Use Personal Technology to Feel Connected After a Move

Posted on December 14, 2012 by sharper

Don’t miss out on the life that’s going on around you! Follow these tips to feel more connected via social media after a move.

If your recent move has left you feeling lonely and a little isolated, you can keep in touch with friends from afar and find new ones right where you are.

With social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and Google+, you can access a world of connections in seconds. With these tools readily available through your smartphone, tablet and home computer, you’ll always feel connected — even in a new place.

Don’t miss out on the life that’s going on all around you! Use these tips to feel connected and make new friends fast.

Stay connected
Moving to a new place can be really exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. You might feel cut off from your family and friends. When you get a case of the moving blues, it can be helpful to turn to social media to stay connected with your loved ones. With the power of Facebook and Twitter, everyone you want to keep up with is right at your fingertips.

There are many ways to use social media to stay connected beyond merely reading your feed and checking friend updates. If you’re lonely, you might want to set up a time each day or every few days to interact in “real time” via social media. Set up a Twitter party, Skype with your family, or arrange a video hangout on Google+. Set a time to chat over Facebook Messenger or G-chat with your best friend. Participate in a live chat session with several buddies during your favorite TV show, for instance, so you can all share the experience just as if you were physically close together.

Get connected
Social media can help you make and maintain friendships in the off-line world, too. When you nurture new online relationships, you might develop a digital friendship into one with a person who’ll go to the movies with you or hang out in your apartment. It all starts with making one connection online.

Try, for example, reading a local blog. Start following a person you find interesting — one with ties to your community — and engage in conversation with him or her. Post meaningful comments on his or her blog; send an email. Offer to be helpful, and add valuable information to the conversation. You may find that — with time, trust, and mutual interests — your online connection blossoms into a face-to-face connection.

Just as in real life, people in the online world respond to kindness and positivity. Use these keys as your guiding principles in online interactions, and you’ll find that you really can make actual, non-digital friends online.

Explore
When you’re making new connections online, you’ll start to learn about your neighborhood just by following others. Take note of the places they check in, the events they join and the local publications they read. In no time, you’ll get the inside scoop on great places to eat, shop, relax and meet new people. When you want to know what’s going on in your neighborhood, for instance, look no further than posts and pages about local events and landmarks.

Unplug to make real world connections
Social media can be a great tool to help you feel more connected, but it’s important to remember that it can also make you feel MORE isolated, too. And that’s why it’s a good idea to train yourself to stay away from it for at least a few hours a day. Make a conscious effort to “unplug” yourself from technology: don’t look at your computer or touch your phone — for a few hours each day. Try using that time to get out of the digital world and into the physical one!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Marish

Learn Something New With Our Top 5 Educational Apps

Posted on November 30, 2012 by sroman

Expand your mind without increasing your budget with these educational apps.

Do you want to learn something new, but don’t have the time to attend expensive classes? Whether you’re interested in picking up a new language, refreshing your grammar skills or simply curious about the world around you, the following educational apps will expand your mind without increasing your budget.

Grammar Up – Eknath Kadam

Good communication is the key to many careers and relationships. Improve both grammar and vocabulary with the Grammar Up app for iPad and iPhone. The full version costs $4.99 and features a series of multiple-choice quizzes with over 1,800 questions covering categories such as verb tense, word choice and conditionals. A free version is also available that lets you track your progress.

Paper – FiftyThree

Improve your drawing skills and release your inner artist with Paper. Winner of the 2012 Apple Design Awards for Best iPad app, Paper was downloaded 1.5 million times within the first two weeks of its release. So, what’s the hype about? Paper’s clean design, convenient tools and filters help both designers and beginners create beautiful works of art. Email or print your final creations, or use them for storyboarding or presentations. The basic drawing function is free, but additional color or brush tools must be purchased for $1 or $2 each.

Star Walk Astronomy – Vito Technology Inc.

Where can you use the latest science app? Just look up! Download the Star Walk app for iPad, point your device toward the sky and discover stars, constellations and satellites in real time. Star Walk also won an Apple Design Award, and allows users to identify over 200,000 celestial bodies with extensive information about stars and constellations. This app includes a calendar to keep you informed of upcoming cosmic events, and the Time Machine feature can be used to see star maps for years into the future or at historic moments of the past. For just $4.99, this visually stunning app is perfect for astronomy students or people who simply enjoy the night sky.

Babbel Language Learning – Babbel

One way to learn a foreign language is to continually practice reading, writing and speaking as often as you can. If you want to learn a language, a good mobile app will allow you to practice on the go. Free iPhone apps from Babbel come in seven languages: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish and English. These apps are aimed to boost your vocabulary, and provide access to 3000 words used in sample sentences and pronounced by a native speaker. Babbel’s apps compliment their web-based courses, but you don’t need to be a course subscriber to use the apps.

WikiHow – wikiHow, Inc.

Finally, if you’re unable to decide on one new skill to acquire, why not learn how to do just about everything? WikiHow contains 140,000 different how-to articles that can solve many of your DIY project questions—from knitting a scarf to replacing a flat tire. Simply type your query’s keywords into the app, and you’ll receive an article on your topic that includes descriptive steps with photos or videos, a list of supplies needed, warnings and related wikiHow articles for further investigation. This app is free for both Android and iPhone, and the iOS version also contains a “Survival Kit” with articles inspired by real-life emergency situations including self-defense, wilderness survival, home emergencies and first aid.

These educational apps are perfect for learning fun and useful information on the go. Give one a try today!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/wragg

Enter Apartment Guide’s Friendsgiving Pinterest Sweepstakes

Posted on November 1, 2012 by jgrimes

Thankful for your friends this November? There’s a holiday for that. Friendsgiving is a get-together typically scheduled the week before or after Thanksgiving each year, in which friends gather for a holiday feast instead of with family.

This year, we’re hosting our first-ever Friendsgiving Pinterest sweepstakes! We want to see how you have celebrated, plan to celebrate or would celebrate, and see your best cooking, decorating and party ideas. Whether it’s a small shindig or a booming banquet, your Friendsgiving ideas could net you one of two $100 American Express gift cards or even the $500 American Express gift card grand prize!

Here’s how to enter:

Follow Apartment Guide on Pinterest.
Create an Apartment Guide “Friendsgiving” themed board with at least 10 pins, including two from our blog. Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty to choose from.
Include a brief description and the hashtag #AGPinGiving with each pin.
Once your board is finished, email consumersourcerequests@mslgroup.com with your name, mailing address and the URL of your sweepstakes board.

Each week, participants will create a new board to plan out a specific element of their Friendsgiving holiday. Here’s the breakdown:

Week 1 – November 1-7

How to Host the Ultimate Friendsgiving Party – Is there a theme? Who do you invite? What do your guests and you do? Use your imagination and create a one-of-a-kind get-together.

Prize: $100 American Express gift card

Week 2 – November 8-14

How to Cook Your Friendsgiving Feast – what will your guests eat and drink? Will you go with a old-fashioned Thanksgiving meal, a twist on the classics or break from traditional altogether? Make a menu your friends request for years to come.

Prize: $100 American Express gift card

Week 3 – November 15-21

How to Decorate for Friendsgiving – What will you display as a centerpiece? Anything on the walls? Will you decorate with earth tones or go for something bolder? Design a stand-out space that sets the standard for all future Friendsgivings.

Prize: $500 American Express gift card

We look forward to checking out your boards and learning how you celebrate Friendsgiving. For rules and regulations, please see below:

“Friendsgiving Pinterest” SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

DATES OF SWEEPSTAKES: The “Friendsgiving Pinterest” Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) begins at 9:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on November 1, 2012 and ends at 9:00 PM ET on November 21, 2012 (the “Sweepstakes Period”), subject to three (3) entry periods (each, an “Entry Period”) as outlined in the How To Enter Section of these Official Rules.

ELIGIBILITY: In order to be eligible for entry into the Sweepstakes, you must be a legal permanent United States resident residing in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and 18 years of age or older with a unique valid Social Security number at the time of entry (the “Entrant”). Employees and their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings or spouse, regardless of where they live, or persons living in same household, whether related or not) of Consumer Source Holdings, Inc. (the “Sponsor”), their subsidiaries, and each of their respective parent companies, franchisees, affiliates, contractors, consultants, legal counsel, public relations, subsidiaries, distributors, sales representatives, retailers, website providers, webmasters, advertising and promotional, fulfillment, and marketing agencies, and any others engaged in the development, production, execution or distribution of this Sweepstakes, including but not limited to, National Sweepstakes Company, LLC herein (the “Sweepstakes Entities”), are not eligible to participate. Sweepstakes is void in Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions outside of the 50 United States, and where restricted or prohibited by law.

HOW TO ENTER: The Sweepstakes contains three (3) Entry Periods in which each Entry Period has a specified theme. The themes are based on each Entrant hosting an ultimate Thanksgiving festivity with friends. Entrant should submit a board that represents the specified theme for that Entry Period. The following are the themes for each Entry Period:

Entry Period 1- “How to host the ultimate Friendsgiving party”

Entry Period 2- “How to cook your Friendsgiving feast”

Entry Period 3- “How to decorate for Friendsgiving”

To enter the Sweepstakes and receive one (1) entry for an Entry Period, follow the three (3) steps below. You must be a member of Pinterest.com to enter, and you must be following the Apartment Guide Pinterest page. If you do not have a Pinterest account, you can sign up for one here: http://pinterest.com/landing. Entries for this Sweepstakes must be completed and received by 9:00 PM EST before the end date of each Entry Period.

1. Follow Apartment Guide on Pinterest and submit a Pinterest themed board for each Entry Period. Each board must be based on the specified theme for that Entry Period (see themes for each Entry Period above). Each Entry Period’s themed board must contain a minimum of 10 pins per board in which 2 of the pins must be from the Apartment Guide blog, www.apartmentguide.com/blog.

2. Give each pin a brief description using the hashtag, #AGPinGiving.

3. Email the completed theme board to consumersourcerequests@mslgroup.com. The email must include the name of the theme in the Subject line of the email and the following information in the body of the email: Name, Physical Mailing address, URL of themed board. Upon completing and submitting this step, Entrant will receive one (1) entry into the corresponding Entry Period (the “Entry”).

Only one (1) Entry per Entrant per Entry Period. Entries will NOT be eligible for subsequent drawings. Without limitation, Entries submitted in connection with this Sweepstakes must contain only content that, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, excludes inappropriate content of any kind. By participating in this Sweepstakes, each Entrant represents and warrants that his/her Entry does not contain any material that is defamatory, profane or obscene. In the event that an Entry is deemed inappropriate by the Sponsor, that Entry will be disqualified.

Any attempt by an Entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations, logins, and/or any other methods, including, but not limited to, automated entry, will void that Entrant’s entries and that Entrant may be disqualified from the Sweepstakes. Multiple Entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Sponsor will not verify receipt of entries for Entrants. All entries submitted become the sole property of Sponsor and will not be returned.

In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an Entry, the Entry will be deemed submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account (provided via the email) is registered (the “Authorized Account Holder”). The “Authorized Account Holder” is the natural person who is assigned to the e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider, or other organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses, or the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Potential Prize Winner may be required to show proof of being the Authorized Account Holder.

Neither Sponsor nor any Sweepstakes Entity is responsible for any online entry that is lost, late, misdirected or undeliverable, whether due to system errors, omissions, interruption, deletions, defects, delay in operations or transmissions, theft or destruction or failures, faulty transmissions or other telecommunications malfunctions, entries not received resulting from any hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, failed, incomplete or garbled computer or telephone transmissions, typographical or system errors and failures, faulty transmissions, technical malfunctions, or otherwise. No mechanically or programmatically reproduced entries are permitted. Late entries, or entries sent via any other method will not be accepted. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, incomplete, delayed, misdirected entries and all such entries are void. Sponsor has no obligation to acknowledge receipt of or to return any entry received.

Although you must enter the Sweepstakes through Pinterest, this Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Pinterest.

Each Entry Period will run from 9:01 AM ET to 9:00 PM ET, according to the dates listed in the chart below. All entries must be submitted during the respective Entry Period in order to be included for that Entry Period drawing.

Entry Period	Dates	Drawing Date
1	11/1/12 to 11/7/12	11/8/11
2	11/8/12 to 11/14/12	11/15/11
3	11/15/12 to 11/21/12	11/22/11

*- All non-winning eligible entries from the previous Entry Periods will NOT carry over to subsequent Entry Period drawings.

ENTRY PERIOD DRAWINGS: Each Entry Period during the Sweepstakes, one (1) Entry Period Prize winner will be selected in a random drawing, from among all eligible entries received for that Entry Period. Each Entry Period will run from 9:01 AM ET to 9:00 PM ET, according to the dates listed in the chart above in the “How To Enter” Section, and all entries must be submitted during the respective Entry Period in order to be included for that Entry Period’s drawing. Judges decisions are final. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of eligible entries received for that Entry Period. All non-winning eligible entries from the previous Entry Period will NOT be included in subsequent Entry Period drawings.

PRIZES:

ENTRY PERIOD PRIZES:

Entry Period 1: One (1) Prize for Entry Period 1 of an American Express gift card having an Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of $100 will be awarded.

Entry Period 2: One (1) Prize for Entry Period 2 of an American Express gift having an ARV of $100 will be awarded.

Entry Period 3: One (1) Prize for Entry Period 3 of an American Express gift card having an ARV of $500 will be awarded.

Total ARV of all prizes to be awarded is $700.00.

Names of prize manufacturers are used solely for the purpose of identification of the prize. No endorsement, authorization, sponsorship, or approval by American Express for this Sweepstakes is intended or implied.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: No transfer or substitution of prizes is allowed except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize winners are required to comply with any and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if prize becomes unavailable due to reasons beyond the control of the Sponsor. Limit of one (1) prize per person/household. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prizes. All prize winners consent to the use of his/her name, likeness, biographical information, and voice in advertising worldwide without additional compensation (TN residents will not be required to sign a liability/publicity release as a condition of winning a prize).

PRIZE CLAIMS: All Prizes will be shipped within 3 to 4 weeks from the Entry Period drawing date.

GENERAL RULES OF PARTICIPATION: By participating in this Sweepstakes, Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges, which are final in all respects and not subject to appeal. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify permanently from this Sweepstakes any Entrant it believes has violated these Official Rules and verify eligibility of Entrants. Neither Sponsor nor anyone acting on its behalf will enter into any communications with any Entrant regarding this Sweepstakes, except as expressly set forth in these Official Rules. By participating in this Sweepstakes, Entrants and winners release the Sponsor, and their respective representatives, agents, successors, assigns, officers, directors and employees from any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described) with respect to or arising out of participation in the Sweepstakes, and/or the receipt or use/misuse of the prizes awarded, including, without limitation, liability for personal injury, death or property damage. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Sweepstakes. All Sweepstakes materials are subject to verification and are void if (a) not obtained in accordance with these Official Rules and through legitimate channels, (b) any part is counterfeited, altered, defective, damaged, illegible, reproduced, tampered with, mutilated or irregular in any way, (c) are obtained where prohibited, or (d) they contain printing, typographical, mechanical, or other errors. Entrants assume all risk of loss, damage, destruction, delay or misdirection of Sweepstakes materials submitted to Sponsor. Winning a prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its agencies to use winners’ names, addresses (city & state), voices and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity, for this Sweepstakes only, without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Sponsor may prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Sweepstakes or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrants, and Sponsor. If for any reason this Sweepstakes is not able to be conducted as planned, including, but not limited to, by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, then Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes and randomly draw from those entries received up to the cancellation/suspension date to award the prizes. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

NO LIABILITY: By participating, Entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and all of their respective representatives, agents, successors, assigns, officers, directors and employees from and against any claims made by winners, Entrants, or any other third parties, related in any way to the operation of this Sweepstakes as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including, without limitation, death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity, in this Sweepstakes or any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy or merchandise delivery.

WINNER’S LIST REQUEST: To receive a winner’s list, send a self addressed stamped envelope to: “Friendsgiving Pinterest”, 1170 Peachtree Street, N.E. #1600 Atlanta, GA 30309. All requests must be received by December 31, 2012 (VT residents may omit return postage).

SPONSOR: Consumer Source Holdings, Inc., 3585 Engineering Drive, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092.

This offer shall not be published without the written permission of the Sponsor.

Best Apps for Green Living

Posted on October 16, 2012 by ag-admin

By using these free smartphone applications, you’ll be able to reduce your environmental impact with just a few taps of the screen.

If this season’s colorful foliage has prompted you to make a few changes of your own, start by turning over a new leaf—a “green” one! Adding green practices into your daily routine isn’t as difficult as you might think. By using the following free smartphone applications, you’ll be able to reduce your environmental impact with just a few taps of the screen.

For the iPhone

Green You – ITAnyplace

Grab this application to find out just how green you are. Then learn how you can make small lifestyle adjustments to decrease your carbon footprint. Start by completing the app’s short survey to help analyze your habits—from driving to eating to purchasing—and their potential environmental consequences. This information will help calculate your baseline carbon footprint. Then you can use the app to see how you can reduce your footprint and customize a plan to limit your future impact on the environment.

Locavore – Hevva Corp.

Locavore uses your mobile device’s GPS feature to find out which foods are currently in season near you. Eating locally-grown food when it’s in season is a great way to deliver vital nutrients to your body while they are still fresh and haven’t been removed in preparation for long-term storage or shipment. Eating locally also helps boost your local economy and eases pollution caused by transporting food long distances. Use Locavore to find local farmers markets and farms that sell your favorite foods. A collection of delicious seasonal recipes is also available, and you can even share your discoveries on Facebook.

iRecycle – Earth911, Inc.

If your apartment complex offers a recycling service with a handy guide to explain which waste items are recyclable, you’re in luck! But those of us living in environmentally-challenged communities may struggle to decode the meaning of symbols and numbers printed on recyclable products, or worse—we may not even take the time to find out. But with the free iRecycle app, you will find more than 300 different recyclable materials divided into simple categories for quick reference. Soon you’ll be sorting like a pro!

For Android

Go Green – Webworks and Applications Inc.

Want to see your green skills sprout? If you’re new to the world of green living, this app is for you. Each time you launch Go Green, you will receive a new eco-friendly tip. Learn which household products are better for the environment and how to conserve energy. Watch your “green” status grow as you earn more tips.

Natural Beauty Recipe – Kiumiu Soft

Both men and women use beauty or grooming products every day that can harm the environment. Residue from soaps, hairsprays, gels and other products mix with our water supply and artificial ingredients may actually cause harm to your body after long-term use. Why not take care of your skin and hair with 100 percent natural ingredients? It’s easy with Natural Beauty Recipe’s suggested blends of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can be found at your local market. Once you find your favorite recipes, you can share them with your friends or even submit your own mixtures. Here’s an added bonus—any mistakes or leftovers can be eaten!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/PashaIgnatov

Top 5 Apps for Pet Owners

Posted on September 27, 2012 by ag-admin

Our list of the top five apps for pet owners will keep your four-legged friends connected to the future of the pet set.

There’s a smartphone application for just about everything these days. Your collection of apps might help you keep up with the latest weather forecast, plan a trip or find a discount on your favorite local restaurant. But pet owners should know that many helpful apps also exist for keeping tabs on your tabby or for profiling your pooch.

Our list of the top five apps for pet owners will keep your four-legged friends connected to the future of the pet set.

For the iPhone

Dog Park Finder Plus – Tech Wanderings ($1.99)

Whether you and your dog are settling into a new neighborhood or just enjoying a “best friends” vacation, Dog Park Finder Plus from DogGoes.com can help you quickly and easily find the nearest dog-friendly spots. For only $1.99, you’ll have access to over 6,000 dog parks, dog-friendly beaches and 12,000 dog friendly restaurants (North American version only). DogGoes.com has compiled over four years of editorial research including user photos and reviews, and the app also provides site details for humans like location markers, restrooms and hours of operation. A free version is available with less information.

Pet Dossier – Yep Yup ($1.99)

Pet Dossier will work for your dog, but its creators at Yep Yup agree that other pets should be “app”-reciated, too! This digital organizer will keep profiles for your dog, cat, bird, fish or other animals. Build a profile to keep track of your pet’s history, medications and appointments. You will also be able to email the information directly to your pet’s caregivers, and have the flexibility to edit your notes and add new fields. This app is also known as “the pet app that gives back” because 25 percent of the sale price supports ASPCA.

Pet First Aid – Jive Media ($3.99)

One of the top-rated apps on our list is the Pet First Aid app from Jive Media. Although a bit pricier at $3.99, it will allow you to be prepared for a pet medical emergency at any time. And who can put a price on your precious pet’s health?

Pet First Aid provides users with detailed articles, videos and step-by-step illustrations to help you care for your pet in case of poisoning, bleeding, drowning, fractures and sprains, heat or cold injuries and disaster preparedness. It even gives instructions for proper bandaging, rescue breathing and pet CPR. You can also record your pet’s veterinarian contact info and medical history of vaccinations, medications and medical conditions.

For Android

Pets Next Door: Dogs, Cats, and More – Animal Compass Org

Does your cat have her own Facebook page? Does your bird actually “Tweet” instead of chirp? Now pets have a dedicated social app all their own! Pets Next Door is a social app for your pet, which allows you to share your pet’s stories and posts with others. Make a profile of your pet and share it with your friends, family or other plugged-in pet owners. Trade pet stories and photos in your neighborhood or around the world. This app is free.

Petometer – Triad Retail Media

Perhaps Fluffy the French poodle is looking, well, a little too fluffy. The free Petometer app from Purina is the answer for pets who need to shed a few ounces of extra treats—and it helps pet owners stay in shape, too! First, enter your pet’s information into the app (you can even add a photo), and then go for a walk together. Track your walk time, distance and route with the Petometer and sync a map of your walk with Google Maps or share your time on Facebook. You can even view a history of your walks, set reminders of when to take your dog out again and view a list of recommended exercises for your dog.

With a few simple downloads, you and your pets will be ready to unlock the convenience and fun just waiting in these apps.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/Fertnig

Learn to Petwork: Find Pet Groups in San Diego

Posted on September 24, 2012 by ag-admin

If you’re looking for pet groups in San Diego, check out our guide.

If you are a pet lover who has recently moved to San Diego, it can be tough finding like-minded folks to share your passion for pets with. That’s why we have put together this handy dandy guide for San Diego pet lovers.

For all you San Diego dog lovers, check out Meetup.com, where several dog groups have already formed.

San Diego Off-Leash Meetup (www.meetup.com/San-Diego-Off-Leash-Meetup/)

This group is for those who enjoy getting together with other pet owners for off-leash dog recreation in the San Diego area. Gather to discuss this growing trend with other dog owners and bring your dogs!

Dog Play Groups (http://dog-play-groups.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/san_diego/)

This Meetup listing contains several different types of meetings for dog lovers, including groups for poodles and small breeds, as well as a group for twenty- and thirty-something dog owners. Whatever your dog’s breed, you’re sure to find a group just for you. There’s even a group devoted to owners of deaf dogs!

And if your love of pets extends to the kind with scales rather than fur, there are also several groups devoted to reptiles, turtles and snakes.

San Diego Herpetological Society (www.sdherpsociety.org).

This group co-sponsors a Reptile, Amphibian and Bug Club for owners of these types of pets and researchers. There are dues for this organization. Check the website for details.

San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society (http://sdturtle.org/) is devoted to helping turtles, tortoises and their owners. The group hosts monthly meetings that are open to the public, and offers care tips, turtle adoptions and rescue information. Memberships start at $25 per year.

Still can’t find the right club for you? Then start your own. Join Meetup.com, check out Facebook or other social media sites or just put an ad in the paper. You never know who or what you’ll find! The right group for you and your pet could be just a click or phone call away!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/Fenne

How to Market Your Property to Generation Y

Posted on June 21, 2012 by ag-admin

Who are Generation Y? Members of the group may well be your next residents, if not your current ones. Find out how to appeal to the renting interests of this young and upcoming demographic.

The next generation
Generation Y, also known as the Millennials, are those born in the mid-80s, and after. Members of this generation have grown up in the digital age. Their love of technology is partnered with an environmental sensibility.

Generation Y tends to be savvy, well-read, well-traveled (either in person or virtually) and ambitious. Theirs is a generation that knows it can bend the world to its needs in some ways, with flexible workplaces, remote jobs, apps that do everything, and information available on multiple platforms 24/7.

The members of Generation Y recently graduated from school into the workforce and are poised to make their mark in the world using the latest technologies, while also having experienced the privations of the prolonged recession. They realize that unemployment, debt and little or no savings is a current reality.

What are they looking for?
Millennials are an interesting combination of entitlement and practicality. They expect access to information and activity via their phones, pads, computers and televisions. Generation Y renters may be willing to put up with limited square footage to save money (much of their life is spent virtually, which makes it more compact) in return for amenities like a hip location, Wi-Fi, community activity, smart design, high-tech fitness centers and green rental community practices.

What should you offer?
The option to personalize their spaces and opportunities to socialize are high on the list of what Gen Yers want in their next rental. Wall-to-wall Wi-Fi is a must, since dead spots in reception leave these tenants cold. Consider built-in iPod and iPhone docks in units.

Beyond wiring, look for ways to make rentals stylish and modular. Moveable track lighting, hardwood floors that residents can cover with their choice of modular floor coverings, accent walls painted the color of their choice, open floor plans and sliding partitions are all appealing to these tenants.

But what if you’re not developing a rental community and you can’t choose the floor plan? For property owners working with more conventional or existing housing, living appeal for these residents can be provided in shared aspects of the rental community, such as rooftop hangouts, Cyber Cafes, and wired laundry rooms. A redesign of a main entrance featuring modern furnishings and a hip sensibility can set the right tone.

As green living is important to these tenants, consider installing smart elements like rooftop catchment for rainwater, community gardens , energy-saving appliances, gray water systems, composting and, of course, plenty of recycling opportunities. Generation Y prides itself on doing things the smart way and will appreciate living environments that reinforce this self-perception.

Gen Y is also very attached to their pets; consider the benefits of being pet-friendly and offering a portion of your grounds as a pet park.

How to reach them
Begin your approach to reaching these renters using their own milieu: go online. Post vacancies on online listing sites, as well as in major social media outlets.

Online rental applications are a must for this group of tenants, especially because they’ll want to know whether they are approved as soon as possible. Consider, too, that many Generation Y prospects may need cosigners for their loans, so be prepared to work with them.

Generation Y is the world’s fastest growing group of tenants, and they will likely be your bread-and-better for decades to come. Get to know them and what they’re looking for in a rental now so that you can make them your next happy residents.

Why Your Community Should Be on Twitter

Posted on May 17, 2012 by ag-admin

If your business isn’t on Twitter, you’re missing out on potential high-quality exposure to nearly 10 million users. Here are seven reasons why you can’t ignore Twitter as a valuable marketing tool for your apartment community.

It’s free
Marketing a rental business through the usual avenues — newspaper and magazine ads, TV spots, radio, PPC campaigns — is expensive. So why wouldn’t you get your rental business a free Twitter account? Unlike the aforementioned paid marketing tools, Twitter offers you a lot of bang for your non-existent buck. Not only can your rental business use a Twitter account to reach new customers, but you can also use Twitter to broadcast news, build relationships with other businesses, establish your brand voice, and facilitate customer service. The ROI on a free Twitter account could be incredible.

Everyone else is using it
All the power players in your industry are on Twitter: MSN Real Estate, Remax, Coldwell Banker — the list goes on and on. Since everyone’s doing it — from the biggest names in property management to the guy who owns the shoe repair shop next door — you should be using Twitter as a marketing tool, too.

Street cred
Not only will getting a Twitter account help your rental business leverage a hot, new marketing trend, but your very presence on this social media platform says to potential customers that your property management team and community are “with it.” A Twitter account tells connected consumers that your business is just the kind of forward-thinking outfit that they should be interested in.

The ability to spy
A big part of marketing a successful rental business is watching what your competitors are doing. With a Twitter account, you can easily keep an eye on all of them. Following your competitors is a way to watch how they’re interacting with customers, monitor your competitor’s customer feedback, and help you find out about their promotions.

It’s fast
Another reason you should be using Twitter as a marketing tool is because it’s one of the fastest ways to distribute news about your rental business. A large number of your potential and current tenants are on Twitter, and if you want to let them know about an event, a special deal, or any other relevant information, they’ll get the news instantly when you tweet it.

Don’t underestimate the ability of a 140-character tweet to communicate your most important messages. While today’s consumers might easily delete your email newsletters, tune out your radio ads, or ignore your web site, they’re pretty likely to digest the entirety of a short, sweet tweet. Twitter is a very powerful medium for distributing information.

Better search visibility
In any given city, apartment hunters have hundreds or even thousands of choices when it comes to finding a rental property online. That’s why it’s crucial that your rental business lands among the top spots in the search engines.

Marketing with Twitter can help you achieve better organic search rankings and climb closer to the top of the page on Google or Bing. Why? While the exact algorithm for calculating search rankings is unknown, it’s common knowledge that search engines are starting to take social media activity into account when it comes to ranking web sites. The companies that make a bigger splash in social media – the ones that get a lot of “likes” and are “re-tweeted” — are winning better positions on that coveted first page of search results.

To connect
If you’re still not convinced that your rental business should be on Twitter, then consider the whole point of this incredibly powerful social media tool: to connect people to other people.

When you think about tweeting, you might imagine yourself writing post after post promoting your apartment community’s specials. But what you might not realize is that a Twitter account also lets you engage your customers to get truly useful feedback about your property. Those tidbits of insider information can help you take your business to the next level.

And even more importantly, when you interact with your customers in a personal and positive way, other Tweeters see it. So Twitter’s true value is that it makes your business visible to a wide network of folks — and that’s what every business hopes for from its marketing plan.

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