New Health Center at Hacienda Pinilla

Parker Associates is excited to observe the opening of the new Health Center at Hacienda Pinilla, the 4.500 acre resort community on the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica, positioned by Parker Associates a decade ago. The Health Center was a dream of HP founder “Pat” Patillo of Atlanta when he began developing his family vacation ranch in the 1990s. 

In addition to maintaining a doctor in residence (Dr. Rojas) to attend to the medical needs of residents, guests and employees 24/7, the Center held its first annual Health Fair this year to serve the surrounding community with public health services (provided in conjunction with the Costa Rica Public Health System CCSS or Caja).  This is a marvelous example of the kind of distinctive amenity that sets this resort community ahead of its competitors.

Best Florida Housing Markets

According to Realtor.com’s “Top 10 Turnaround Report,” based on Third Quarter 2011 data, the following six Florida markets are included as exhibiting the best positive year-over-year housing median price appreciation, inventory reductions and inventory age while also experiencing lower unemployment rates: Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Lakeland-Winter Haven.

Most of these same markets were featured just three years ago as having the worst impacts in the nation from the Great Recession.  This report also notes that the number of foreign buyers purchasing homes in these markets increased from 10 percent in 2007 to 31 percent in 2011.

Mobile Phone Internet Usage

There was this year a neat infographic highlighting statistics on how people are using mobile phones in 2011.  The infographic shows that over 1 billion of the worlds 4+ billion mobiles phones are now smartphones, and 3 billion are SMS enabled. In 2014, mobile internet usage will overtake desktop internet usage and already in 2011, more than 50% of all “local” searches are done from a mobile device.

It is all part of a media blitz.  People are multitasking with their phones. 86% of mobile users are watching TV while using a mobile phone, 200+ million users access Facebook from a mobile device and 91% of all mobile internet use is “social” related but not necessarily to interact via the Internet.  Much of this socializing is text and talk related.

Most who access the Internet do so to find something immediate and geo-centric.  They are in a location at a specific time and want to know more or they simply want to waste time playing games.  Over half of all searches for local stuff are performed from a mobile device.  Checking the weather or exploring maps and directions are two of the top uses for mobile phones while finding out more about a dining or entertainment choice is also high on the list as a highly utilized type of browsing.

With the continuing saturation of the marketplace with mobile phones and applications, it is imperative that a plan for your company to incorporate such technologies is in place.  Companies must have a web site designed specifically for mobile phone access.  Mobile phone browsers are different and must be specifically designed for.  PTC Computer Solutions has a full understanding with a focus on bringing companies to this market and can answer all your questions on how to get wirelessed in.  Go to www.ptccomputersolutions.com , contact PTC Computer Solutions at info@ptccomputersolutions.com or call 904.992.1742 for more on how to get wirelessed in and stay on top of these new technologies.

PTC Computer Solutions Involved with New Client

PTC Computer Solutions has recently been retained to assist in the redesign and installment of Search Engine Optimization best practices on the web site for WorldFitEquip based out of Jacksonville Beach, Florida.  This will involve an extensive redesign and will put WorldFitEquip at the top of the Search Engine Listings across the world.

If you have Search Engine Optimization needs or any online marketing questions, please contact David Parker at info@ptccomputersolutions.com or see our web site at www.ptccomputersolutions.com for more information.

Cell Phone Usage Survey Results

PTC Computer Solutions conducted a survey of a random group of individuals to ascertain the types of services people are using their cell phones for.  PTC Computer Solutions makes research and demographics a significant part of their marketing strategies for all of their clients and this information was to assist in ascertaining the importance of the cell phone in the community as a whole.  There was no specific demographic cross-tabbing of the demographic to the usage or efforts to delineate between the demographic differentiators and the raw usage information, so it is important to note that this data is specifically for understanding what people are doing on a daily or weekly basis with their cell phones.

The following graph shows the usage with respect to the questions posed:

1.  How often do you use your cell phone for talking with others?
2.  How often do you use your cell phone to send and receive text messages?
3.  How often do you use your cell phone to access and utilize social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or others?
4.  How often do you use your cell phone to receive and send email?
5.  How often do you use your cell phone to take pictures and share them with others?

Not surprisingly, almost the entire population utilizes their cell phones to talk and send and receive text messages.  I don't think we were at all surprised at these results.  However,we at PTC Computer Solutions really felt that there would be a stronger percentage of the population utilizing their cell phones to get online with their Social Networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  The interesting result here was that over 1/3rd of the population never uses their cell phones for Social Networking and slightly under 1/3rd don't use it for sending or receiving email.  A smaller percentage don't use their cell phone for sharing photos which is also a somewhat surprising number.

All in all, the results of this survey were to discover the usage of cell phones in the local community for the purposes of utilizing some of the marketing aspects toward those newer media such as the Social Networking sites of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter but it is not clear that there should be a large amount of effort put into those areas as of yet, although PTC Computer Solutions is confident that these numbers will increase significantly as the Smart Phones become more accessible to less affluent segments of the population.

If you are interested in research and demographics or surveying a specific population toward a specific end, contact PTC Computer Solutions at info@ptccomputersolutions.com or  904-992-1742 with your detailed needs.  They are ready to assist you in reaching your online marketing objectives.

David W. B. Parker
davidp@ptccomputersolutions.com
www.ptccomputersolutions.com
904-992-1742
Serving the Internet and Web Community from the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beaches area since 1996.

Social Networking and Cell Phone Usage Survey

Social Networking and Cell Phone Usage Survey: Please Answer These 8 Questions on Social Networking and Cell Phone Usage. It will only take a minute and help us out. Thanks.

Oh Canada!

Marilynn and I frequently travel back to our homeland of Canada to visit friends and relatives. But, the impact of the recession restrained our travel habits, and our trip to eastern Ontario this month was our first experience in Canada since 2006.  We were amazed at the changes.

Although our 12-day motor trip to and from the Buffalo airport only included the small portion of Canada encompassing the vast area of metropolitan Toronto, this is the sector of the country exhibiting the strongest impact from the growing economy.  Yes, while the United States became mired in economic distress, our neighbor to the north has maintained a steadily increasing economic growth rate.  The Canadian dollar is now valued above the U.S. dollar after being valued at less than two-thirds of American currency just five years ago.  What makes this Canadian growth even more remarkable is that the troubled United States is by far Canada’s biggest trading partner.  Furthermore, a high percentage of Canadian companies are owned by American interests which terminated or cut back many of their subsidiaries in Canada.  The huge General Motors plant in Oshawa east of Toronto is winding down production and Chrysler has closed its historic operations in Windsor, across the border from employment struggles in Detroit.

But, despite these negative impacts upon Canadian employment and productivity, this country’s economic indicators continue their upward trend.  Why?  I asked my knowledgeable Canadian friends during this trip.  They gave me three strong reasons. 

First, and foremost, Canada still relies heavily on exports of natural resources which continue to be in demand despite the American recession.  Oil, of course, continues to flow from the vast Alberta oil reserves to refineries in the United States.  And, regardless of the rapid decline in American home-building, Canadian timber products enjoy increasing demand in China and other Asian nations. This country’s farmers continue to export agricultural products around the world.

The second reason is based on Canada’s historic regulation of its banking industry that generated a small number of large banks with strong cash reserves, compared with the fragmented banking system in the United States that has been suffering a surge of bankruptcies resulting from the lax credit policies originating from the Reagan Administration’s relaxation of bank regulations over 20 years ago.  Huge Canadian banks such as the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and the Toronto Dominion Bank (TD) and the Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotia) are aggressively purchasing small banks in many parts of the United States as well as in developing nations in South America and the Orient. 

The third strong reason for Canadian growth in the face of American decline is immigration. One of my friends even joked that French will soon be replaced by Chinese as Canada’s second language.  Despite continuing pride in its British roots, Canada has become a diverse nation of many cultures which compete for intellectual achievement and innovation, in addition to attracting investment from their former homelands in other parts of the world.  A drive through central Toronto presents a kaleidoscope of international cultures pursuing their own historic traditions within the framework of their new world.  While we in southern border states become embroiled in preventing migration of people unlike ourselves, the Canadian government and its people embrace newcomers from every land and religion, with full recognition that diversity is the strength of a modern nation.

Although the Premier of Ontario is reportedly adopting some cost-cutting principles of the U.S. “Tea Party” movement, development growth in this province is continuing at a pace reminiscent of our trip to China earlier this year. The drive from Buffalo to Toronto along the historic Queen Elizabeth Way now features new multi-story office buildings in continuing array from Hamilton to Toronto.  Three expressways, including one automatic toll road, now serve this corridor in addition to increased service by the GO Train.  It appears that this corridor will be unified urban development within this decade (over 5 million residents now live in greater Toronto). 

Government investment in new and improved infrastructure is apparent throughout Ontario, and the new “En Route” way stops are particularly impressive on expressway routes. They feature a food court containing several fast food outlets and a fresh market adjacent to a large modern seat-yourself dining area. Of course, Toronto’s underground subway system has served as a model for growth in other cities around the world in attracting high-rise growth centers (Transit Oriented Development) at formerly suburban station stops.  These dispersed growth centers have contributed to a more balanced vehicle traffic flow throughout the Toronto metropolitan area.  The 10-lane 401 Expressway across the northern side of Toronto is equipped with more frequent electronic signs advising travelers of traffic current conditions throughout the length of this key traffic corridor.

Despite Canada’s self-sufficiency in oil consumption, much of the investment in new and improved transportation infrastructure is provided by ear-marked gasoline taxes.  Thus, gasoline is considerably more expensive than in the United States, a policy that is pursued in European countries as well as Canada, thereby ensuring long-range financing for government investment in infrastructure to support economic growth (see my July blog on infrastructure).

Driving through Ontario provides a sharp contrast with American urban areas in terms of new business development supported by modernized infrastructure.  Our United States government legislators might learn more about the linkage between public and private investment by a visit to Ontario (much shorter and less expensive than the trip to China that I recommended in my June blog). 

Find out more about Parker Associates at www.parkerassociates.com.   If you have a need or opportunity or land development, please call David or Chris Parker for a free consultation at (904) 992-9888 or email us at info@parkerassociates.com to discuss your specific needs or opportunities. We understand consumer interests.  This blog and all the social networking for Parker Associates is maintained and operated by PTC Computer Solutions and PTC Communications.  For more on PTC Computer Solutions or PTC Communications, go to www.ptccomputersolutions.com or www.ptccommunications.com respectively.  If you are interested in contacting either of these marketing companies, email PTC Computer Solutions or PTC Communications at info@ptccomputersolutions.com or info@ptccommunications.com respectively for your specific web or online marketing questions or needs.