Recently, we noticed a business who posted something to the effect of “We’re on Google+. Now what?”. Of course, they posted this on Facebook and no one there had any clue.

It’s interesting that people still think of Facebook and Google+ as competitors. While they are certainly both social media platforms, I’ve long though that Facebook and Google+ have vastly different uses. In fact, I think that Google+ is the more important place for your business to be. Google+ has more influence on search results, better search functionality and lets you interact with prospective clients right from the start. Plus, since no other businesses are really using it, you get to be one of the pioneers of the platform. So when everyone jumps on the band wagon in two years, you’ll already have staked your claim.

All that said, how DO you actually use Google+ for business?

1.  Find Great People through Great Search Terms Google is a renowned search engine. So it’s no surprise that their social platform also has some great search functionality. This gives you the ability to find others through a variety of search terms. For instance, if you sell hot tubs, you may use terms like “Jacuzzi, pool, and spa” to find people on other platforms. On Google+ you can take that one step further to search for “chlorine, pool chemicals, skimmer” and more. Thinking of all the ways people could be talking about your product will give you more ways to find your target market.
2. Share Relevant Content Like any other social platform, Google+ is a great place to showcase your expertise. Post content that show you know your business and makes you a resource for potential clients.
3. Get Local Because of Google’s great search functionality, it’s easy to find people in your area. Posting information on local events, connecting with G+ users in your area will not only help your business, it will make G+ vastly more interesting.
4. Ask Questions Google+ is a wealth of information. Asking questions is a great way to meet people and learn more about virtually any subject you wish. When I look for the dates of books that I’m waiting to hear release dates for, people on Google+ answer my questions. Lucky for me, they find my questions because they used great search terms.
5. Be Consistent Having a consistent presence on Google+ makes you seem more reliable. Even more importantly, it gives people more ways to find you. Every post gives people ways to find you in search.

Google+ is a great way to get your business started on social media. It’s search alone makes it a powerful tool for you to find potential customers and for them to find you.

 Interested in learning more? Head on over to Eli Rose Social Media or follow them on them on Facebook or Twitter.

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Garden Gate Gift and Flower Shop in North Salem, Indiana

Word on the street was that we had to make it over to North Salem, Indiana to investigate the treasures hidden inside Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers.

Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers is a cheery little spot  in this small Indiana town!

North Salem, Indiana: Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers

You can’t miss the jolly pink and green exterior of this Indiana antique shop and more.

Two store fronts are occupied by this Hendricks County shop. There are antiques, antiques, and more antiques! Stuffed animals, dishes, and vintage cookbooks are just begging to go home with you. Excellent pieces of furniture are dotted here and there. Would you believe I went home with two?

I snagged a great telephone table and seat combination deal as well as a red and white porcelain table that now resides in the center of our kitchen as an island. The lower height makes it easy for the kids to help!

Indiana Antique Shop

Garden Gate Gift and Flower Shop in North Salem, Indiana

But there’s more! You can’t miss the lovely aroma of fresh flowers. Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers is a full service florist, too!

Loads of great gift items abound. There’s candles, handcrafted jewelry, bundles of adorable fabric, and even a boutique room.

You can find clothing, purses and handbags, and even jewelry. It’s a fun surprise inside this amazing Hendricks County shop!

Go There

Garden Gate Gift and Flower Shop in North Salem, Indiana

Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers (also commonly referred to as Garden Gate Flowers and Gifts) is an incredible shop! You won’t know where to look first.

I consider it more proof that good things are found in small towns. Small towns: destinations, not drive-thrus. I’m Jessica Nunemaker and this is little Indiana!

What’s your best find at Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers? Please share it in the comments below. If you found this article helpful, please “like” it and share it with your friends. 

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Garden Gate Gifts and Flowers
107 W Pearl Street
North Salem, Indiana 46165
765.676.5039

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Unique flavors, changing specials, and a true neighborhood hangout, this is small Indiana town life at its finest! You can easily find it in Peru, Indiana–just look for the rainbow umbrellas!

This Miami County ice cream shop is oh so good! It is open seasonally so don’t miss your chance to check it out.

Images from East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

East End Double Dip in Peru, Indiana

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East End Double Dip
451 E Main Street
Peru, Indiana 46970
765.472.3436

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Indiana Blogs: Hoosier Gardener

Hoosier Gardener is an Indiana blog to give you a little insight into your garden!

No green thumb? No  problem! This blog is a treasure trove of all things gardening.

Gardening woes or gardening planning, you are sure to find something on this blog to make you want to get your hands in the dirt!

Indiana Blogs: Hoosier Gardener

Why did you start Hoosier Gardener?
I’ve been writing a weekly garden column called the Hoosier Gardener in the Indianapolis Star since 1989. I’ve been online with my own URL since May 2008. Before then, I posted regularly at another Website, which is now defunct.

What about that name? Why Hoosier Gardener?
I like being a Hoosier. Embracing the name as the moniker of the column let’s readers know the information is for them.

What are three of your most favorite posts?

• http://hoosiergardener.com/?p=1138
• http://hoosiergardener.com/?p=810
• http://hoosiergardener.com/?p=4942

What keeps you ready and raring to post? Why do you blog?
Most of the blogs are posts of weekly columns published simultaneously when they appear in The Indianapolis Star. I post more frequently when there is something going on in the garden that readers should know about, such as an insect invasion or disease infestation. I’m a gardener and I like writing about gardening. Paying attention to what is going on in my landscape helps me get the word out to my readers about potential problems.

I also try to participate in Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, where bloggers from throughout the world post on the 15th of the month what is going on in their landscape. Hoosier Carol Michel of the award-winning May Dreams Gardens is the host of Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, the longest running gardening meme on the Internet.

I also try to post on the 4th of every month for You Can Grow That!, another meme that encourages readers to try various plants.

What can people expect when they hop onto your blog?
Straight forward presentation of environmentally friendly gardening information, good search function, monthly checklist of what to do in the garden, monthly calendar of garden and nature related events (called HortusScope), timely gardening information.

I am a natural gardener, so you won’t find a lot of information about synthetic chemicals or products.

You describe your life as a “mosaic.” Care to explain?
My life is a mosaic because I have lots of jobs. I freelance for The Indianapolis Star, Angie’s List magazine, Indiana Gardening magazine and some clients. I do garden coaching and landscape consultations. I plant clients’ seasonal containers.

In spring I work in a large, independent garden center. I edit four gardening magazines and speak regularly throughout the country. I’m the co-author of the Indiana Gardener’s Guide and author of the Visitor’s Guide to American Gardens. The latter is a travel guide to more than 400 gardens in the United States and Canada.

Have you always been a gardener? How did you get into that?
I started gardening when we bought our first house in Broad Ripple. I grew up on Indianapolis’ southside in a family of greenhouse growers and florists, so I like to say it’s in my blood, just manifesting itself in a different way.

However, I do trial between 100 and 150 plants a year, which makes my landscape a living laboratory. I also have dogs, so my philosophy is people and pets before plants.

Is there anything else that you would like little Indiana readers to know about you or your blog?
I think this covers it. Feel free to ask any questions or get clarification, in needed.

How Does Your (Indiana) Garden Grow?

After a peek at this Indiana blog…very well indeed. Thanks to Sue for sharing her world with us!

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But there’s always more where that came from, isn’t there! Let’s see…ice cream cake that resembles a certain popular brand but that you can make yourself, revisiting to great small town destinations in images, and a bit of browsing at a lovely antique shop in Peru.

Summer is here–get out there and explore! Well, after you check out this week’s recap, anyway! Don’t forget! You can nab a copy of the latest little Indiana Quarterly Magazine right here while you are at it!

little Indiana Weekly Recap

little Indiana on PBS: Rensselaer, Indiana

Indiana Bloggers: Hoosier Updates from Around the Web: 6/9/2013 — 6/15/2013 – I thought it would be fun to highlight one article each week from the Hoosier bloggers you know and love. You know, previously Featured little Indiana Bloggers! Read More »

little Indiana on PBS: Rensselaer, Indiana – I’m so thrilled to show you around Rensselaer, Indiana–and you’ll find out why during the show. Rensselaer is a good example of what can happen when you have someone invest time and energy into the exterior (and interior) of a building–it brings in new business! And that, my friends, is a very nice thing to see in every small town. Read More »

Crabtree and Evelyn: West Indian Lime Shave Cream Review – There are times when you just don’t know what to get. Maybe you lack shops in your small town that cater to men. Perhaps you would like to present dear old Dad with a product made just for him. Crabtree and Evelyn may be a good place to start with products from their new West Indian Lime scent. Read More »

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipe – Every May I make some sort of new cake recipe for my husband’s birthday and this year–he requested an ice cream cake! Even though there’s a lot of waiting involved, it is so easy to make and really delicious. Read More »

Images from National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana – If you have collecting on the brain, you have GOT to check out National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana! Read More »

5 Customer Service Tips for the Internet – Eli Rose Social Media specializes in helping small businesses optimize their online presence. They offer everything from search engine optimization to easy to understand training to ongoing social media management. Every Tuesday, they offer insights to the readers of Little Indiana on how to use the internet and social media to build their online brand. You can also find them … Read More »

Peru Mercantile in Peru, Indiana

Peru Mercantile in Peru, Indiana – Peru Mercantile in Peru, Indiana is such a pretty shop! Just off the downtown, you can’t miss the bright-hued brick building. Read More »

Images from Warm Glow Candle Company in Centerville, Indiana – Follow your nose to Warm Glow Candle Company in Centerville, Indiana.Read More »

Indiana Blogs: Treble in the Kitchen – Treble in the Kitchen is an Indiana blog that is a fun mix of recipes, fitness, and everyday life. Lately, though, you will find a mix of wedding festivities added into the mix as this blogger is soon to be married! Read More »

That’s All She Wrote!

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Indiana Bloggers: Hoosier Updates from Around the Web

I thought it would be fun to highlight one article each week from the Hoosier bloggers you know and love. You know, previously Featured little Indiana Bloggers!

Just like the bloggers, no two weeks will ever be the same! Like a fine box of Indiana chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

If you are an Indiana blogger and would like to be featured on little Indiana, please let me know via email or in the comments below. Now, let’s get caught up with what our Hoosier bloggers were doing this week!

Indiana Blog Updates

The categories may change each week but look for the bold-faced category items to easily navigate to the topics you prefer.

Recipes and Food

A Couple Cooks: Whole Wheat Crackers — Don’t reach for a box. Make your own!

Treble in the Kitchen: Slow Cooker Chickpeas, Tomato, and Kale — Healthy, yet satisfying.

Sarah Lynn’s Sweets: Cold Oven Pound Cake (with a hint of lemon) — A tasty treat makes a great base for summer fruit!

BasilMomma: Greek Taquitos — More of a guideline and a family favorite.

A Latte with Ott, A: Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole — Need an easy dish for a pitch-in?

Everyday Mom’s Meals: Barbecue’s Best Friend – Broccoli Salad to serve at your summer shin-digs.

The Ginger Kitchen: A Busy Week Ahead…Here’s Where We Will Be! — Find their ice cream at these Fort Wayne locales.

Personal

Tales from the Coop Keeper: Details — Hacking down bushes and removing poison ivy plus the beginning of a seven day cleanse.

Tulle and Trinkets: Life Lately in Photos — A baby field mouse, purple flowers, and loving their new home.

Beta Motivation: Chicken Legs and Outrageous Lies You Might Believe – Video from a spunky Hoosier blogger!

Jean’s Boots are Made for Talking: Robbed at CVS — Not for real, but a general over-spending.

See Meggie Run: Countdown Begins — After a two month running hiatus, this blogger is back and ready to run!

Style 

Sarah’s Real Life: Sometimes I’m Trendy – Colorblock, spiky jewelry, floral…she’s got a lot going on and feels extra stylin’ because of it.

Indiana Authors and Writers

Eclectic Insights: Thursday Insight: New Release, The Demon’s Mate – A new paranormal novel with a sultry theme.

Marian Allen: The Why of the Sad – Death of a close friend leaves this blogger saddened at the news.

Education and Art

An Indiana Mom: Art Smart First Grade Part 1 – Two fun paper and colored pencil or crayon works.

Acton Creative: Second Verse Same as the First – Chocolate, tan, and cream. The work in progress so far!

Spell Outloud: Summer School at Spell Outloud – Field trips, a bit of academic work, and loads of playtime.

Mouse in My Pocket: SONP Sneak Peek — Sewing up a vintage Vogue pattern from a bedsheet!

Our Little Monkeys: Butterflies — Watching butterflies hatch in the early morning hours.

Sketching Brad: Summer Reading Program 2013 — Samples of coloring art this blogger created for the Franklin Public Library.

Patty’s Pretty Things: Fantastic Greeting Cards — This Hoosier blogger got to work creating cards.

Something Monumental: DIY Dinosaur Magnets — Easy, peasy dinosaur magnets you can do at home!

Travel and History

Back Home Again: Throwback Thursday: Harlaxton – A study abroad experience that changed her life (and improved her grades).

Arrows Sent Forth: Take a Stroll Around our English Village — Relocating to England and adjusting to life in a small town of 400.

Indy with Kids: Patriotic Kids Day in Fishers – June 15, decorate your bikes and your clothes!

Historic Indianapolis: Indianapolis Then and Now: Blake and W. New York Streets / IUPUI – Before it was a sprawling 500 acre campus, IUPUI was made up of small businesses and neighborhoods.

Local Lady: Quality of Place Conference Part II — Notes from the second half of this year’s Quality of Place Conference.

Find pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream or on the new little Indiana Tumblr blog.

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Crabtree and Evelyn: West Indian Lime Shave Cream

Does dad really need another tie or “World’s Best Dad” mug for Father’s Day this year?

Instead, consider the newest fragrance from the Crabtree and Evelyn men’s line: West Indian Lime!

Crabtree and Evelyn: West Indian Lime Shave Cream Review

There are times when you just don’t know what to get. Maybe you lack shops in your small town that cater to men. Perhaps you would like to present dear old Dad with a product made just for him.

Crabtree and Evelyn may be a good place to start–the shave cream smells so clean and fresh! It was not at all what I expected!

A bit of lime, a bit of vetiver, a native ingredient of the British West Indies, as well as a hint of lemon, white ginger, orange, and a dash of sandalwood…mmm! It smells oh so nice.

Crabtree and Evelyn Men’s Collection

The new West Indian Lime collection is not the only offering for men from Crabtree and Evelyn.

You will also find fragrances in Nomad, Sandalwood, and Sienna.

Each and every variety comes in an assortment of men’s shaving products from shave creams to shave soaps and after-shave care. No matter which one you choose, you can expect high quality and excellent results!

Every Day is Father’s Day

Slather on the Crabtree and Evelyn West Indian Lime Shave Cream and enjoy the benefits of moisturizing Vitamin E! Afterward? Soft and smooth.

My husband liked the close shave he received using this shave cream. I loved the fresh scent! It was a win/win–and it wasn’t even Father’s Day yet.

little Indiana received a sample of Crabtree and Evelyn’s West Indian Lime Shave Cream in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is mine and mine alone. 

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little Indiana on PBS: Rensselaer, Indiana

It’s the first field show for the little Indiana segment on the PBS state-wide show The Weekly Special!

I’m so thrilled to show you around Rensselaer, Indiana–and you’ll find out why during the show. Rensselaer is a good example of what can happen when you have someone invest time and energy into the exterior (and interior) of a building–it brings in new business! And that, my friends, is a very nice thing to see in any small town.

You can watch me in Rensselaer, Indiana right here (below), on the PBS website, or on YouTube. There’s always more where that came from! With a little luck, I will be able to snag a sponsor which would mean a full length “in the field” show for you every week!

Watch and share the video (and my plea for a sponsor) with your friends, acquaintances, and rich aunts or uncles.

little Indiana on PBS in Rensselaer, Indiana

Watch Little Indiana Livin’ on PBS. See more from The Weekly Special.

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Rensselaer, Indiana in Jasper County

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Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Every May I make some sort of new cake recipe for my husband’s birthday and this year–he requested an ice cream cake!

Having never made an ice cream cake recipe before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be difficult? Time consuming? Even though you have to wait between steps, it was rather fast to fix and really kind of fun!

I did make a homemade chocolate sauce recipe in exchange for the suggested hard chocolate shell ice cream topping recipe. I wanted to be able to slice into it! I also added a chocolate sandwich cookie crust. I found this recipe on FoodNetwork.com.

Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipe

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Yes, Dunreith, Indiana IS a great example of the amazing things you can find in a small town. This antique shop was just incredible! Boxes and shelves and more shelves of what looked like big collections. Bottles, records, buttons, pins, flattened souvenir pennies, spools, hairpins…you name it, I am sure it is here somewhere.

This was such a fun and unique place to shop. If you enjoy antique shopping, you must make it a point to visit this Henry County antique shop! It will really help you round out your collection!

National Trail Antique Mall Images from Dunreith, Indiana

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

National Trail Antique Mall in Dunreith, Indiana

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National Trail Antique Mall
State Road US 40 and State Road 3
Dunreith, Indiana 47337
765-749-3744

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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