The stunning Ms. Kelts

CEO and Actress with Long Legs Productions and KMK Films, internationally known model, mother and world traveler: Meet Karin Kelts, a Miami native who recently returned to South Florida after years spent in Paris, France. In this feature “Catching Up With Karin,” Amplification, Inc. sits down with the businesswoman to shed some light on recent travels and get a sneak peek of some upcoming film projects.

Amplification: You have lived and traveled all over the world, but where’s the coolest place you’ve been lately?

Karin: I just got back from my birthday party in Barcelona, Spain. My best friend, who I’ve known since I was six years old, runs four spas in Barcelona, so it was a treat to spend time with my life-long friends. Barcelona is one of my top five favorite cities in the world—the architecture is astounding. I also got to have a don’t-miss experience in going to the Turkish baths. Being there was like knowing what heaven must be like. It was a five-star experience for very little money: you can enjoy an ice bath or steam room, all while sipping mint tea from Morocco. It was incredible.

Amplification: What’s one thing you can’t live without right now?

Karin: The best thing for me is absolutely my kids. I can’t imagine life without them! I’d also have to say my business partner, Kim St. Leon. She knows the film business so well and is absolutely one of my favorite people to work with.

Amplification: You have lived in Europe for many years—what’s one thing you miss, and one thing you love about being in the States? [ What to Do?! ] 

Karin: In Europe, there’s this real sense of community. When you have your coffee every morning or buy fresh fruit at the street market, there’s a true sense of an unhurried lifestyle and community. Being back in Florida is wonderful, however. Everything is on the water and so beautiful. Ft. Lauderdale is, truly, the Venice (Italy) of Florida. But hoping to achieve that sense of community is one reason why I created my production company here. I hope to create a sense of family among the Florida film industry.

Amplification: Speaking of your film company, what do you have in the works right now?

Karin: I wish I could tell you the name of the project we just finished! It’s a KMK Films full-length feature film starring Danny Trejo, Jennifer Tilly and Margaret Cho. We’re currently in contract negotiations, so I think we’ll hear some good news about film distribution by the end of the month. This will potentially be the second film of ours to go into distribution. I’m never one to slow down, so the last two evenings have been spent reading three new scripts for possible production. The one I believe we’re working on the hardest is called “It’s All Relative,” which is a family comedy. [ Need Help Finding Your Way? ] 

My television production company LongLegs has two reality shows we produced, and I am currently selling a tattoo show entitled Linework about a local celebrity tattoo artist Lordgyn Belizaire. It is not a Miami Ink-style show but rather an Inside the Actor’s Studio meets Ink! We have such names as Bob Marley Jr. and Matt Barnes from the Lakers. The interviews get personal and deep hearing about Bob as a father and Matt’s loss of his mom to cancer, thus forming his foundation “Athletes Fighting Cancer.”

Amplification: We’re almost halfway through with 2012. What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Karin: I would really love to see the sale of the last feature film go into distribution and be in full pre-production before the end of the year on one of the scripts we are looking at. One of my real goals is to continue to bring more film projects in Florida. Florida-centric shows like CSI Miami and The Glades aren’t even filmed in this state for the most part, so my goal is to continue producing Florida-based films in the state. We have a possibility of Victoria Justice, who is a Florida native, reading for a role in the upcoming film. All of this will help Florida take its rightful place in the film industry and for KMK Films to play a big role in that.

Stay tuned for future articles to find out more about Karin’s upcoming tv and film projects. For more information, click here to visit Karin’s IMDB page or visit KarinKelts.com to learn more about her company, KMK Films. You also can follow her on Twitter at @KarinKelts. [ It is FREE to Register, Your Loved Ones Will Thank You! ] 

Hit the Sand (and Volleyball) For a Good Cause

Club Cabeza guest poster Kari Geck shares an upcoming event that’s fun for the whole family and close to her heart. Kari writes:

For the past nine summers, my family and I have participated in and attended the annual Cerebral Palsy Volleyball Challenge. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the event, which will be held on June 2 and 3 at the Lauderdale Beachside Hotel.

On the first weekend in June, the beach plays host to hundreds of people who come out for United Cerebral Palsy’s fun-filled, sun-soaked family friendly event. I got involved through my previous job at The Miami Herald, who generously supported and gave ad space in exchange for two teams to play in the United Cerebral Palsy charity event. At this time, my challenge was to coordinate the two teams of eight players each. The co-ed teams must have at least two women playing at all times—I had three gals and guys thanks to one lady teammate who was a “relief spiker”/ringer.

Although I no longer work at the paper, I always hold the event close to my heart. When I started a new advertising/marketing sales job from home, I needed a new sponsor to enter the event. Like Amplification, Inc., I relied on the power of social media to scout for a sponsor. I got a swift reply: Matt Blank and Gina Leggiere, co-owners of Davie SIGNARAMA stepped up to the net. After learning how this disability has touched Gina’s life, we knew it was the perfect match. Especially since we are hard-working ladies from New Jersey who love the beach and giving our blood, sweat and donations to this worthy South Florida cause.

Last year, this weekend-long fundraising event generated more than $7,000. My 12-year-old son CJ or “Coach Joe” as we call him served as our coach, motivating and keeping our team focused and on-task. His participation is a great example of what a family-oriented and fun event this can be.

Even if you aren’t ready to sign up to bring a team to the event “Sharing” this event on your Facebook, e-mail, Twitter or other social media outlet is at the heart of successful marketing. I encourage you to “pay it forward” for this worthy cause—because it’s the right and fun thing to do.

For more information on this event, visit UCPSouthFlorida.org or call Pat Murphy at (954) 257-6639 or Jackie Nunez at (561) 357-7779, ext. 13.

Have a Life Insurance Policy? Take Two Minutes to Protect It

From the time you read this to the point where you finish, you could earn yourself a significant amount of peace of mind.

On March 29, The Club shared some common misconceptions about life insurance policies, most importantly that your life insurance company will track down your beneficiaries should something happen to you. Your loved ones may be unaware of the company that holds the policy, and if you have changed addresses without updating, they may never get the money you have paid to provide.

If you own a life insurance policy, navigate to FindYourPolicy.com. This site is the country’s first (and free) life insurance policy database where you can put in the company who holds your policy and your name. That’s it—no Social Security numbers or credit card information. The registration process takes seconds, and the results can be long-lasting to protect your greatest asset: Your family.

FindYourPolicy.com is on Twitter! Follow them at @FindUrPolicy for tips on how you can protect your life insurance policy. 

While the idea of a life-ending accident, injury or illness isn’t something most want to think about, but consider these facts: 25 percent of American seniors carry a debt of $5,000 or more and an even larger percentage of working Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Anticipating just how much one might need to protect his or her loved ones is difficult, but life insurance serves as a way to financially support your beneficiary. While life insurance policies may vary on their terms and costs, the basic idea is that life insurance can offer payments to your loved ones in the event of your death to prevent your family from losing a home, car or taking on a second or even third job. 

According to Leslie Carlet, President of American Benefit Partners, Inc., a Boca Raton-based employee benefits consulting and management company, many companies continue to offer life insurance benefits or opt-in life insurance for a small fee as an attractive benefit for employees.

“Life insurance is an inexpensive way for employers to offer additional benefits to employees to help retain and recruit staff,” Carlet says. “In the unfortunate circumstance that an employee passes away, the family can turn to the employer for a means of paying for final expenses through the life insurance vehicle.”

Life insurance can offer peace of mind, but it’s important to focus on some truths about insurance policies that many family members unfortunately learn the hard way.

Searching for a Loved One’s Insurance Policy

Two days after Michael Hartmann’s father passed away, he asked his mother about a life insurance policy he was aware his father had. His mother knew about the policy, but hadn’t previously shared the location of policy-related documents with her family members.

“She thought the insurance company would contact us to pay out on the policy,” Hartmann, CEO of FindYourPolicy.com says. “I told her it’s our responsibility to contact the company and let them know my father had passed away. After going through this experience, I thought there had to be an easier way.”

After further research, Hartmann found purchasing the life insurance policy is an important half of the battle, but isn’t all you need to claim the policy:

• Many Americans may be unaware of the company who carries a loved one’s life insurance policy. Finding which company isn’t always so easy. There are a number of insurance companies, both large and small, that could carry a policy, or the company could have changed its name. Even if you count on a lawyer or other estate guardian, details can fall through the cracks that keep you from obtaining policy information.

• The burden of contacting the life insurance company is on the beneficiaries. While a life insurance company may send information about missed premium payments, if an address is out of date, the letter may never reach your doorstep.

• The methods to access life insurance policy recommendations aren’t foolproof. You can check with the Medical Information Bureau if your loved one underwent a physical exam to qualify for life insurance or query health records in an attempt to find out policy information—but these methods are hardly foolproof.

A National Life Insurance Database

Hartmann took what could have been an otherwise tragic situation and turned it into a life lesson—and business enterprise. Along with his twin brother Edmund, he started a website called FindYourPolicy.com. The website serves to bridge the gap between purchasing an insurance policy and allowing beneficiaries to claim the policy.

Registration on the site is free—you are asked to fill out information on the company who holds the life insurance policy and the last four digits of the deceased’s Government Issued Personal Identification number, which is your Social Security number in the United States. Through registering on the site, your loved ones have one, central location to turn to that won’t change addresses. In turn, you also can search the FindYourPolicy.com database to find a beneficiaries’ life insurance policy. 

Life Insurance = Peace of Mind for Your Family

Don’t give up on life insurance’s power in helping your family through a rough and unexpected time. Through FindYourPolicy.com, you can protect your loved ones and your insurance policy.

“The entire process takes no more than two minutes to register on a database that never goes away,” Hartmann says. “It’s a great safety net, and it’s free.”  

Ready to protect your loved ones? Visit FindYourPolicy.com and register your policy for free or e-mail info@findyourpolicy.com. To link up on social media sites, visit www.findyourpolicy.blogspot.com, on Delicious by clicking here or follow on Twitter: @FindUrPolicy.  

For more information on American Benefit Partners, Inc. services and consulting opportunities, call (561) 394-2881 or visit www.abpbenefits.com.


Contact Amplification, Inc. for all of your social media marketing needs in South Florida. We help with content, counseling, access, interaction, consulting, teaching, hand-holding, helping and everything else you need. 

The new "Timeline" is not popular.

Gasp! Like Humans, Social Media Isn’t Perfect

Does the new Facebook Timeline bug you? Do you skip Words With Friends turns because your app takes forever to load? You’re not alone. Social media is like the freeway—you have to travel on it to get anything done, but you can reserve the right to get frustrated when there’s too much traffic, slowdowns or detours due to new construction.

What’s frustrating you in social media right now? In “Was This Broken, Why Did You Fix It?” news, the new Facebook Timeline is “Liked” by only 8 percent of Facebook users, according to The Daily Mail.

That’s a pretty low number, Zuckerberg. What’s often more concerning is that the timeline has been called a “Stalker’s Paradise,” that allows everyone to know what you’ve eaten, written, photographed and liked for however long you’ve been on Facebook, all wrapped up with a super-large, sometimes-scary “Cover Photo.”

While we’re on the subject of annoying social media, the results from the “Who Gives a Tweet” study from Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and Georgia Tech have recently launched. Time magazine reported that some, but not all, of the top Twitter annoyances were:

• Too Many Hashtags: When you have more hashtags than characters, you have too many hashtags. Give it a rest, already.

• Too Many @Mentions: See above about hashtags, but replace with @Mentions

• Talking About Old News or “Pedestrian Tweets”: If you’re only Tweet contributions are what you had for lunch or the last Presidential election, you aren’t using Twitter effectively.

If you’re afraid you’re turning into a Twitter offender, check out “Why Your Business Can’t Afford Not to Tweet” for some quality advice from the Amplification, Inc. experts about how to effectively use Twitter.

April from The D-Tales

The D-Tales: Making Grandma (and You) Happy 

April Dorsey, Founder of The D-Tales event planning and production, has dedicated her career to making weddings memorable and unique. But she says that when it comes to wedding planning, the most difficult obstacle isn’t the budget or even the amount of time to plan. Instead, the biggest obstacle has to do with balancing what the bride, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother all want from the wedding.

“The first advice I give brides is to realize that it’s not your mother’s wedding, and that throwing out the rules can equal a special, personal wedding,” April says. “The second piece of advice is to realize there’s a fine balance between traditions that are important to you and those that are not.”

Once you have these ground rules set, April says the next steps are a matter of give-and-take. Think about what you and your fiancé have to have to achieve the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. The rest of the details can come together and be achieved through compromise should your mother-in-law insist on a particular seating arrangement, having your cousin Mitzi circulate the guest book, etc.

“The key is to find a way to put little touches of your own that still respect traditions you hold most dear,” April says.

Need April’s touch for your upcoming wedding? Visit www.thedtales.com and click on “Contact Us” for more information or e-mail April@TheDTales.com.

Calling All Future Social Media Mavens

Position: Intern with the Social Media Experts at Amplification, Inc.

Description: If you love all things social media, including Twitter, Facebook, blogging and video production, come and join us at Amplification, Inc. to learn and contribute in a fast-paced, ever-growing social media company.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in social media efforts for clients, including updating Facebook and Twitter profiles and helping to develop and implement social media strategies for clients.

• Contributing to growing video production efforts, including help with filming and conceptualizing video ideas.

“We’re really looking for an intern who loves social media and the digital environment—this is the opportunity to learn how something you love can turn into a potential career,” says Marnie Goldberg, Social Medium and Twitter Goddess at Amplification, Inc. “Our intern will be very involved with all of our projects, so prepare to get your hands dirty.”

If you’re ready to add “Amplification, Inc. Intern” to your resume, e-mail Marnie at Marnie@AmplificationInc.com, including your resume and cover letter about why you would be a great fit for the position. We are located in Broward County, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area) so only local applicants need apply.

YOU Could Break Records

Our friends at Florida Community Support (get some more info on them by clicking here) have a fantastic event coming up. Here’s more information from our guest poster, Matthew Johnson, Florida Community Support Intern:

My name is Matthew Johnson and I am a student at Everest University in Pompano Beach, Fla. I am in my last semester and am doing my internship with Florida Community Support. While interning, I am one of the project managers for the forthcoming world record attempt of the “Largest Simon Says Game." Mark your calendars for August 27, 2012, to help us break the records and celebrate the anniversary of the Guinness World Records first publication in 1955. 


The August 27 event will take place throughout Broward County at Homeowner's Association meeting rooms and local community rooms. If you are interested in participating, you need only bring a plate of food from your culture or that celebrates your heritage that can feed at least five people.


The inspiration for the event is the same drive behind Florida Community Support's mission: The unfortunate reality that on any given day you can walk up to someone and ask them if they know their neighbors, and there is a really good chance that a majority will say no. This is why Florida Community Support is dedicated to “Building Communities One Neighbor at a Time.” We hope this event will bring each community closer together by allowing you to meet your neighbors from down the street or right next door. 


Don't miss out on the fun and your chance to be a part of the record books as we try to break the previous record that was set back on June 14, 2007, in Cedar City, Utah, at the Utah Summer Games Opening Ceremony and involved 12,215 participants. We anticipate the event will be fun for the whole family.

For more information on this event, stay tuned to the Florida Community Support website at FloridaCommunitySupport.org and like them on Facebook by clicking here.

Need help making sense of social media marketing? Turn to Amplification, Inc. Think you may be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy but aren't sure? Visit FindYourPolicy.com and thank us later. 

Think about all the signs it takes to get a new condominium or housing community construction project to completion. From the “Coming Soon” signs to “Five Units Left” to the actual signs that serve as entrance landmarks, there’s a lot of things that have to happen for you to find your way to your new home. Ten years ago, when Chuck Halberg, Owner at Stuart and Shelby Development, Inc., a construction and renovation business, needed just these items, he found a business he has come to count on: SIGNARAMAUSA, BOCA/DELRAY.

“Supporting community businesses is important to me, and SIGNARAMA goes above and beyond for my business needs,” Halberg says. “They have made every sign, banner, business card and much more. When I need something, I just call them.”

Because sign projects take creativity and a bit of perfectionism to get just right, Mike Sneiderman, who is the co-owner of SIGNARAMAUSA, BOCA/DELRAY along with his son Dave, says being responsive and building a business relationship with his clients are just some of the reasons why customers like Halberg become repeat customers.

“Service is important to me, and SIGNARAMA has always performed at the highest level,” Halberg says. “Lots of times, I tell them what I want and they execute it to perfection.”

SIGNARAMA: Your Success Is Theirs

Another business aspect that Halberg says he has been impressed with is the variety of products offered at SIGNARAMA. From a project (literally) as small as creating a new business card to one as large as a backlit sign for the entrance to Halberg’s “The Colony at Delray Beach” development, SIGNARAMA serves as a one-stop opportunity for Halberg to have his business needs met.

“Our knowledge of available products and what will work on a particular project makes us a great partner with businesses,” Mike Sneiderman says. “It’s not uncommon to have a business owner come in, uncertain of signs he needs in terms of sizing, design and materials. We are a source of advice and guidance on these aspects because we have worked in the sign industry for many years and know what works.”

As Halberg’s company continues to embark on new building project, he says he’ll always rely on SIGNARAMA USA, BOCA/DELRAY to get the job done.

“I don’t call anybody else—when I have a project, Mike and Dave at SIGNARAMA are the guys to go to,” Halberg says.

If you have need of a signature sign,banner, magnet and so much more, call SIGNARAMA USA, BOCA/DELRAY at (561) 278-7446 or visit www.signdb.com. Or you can visit the welcoming sign professionals in person at SIGNARAMA located at 2905 S. Congress Avenue, Suite E in Delray Beach.

To find about more about Stuart and Shelby Development, Inc. and the comprehensive building and renovationservices offered, visit stuartandshelby.com or call (561) 637-7902 for more information.


Need help making sense of social media marketing and what the best approach for your unique product, business, service, and message is? Contact Amplification, Inc., and learn how to use Twitter to help your business.


[ The Sheriff, Cars, and the Right Thrive ]

A New Sheriff In Town

Even if your New Year’s resolutions are out the window, there’s still something important you must do in 2012: Vote. In addition to the Presidential election, you must consider the elections here in our own backyard if you're a Broward County resident, like I. Don’t ignore the local elections because these officials will directly affect you.

One election that’s sure to be highly contested in 2012 is the race for Broward County Sheriff. Here’s why you should care: In addition to keeping you safe, the sheriff’s office has more than 6,300 employees and a budget of $700 million. You don’t want to trust that budget to just anyone. You want to trust it to the person who will keep you safe and command the kind of department that puts ethical and fair treatment first and does his best to spend locally.


[ Tweet to assist your business! ]

I’m still deciding who to vote for because I believe it’s important to be an educated and informed citizen, and there is still plenty of time left to evaluate the candidates. That means I’m staying up to date on campaigns via social media (my favorite!), the newspapers and various websites. Whatever your favorite way to get the news, resolve to spend an extra five minutes or so a week catching up too. I’ve come across some interesting and altogether colorful information about one sheriff candidate, Louis Granteed. Read more about it here: Is Broward’s Louis Granteed the Democrat’s Herman Cain? and Broward Sheriff’s Candidate Counseled on Lunch-time Strip-Club Visit. I’m also learning more about Scott Israel at ScottIsraelforSheriff2012.com.  These two guys are running for the Democratic nomination in the election to be held on August 14, and the winner will take on the incumbent Republican Sheriff (Al Lamberti) in November. 

When we both cast our ballots, we’ll know we made the decision that was best for our safety and for our friends and family in Broward County. A person we can trust with our funds and the running of a department that employs thousands. That’s the kind of sheriff you should elect, and that’s the one I’m hoping for too.


 

Moving Forward to Change Your Life

Letting go of past wrongs helped one woman find her romantic soul.

If four months ago, you had told Jennifer Pedrizzetti that she would have moved past life-altering events in her personal and professional life to begin her own business, she probably wouldn’t have believed you.

Today, she does because she found a life coach who made her believe change was possible. She credits the beginning of these transformations to her life coach Fran Asaro, CEO of Thrive Any Way, a life coaching and business consulting company. And last Saturday, Jennifer launched her own company thanks to their sessions.

Letting Go, Moving Forward

Jennifer e-mailed Fran and signed up for 12 weeks of coaching.

“I told Fran that my life was just not where I wanted it to be,” Jennifer said. “We started with goals and values that I had as well as how to move forward past the personal and professional relationships that had been holding me back.” 

These coaching sessions with Fran brought about forgiveness.

“Many of my clients say I am the first person to give them permission to be themselves,” Fran said. “I am not particularly attached to what they do, whether they change what they do or what people think. I am, however, very attached to their joy.”

By helping Jennifer learn to love herself again, an idea for a new business emerged. Through their coaching sessions, Jennifer said that Fran helped her to find a job she could do that doesn’t even feel like work at all.

“Fran ignited the passion in my life, and I realized that you have start with love for yourself before you can share it with others,” Jennifer said.

That’s where the idea for YourRomanticSoul.com was born. Jennifer’s website focuses on everything romantic, from personal relationships to loving yourself. Launched on Saturday, November 19, the website features three chief sections. The first is for love stories, both fictional and true life. Visitors also are invited to share their stories with other readers. The second portion features exclusive articles currently dedicated to romance, including seasonally appropriate suggestions for date-night ideas and romantic getaways.

[ You May Be Beneficiary of a Lost Policy and not Even Know It! ]
The final section is a members-only access site where members can receive weekly newsletters and even a customized service where you can write a love letter to yourself or a loved one. The letter is then sent to a calligrapher and presented on specialized paper or finished with a wax seal. Each month will offer a different love letter style; from scrolls to a puzzle your loved one can assemble. The site doesn’t feature advertisements, so Jennifer hopes it will be a place where visitors can enjoy and re-kindle their own romantic relationships.

From Stuck to Unstoppable

If you are ready to change your own life, make the business dream in your mind a reality or move on from life challenges, Fran can help you thrive in the way that’s best for you. Call her for an appointment at (954) 370-8001 or e-mail her at fran@thriveanyway.com. For more information on the ways Fran can help you, visit www.thriveanyway.com.

In the meantime, visit Jennifer’s new website—visit www.YourRomanticSoul.com to find the romance in your own life. Memberships also are available for purchase on eBay or Amazon.com.

A New Sheriff In Town

Even if your New Year’s resolutions are out the window, there’s still something important you must do in 2012: Vote. In addition to the Presidential election, you must consider the elections here in our own backyard if you're a Broward County resident, like I. Don’t ignore the local elections because these officials will directly affect you.

One election that’s sure to be highly contested in 2012 is the race for Broward County Sheriff. Here’s why you should care: In addition to keeping you safe, the sheriff’s office has more than 6,300 employees and a budget of $700 million. You don’t want to trust that budget to just anyone. You want to trust it to the person who will keep you safe and command the kind of department that puts ethical and fair treatment first and does his best to spend locally.


[ Tweet to assist your business! ]

I’m still deciding who to vote for because I believe it’s important to be an educated and informed citizen, and there is still plenty of time left to evaluate the candidates. That means I’m staying up to date on campaigns via social media (my favorite!), the newspapers and various websites. Whatever your favorite way to get the news, resolve to spend an extra five minutes or so a week catching up too. I’ve come across some interesting and altogether colorful information about one sheriff candidate, Louis Granteed. Read more about it here: Is Broward’s Louis Granteed the Democrat’s Herman Cain? and Broward Sheriff’s Candidate Counseled on Lunch-time Strip-Club Visit. I’m also learning more about Scott Israel at ScottIsraelforSheriff2012.com.  These two guys are running for the Democratic nomination in the election to be held on August 14, and the winner will take on the incumbent Republican Sheriff (Al Lamberti) in November. 

When we both cast our ballots, we’ll know we made the decision that was best for our safety and for our friends and family in Broward County. A person we can trust with our funds and the running of a department that employs thousands. That’s the kind of sheriff you should elect, and that’s the one I’m hoping for too.


 

Moving Forward to Change Your Life

Letting go of past wrongs helped one woman find her romantic soul.

If four months ago, you had told Jennifer Pedrizzetti that she would have moved past life-altering events in her personal and professional life to begin her own business, she probably wouldn’t have believed you.

Today, she does because she found a life coach who made her believe change was possible. She credits the beginning of these transformations to her life coach Fran Asaro, CEO of Thrive Any Way, a life coaching and business consulting company. And last Saturday, Jennifer launched her own company thanks to their sessions.

Letting Go, Moving Forward

Jennifer e-mailed Fran and signed up for 12 weeks of coaching.

“I told Fran that my life was just not where I wanted it to be,” Jennifer said. “We started with goals and values that I had as well as how to move forward past the personal and professional relationships that had been holding me back.” 

These coaching sessions with Fran brought about forgiveness.

“Many of my clients say I am the first person to give them permission to be themselves,” Fran said. “I am not particularly attached to what they do, whether they change what they do or what people think. I am, however, very attached to their joy.”

By helping Jennifer learn to love herself again, an idea for a new business emerged. Through their coaching sessions, Jennifer said that Fran helped her to find a job she could do that doesn’t even feel like work at all.

“Fran ignited the passion in my life, and I realized that you have start with love for yourself before you can share it with others,” Jennifer said.

That’s where the idea for YourRomanticSoul.com was born. Jennifer’s website focuses on everything romantic, from personal relationships to loving yourself. Launched on Saturday, November 19, the website features three chief sections. The first is for love stories, both fictional and true life. Visitors also are invited to share their stories with other readers. The second portion features exclusive articles currently dedicated to romance, including seasonally appropriate suggestions for date-night ideas and romantic getaways.

[ You May Be Beneficiary of a Lost Policy and not Even Know It! ]
The final section is a members-only access site where members can receive weekly newsletters and even a customized service where you can write a love letter to yourself or a loved one. The letter is then sent to a calligrapher and presented on specialized paper or finished with a wax seal. Each month will offer a different love letter style; from scrolls to a puzzle your loved one can assemble. The site doesn’t feature advertisements, so Jennifer hopes it will be a place where visitors can enjoy and re-kindle their own romantic relationships.

From Stuck to Unstoppable

If you are ready to change your own life, make the business dream in your mind a reality or move on from life challenges, Fran can help you thrive in the way that’s best for you. Call her for an appointment at (954) 370-8001 or e-mail her at fran@thriveanyway.com. For more information on the ways Fran can help you, visit www.thriveanyway.com.

In the meantime, visit Jennifer’s new website—visit www.YourRomanticSoul.com to find the romance in your own life. Memberships also are available for purchase on eBay or Amazon.com.

Six years ago if you asked someone to “follow” you, it was most likely because you were leading them to their table at a restaurant. Thanks to Twitter, “Following” someone is as easy as clicking on their name, and you get 140-character or less updates about them daily…or by the hour…or seemingly by the minute.

“Twitter can be a divisive thing—I know many people who tell me they they just don't get it,” says Marnie Goldberg, Social Medium and Twitter Goddess at Amplification, Inc. “Twitter is designed to be simple and skipping out on the opportunities Twitter can provide your business keeps you from maximizing your business’ potential.” 

Marnie

Users generate more than 200 million Tweets a day, according to The Wall Street Journal. What this means to most businesses is if you aren’t capitalizing on Twitter, you are missing out on a powerful opportunity to get your messages across. 
Twitter’s power is that it uses short messages to provide readers an enticing preview of what is to come on a website or a tight and succinct statement. In fact, some financial companies pay as much as $40 million per year on Twitter research that then informs financial decisions.

 “Underestimating the power of social media in 2012 would be a drastic mistake for a business to make,” says Kalia Garrido, co-founder of www.locallyrooted.com, a website dedicated to community conscious shopping. “Using Twitter allows us to get our messages out virally—we have the potential to reach the friends of our friends and their friends. It’s a seemingly unlimited audience just waiting to be tapped.” 

Social media-based businesses like Amplification,Inc. have capitalized on the seemingly unlimited influence of the Twitter feed.

“We work with our clients to target and constantly calibrate what messages they need relayed,” Goldberg says. “From sales to promotions to specific products to simply wishing customers a good day, we’re able to keep a Twitter feed active so followers start to eagerly anticipate the next announcement.”
A robust messaging tempo also helps attract new followers, which in turn gives your message more traction, reach, and greater influence. 

Decoding Twitter

While Twitter (technically a micro-blogging site) was invented to be a simpler alternative to social media giants such as MySpace and Facebook, it’s unique language and vocabulary can be understandably intimidating. According to Goldberg, you can make Twitter work for your business in a three-step process.

1. Head to Twitter.com and sign up. You’ll be asked to choose a name, such as @ClubCabeza and upload your company’s logo or any relevant photo that helps followers identify your business.

2. Start pushing out your messages. Goldberg recommends having a Twitter strategy as part of a larger content strategy. Deciding what message you want to convey within the 140-character Twitter parameters and when those tweets should deploy can be a bit overwhelming. Amplification, Inc. can assist you with developing your message and deploying your tweets throughout the day.

3. Build your followers to drive traffic. Obtaining a good amount of Twitter followers takes time and work. Once you have identified your target audience, following them isn’t enough. You have to make your account social and speak to your followers so that you avoid becoming “noise,” which means what you’re sharing must be of high quality and credible. Get it right, and Twitter can and will drive traffic to your website.

“People today are busy, but they typically have time to read a 140-character or less message about your business,” Goldberg says. “By capitalizing on this audience who needs quick, usable information and providing links to your site, followers have everything they need to buy and/or support your business.”


[ Winning Friends and Influencing People! ]

A Little Help From Your Friends

Another aspect of what Amplification, Inc. does is build Twitter followers for an organization.

“When it comes to social media, reputation is everything, and Amplification, Inc. has worked to build its reputation,” says Steve Cabeza, of Amplification, Inc. “When we add a client to the Amplification family, that client is linking in to our well-established and time-earned reputation as a provider of quality content and useful information.”

Garrido agrees.

“Our Twitter traffic has improved drastically since we became involved with Amplification, Inc.,” she says. “They basically took our unused Twitter account and built it up to a following of almost 1K users, and it’s growing every day.”

Amplification, Inc.'s extended and growing social network includes many content aggregators that will take the information we send out and re-tweet (re-posting, forwarding, sharing) those tweets, which enlivens an even larger audience. One such content aggregator is Tonya Scholz, a South Florida-based communications consultant and broadcaster on www.kNOw-aging.com (@kNOwAging on Twitter). 

“I want to be a trusted source for information and part of the way I accomplish this is by assimilating people’s information on Twitter,” says Scholz, whose followers include The NewYork Post. “Twitter is all about creating influence. It’s like an introduction that allows you to then build a deeper business relationship offline.”

If you’re not ready to stick your toe in the Twitter waters just yet, Amplification, Inc. can help.

“Marnie and Steve at Amplification, Inc. have truly become valued members of our marketing team—we rely on them to handle our social media so that we can focus on what we do best: running our business,” Garrido says.

For more information on Amplification, Inc., visit www.AmplificationInc.com.This article was written exclusively for The Club by Rachel Nall. Check her out on Twitter by clicking here.