iBusiness

The arm of social media has even reached neighborhood businesses, which have adopted Facebook and Twitter as a key form of advertising.

North Haven Gardens started using the tools about two years ago to attract younger gardeners.

“You think of it as a Gen X and younger,” says marketing manager Nikki Rosen, who manages North Haven’s social media.

“I couldn’t say it’s just one age group. I think it’s everybody. It’s across the board.”

The Facebook page has become a place where customers can enter contests, browse inventory and receive gardening advice without walking into the store.

For example, someone posted a picture of a peculiar leaf in his backyard, asking if it was poisonous. North Haven quickly replied, “No, it’s just Virginia Creeper.”

“We’re pretty savvy about that,” Rosen says. “We don’t want a customer doing something wrong because we took two days to get back with them.”

Rosen often walks through the garden center with a digital camera, taking photos of eye-catching plants for a virtual tour on Facebook. It once boosted sales for the sweet olive tree.

“People can see what we have without coming in. We usually get quite a few hits on those.”

However, Rosen says, social media doesn’t keep people from visiting the store altogether. If anything, the regu- lar and colorful updates attract more customers, since North Haven “is not right off the highway like some of the big box alternatives,” Rosen says.

But keeping up with the ever-evolving world of social media isn’t easy, she says, especially for small businesses.

Nikki Rosen North Haven Gardens

Connect With The Advocate

“You think of it as a Gen X and younger. I couldn’t say it’s just one age group.”

“It’s a time-consuming project. If you’ve got a small business with only a few employees running everything, it’s very difficult to keep up.”

iCrime Fighting

facebook.com/ DallasPD

No more waiting until the quarterly crime watch meeting for the latest stats on our neighborhood. The North Central and Northwest substations have embraced Facebook, posting real-time information about neighborhood crime.

“If we have a certain area where sexual assaults are going on, we can post the suspect’s description and that he’s targeting single females between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., and we can put a warning out there,” says Sgt. Israel Herrera, head of the North Central neighborhood policing team.

In early November, police circulated a surveillance video of a man who robbed several Game Stop stores throughout the city, including the PrestonForest location. A Facebook user commented, “I saw that guy at tha lovers lane

Remember when mailing printed newsletters was the most efficient way to update your neighbors, members and customers? Today it’s easier than ever to reach your group fast and free (or at least on the cheap). Among all social media services and online tools now available, there’s something that makes sense for every type of communication. Visit the blog to find out how the Advocateuses social media and to get tips on options that could meet your group’s needs. Scan the code above or search “Advocatesocial media” at prestonhollow.advocatemag.com

Socialize facebook.com/prestonhollowadvocate twitter.com/advocate_ph twitter.com/emilytoman youtube.com/prestonhollowmag

Instagram photo sharing app for iPhone (Android coming soon) Visit followgram.me/ advocate_mag_dallas for app info and to view our pics.

Stay connected advocatemag.com/newsletter advocatemag.com/apps train station on sunday when i was coming from that same game stop!!!!!!”

Police have made no arrests in the case yet, but Herrera says that kind of information can only help an investigation, and he encourages more people to call 911 or use the iWatch smartphone application, which allows citizens to send anonymous text messages about suspicious activity.

The police have received at least 1,135 tips citywide through iWatch since January 2011. Last May, one of those tips led police to a marijuana grow house at 7400 Northaven — just a few yards from the Jewish Community Center — where officers seized several pounds of weed.

“It’s a way of getting involved without getting too involved,” Herrera says about both the iWatch and social media tools.

The Facebook page also serves as an alternative source of information for busy parents who can’t always make the 6 p.m. neighborhood meetings.

“I have three children, and they’re in bed by 9 p.m.,” Herrera says. “I don’t always have time to go to meetings. I’d imagine for some people, [Facebook] reaches that avenue.

“The great thing about Facebook is that it’s written communication. So people can’t say ‘I thought I heard this’ or ‘I thought I heard that.’ I think with the younger generation, the face-to-face communication is starting to diminish.”

Dallas Police also use Twitter and Nixle to disseminate information, but have found that Facebook reaches the biggest audience. At least 7,826 people have “liked” the police department page where officers post not only crime updates but also traffic updates and photos from community presentations.

“It shows a positive interaction with adults and children in our area,” Herrera says.

Sparkman Club Estates resident Brooke Green remembers when police shared the video of the “Lively Lane Prowler,” a man who creepily peeped into homes and burglarized some around the Midway Hollow area in October. It created lots of buzz among her friends, and police caught the suspect a few weeks later. Green found out on Facebook.

“That really gave me peace of mind that he was caught,” she says.

Dallas Police YouTube Channel

youtube.com/

DallasPoliceDept

Dallas Police post surveillance videos of crimes on the DPD YouTube channel. The popular video-sharing site allows police to seek the public’s help in identifying suspects as well as locating missing people and solving various types of cases.

iWatch App

dallaspolice.net

The iWatch appprovidesthree options: Send in a text only, send in a text with a picture, or send an anonymous tip. You can also text a tip by typing DPD plus your tip to 274637, or you can call 214.671.4TIP.

Orthodontics

PATRICIA A. SIMON, DDS www.lakewoodortho.net

Have you found that your teeth are getting harder to keep clean? It may be due to an increase in the crowding of your teeth, making it more difficult to get between all the nooks and crannies. It’s the natural phenomenon of aging. The good news is that adult orthodontics can put these teeth in their place and give you a cleaner, healthier smile.

Lakewood Orthodontics

1809 Skillman St. Dallas, TX 75206 214.826.9000

Back Pain Specialist

DR. YARON LOHR medicalchiropracticclinic.com

80% OF AMERICANS SUFFER FROM BACK PAIN. Meet Yaron Lohr, D.C. – new to the neighborhood and able to help with a variety of your back ailments. The Posture Perfect multidisciplinary practice includes medical care, pain management, diagnostic testing, chiropractic care, physiotherapy, and reha- bilitation. Services range from massage therapy, weight loss and personal training to minimally invasive surgeries. Call and mention this ad to set up your FREE health evaluation!

Posture Perfect Health Center

5550 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 150, Dallas, TX 75240 972.792.0204

Comprehensive Dentistry

ASHLY R. COTHERN, DDS, PA www.drcothern.com

Dr. Cothern is one of a small distinguished percentage of dentists who have invested in postgraduate training at one of the world’s premiere continuing education institutes, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. We care about you as a unique individual and examine you in a way that together we can understand every aspect of your oral health. In our office we love what we do. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

9669 N.Central Expwy., Ste. 220 Dallas, TX 75231 214.696.9966

Optometrist

DR. CLINT MEYER www.dallaseyeworks.com

The value and joy of a quality purchase long outlasts the temporary savings on an inferior product. Visit Dallas Eyeworks and enjoy the superior quality of frames from Franklin Smith, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and more! Call or come by and have our experienced opticians review your prescription with you. They will use the newest digital HD designs to help you attain your best vision ever.

Dallas Eyeworks 9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120, Dallas, TX 75218 214.660.9830