Social Means Socialize: Effective Use of Online Social Networking For Business

Visit the Palm Coast Facebook Page

Most of the time when it comes to online social networking and business the advice is things like "You have to be on . . ."  The key word here is 'be'.  Being is about existing, and when's the last time you heard of any business truly succeeding simply because they chose to exist.  Social networking is designed around socializing, but many businesses and professionals don't effectively use these services.  Rather they create accounts or a Facebook page and do very little if nothing with them.  The result . . . little or nothing.

The key to understanding online social networking is to first think of it in terms of real world things we are used to.  Think of a time you went to or were invited to a social event.  You get dressed accordingly.  Probably pack up some business cards to hand out.  And you arrive.  You have one or two options here.  1) You could stand against the wall and nod to people here and there as they go by, or 2) You can get out there, introduce yourself, and truly socialize.  Which one would probably be more effective in that setting?  If you said, "Number 2" you are absolutely right!  Sorry, no prize.  But what most people do with online social networking is the first scenario.  They become the online virtual wallflowers.  The question then becomes how is this type of inactivity online effecting your brand?

Scan me with your smartphone

The next obvious question is how does a business or organization effectively use these online social networking tools for business?  Mostly these tools will be used for marketing purposes with any business or organization.   Seth Godin in a recent blog post summed up how to effectively market anything in a very simple way . . . "The best way to truly learn how to do marketing is to market."  Read the rest of his article and it will make more sense.  I'm constantly testing these services marketing various things on a personal level to see what works.  I look for what peaks people's interest, what gets people talking, things not to discuss or share (i.e. politics), what others are doing, and always looking to see how something could be used maybe in combination to something else as a real benefit (i.e. video, photos, etc.).  One example, is QR Codes.  If you don't know what these are, read my blog on this very interesting topic. Imagine you want to promote your business through Foursquare and offer a special discount for those that 'check in' through the service'.  Why not a  scannable QR code like the one above that automates that for visitors? 

There are several individuals, groups, and businesses locally that are great examples of how they have embraced online social networking for business and organizations using various services like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc. in combination.  They are very active, interesting, and gaining great attention.  Here's a few:


On Twitter:

• @AskPalmCoast  (Palm Coast Concierge)
• @PalmCoastJulie  (Julie takes you around and about Palm Coast & Flagler county)
• @VisitFlagler (Flagler County Tourist Development Council)
• @NightHawkSolar (local business that sells portable solar lights)
• @PalmCoast_Biz (the very popular local online business rating directory.  Now under new management)
• @PalmCoastHomes (my wife and local Realtor)
• @TikiTender (Golden Lion cafe bartender, Mark Woods)
• @LookCrispy (newly launched local custom t-shirt company)
• @OfficeDivvy (Local ready-to-use office provider and one-stop shop for office solutions)
• Plus more great local Tweeters

On Facebook

• The Palm Coast Page
• Golden Lion Cafe
• Palm Coast Julie
• PalmCoastHomeShow.com
• Office Divvy

What it is so great about all of these groups and individuals is that there is a focused use of these services, they are consistently active on the services, and they truly engage the community locally and beyond (yes, I'm a Buzz Lightyear fan). 

Tell us how you are using online Social Networking services for your organization or business.  Tell us about your successes.

A common question nowadays: "Should I File For Bankruptcy?"

This is a guest blog post by
Donald Appignani, Attorney at Law.
Offices Palm Coast & Boca Raton area.

If Hamlet lived today and lived on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, would William Shakespeare change his famous line as “To file or not to file?  That is the question!”

It is not a joke: These are tough economic times, not only in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Flagler County overall, but for the entire state of Florida and our nation…

According to American Bankruptcy Institute, with exception of 2005, the bankruptcy filings are at an all time high:

Many folks in Palm Coast an Flagler Beach ask me whether or not they should consider bankruptcy. 

In all honesty, that is an entirely personal decision, and it also depends on your particular circumstances.  For instance, some people do not have any assets over and above what the law allows them to keep. 

Some people find it helpful to file for bankruptcy because their financial situation is causing them emotional distress or depression, or because they would like to free themselves of debt now –if legally allowed, and if they want to have their income and assets to themselves in the future.  Also, some people may find that a bankruptcy is worth filing even if they do lose some of their assets.

If your answer is YES to some of the following scenarios, you may be a candidate to consider bankruptcy:

• Your wages have been garnished, or your bank account has been attached. 
• Most of your debt is unsecured; such as credit card bills, or hospital or doctor’s bills.
• Your total debt, not including your car or house loan, is more than you could afford to pay, even over 5 or more years.
• You are receiving frequent calls from collection agencies at home and/or at work.
• Your payments are more than 30 days behind on more than one bill.
• There are lawsuits pending against you.
• You have high medical bills not covered by insurance.
• You have few assets.
• You have little or no savings.
• You have had property repossessed (such as a vehicle).

If you answered yes, to some of the questions above, filing for bankruptcy may help you with some or all of situations above.

You should always seek the opinion of a competent bankruptcy attorney before deciding whether to file for bankruptcy. 

There are a few good attorneys in Palm Coast and Flagler County, whose practice includes bankruptcy, debt relief, and foreclosure defense. 

I’ve filed hundreds of bankruptcy petitions in Florida from Miami to Jacksonville.  In my practice, I do not charge for an initial consultation, it is always free.   So naturally, my recommendation to you is to chose an attorney who doesn’t charge for initial consultation.  Schedule an appointment and interview them to see if you and the attorney are a good match.

Stay Positive Palm Coast and Flagler County -- I truly hope that better days are ahead for you and your family…

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• This is a guest blog post by Donald Appignani, a Palm Coast based attorney. 

• The Law Offices of Donald Appignani is a debt relief agency, helping people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

• You can read more here: On Bankruptcy

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Barbara Jean's Restaurant at European Village is Closed!

Barbara Jean's Restaurant and Bar, located at European Village in Palm Coast is closed as of the last week of August 2010.

Barbara Jeans with its tagline "Easy Southern Dining" has gained popularity as a family run restaurant specializing in seafood and made-from-scratch, home-style cooking.  The Barbara Jean's crabcakes specially received a lot of praise, making it to the restaurant's window with a slogan like if you will try nothing else, try the crab cakes.

The restaurant has posted a sign on its window which reads:

No Longer in Business... 
PLEASE continue to support the wonderful family owned and operated businesses here in the European Village. God Bless.

The Palm Coast location at the European Village is now closed, however the chain continues with other locations in the south-east coastal locations in Florida , Georgia, and North Carolina.

The closest Barbara Jean's location to Palm Coast is now located in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Despite the closing of Barbara Jean's, European Village continues to be a premier destination for dining, nightlife, entertainment, and shopping in Palm Coast and Flagler County.

The unique courtyard, European-design-influenced architecture and central location of the European Village provides a desired atmosphere for a Florida-style experience...

Active restaurants and eateries in European Village include:

• Mezzaluna Pizzeria
• La Piazza Italian Restaurant
• Red Sphere Japanese Steakhouse, Sushi and Sake Bar
• Europa Lounge and Bistro
• Shakespeare's Fine English Tea Room
• Café Gelato 

Barbara Jean's has been closed as of the last week of August, with the owners announcing the closing to their regulars on facebook on September 2:

For more information on shops and restaurants located at European Village, visit their facebook page at Shops at European Village Palm Coast.

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Are You In A Pickel?

When picking nonprofit organizations, the important thing is to find the one that connects with you and your beliefs for a better world in the best way possible.

We want to be able to see our donations are going to the people who need them the most. Some say the easiest way to do this is to just get involved yourself. But when it comes to where our money is going, everyone wants to see it help the right people for the right reasons. How often do we stop gawking at the television reports and write a check to really make a difference?

With the world in such need of nurturing, how do we determine who needs the help the most? An even better question is: When did you need the most help? You got it. You needed it the most when you weren't always able to ask for it - when you were a baby. One of the key elements to building a better world is giving support right from the beginning of life.

Lucky for us, there is a way to build a stronger world and family unit right in our community. Baby Pickel is dedicated to helping single mothers and families in Palm Coast, surrounding areas, and the world.

They have found single motherhood makes up 80% of single family households. Additionally, their research indicates 12,905,000 single families exist in the United States alone and 10,404,000 are headed by women. If we want to become a strong society, we have to help make the people raising the future generations stronger.

Pickel Clothing started off supporting and sponsoring local bands. You could see your favorite local musician sporting Pickel t-shirts on stage, in school, and around town. I still have a giant Pickel sticker on the drawers to my desk in my room from a show. But the folks at Pickel wanted something more. They wanted to give back.

Baby Pickel was born. It is run on the belief God has given them the purpose to provide for families in need and to always give more than you receive. I was able to catch up with the whole team over coffee to ask them a few questions about their nonprofit and what they provide.

Check out the interview below:

Nicholas and Vincenzo Desroches
Founders of Pickel Clothing

Q: How did the baby department of Pickel get started?

BP: We started off designing baby clothing lines for high end hotels. Things like baby bathrobes, pajamas, and we just wanted to give back to the community and be able to provide what we were designing to the people who really needed the help.

Q: One of the things featured on the website is the Pickel Jar. What is inside?

BP: Baby Pickel is working hard every day to not only supply the most adorable and affordable baby shower gifts, but also packing each baby jar with love, prayer, and accessories. Striving to always give more than we are asking and giving back to each community by sparking the spirit of servanthood in all of us. Right now there is a bib, washcloth, onesie, and pacifier in every jar. Donating the baby jar is only 10 dollars.

Q: Tell me about your partnership with the Alpha Pregnancy Center of Palm Coast.

BP: The partnership was our first big step to networking with other nonprofits of similar interests. Part of our donations go to Alpha to help with their services and they help us not only get our products to the people in need but help with donating from person to person. We are also going to be working with Our Children First of Daytona to expand our reach.

Q: What are your longterm goals?

BP: We are working on making the baby jar customizable on the website. We want people to be able to pick from a variety of products to be packed inside. The jar will become built of of what is requested instead of a standard, eventually turning the website into a type of donation store.

Q: How can others get involved?

BP: We are always looking for help. Donations are not restricted to just the baby jar or giving money. We will deliver anything from clothes to baby cribs to the people who need it. Baby Pickel is made up of people of similar interests, and we will accept any help that is given.

Q: Any advice for other local nonprofits?

BP: Don't allow friends and family to affect what you want to achieve. Always give more than you ask for and you will be guaranteed success.

If you wanted to get involved, Baby Pickel will be hitting the streets advertising their Mommy Day Giveaway. The contest runs through September 1st to the 15th.

All you have to do is friend request Pickel Palm Coast on Facebook and comment "I Love Baby Pickel!" and you will be entered to win a $50 Luxury Spa Service from Styles Salon in Palm Coast. It includes a facial, pedicure, manicure, and haircut. Winner is selected at random and announced the morning of the 16th.

Connect with Baby Pickel:

• Follow them on Twitter.
• Read the blog.
• Participate on the forum.

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TV & The Internet: Truly Ready For A Marriage?

There have been several attempts to bringing internet content to TV's over the last several years. Many have been interesting, but nothing to really get excited about as they were either complicated or very limited.  Microsoft created it's Media Center edition of its Windows operating system which is now standard in current versions.  Nice, but it required attaching your PC to your TV.  There are other devices such as Apple TV, the Roku box for Netflix, Blu-Ray players with internet connectivity, etc.  All of which add some great new services but are not a true integration of the internet with television.

And then comes . . .

Google TV!!!  This one is really exciting and a launch I am really anticipating this fall.  All of the present web and TV services add only small bits and pieces of internet capability to your TV.  Watch Netflix Movies, get a news story, view your photos from Google's Picasa, YouTube access, etc.  Google TV actually integrates the full internet into your television including a web browser.  Here's how it works:

1. You either get an upcoming Google TV ready television set from partners like Sony or simply get the upcoming Logitech Revue Google TV box which connects to your existng cable/sattelite TV box through an HDMI connection. 
2. Connect to your internet service either through a wireless router or an ethernet connection.
3. Google TV pulls all of your channel information, recordings both current and scheduled 
4. While watching TV you can start a search (there is a keyboard and an upsoming iPhone App too) which will not only search the internet but also your exisitng channel and recording information.  You can easily update recordings, schedule new ones, get further information about a show from the channel's website, etc.  

Unfortunately, Logitech has not released any pricing for their Revue box yet.  But this will definitely be a service which will be worth taking a look at when it is released.   Take a look at the video below to check out the great features:




What do you think of Google TV?

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PalmCoast.biz Has Been Sold!

PalmCoast.biz, the flagship Business Search Engine, Directory, and Rating-Portal serving Palm Coast and Flagler County now has a new owner: Palm Coast Media Online, LLC.

Jason taking the baton from Jason

The former owner, known to the community by his first name “Jason,” started PalmCoast.biz some 10 years ago.  Jason later spun off the forum capability to FlaglerChat. As an online marketing professional, Jason continues to own FlaglerChat.com and works on multiple online initiatives and engagements.

The new PalmCoast.Biz ownership team is comprised of local professionals with backgrounds spanning management, marketing, design, technology, law, and human resources.

The new management team expressed that they are committed to excellence in customer service, database integrity and, most importantly, in further increasing the website’s traffic.

Visibility through added distribution channels on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and other network partners, will be a game-changer for area businesses.


Ky Ekinci, Co-Founder of Palm Coast Media Online says:

" It is pretty rewarding to see a Palm Coast Business return top Google search results because of their listing on PalmCoast.Biz. As seen in the popularity of Yelp and Angie’s List, consumers want to provide feedback about the companies and professionals they work with. PalmCoast.biz’s platform provides those much needed tools.

Combine PalmCoast.Biz, this successful online entity, with our business and technology backgrounds and focus, and you’ve got a winning formula. "

For the homeowner who is typing ‘Landscaper, Attorney, or Realtor in Palm Coast’ while sitting in their Ohio, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania office, the benefit of consumer insight and the ability to provide a review when the work is done is immeasurable.


Jason Johnson, Co-Founder of Palm Coast Media Online says:

" With over a quarter million website visits annually, businesses can get their offering in front of local Palm Coast and Flagler County residents instantly! There is no other exclusive business directory in the area that can commit to and deliver on that promise today. PalmCoast.Biz is a mature online entity, a local icon. The possibility for even greater reach is exciting."

With the onslaught of home-based businesses, the changing economic landscape, and Flagler County’s population pushing a new high of 100,000, the exact number of Flagler County businesses is a moving target.

The Chamber of Commerce estimates over 2,000 businesses are active in Flagler County, with about 1,000 already as Chamber members.

The new PalmCoast.Biz will provide a free business listing for every Flagler County Business in the directory thereby helping businesses in Palm Coast and Flagler County to be found online, be noticed for excellence, and rise to the top of their category.

The power of the group, the PalmCoast.Biz collective, will be what catapults local businesses to new visibility and growth.


New owners say that powerful upgraded listing options start from as low as $9.95 a month.

As part of the new management, PalmCoast.Biz has announced a limited time offer of up to 50% OFF listings with annual prepayment options.

The community overall welcomed the new management with enthusiasm and support.  Here's a sample of dozens of good wishes received:

" Congratulations! PalmCoast.biz is a valuable resource for our community, I wish you the best for the future! "

" Great people!  And I'm sure the business will flourish. Congrats to all involved. "

" Congratulations on your purchase!  Looking forward to doing business with you! "

" Congrats to both the seller and the buyer. I use the site a lot and will continue to in the future. I know that you have just purchased the site, But would like to see what your plans are for deleting any double listings or the businesses that are no longer in business. Unfortunately this had been a problem that never got taken care of in the past. I am a firm believer in businesses helping other businesses within the community. So like I said, if there's anything I could help with, let me know. "

"Scrub it Clean!"

Ky and Jason say that the database clean up effort has already started,  New listings are being added, as the closed businesses are being marked and deleted.

On that note, as a part of the database cleanup effort, the new management team is asking the community's help to point out listings that are no longer in business or have moved out of Flagler County.

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For more information e-mail support@PalmCoast.biz or visit the company website at www.PalmCoast.biz

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Dubai Real Estate Firm opens US Office in Palm Coast

“ When we look for homes for our clients, we look for groupings of homes. Our client’s are affluent and they tend to make investment or retirement location choices as a group, and that means several families together.”

From Left: Palm Coast's Vice Mayor Holsey Moorman,
Khalid Muneer and Iseeb Rehman of Sherwoods Real Estate,
and Palm Coast's Mayor Jon Netts

These were the words of Iseeb Rehman, who visited Palm Coast recently, for the opening of their US Office, and to scout various developments in Flagler County and Central Florida for investment opportunities.

The visit was made possible by Khalid Muneer, a long time resident of Palm Coast --a well known figure in the business, real estate, and investment circles, both locally and state-wide. Khalid has been cultivating and securing international interest in Palm Coast in recent years.

Khalid has been in talks with Iseeb Rehman – the Global Managing Director of Sherwoods Real Estate Consultants, an international real estate brokerage and investment consulting firm, with locations in the United Kingdom, Dubai, Abu Dabi, and Russia.

As international investors, they are drawn to Florida for what they believe is the beginning of the up-turn.

Mr. Rehman traveled to Palm Coast on Thursday, August 12th for the official launch of their US Office. As part of his visit, Mr. Rehman named Khalid Muneer, CEO of their US operation: Sherwoods Real Estate (USA) LLC.

They then proceeded to move onto their initial project together which was to scout for investment opportunities for up to $4 Million to acquire select properties in Palm Coast, the Hammock, or in greater Orlando area.

Mayor Jon Netts, Vice Mayor Holsey Moorman, Council woman Mary DiStefano and the City of Palm Coast Senior Planner and Economic Development Team Leader Beau Falgout sat down to talk with Mr. Rehman and Mr. Muneer about the opportunities that are here for investors and businesses.




City of Orlando, for instance, another location on Mr. Rehman’s trip planner was not likely to be able to produce their Mayor and city council members for a meeting with a businessman interested in long term investments. But Palm Coast did, shattering the profile that the city is not business friendly.

Mr. Rehman is an elegant man... He is thoughtful in his ways. He listened carefully and shared examples of like projects successfully completed in like locations to Palm Coast over his twenty six year history.

One example was a suburban community outside of London. Difficult for people to first want to invest in a community that is simply not London. But once a few key investors go first others follow.

And in the case of Palm Coast, not Orlando and not Jacksonville, he felt strongly he and Khalid could earn the same successes.

Mr. Rehman knows his investors well: What drives them; their short and long term goals. He was moved by the quality of life and potential for significant growth here in Palm Coast and Flagler County.

Mr. Rehman’s trip was a whirlwind. Khalid Muneer and Iseeb Rehman scouted multiple locations and properties, and all that he could in the short time frame before his return to Dubai.

Khalid now works on setting up the Palm Coast office and preparing for Mr. Rehman the investments he is narrowing on as well as the possibilities for doing more here. He will rely on Khalid to cultivate the opportunities that he and his investment practice will review

The meeting and the opening of the US Office were covered in the Daytona Beach News Journal by Aaron London, as well as by Brian McMillian of of Palm Coast Observer.

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