Blog – Page 7

Adding Circles to Your Gmail Chat (Gtalk)?

July 15, 2011 by Raul Colon

Update: It seems that Google did remove the functions we mentioned in this post.

Updated from Google:

We wanted to offer you more control over who you can chat with in Google Plus. So we’ve made a change that requires you to explicitly invite people in order for them to appear in your chat list. For Gmail, Orkut and iGoogle users, we’ll continue to include the people who you can already chat with in those properties.

Original Post

The other day using Google + I started using gmail chat which I got the option to include everyone in my circles into my GTalk contacts. A few hours later I got a message from Steven (a member of Kitchen Table Companies → Affiliate Link) asking me how did I on how I adding myself to his Gtalk contacts.

I quickly ran him through the steps and he gave me a few reasons why this could really help him use even more GPlus. (many of them where on the business side).

Adding Your Google+ Circles to Gtalk

If you go to the chat area on your left side of your Google+ screen you will see an arrow giving you the option to see your Circles, Setting, or to Log Out of Gtalk.

If you click on Circles you will get the options to choose the circles you want to chat with. This automatically enables the people in your circle to see that you are online.

Something you have to take into consideration when enabling your circles in Gtalk is the fact that people might be able to discover your email address. So make sure you only enable people you trust.

If you need to adjust setting of your Gtalk you can also do that by hitting the chat settings button.

This integration on Google+ will help me keep in touch with many of my contacts that I had lost touch for a while since I hardly use Gtalk.

What other benefits and/or disadvantages do you see in having Gtalk integrated with your circles?

Should You bring your Business to Google Plus

July 15, 2011 by Raul Colon

Google had planned to implement their business version of Google+ in a few months. They had asked companies to wait on that phase before they created business profiles.

As we found out via mashable this week, Christian Oestlien, group product manager at Google wrote in a blog that they would be accelerating the program for use even earlier.

If you read the post you have until today July 15 to register your business, although it seems that the form has been turned off as of this post.

If you need more information regarding Google Plus for Business use, feel free to take a look at Christian’s other post where he explained Google’s stance on business users until the next phase.

If you are not in the selected bunch of users who will test phase, I recommend you to build the business on the personal side by creating relationships and really caring about those people you interact with online. Communicating as an individual can lead to healthy business opportunities for the company you own or represent. It can also extend the relationship into a positive perception of the brands you represent.

A good example was Morgan Johnston from Jetblue using it to convey a special deal from his personal account.

Not only will people identify with you as a person, but they will also identify with your company because they know you as a person not as a logo.

I see many benefits of Google + so it is key for any smart business to stay up to date and once it is available, I highly recommend you to sign your business up.

Should I use Google + for my business?

July 5, 2011 by Raul Colon

Every time that a new Platform emerges, many of us are thinking about the benefits our businesses can get from them. Google + is currently available for some users. At the moment Google has temporarily stopped new from joining.

This is a good testing ground when trying to figuring out what Google + can leverage over other platforms like Facebook or Twitter when you are one of the first to use it.

I guess no matter what platform you decide to use you have to look at it from the perspective of being able to enhance the process of meeting your business goals and always keep that in mind.

So many people jump into every platform with only one thing in their mind and that is selling and marketing.

Thankfully the early implementers have created a good ambience in the Google + eco system that leaves a lot of opportunity for exploration with very few people pushing their products on to you for the moment. It is time for every business owner to strengthen relationships and get to know other people on this platform.

So my business advice for Google + : Get to know the people with access and see how you can help your customers with this new tool.

If you are new to Google + this video created by our friend @chrisbrogan can give you a quick idea on how to start using it.

@chrisbrogan also wrote this awesome list on 50 ideas and opportunities where he thinks Google+ can benefit all of us. I would recommend you to take a look at his unique ideas.

THE GOOGLE PLUS 50

Feel free to add me on Google + (http://bit.ly/RcolonPlus)

Restaurant Online Reservations Alternative to Open Table

June 27, 2011 by Raul Colon

Photo Credit by @archipielagopr

As the summer begins and restaurants start to get packed because no one wants to cook in a hot house, you may find yourself wanting to make a reservation on line at that new restaurant you have been seeing an ad for on Facebook.

As you browse through the website, you see the menu, location, hours opened, and an option for reservations. You think you have everyone beat by filling out the on-line form. All you have to do is reserve that romantic spot for two and show up.

All of a sudden you notice that the reservation page has no form and just a number for you to call. What? How is this possible? You still have to call and reserve seating? You are also thinking about the likelihood that the hostess might just forget to write down your reservation because the phone is ringing off the hook and she is attending to other things.

Restaurants who facilitate the reservation process on their website, keep old clients and receive new ones on a daily basis. People who are vacationing will go to a website and expect a reservation form to fill out. They don’t want to bother with long lines or a rejection at the door because there is no seating available on their romantic get-away.

Our customer Archipielago, facilitates the reservation process for locals and tourists by having a reseravation form. If your web designer doesn’t know how to create one, there are open source reservation forms you can use for your customers. Not only can your restaurant be efficient with reservations, your employees will be able to read ahead of time special requests made on behalf of the diners. If there is someone who has a wedding anniversary or surprise engagement, you will know ahead of time by having a special requirements box on the form. What a treat for your customer’s on their anniversary for you to go the extra mile and present them with a complimentary bottle of wine.

Archipielago has a floor plan available for customer’s to pick their seating. This can be chosen on the form along with date, time, number in your party, and e-mail confirmation. You can block dates and times that the restaurant will be closed. When a client is trying to book on a day you are not operating, they will get a message that states so like the one in the image above.

Don’t disappoint your customer’s expectations by making dining reservations a difficult process. Remeber that first impressions are important and a detail as small as a reservation form reflects upon the service you provide in your restaurant.

If you are a restaurant owner and want to try out our online Reservations Systems Demo feel free to contact us directly.

Join the Alliance of @PapaHeroes

June 22, 2011 by Raul Colon

In collaboration with @RickLipsett of UNDODigital.com , CIMA IT Solutions co-founders Raul Colon, Lucilla Feliciano, and several parent collaboraters, a new group of Super Heroes have emerged in the form of @PapaHeroes !

Why the name Papá Heroes? At one point or another we thought and might still think that our parents could leap tall buildings, bend steel with their minds, or fly to our rescue when we needed them. And they did all of these feats without today’s new technological tools. But when these tools fall into the wrong hands, they can be a dangerous thing for children and families.

We launched on Father’s Day , June 19th, 2011 with the hopes that dad’s and parents would share the information and sign up to be contributors and receive updates. Badges and banners were also created to post on blogs.

You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.