REFLECTIONS ON A VERY GOOD YEAR

By Frank Kurz - January 2010

2009 has turned out to be one of those banner years you often hear about (at least for me). The Network's website saw signficant growth in "unique visits" over the latter half of the year, and we are very well positioned in Google search results (usually on the first or second page). Some of the typical search terms that have been used to find us are:

Fire alarm verification, ULC 537, Edwards 6249C, fire alarm glossary, fire protection technician, Fire Blockade, Simplex 1800 smoke sensitivity, fire alarm zone fault forum, Active Fire and Safety Services Ltd., fire sprinkler system heat trace, etc.

Granted some of the search terms point directly to the various inspection forms available on the site or our Universal Smoke Detector Cross-listing Index, but the fact that we're consistently ranked in the first two pages is a significant achievement (and one which a lot of website owners pay big money for in "page per click" ad campaigns with companies that specialize in SEO - Search Engine Optimization).

My focus however remains on improving the functionality of the firetechs.net website to help make finding the information you need in a few simple "clicks" and to present that information in a medium that's easy to download to hand-held "smart" devices. You won't find fancy coding or "flash" media here. KIS (Keep It Simple) is the order of the day. If you can't find the answer here, feel free to pick up the phone and call anytime. You don't have to be a "member" (or even in the business) to ask a question and get the answers you need.

Some of my fellow technicians (here in the Lower Mainland particularly) have formed a somewhat "less than complimentary" (and that's putting it mildly) opinion of my efforts. I'm investing a great deal of my own time and financial resources into this project. I'm not here to "throw anyone under the bus" (as one individual suggested in the General Forum). I do want to raise awareness of how important the job of "fire protection technician" is and to ensure we're all playing on a "level field" when it comes to skillset and knowledge. This also means "raising the bar" for inspections, testing, service, and installations. Some "players" in the industry will have to refocus their efforts "for the better" and if they succeed in doing so, then we will all win in the end. Those that continue to provide substandard, slip-shod, or irresponsible service don't belong in this profession and good riddance to them (let's hope the door doesn't hit them in the ass on the way out).

Let's strive to make 2010 a "banner year" for all of us!

BACK TO MAIN EDITORIAL PAGE