning, enjoying the summer sun. Or they make a video of the colleague installing screens. And that's where a real Reel suddenly emerges, possibly with crazy emoticons and hashtags like #GoodWorker, #SunshineGoals, #SunnyTimes and #ShadeMasters. Who would have thought that social media products could be so trendy! 

Twitter - X - is perhaps the strangest place for awning specialists. With a limit of only 280 characters per tweet, the message must be kept short and sweet. 'Don't want a burnt nose? Don't be a fool, choose us as your awning giant!' Might sound strange, but it works. This kind of message generates retweets and likes from new people. And new people means the chance for new customers! 

It's going to be something with our awning industry in that regard! The big win? Wonderful authentic messages from fitters who proudly display the results of their craftsmanship and show that they are proud of the end result. Fortunately no slick influencers who send sponsored messages into the world. 

So here's my appeal to Z&R readers. The next time you are on social media and see a beautiful awning pass by, give it a thumbs up, forward the message and share the sun-drenched story. To show that these professionals understand their craft as well as have moved with the times. Also do it to promote our industry. Show that we have many beautiful things for in and around the house and prove that we are both busy with our profession and with the future of our companies!