*DISCLAIMER* It is always a good practice to make a backup of your calendars.  The reader assumes all responsibility by following the steps listed below and understands that it is their responsibility to backup their files prior to beginning the sync process.

1.  Set up your Google Calendars

- If you don’t already have one, sign up for Google Calendar.  It’s free and easy to use.
- After you’ve set up your Google Calendar, go ahead and create multiple calendars if you’d like.  For instance, make one “Family”, “Work”, and “Church”, etc.

- Click on the down arrow next to one of the calendars and click on “Calendar Settings”
- Next, scroll down to “Calendar Address” and click on the green iCal button.  A dialogue box will pop up.  Make sure you copy the full address here!

2.  Set up iCal on your Mac

- in iCal, go to the iCal main menu and click on “Preferences”.  From here, you’ll click the + sign in the bottom left of the window.

- Under “Account Type”, choose “CalDAV”.
- For your username, use the Google email address that you used to sign up for your Google Calendar account.  The password is the corresponding Google password that you chose.  For the server, use google.com.
- Click “Create”.  You should see some of your appointments populating the calendar at this point (assuming you already added some in Google Calendar).
- Now, click on the “Calendar” menu and then on “Subscribe”.

- In the dialogue box that opens up, paste the address that you copied from your Google Calendar settings.
- Next, click on the main iCal menu and go to “Preferences”.
- Click on the “Accounts” tab and go to the right under “Delegation”; check the boxes next to your Google Calendars so that you can post to them directly out of iCal.  After this, you’re finished with iCal.

3.  Set up iPhone Calendar

- Click on the “Settings” icon.
- Next, open the “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” menu under “Settings”.
- Under “Accounts”, click on “Add Account”.
- Next, choose “Microsoft Exchange” from the very top.

- For “Email”, use the same address that you used for the Google Calendar.
- For “Username”, again, use that same email address.  And for “Password”, use the Google password you set.
- Under “Description”, I recommend labeling it as “Google”.  Click “Next”.
- When the dialogue box pops up, click “Accept” and then put “m.google.com” in the new “Server” field.
- The next menu gives you the option to sync your Google Mail, Contacts, and Calendars.  For the purpose of this article, turn off Mail and Contacts so that we’re only syncing the calendars.

- Now, open Safari on your iPhone and in the address bar type “m.google.com/sync”.
- From here, choose the calendars that you want to sync on your iPhone Calendar and click “Save”

That should do it!  Comment below to let me know if you have any issues, or how easy/hard you thought the whole process was.  Once it’s set up, though, you’ll never have to worry about saying “Let me check my iCal when I get home”.  Do it on your iPhone.  On your Mac.  Or on someone else’s computer with Google Calendars.

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We’ve been using Facebook and Twitter now for awhile.  Some prefer one over the other.  Some only use one tool.  Others are addicted to both. (Then there’s MySpace.  Remember that?  Facebook needs to take a hint.  But that’s another post…)

Twitter and Facebook.  They’re two completely different platforms.

Like oil and water, they both have their place.  We use both.  Yet they don’t always mix.  Likewise, Twitter and Facebook are two very different mediums with two very different niches.

Facebook.

When Mark Zuckerberg was at Harvard, he had an idea.

He and three classmates got together and developed their idea into a platform that connected them with their friends.  They kept it exclusive to begin with (you had to have a .edu email address).  This allowed them to test it out and have their ideal demographic figure out how they wanted to use it.  Once they were able to set the standards, they slowly started opening the gates to other people.  This exclusivity only helped to build anticipation (can we say Apple?) for the release of updates and the allowing of everyone to participate.

On Facebook you are able to post native pictures, embed links, write comments and replies, send personal messages, and more.  You can see full conversations at a glance.  Entire photo albums.  All within Facebook.  You aren’t limited too much in terms of content length, either.

An interesting thing has happend with Facebook.  The original users (mostly college students) set the standard methods of use.  After a few years, we’ve seen the way Facebook is used transform into something that it wasn’t originally.  This is most apparent with all of the Farmville and Chef’s World updates you probably see in your Live Feed.  The people that started out with Facebook in its early days are easily frustrated by this and many other little things that have popped up, such as privacy issues.  Yet the new Facebook users have no preexisting concept of how it is supposed to be used; to them, it’s a networking/gaming platform.  Others use it specifically to share photos from family trips.  Still others use it for the messaging and chat.  It’s quickly developing into a catch-all platform where you can do just about everything you need.

These things aren’t necessarily bad.  It’s to be expected with anything.  Facebook started with an idea.  Mark Zuckerberg had no idea what it would become. Evolution and growth.  Adaptation.  These all propel success.

Twitter.

If you can’t adapt to this format, it’s probably because you wish it were more like Facebook.  But it’s not, nor is it supposed to be.  Twitter is a different platform where a different language is spoken.  Hashtags (#), replies (@), and retweets (RT) are just a few items.  Then there’s Follow Friday (#followfriday or #ff) and Music Monday (#musicmonday or #mm).  And the ever popular Tweetups (#tweetup) in their various formats and locations.

Twitter was developed to allow people to communicate and update what was happening in their lives at that moment.  It was not designed as a sales tool for businesses. Too often I see companies just using it to throw out their sales pitch in hopes that people will respond to the call-to-action and buy the product or service. These companies spew out their content without adding value to anything other than their own messages.  It’s a shame to see this misuse of a wonderful communication medium.  To use it effectively, listen more than you speak.  Create relationships.  Build networks.  Engage in conversation. Neither was it designed so much as a communication tool where you see a back-and-forth conversation, though this does happen routinely.  It is more of a tool that helps you propagate your content, ideas, and thoughts to the masses.  Let people know what’s going on.  Quickly and efficiently.

We’ve seen Twitter expand and adapt as well.  From the news anchors using it to update the world to the bands keeping fans posted on show times.  Twitter has helped me gain new real life friends and freelance work.  I’ve been able to meet some really great and interesting people thanks to Twitter.  When I first started using Twitter, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I had 13 followers while these other guys had 5,000 or more.  Then I realized that it’s not about how many followers you have, it’s about the relationships you build.  When people see that you’re using Twitter effictively and unselfishly, they will be more likely to follow you.  Then your numbers go up, and all without the help of a third-party app or bot.

If you’re looking to find ways to use Twitter more effectively and live in the Northern Indiana area, the #nwitweetup is a great place to meet people that are using social media in one way or another.  There are many, many more Tweetups around the country.  I encourage you to find one close to you and see what it’s all about.  It there isn’t one in your area, start one!

That’s about it for this post.  I’d love to hear your comments and experiences concerning Facebook and Twitter.  How do you use these tools?  And remember, it’s not that one is better than the other.  It’s not apples to apples here.  We need to learn how to maximize the effectiveness of each tool while realizing what works on one platform won’t always work on the other.  Now, go take a look at this video by @equalman that shows the magnitude of social media today.

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Week eight of the Networking series. This week I’m writing about a Northwest Indiana general contractor. A lot of people probably don’t think that social media is of much use to a builder, construction company, or an architect.  Jeff Eriks, on the other hand, thinks differently.  He believes in and practices the art of social media.  By using Twitter and Facebook along with the companies multiple websites, he is able to let people know what they’re doing as a company.  This also allows customers and potential clients to give feedback to the company.  And Jeff is always learning how to use social media more effictively to help propel Cambridge Construction further as a Northwest Indiana commercial builder.

As an Indiana commercial builder, he knows the importance of staying on the forefront of his industry and doing what it takes to keep connected to his potential customer base.  One way he does this is through multiple web sites.  If you’re looking for anything to do with construction, architecture, or the solid waste industries, you only need to visit one website for a Northwest Indiana general contractor.  Here you’ll find links to his blog, www.constructionandwaste.com where you can read about tips, insight, and more on these industries, and you’ll be able to access his site for Northwest Indiana design and architecture company, IN-Cambridge Architects.

If you or a business you know is looking for a company to handle your construction needs, or if you’re just looking for someone with experience to talk to, contact Jeff Eriks and his company one of the following ways:

On the website

Jeff on Facebook

Cambridge Construction on Facebook

Cambridge Construction on Twitter

As usual, thanks for reading!  I hope that I’m able to help expose everyone that reads to some new and useful resources in northern Indiana.

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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As I’m getting close to wrapping up my networking series, I’ll be writing about yet another individual in the Indiana mortgage loan industry.  Steve Dalton is a Northwest Indiana mortgage banker that knows the first time home buyer market.  He is also an expert on first time home buyer and VA loans as well.

My wife and I just bought a house a few months ago, so it’s somewhat funny that after moving back to northern Indiana I’ve gotten to know a few of the best Northwest Indiana mortgage lenders in the area.  They would have come in handy before I moved back!  However, I know that my wife and I intend to purchase another home at some point, so it’s always good to keep in contact with the people that know what they’re doing.  And I’ll be making sure to recommend Steve to friends and other people I know that are in the market in Northwest Indiana.

Steve takes a personal approach to the lending process.  If you go to his Northwest Indiana mortgage website you’ll see that he takes time to answer people’s questions about the process.  He is also very good at keeping an eye on the market in general and updating readers about any fluctuations and changes to look out for.  If you’re looking for a solid lender to help you in the new home buying process, give Steve Dalton a call.

I’ve had the chance to talk with Steve a few times.  He knows the industry, but he’s also just a great guy to get to know all around.  Even if you’ve already bought a house, it’s still a great idea to keep up with the latest news.  Steve can help you make the right decision at the right time.

You can also follow Steve on Twitter and keep up to date on his Northwest Indiana mortgage blog.

As usual, thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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In continuing with my weekly Networking series (detailing people I’ve come to know in recent months in northern Indiana), I’m writing about another useful resource that just about anyone in northern Indiana could use.  If you or someone you know is looking to move to a subdivision in or around Elkhart, Indiana, this is a great place to start.   This weeks post is about a great resource to help assist in finding a new home in an Elkhart subdivision. That resource is Elkhart real estate agent Evelyn Johnston.

It seems fewer and fewer people are turning to the Yellow Pages for help and research these days.  Anymore they go online to find what they’re looking for.  Successful people and businesses will go to the internet to be the providers of that information.  And that is exactly what Evelyn Johnston is doing.

If you’re looking for a house for sale in Elkhart, she makes your search that much easier.  Evelyn has put together a fairly comprehensive website that details all of the subdivisions in Elkhart and the homes for sale there.  On her site is a page that lists the local Elkhart schools and links to them as well.  She doesn’t stop there, though.  She also has a listing page for local movie theaters in Elkhart as well as garage sales and more.

I’m always encouraged to see people using technology to their benefit while helping make other people’s lives easier at the same time.  A lot of people think that you only need a website if you’re in the tech industries or build websites.  On the contrary, if you have any sort of information to disseminate, you should consider having a website to assist.

You can contact Evelyn by email at evelyn@evelynjohnston.com to find out more about what she does and how she can help you.

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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I’ve introduced you all to a number of different people and local businesses in this networking series.  For instance, I’ve written about a local legal blog, an FHA mortgage broker, an insurance quote blog, and a social media coach.  This week I’m writing about an inbound marketing expert.  And this guy really knows what’s going on regarding social media of Indiana.

If you’re online and have any sort of web prescence, you need to understand the importance of search engine optimization, or as it’s also known, SEO.  You don’t necessarily need to know all about SEO, but you should at least know someone who does.  And that person is Nate Findling.

The internet has transformed.  It is changing month by month.  Day by day, for that matter.  And we need to keep up.  If you are looking for a way to maximize your online presence, check out what Nate is capable of.  Todays internet, and our presence there, is much broader than just one url; now, all of our social media activity is a part of who we are online.  Our reputation and legitimacy.  Not all of us have a way with words that communicates our ideals fluently; that’s where a copywriter comes in.  Someone that can take your idea and concept and translate it into an understandable and comprehensible story.

Nate is that guy.  He can help your company or organization really reach your target audience.  In words they’ll understand.  Not only does he write for other people and companies, he’s writing a book of blues himself.  A book about the ups and downs of life, and how he got to where he is.  Where he’s going.  And everything in between.  As an internet marketing specialist for Chicago and Indiana,  he understands the importance of using digital media to help make his publishing dreams come to fruition.  Don’t think for one second that because you’re writing a book for print that you don’t need a solid and sharp online presence.  Let Nate take a look at your situation and set you up for a successful journey.

If you have a website for your company (and if you don’t, you should), you need to talk to Nate about how to maximize the potential of your site.  You, like many others, may not realize the full potential of the content on your site.  Nate Findling can and will.

Again, thanks for reading.  We’re all in this together, so why not take a few minutes every day to get to know those around you?  You never know when they’ll come in handy.  Even if you never need their services or talents, they will bring a little joy into your life that would otherwise have been absent.

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on Chicago Public Radio 89.5 / Vocalo.org. The host for the show was Molly Adams.  Also on the show as a guest was Brad Flora of WindyCitizen.com.

We discussed things such as the Haiti relief efforts and how positive the response from the American people has been.  I know that I was really impressed to find out that as a nation we’ve contributed over $30,000,000.00 just via text messages.  But that’s just a portion of the $305,000,000.00 that has been raised as of January 21st.  It’s amazing to see how much people world wide have responded.  With times such as these, people have been cutting costs everywhere they can to save money.  So to see how willing people have been to give money to the Haitian people is really encouraging.  It’s not always easy to part with $10, let alone $1,000,000.00 or more.  But realizing that there are people that need it more than we do is what makes the difference.  Action is what makes a difference.

We also discussed how the internet has transformed the way we get our news.  We are no longer simply content consumers, being fed advertising ,marketing, and spin by the conglomerates.  We are now content producers.  Whether by blogs, Twitter, crowd sourcing sites, and all the other options, we are able to tell the world what is happening and how we feel about it.  In addition to that, we are able to decide how we get our news.  Whether this is good or bad is up for discussion.  On one hand, you no longer have to just take whatever news is fed to you.  You can avoid the opinion and spin.  On the other hand, a person could easily only consume news that is in line with their opinion and views.  I do believe that there is value in hearing the spectrum.  There is a benefit to having a balance.

We also talked briefly about the validity of social media.  Some may scoff at Twitter, Facebook, and foursquare, but the reality is that these platforms are helping advance businesses, relationships, and more.  These tools have not been around nearly long enough for us to realize their full benefit.  We are constantly revising the way we interact with these tools.  With that, I look forward to seeing how we use them in 5 years.  Or if they’re even still around for that matter.

Overall, I really enjoyed talking with Molly and Brad.  I encourage you to keep up with them on Twitter and their individual sites.

You can connect with Molly by following:

Vocalo.org on Twitter or
Molly on Twitter
Molly’s blog

and keep up with Brad at:

Brad Flora on Twitter
The Windy Citizen on Twitter
The Windy Citizen website

As usual, thank you all for reading and following.  We’re all in this together, so let me know your thoughts and feedback.

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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One of the reasons I’m continuing to introduce you to new people and businesses in the area is to expose you all to social media. This weeks Networking post will be on a person that is doing great things in the social media field. Enter Kathy Sipple, social media consulting specialist.

When it comes to the internet, social media is absolutely the direction we’re all headed.  If you are a business, an individual, a band, or a presidential candidate, you can and should be utilizing the whole social media concept.  Gone are the days that the internet was only for gaining information on a certain topic.  Now we use it to communicate and network with people both locally and globally.

Kathy provides great social media training seminars.  She is also available for various lengths of general social media consulting and auditing, as well as her Social Media Bootcamp.  This is a four hour workshop that will educate attendees on the best ways to use Facebook and Twitter for their business or organization.  More in-depth topics are discussed as well.  I believe that you’ll find her social media training and consulting very beneficial.

Not only is Kathy recognized for her work in Northwest Indiana social media, she was recently voted as the “Social Media Name of the Year” in the female category for 2009 at the Indiana Inaugural Social Media Summit.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend this year, but from the people that were there I hear that it was a great time.  She won because of her work and dedication to educating others about easy as well as intricate ways to use the internet and social media.  No one is too young or too old to start learning.

I know that I’m continuing to learn more and more about social media on a daily basis.  Little things like frequency, the value of content, how to give back, and more.  Some of it I learn by simply doing, while a lot of my insight has come from people like Kathy.  We can all learn from one another, so I encourage you to check out Kathy Sipple and see how she can help you implement solid social media marketing services and practices.  She will show you how to effectively use Facebook, Twitter, and more to expand your business and gain positive exposure.  I know that a lot of people only use it for keeping up with pictures of family members.  Kathy will show you how to really use it.

If you aren’t already, follow Kathy Sipple on Twitter, or check out her Facebook page.  Take the time to do yourself a favor and find out more about how to improve the way you interact with customers, fans, clients, and people in general.  You can catch up with her at various networking events or her workshops.  Follow her on Twitter and she’ll be sure to fill you in and give you great tips and advice.

Thanks for reading, and till next time, pass this along.  After all, it’s all about the people.

Cheers,

Josh Walker

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I am reviewing an album from a different band each week. You decide who I listen to. Tell your friends to fill it out. I’ll be posting the reviews here on my site, so be sure to bookmark it. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. I’m looking forward to hearing what you guys like. Also, feel free to make multiple submissions, too (preferably of different artists).   Still taking your submissions, so send them int.

Cheers!

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Another week is upon us.  And almost gone for that matter.  But in keeping with my weekly writing about a valuable and resourceful person or business from Indiana, I’ll be writing about NWI Quotes. This weeks post is about a great website that you can use to get competitive auto insurance quotes in Northwest Indiana.  You can also use it to get quotes on Northwest Indiana homeowners insurance.

If you live anywhere in Indiana, this website is a good place to get your quotes from.  But if you live in Northwest Indiana and are looking for auto insurance in Porter or Lake County, this site is a must.   And if you’re looking for homeowners insurance in Hobart, Valparaiso, or Chesterton, they’ve got you covered.  They’ve recently come online and have been active at ensuring that their readers are getting tips and information on ways to save money on auto insurance.  And NWI Quotes does a great job of engaging the community.  For example, they recently gave away gift certificates to area restaurants to winners who simply filled out an online insurance quote form.  A man looking for Hobart auto insurance won himself a free dinner just by filling out a free quote request.  He also got three great quotes that were tailored to his needs.  So, not only do they make it easy to get a quote, they help you have fun doing it.

If you’re in the market for an insurance quote, do yourself a favor and contact NWI Quotes.  It’s a free service, and you’ll be happy you did.

Thanks for taking the time to read.  I hope you all are enjoying the variety of posts here.  Make sure you’re checking back often because you never know what you might miss!

Till next time,

Josh Walker

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