Add Pinterest to Your Social Repertoire!

Unless you’ve been living under coral, you are already aware of the value of social and online marketing for your business. With over two billion active social media users globally, it is imperative that business owners and managers take full advantage of these growing entities. While Facebook still dominates the social landscape, Pinterest, which was launched in 2010, is one of the fastest growing social sites. Currently, there are over 100 million active Pinterest users!

So,.. What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a social network that allows users to share and discover new interests by posting, or “pinning” images or videos to their own or others' boards (i.e. a collection of 'pins,' usually with a common theme), and browsing what other users have pinned. Using a visual orientation, the social network is very much focused on lifestyle, allowing users to share their tastes and interests. The social network's goal is to "connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting." Users can either upload images from their computer or pin things they find on the web.
As with most other social networks, users can perform typical social networking functions such as following their friends, liking and commenting on other users' pins, re-pinning content to their own boards, or sharing pins on Facebook and Twitter.

Pinterest is an ever-growing resource for information, advice, and inspiration. Users discover new trends, learn how to save money, and learn helpful DIY skills.

Pinterest for your Business
Everything people do on Pinterest leads them closer to action. Users do more than browse feeds: 70% search, save or click on a Pin. Since people use Pinterest across the consumer journey, your brand can play a role all the way from inspiration to purchase.

What does a Pinterest user look like?
Pinterest users’ demographics are important to note. 67% of Pinners are under the age of 40. Even more interesting, 54 percent are women aged 34 to 55, and 35 percent of them have household incomes of over $100,000. If you’re looking to target male-identified individuals, you might be surprised to learn that male users grew 120 percent in 2016.

A top traffic driver
If your goal is to increase traffic to your website, look no further than Pinterest. Pinterest accounts for approximately five percent of all website referral traffic, (second only to Facebook). For sea-trek.com, Google Analytics shows that traffic from Pinterest accounted for the highest percentage of visitors from social entities over the last year. In fact, twice as many users visited our site from Pinterest than from Facebook! Here are some other surprising Pinterest statistics:

• 40% of new signups are men; 60% of new Signups are women.
• Millennials use Pinterest as much as Instagram.
• Median age of a Pinterest user is 40, however majority of active pinners are below 40.
• Half of Pinterests’ users earn $50K or greater per year.
• 30% of all US social media users are Pinterest users.
• 87% of Pinners have purchased a product because of Pinterest.

Learn More About Marketing via Pinterest
If you’re convinced that you should give Pinterest a try, but aren’t sure how to get started, there are many guides available online that will help you get going.

Pinterest offers users a website with helpful information and guidance. Get your guide here.

Another great resource is The Ultimate Pinterest Marketing Guide from Kissmetrics. This guide focuses on Pinterest from a marketing perspective. Copyblogger.com also offers some useful guidelines.

Dipping your toe into the sea of Pinterest pins and boards can initially seem daunting, but it can also be fun…and rewarding for your business! Are you already a Pinterest fan? Share your favorite pin below! And don’t forget to follow Sea TREK on Pinterest!

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PART 4: Tips & Tricks for Travel Savings

Our previous ‘Tips and Tricks for Travel Savings’ articles offered valuable travel savings info, but there are so many more opportunities to save on your vacation! The cost of food, activities and even getting around can really add up! Here are some additional tips for ways to save…

Eat, Drink, Be Merry…and Save!

The cost of dining out can put a significant dent in your travel budget. Depending on your destination, happy hours may be available and can provide savings on drinks and dining.  If you’re willing to dine outside of a typical dinner time frame, you can take advantage of discounted cocktails, unique appetizers, and the opportunity to try out a restaurant that might otherwise be out of your budget.  There are apps to help you locate happy hour locations and offerings. Try out Hotspot Studios “Happy Hour” app or UMeTime’s “Hooked Deals” on your mobile phone for happy hours near your location.

Pre-planning can save you money on dining out, too. Purchasing discount gift cards from sites like raise.com, or checking out the deals on groupon.com (specific to your destination), can put more dollars in your pocket for fun activities or a fancy dessert.

Getting Around

Renting a car at your destination? You can save quite a bit of cash by shopping around for rental car deals. Utilizing websites like hotwire.com or orbitz.com can help you snag a great price. However, one additional step can help you save even more… AutoSlash, a site promoted by Conde Nast and The New York Times, provides a tracking system to ensure you get the best price for your rental. Enter your reservation number, and the Auto Slash system tracks the rental price on your reserved vehicle.  If the priced drops below your reservation price, they automatically rebook for you, at the lower price.  The website also offers coupons and travel tips.

Parking your own vehicle at the airport can be fairly expensive, but occasionally there are savings opportunities if you know where to look. Hotels located nearby airports offer parking spaces to travelers, and often a stay at the hotel is not a prerequisite. Check out airportparkingreservations.com. Enter your departure locale and your dates, and the site will create a list of parking options. The price difference can be quite substantial. For example, the cost of parking at SFO is $24-$36 per day. However, air travelers leaving San Francisco can park their vehicles at The Hilton Garden Inn for less than ten bucks a day! The hotel is next door to the airport and their free shuttle will take you right to your departure terminal.

See the Sights - at a Discount

Whether you’re headed to a museum or seeking the latest theatre production, vacation entertainment can be costly. Frequently, pre-booking your activities can save you not only money, but queuing time in lines as well. Many popular excursions offer pre-booking specials on their own websites or social media pages. Or, grab a coupon from the destination’s Chamber of Commerce site or printed guidebook. You can also check out destinationcoupons.com for discounts and deals.

Saving Your Hide

You’ve gathered your coupons, registered your rental car, and loaded your apps. You’re ready to take advantage of deals that will keep money in your pocket, and you’re excited to try out some new restaurants or indulge in an extra treat using your savings. But there’s one more tip that can keep you comfortable during your travels. While not exactly a money-saver, this tip can save you from an uncomfortable seat on your next flight.  While booking your flight, utilize seatguru.com, to ensure you’ve selected a seat worthy of your posterior. Enter your airline, flight number and travel date. You’ll get an image of the interior of your plane, and details of every seat on that plane. If you’re not too keen on having a seat that doesn’t recline, or you want to make sure you’ve got extra legroom, this site will be your new best friend!

Got an outstanding travel savings tip or trick? Share it with us below!

Terrie Carrozzella is the Web Designer & Social Media Manager for Sub Sea Systems. Want to contact Terrie about Sea TREK helmet diving, Clear Lounge underwater oxygen bar, or FunCat electric catamarans? Email her here!terrie@subseasystems.com

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Fire Up the Barbeque with Sustainable Food From the Sea

Whether you’re a great chef or just enjoy cooking for friends and family, ‘tis the season for great barbeque. And, if you’re looking for something outside of traditional burgers and hotdogs, fish and shellfish are great on the grill! Grilling your own catch allows you to boast about the one that didn’t get away, but your local grocery store also offers plenty of variety for fresh seafood!

Today’s environmental concerns include a focus on sustainable seafood, or, seafood that is caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term vitality of harvested fish species and the well being of our oceans. Beginning in the 1990s, a number of initiatives increased awareness concerning the way our seafood is obtained. Sustainable seafood represents a healthy relationship with our oceans that can endure forever. When humans consume seafood, we leave an indelible mark on the ecosystem. It’s important for our own well-being—and that of the oceans—that we understand the impacts of our choices. Luckily, today’s fish markets understand this need and focus, and sustainable seafood is readily available to the consumer.

How does one ensure that dinner includes a sustainable catch? You can get a great guide to sustainable seafood, offered by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s website– seafoodwatch.org. The guide offers recommendations to help you choose seafood that's fished or farmed in ways that have less impact on the environment. 

Ready to get cooking with sustainable seafood? Check out two mouth-watering recipes below and heat up that barbeque!

Shrimp Kabobs with Pistachio Tarragon Pesto

From: southernboydishes.com 

For the pesto:

·      3/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

·      1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon

·      1/4 cup roasted and unsalted pistachios

·      5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

·      1 clove garlic

·      1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

·      1/4 teaspoon black pepper

·      1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

·      1 tablespoon water

For the kabobs:
 24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
24 grape tomatoes
 1 medium zucchini
 1 large yellow bell pepper
 12 scallions
 Extra virgin olive oil
 Kosher salt
 Black pepper
 Lemon wedges

Instructions

For the pesto:
1. Combine parsley, tarragon, pistachios, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Process mixture for one minute. With motor still running, slowly add olive oil. Continue processing until smooth, periodically scraping the sides of the bowl.

2. Transfer 1/3 cup of the pesto to a small bowl for brushing onto the kabobs before grllling. Pour remaining pesto into another bowl and add water. This portion will be for brushing onto cooked kabobs. Set both bowls aside.

For the kabobs:
1. Soak eight wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
2. Cut zucchini lengthwise and slice each half into 12 half circles.
3. Cut bell pepper into 24 pieces.
4. Cut the white and light green part of each scallion into two pieces.
5. Thread shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, and scallions onto skewers. Brush each kabob with olive oil, pesto, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
6. Heat grill to 450 to 550 degrees.
7. Grill kabobs for two to three minutes on each side or until shrimp are opaque. Do not overcook.
8. Remove from grill and drizzle kabobs with additional pesto and top with lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Fiery Fish Tacos with Crunchy Corn Salsa

From allrecipes.com 

2 cups cooked corn kernels
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 cup peeled, diced jicama
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
 1 lime, juiced and zested
 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, or to taste
 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
 2 tablespoons salt, or to taste
 6 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 corn tortillas, warmed
2 tablespoons sour cream, or to taste

1. Preheat grill for high heat.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together corn, red onion, jicama, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Stir in lime juice and zest.
3. In a small bowl, combine cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and salt.
4. Brush each fillet with olive oil, and sprinkle with spices to taste.
5. Arrange fillets on grill grate, and cook for 3 minutes per side. For each fiery fish taco, top two corn tortillas with fish, sour cream, and corn salsa.

Want more awesome seafood recipes? Check out our Pinterest board– Sea Foodie– here!

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New Feature- Get to Know Sub Sea Staff!

Ever chat on the phone with someone, or start an email conversation, and wonder what the person on the receiving end is really like? Get to know the wonderful staff at Sub Sea Systems! We’re starting a NEW blog series, featuring our top-notch employees and partners.

Our first featured go-getter is Christina Azbill, Graphic Designer extraordinaire working at SSS’ headquarters in California. Christina’s awesome artwork and designs are featured everywhere across the Sub Sea family of products, from brochures to vehicle wraps, staff uniforms and more. If you work at a SeaTREK or Clear Lounge location, or have ridden on a FunCat, you’ve seen Christina’s work up close and personal! We asked Christina to share some fun facts about herself and her responses are below:

What is your job at Sub Sea Systems?

Graphic Designer

How long have you been at your job?

7 years

What is your favorite part of your job?

Creating fun, inspired concepts with our marketing team.

What is the toughest part of your job?

Leaving for the day-LOL! Although I’m happy to go home and relax outside of the workplace, I really do enjoy my job, my career and the company I work for.

Do you have a favorite project?

I’d have to say that Clear Lounge was my favorite project. Working with the sign makers to design all the signage, the building wrap, and the interior graphics, (Smoothie Bar, Equipment Room, Briefing Room). Everyone pitched in to put it all together. Hannah de Bie (VP, Marketing and Communications) and I laid out and installed the decking for the top deck and stairs. All in all, it was very rewarding to see the finished product. Watching it leave was bittersweet. Also, helping to make the mini Clear Lounge model was fun! Crafting is my favorite thing to do.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Spending time with my family is number one! My daughter, Ashley and I like to spend time together in the garden. My son, Jordan is always asking to do things with me. He likes to go for walks, go to the lake and fish, or help me around the house with chores like watering the outside plants. When my son, James, is home, we spend time together at the table enjoying good food or playing cards, talking and laughing. I also find joy in spending time watching my animals play. We have three dogs, four chickens, a cat, and a horse. Although I adore all my animals, I’m drawn mostly to Phoenix, my Thoroughbred/Belgian Warmblood. We frequently walk around the neighborhood together. She has become sort of a novelty to our neighbors and has a few of them trained to bring her carrots and apples.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the wonderful people my kids have grown to be, (two are grown and out on their own with one still at home, growing into a wonderful little man).

Who is your personal hero?

I admire my almost 22-year-old daughter, Ashley, for her courage to follow her dreams. She is on her way to achieving her goal of becoming a Mining Engineer. I admire my 20-year-old son, James, who chose a noble path in the Navy as a Corpsman, and is currently in North Carolina at Camp Lejeune. I also admire my 8-year-old son, Jordan, for his heart of gold and courage to be true to himself, his friends, and family. They are all my personal heroes.

Wine or beer?

Whiskey!

We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit about the person behind the designs at Sub Sea Systems. Next time you chat with Christina, you can ask her about her kids, her horse…or her favorite whisky. Cheers!

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