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Business owners join together for many great reasons.  Whether it’s sharing marketing promotions, planning events, assessing customer feedback, addressing issues facing their community, joint advertising, sharing expertise and know-how, coordinating community events, producing marketing collateral or building networks, better results are achieved by working together than going it alone.

Local business owners and their employees spend their working hours in your marketplace every day.  They get coffee, go to lunch, shop for gifts, have their hair done and drop off their dry cleaning near their work because it’s convenient and more importantly, because they like the people who they buy from.   Many of them live near their jobs because they like the area, which means they also like their local businesses.  These same people, their family members, friends and neighbors are more likely to shop for services in their local area too.  From plumbers to roofers, financial planners to insurance agents, lawyers to accountants, most consumers prefer to work with someone they either know personally or through a referral – which almost always means local.

Knowing about and patronizing other businesses near your own results in meaningful and honest referrals.  Even when local business owners and their employees aren’t working it’s in their best interest to shop locally.  It’s not just convenient but it increases traffic in the neighborhood.  Increased traffic is good for everyone. 

AllyLocal is a community of small business owners and its members create content, start discussions, share ideas, write blogs and promote their unique selling proposition.  AllyLocal membership is free. 

AllyLocal provides an on-line platform for gaining access to information about businesses in local communities everywhere.  The site is works improves upon existing alliances formed through Chambers of Commerce, Local Business Associations, Facebook, email, newsletters and other traditional channels.

Members of AllyLocal need only enter general information about their businesses to join.  The result is a personal web page that’s ready to go with no changes, or a page can become a custom presentation using templates and drop and drag functionality that doesn’t require any programming skills or with the use of some basic CSS knowledge, a highly customized and professional looking page.  Member pages include features that help promote their businesses including blogs, activity feeds, comments, forums, ideas, videos, pictures, links to their company website, Facebook and Twitter and more.

Members are encouraged to join and create groups and develop alliances within communities, industries, verticals, market niches and other demographics to help them network, plan promotions, share expertise and coordinate other activities that improve customer acquisition and retention.

So go on line and meet your neighbors today.  If you join before others who you know then tell them about AllyLocal.  Join a group or start your own.  Take advantage of a great opportunity to promote your business to people who may just be your best customers.

We did our first "camp-out" during lunch time today (Sunday). It's a fairly warm and overcast day and we weren't really able to observe any sunshine patterns. Nonetheless, here are some thoughts and photos capturing our preferences on views:

1. Outdoor play area/overflow parking

We love the idea of having one of the oak trees to provide a shady area (assuming we can trim a few branches at the bottom) for the kids to ride their bikes or shoot some hoops, while also providing a pad for overflow parking. If possible, perhaps we can even clear a hiking trail (nothing formal except clearing some brush) that can take us down to the other oak trees and perhaps all the way around the house, which would make a nice short hike around our land underneath the house.

2. Preferred view from Great Room/kitchen

Here is a panoramic view we'd love to capture from our Great Room, just to the left of the previous photo. From the family room, it would be great if we could see Mt. Diablo dead-on center, and preferably we'd also be able to see a little bit of the road leading up to our home, so we could see who's coming up. This is the most treasured view for us, and we want to make sure that we can enjoy it everyday from the Great room where we'll be spending 80% of our time.

3. View from living room (or dining)

While we weren't able to confirm exactly where the sun will set, our compass indicated that west was in the direction of the valley right in the middle of this photo. While the view is great (and different), we would not want any bedroom or our Great room to hit direct sunlight, so we're relegating that to the formal living room. If possible, we would also prefer NOT seeing the neighbor's house (incl. his two water tanks) toward the bottom of this photo.

If there were to be a trade-off on which room would have a view, between the formal living room and the dining, we would give it to the formal living. We would also prefer the dining room to allow for a nice, big round table that seats 8-10, instead of an oblong-shaped table.

4. Master bedroom view

This is another much treasured view, immediately to the left of the previous photo. We think this faces South/Southwest, and love being able to wake up to a little bit of the rolling hills as well as the San Ramon Valley. The lights from all the Windemere homes at night would be spectacular and make a great, relaxing view from our bedroom. Same comment noted for the neighbor's roof and water tanks.

Our only concern is the afternoon sun, and would prefer that our windows veer as much toward south as possible.

5. Vince's office

If possible, Vince would love for his office to feature this view of the rolling hills toward the Windemere permanent space (SxSE?). To be able to stare into as much greenery as possible would really help him rest his eyes away from the computer. Given that Vince really prefers a separate entrance to his office (which could also potentially serve as a shared entrance with the guest wing?), and also be as far away as possible from the Great Room to reduce noise and distraction, we think this also makes a convenient location for his office.

6. Other bedrooms/guest wing

So this is a view that's sandwiched between the previous two photos (i.e. master bedroom and Vince's office):

It's an amazing view of the Windemere/San Ramon Valley area, and we love it as well. We're just not sure if there is room for this to belong to the kids' bedroom (just one, or both?) or perhaps even the guest wing, but we'd love to find a way to maximize our enjoyment of this view.

With respect to the kids' rooms, here are three things we discussed as requirements:

1. Equity in views: If one kid's room has a view, then the other should as well. Else neither room gets it.

2. Kids' bedrooms need to be close to the master bedroom. Both for convenience and peace of mind (for us, not for them!)

3. Kids cannot go out or leave the house without first passing the master bedroom. Yes, we're paranoid parents trying to plan for rebellious teenagers later in life.

Overall, we had a great visit today and it reiterated two things we'd love for this home to achieve:

1. A relaxing, almost spa-like feeling when we come home

2. As much as we can, preserve the open, 360-degree view that we've come to cherish from this lot. 

Google Plus launched today and is attempting to enter the same social networking arena as Facebook.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/google-plus-takes-aim-at-facebook/2011/06/28/AGHstXpH_blog.html

According to CNBC the main difference is that Google is attempting to Categorize people more (a feature that can be used on Facebook but often isn't - usually Facebook users make things open to all -    That is how Facebook users have become used to using the site).

AllyLocal has already made this jump to categorize and to take it a step further by focusing on businesses only (not personal social networking) and for helping people interact locally.  The focus is also on generating Alliances not just every day - anything goes - social networking.

Why are people gravitating towards Social Networks online?  The question can be answered by reviewing other historical transitions of communication or media.  It is like people transitioning from radio to TV.  Do people still listen to radio – sure, however television has brought a visual element to media and has grown in use over radio.  Social Networks can also be seen replacing other forms of communication like e-mail.  Will people still use e-mail – sure, however a social network allows for greater participation beyond a closed e-mail contact list.  Web based social networking also allows greater functionality and common application use.   Social Networks provide greater interaction and participation among invited and public viewers.

Groupon has sold more than 70 million discount coupons in the last 2 plus years.  The company has also hired nearly 7,000 employees during that time. The company plans to raise around $750 million by going public.  The Associated Press reported that venture capitalists and others have invested $1.1 billion in the company.

The success of on-line coupon businesses points to a growing trend affecting local businesses.  The internet is an efficient and effective tool for connecting with customers.  The willingness of small businesses to use the web to boost their sales is reflected in Groupon’s tremendous growth over the last two years.

Small businesses working together to plan on-line marketing strategies are more successful than businesses that work alone.  Improving returns from coupon promotions, for example, happens when businesses work together to coordinate campaigns and maximize the value of increased customer traffic.  This, in turn, reflects favorably on the business community and results in a more rewarding shopping experience.  As a group, local businesses can evaluate competing on-line options and choose the solution that best suits their needs and budgets.

AllyLocal, a network of local businesses, provides a free on-line platform for exchanging ideas, sharing expertise, referring customers, and planning group promotions.  Members showcase their companies
on their own business page, use links to other sites like Face Book and Twitter and coordinate their internet strategy.  Sharing ideas and insights with other members improves their chances of working successfully with Groupon and the many alternatives that have come along to cash in on this lucrative market.

Link to the spreadsheet on Google Docs. This is a living document and will continue to be updated as we get more ideas. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqRnsSOUKtr5dDd6Ym5hNDNERXBTSEtXTDRvVTRzQVE&usp=sharing

As a small business owner looking at customer acquisition and retention I’ve noticed changes over the last few years.

While it used to be the Yellow Pages and maybe cable TV, local newspapers or mailers lately it seems like Google, Facebook, Yelp, Groupon, Living Social and dozens more just like them have really changed things.  It’s a stretch to imagine that small business owners can go it alone and be as effective on-line as the big names do and Ally Local wants to level the playing field.

Ally Local is a Social Network for Small Business.  Ally Local’s community of small business owners work together to form their own marketing programs to increase sales, retain customers, offer promotions and find solutions to other challenges they face individually and as a group.

It’s no surprise that some big names in the internet business have become so valuable over just the last two years.  Small business is the engine of economies in the US and the rest of the world.   Ally Local provides an online community for its talented, entrepreneurial members to pool their resources and find creative solutions to taking their messages on-line.

Ally Local gives its members a My Page that is ready to go after a few simple questions and can be customized to reflect the individuality of its owner.  Membership is free and provides links to other sites including Face Book, Twitter and more.  Members can access and update Ideas, participate in Forums and have discussions both within their local business group and with members everywhere.

Local consumers tend to buy from local businesses.  All businesses benefit from a local customer base that sees value in shopping local.  Ally Local enhances participation in planning marketing campaigns and amplifies the efforts of groups like your downtown business associations through increased participation and ease of access.  Members can participate in their Ally Local Groups anywhere there is an internet connection.

Ally Local Members participate in other Social Networks in much the same way LinkedIn members might also belong Face Book.  Ally Local members share a common attribute and are able to share their experience and knowledge with their fellow entrepreneurs.  It would be completely natural for Ally Local member to find someone in their local group to help with web-page design, provide local ingredients, sell complimentary products or services or work together on a large project.

Vince's best friend from college lives in Honolulu, and one of the things we noticed when visiting homes there is the use of wood and the unique blend of contemporary and Asian-influenced style in many of the homes, particularly in the Kahala and Hawaii-kai neighborhoods.

Here's a good example of the use of wood in flooring and in framing the windows:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/2520388/Kauai-lake-one-tropical-home-office-hawaii

Another example of bedroom:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/2520801/Kauai-Lake-Front-Estate-tropical-bedroom-hawaii

This home contains a lot of those features we like:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4144-Papu-Cir-Honolulu-HI-96816/601087_zpid/

One of our habits is asking guests to remove their shoes upon entering the house. One of the big issues is keeping the shoes organized!  We would love to incorporate the idea of a Genkan. We would want to have a "grand entrance" feel but somehow incorporate a genkan area for people to sit and remove shoes. Here are some photos on Houzz that are good examples.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24941830/thumbs/Genkan---Front-entry-transitional-place-for-guest-shoes

Capitalism continues to evolve.  Old social structure’s change as society matures and becomes more complex or developed.  Old social structures still exist like dictators, monarchies and caste systems.  As we see these days in the news – people long for equality and respect or a democracy.  We now see blossoming democracies all over the Middle East (Tunisia, Egypt, etc..) and social networking enabled much of this revolution.

RISE will allow capitalism to evolve as well.  RISE will antiquate the current concepts that capitalism currently holds (or attempts to categorize like a caste system).  Defining people as Employers, Employees and Consumers only demeans people and forces various levels of respect and obligation between the “casted” types.  RISE will set the evolved definition for the next stage of capitalism.  No one will be caste as an Employer.  No one will be caste as an Employee.  No one will be a Consumer.  RISE - Rewards International Standards for Everyone - will turn Everyone into a Business Person.  If everyone can relate to others as another type of business entity then everyone can RISE and relate to one another as successful business people, rather than casting people or manipulating the other to their benefit.  The evolution of capitalism with Everyone defined as a business person will improve respect, communication and will foster collaboration among all.   Success in that new found relationship will be found among small to medium to large business entities.