If you are wondering about how to use Instagram for the tile industry, you've come to the right place. 

Arpi Nalbandian, founder of Tileometry, is extremely knowledgeable about tile and social networking for business. She combines the two in her own business. 

Trend forecasting by its very nature forces customer focus. When done expertly, it identifies customer needs and preferences before they become aware themselves, enabling companies to connect in a way that generates Apple-like loyalty and passion. That in turn drives growth.

Scarlet Opus is one such expert trend forecaster and one I first encountered online in 2009 and met in person in 2010 at the International Surface Event (TISE) show.

In addition to How Website Analytics Helps Your Business, I will be reviewing the top social media trends of 2016 and their effect on business during The International Surface Event in Las Vegas.

My session is titled "The Top Social Media Trends That Will Dominate 2016" and takes place on January 20th from 3:45 to 5:15pm.

Do you have website analytics installed on your site? Do you use it regularly to improve your business?

Website Analytics, A GPS For Online Business Success

When I say 'website analytics,' I am thinking first of Google Analytics, the very powerful and free tool every business should have installed on its website. 

If you are serious about interior design and have a presence online, chances are you know Veronika Miller and are familiar with Modenus.com, the company she founded in 2008. 

I first met Veronika at Coverings 2010 during the first ever Tweetup there (see Meetups and Tweetups: Building Community) and was taken with her vision for using social networks and digital marketing to create community and connect designers with opportunities (see Content + Context For Customer Relevance and Relationship). 

How customer focused is your company website? The more it is, the better your chance to get found online and connect with qualified prospects as North Coast Packaged Homes' owner Ann Zollinger has learned.

The ultimate goal of most websites to get found online so you have the opportunity to convert visitors into leads. And, once that happens, you can then qualify them and even nurture them into eventually becoming customers. Simple, right?

Well, as logical as that sounds, doing so takes discipline and intense customer focus. 

Jacqueline Tabbah, Assistant Vice President of International Stoneworks and member of the Marble Institute of America's Women in Stone program is intimately involved in helping her company get found online. She does so using digital marketing tools and social media, as well as her company business blog.

Meet Arpi Nalbandian, founder of Tileometry and the first person in the flooring and tile industry I met first through Twitter. Arpi is extremely knowledgeable about tile and social networking for business and combines the two in her business.

I'm excited to be presenting with Arpi at Coverings 2015 about two of the visual social networks. Our session is titled:

Image is Everything! How Houzz and Pinterest Steer Clients to Your Tile/Stone Business: A Case Study and Guide for Visual Online and Social Success

In anticipation of our joint session, I caught up with Arpi to ask her about her love of tile and social networks, and how both come together visually.