Now available for quick service and full service restaurants, the proprietary ordering platform is downloaded as an application for servers or for patrons. Already in use, the program replaces hand-held terminals and allows servers to take table and in-store orders on an iPad. The orders are then sent directly to the point of sale or a ticket printer in the kitchen, which eliminates errors and allows for quicker, more efficient service.

“This application is perfect for restaurants that want a ‘line buster’ approach so customers can order in line and then have their order ready when they get to the counter,” said Patrick Eldon, CEO of orderTalk, Inc. “It also works in casual dining, allowing guests to order and pay directly at their table from their personal or restaurant supplied devices.”

The customer platform includes the ability for patrons to download applications built specifically for their favorite food destinations on their iPad, iPhone or iTouch. These restaurant specific applications allow patrons to place pick-up or delivery orders, browse and select menu items for an in-location experience and even pay the bill directly from their hand-held devices.

Since 1999, orderTalk, Inc. has provided the restaurant industry with online ordering solutions including remote ordering, mobile applications and social media applications. As the leading provider of on-demand software and solutions, orderTalk provides exceptional service designed to decrease overhead, maintain customer loyalty and increase order frequency and check average.

Media Contact:
Pierson Grant Public Relations
Maria Pierson
(954) 776-1999 ×222
mpierson@piersongrant.com

OMAHA, Neb. – Legendary investor Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A and BRK.B), has teamed with the Dairy Queen® system to auction off a 33-inch, five pound, red metal DQ® spoon with his autograph to benefit Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for 170 children’s hospitals.

The recognizable DQ red spoon accompanies the treat industry leader’s popular Blizzard® Treats and signature Royal Treats® served at Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill® locations around the world.
Bidding is now open on eBay® and will run through Friday, July 30. The opening bid is 99 cents. The online auction will be managed by Auction Cause, a premier auction management agency. The link is http://bit.ly/ebayDQ.

The larger-than-life spoon embellished with Buffett’s “John Hancock” was custom designed to adorn the DQ Blizzard®mobile which took to the road in April to celebrate the 25th birthday of the Dairy Queen system’s iconic Blizzard Treat. The Blizzardmobile has been traveling across the U.S. and Canada over the past four months distributing more than 75,000 free new Mini Blizzard Treats, all while raising awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network. The giant DQ spoon was signed by Buffett when the Blizzardmobile made a stop at the Dairy Queen booth during the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting this past May.

The auction kicks off the Dairy Queen Fifth Annual Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 5 when $1 or more from every Blizzard Treat sold at participating locations that day will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network.

”Miracle Treat Day is an important event for us and represents the enthusiasm and generosity that everyone in the DQ family and our customers have for helping children,” said John Gainor, president and CEO of International Dairy Queen, Inc. “We appreciate Warren’s help to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network.”

Dairy Queen is one of the top 10 contributors to Children’s Miracle Network, having raised more than $81 million since 1984.

###

About Children’s Miracle Network:
Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. To learn more go to ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.

About IDQ:
International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,600 Dairy Queen® stores in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. For more information, visit DairyQueen.com.

Imagine you are the CEO of the equivalent of a Fortune 50 multinational corporation suffering a major disaster of its own making. How would you handle public relations and crisis communications?

For executives with BP PLC, the answer is “not very well,” according to local publicists asked to critique the company’s response.

Since the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20, BP has been reactionary and delayed in its response to events along the Gulf of Mexico, executives said. CEO Tony Hayward appeared “detached, dishonest and disrespectful” in addressing the catastrophe, said Jane Grant, president of Pierson Grant Public Relations in Fort Lauderdale.

The problem may stem from the conflicted roles of counsel. PR counsel advises management to be forthcoming and honest, while attorneys caution against statements accepting blame that may be used by in criminal and civil actions, Grant said. Her grade: F.

On the digital front, the company has been responsive – if slow, said Mike Fruchter, director of digital strategy with High Impact Digital, a division of Pierson Grant. The disaster response website BP set up is adequate, he said, with up-to-date information, press releases, claims, response and agency contact information. A month after the spill, the company launched its social media campaign, he said, and reportedly has been spending $10,000 a day in Google AdWords.

“This is the type of transparency that BP should have demonstrated since day one – not after the fact. That’s a quick, effective and expensive way for them to get the sponsored positions on Google,” he said. “That’s a step in the right direction. For the most part, it seems orderly, transparent and efficient at getting information out to the public.”

BP’s Twitter presence has been “a mockery,” Fruchter said. BP’s official Twitter account has some 14,000 followers. A BP parody account has topped 150,000 followers. His overall grade: C-.

Source: Bizjournals.com

The City of Fort Lauderdale lives up to its nickname as “Yachting Capital of the World” as host to the more than 3 million square feet of space, both on land and in water, that the Boat Show will encompass. The show’s transportation network of bus shuttles, water taxis, and riverboats ensures attendees can easily navigate the city and its expansive waterways system.

The show spans five sites this year with exhibits ranging from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts.

The Boat Show also will feature electronics, engines and thousands of marine products such as fishing equipment, dive gear, financing and insurance options, yachting accessories, nautical clothing, jewelry and more.

Other activities at the Boat Show include marine seminars and youth fishing clinics presented by Hook The Future, a non-profit organization. Attendees also can enjoy refreshments and live musical entertainment at the show’s floating cocktail barges and International Food Garden.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show® takes place this year at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, the Hall of Fame Marina, the Las Olas Municipal Marina, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, and the Broward County Convention Center.

To purchase tickets to the 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show®, please visit ShowManagement.com. Vendors interested in exhibiting at the Boat Show can call (954) 764-7642 or (800) 940-7642, or visit ShowManagement.com, for more information.

To make travel arrangements, please contact the Boat Show’s official travel partner, Identity Travel, at (866) 877-3083, or visit IdentityTravel.com.

2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show® Schedule and Ticket Info:

Show Hours
• Thursday, Oct. 28 (Prime Time Preview) 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 29 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 30 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 31 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 1 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission
• Prime Time Preview (Thursday, Oct. 28) $32.00
• General Admission (Adults) $16.00 online, $18.00 at show site
• Children (Ages 6-15) $3.00 online, $5.00 at show site
• Children (Under age 6) FREE
• Two-Day Ticket $32.00 online, $34.00 at show site

Onsite Box Office Locations
• Bahia Mar Yachting Center
• Las Olas Marina
• Broward County Convention Center

Additional Box Office Location
• Las Olas Riverfront

ABOUT THE FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW®:
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show® is owned and sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and managed and produced by Show Management. The 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show® is presented by Intellian Technologies and co-sponsored by Yachts International, XM WX Weather Worx, Atlass Insurance Group, Budweiser, Seakeeper, The South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, and Hook the Future. For more information, call (954) 764-7642 or (800) 940-7642, or visit ShowManagement.com.

The agency will be responsible for consumer and marine trade publicity for all four shows, including digital strategies utilizing web-based and social media platforms.

• The 51st Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show®, the world’s largest in-water show, encompassing more than 3 million square feet of space on land and in water, at five sites connected by the official Show Transportation Network, takes place October 28 – November 1, 2010.

• The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show, the Gulf Coast’s largest boat show, takes place at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, from December 2-5, 2010.

• The Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach from February 17 – 21, 2011 transforms Collins Avenue from 41st to 51st Streets into a multi-million dollar presentation of yachts and superyachts for an in-water-only presentation covering more than 1.2 million square feet over a mile-long strip of Indian Creek Waterway, featuring over 500 new and pre-owned vessels.

• The 26th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, March 24-27, 2011, located along Flagler Drive, is one of the top ten boat shows in the country, featuring more than $350 million worth of boats, yachts and accessories from the world’s leading marine manufacturers.

“The marine industry is the most important economic asset of Florida’s coastal cities, and one of the most exciting industries in the world,” said agency President Jane Grant. “Pierson Grant is pleased to be playing a role in reaching out to boaters around the world and promoting these four outstanding boat shows.”

Over the past 16 years, Pierson Grant has grown into one of the top independent public relations agencies in the country. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with a satellite office in Raleigh, North Carolina, the firm represents national and regional clients in a variety of industries, including International Dairy Queen, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Florida Career College, The Broward County Convention Center, Broward League of Cities, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Holy Cross Hospital and Sunbeam Development Corporation, among others. The agency’s Internet marketing division, High Impact Digital, specializes in creative online media applications including social networking and search engine optimization. For more information, visit piersongrant.com and highimpactdigital.com.

American Debt Counseling is calling on consumers in debt to submit a funny and creative video portraying how they would feel if they were suddenly debt free. Three winners will be selected. A grand prize of $5,000, a second place prize of $1,000 and a third place prize of $500 will be awarded in the form of direct payments toward winners’ existing credit card balances.

Alan Silverberg, founder and CEO of American Debt Counseling, a 501 © (3) not-for-profit credit counseling agency, said, “I am hopeful that our Here’s Me Debt Free campaign will inspire America’s consumers to imagine a life free from crushing credit card debt. Last year alone, our credit counselors helped clients pay off more than $37 million in credit card debt.”

Anyone 18 years or older living in the US with an excess of $500 in credit card debt is invited to use a camcorder, camera or mobile device to record and submit a video clip no longer than three minutes. Videos will be judged on originality, creativity, adherence to theme and number of page views generated.

The contest, which launches today, runs through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2010. Winning videos will be announced in September and available for online viewing at americandebtcounseling.org/heresmedebtfree and on the American Debt Counseling Facebook page.

Through Operation Happy Birthday anyone 18 years or older with a camera, camcorder or mobile device is invited to record and submit a video clip that’s no longer than one minute with an original, creative or funny version of an individual alone, with family, friends or a pet singing, rapping, rhyming, dancing or playing an instrument to the tune of happy birthday to the Blizzard Treat. No purchase is necessary.

“Operation Happy Birthday extends the online reach of our 25th birthday of the Blizzard celebration,” said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen, Inc. “As we travel the U.S. and Canada in our Blizzard®mobile handing out free new Mini Blizzard Treats as part of the 25th birthday, we see the excitement for the brand. So even if you can’t make it to one of the parties on our 25-market Blizzardmobile tour, you can still share in the experience online and one way is through Operation Happy Birthday.”

Participants who submit a video judged to be in the top 100 will receive a $25 Dairy Queen gift card and the video will be posted on the Dairy Queen blog and the Blizzard and Dairy Queen Facebook page. One video also will be selected for a coveted spot on the DairyQueen.com homepage.

Videos will be judged on creativity, originality, adherence to theme and the 60 second time limit, and the amount of page views generated after the video is posted to YouTube.com. An entry form, rules and regulations are available at http://blog.dairyqueen.com/blizzard/operationhappybirthday/.

“We are looking forward to some really fun, creative, innovative entries,” Keller said. “This is a big year for Dairy Queen and we want to share the celebration with our customers in every way we can.”

Operation Happy Birthday officially ends Aug. 1, however throughout the duration of the promotion, Dairy Queen will showcase entries on the Dairy Queen YouTube channel, Facebook fan page and Dairy Queen blog.

If you are going to start using social media, you should at least have an understanding of what it’s about. Social media is not about the tools, the tools are only a facilitator.

Starting with the basics: Your Domain

1) Register your domain name, preferably a dot com extension. It’s also a good idea to register any variations and extensions of your domain name. Do it sooner rather than later, or you might be negotiating with a domain squatter, paying a premium in the future, rather than pennies in the present.

2) Find a good, reliable web host, and do your homework. Ask for referrals. If you are just starting out, it’s okay and economical to go with the cheap shared hosting plan, I.E Godaddy. Expect to upgrade to a mid level or higher hosting package within 90 days or less.

3) Install a blogging platform, preferably WordPress. Find and install the necessary plugins, themes and widgets. Installing a caching-system plugin is also a good idea. You need to optimize not only just for search engines, but also page loading time. Find a simple theme and build around it. KISS is always a good rule of thumb.

4) Customize  your permalink structure immediately. By default, WordPress uses web URLs which have question marks and lots of numbers in them. This will severely limit the amount of traffic you will see from search engines. Change your permalink formatting to the following markup: (day and name) yourblog.com/blog/2008/10/25/sample-post/

5) Create an about page. Tell people what your blog is about, and most importantly what you’re about. Put a nice head shot of yourself on the about or profile page. Make sure to include any awards or recognition that may be relevant about the author.  Give people an email address to email you, rather than an online form. Add your primary social networking badges and urls on your contact page. Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter should be a starting point. I would also create a blogroll. It can be on your sidebar, or a separate page, but it should exist somewhere on your blog.

6) Install analytic software, such as Google Analytics. It’s a good idea to have at least two stats packages installed and running. All analytic software is not created equal, they all have the same purpose, but vary in their reporting and tracking methods. Results will vary to an extent, comparison of multiple data sources is vital.

7) Give people the tools to promote your content.  Social promotional buttons make it easy for your visitors to Digg, StumbleUpon, and share your content. Bring the good word back to your blog. For instance, if you’re active on FriendFeed you should install the FriendFeed comments and likes plugin on your blog.

8 ) Establish a Feedburner account. Provide easy visibility for new RSS subscribers, use text links in addition to graphics to promote your RSS feed  You can also add an email subscription form on your site. People who do not use feed readers, will be emailed your latest postings.

9) Focus and be consistent with your blogging. Most professional bloggers get paid per post. Don’t be intimidated or feel forced to compete with them. Work at your own pace. Quality takes time, plain and simple.

10) Build as many social passports as possible. Passports are basically the profiles that you build on the various social platforms. These profiles all should be consistent, and most importantly point back to your blog or website. The goal is to create as much organic link juice as possible.  The core target is search engines. Consistently update these profiles, and use tools such as ping.fm to update them.

11) Leave thoughtful and constructive comments as much as possible on other blogs. Don’t stop there, post comments on Facebook walls, FriendFeed, and Twitter. This promotes good practices in social media, and it also gives you an opportunity for exposure and link placement. This can lead into  new networking opportunities and potential new friendships.

12) Establish and actively use your Google Reader account. This perhaps is the most powerful tool in any social media arsenal besides a blog or microblogging platform, such as Twitter. I will outline more in detail as we get further down the list.

13) Find the top 50 blogs in your space, and subscribe to their RSS feeds in Google Reader. Consistently be on the lookout for new blogs, and the voices behind them.

14) At this point you should already have a Twitter account. If not, establish one.  If your objective is personal branding, your Twitter username should be your name. Otherwise you could brand your twitter username the same name as your blog. Remember consistency with all your profiles is key.

15) Work smarter not harder. Use the tools to help you manage and stay ahead of the pack.

16) Listen to what’s being said about you.  Create Google alerts to monitor for positive or negative chatter.

17) Link out as often as possible when the circumstances permit it. If you are writing a post on a related subject, always look for a chance to reference a fellow bloggers work. This is not only good blogging etiquette, but will also put you on that persons radar in a positive way.

18) Build relationships with key influencers in all the communities and platforms that you participate on. Relationships take time to develop and grow in time.  One good example on how to do this, is listed above at #17.

19) The material that you create should be something that people want to share. For the most part, it should be relevant to your networks’ interests. Create newsworthy, thoughtful, intelligent content that has immediate usefulness.

20) Become an expert in your field.  Try to align and surround yourself with the best tools, and people to accomplish this. It’s all about networking, networking and networking. Take it offline when permitting. Organize local social media meetups and tweetups. Make it an effort to attend trade shows when possible.

Your Turn!

Image by mr.beaver under Creative Commons license.

“It is exciting to see these bright students awarded for their hard work in high school and given financial assistance to pursue their dreams in college,” said Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger, chair of the Broward League of Cities Education Committee.

Broward County high school seniors from public schools, including charter schools, who plan to pursue a major in public administration, political science or other government-related fields submitted applications for the four individual scholarships. Four outstanding candidates received $1,000 for the Florida college or university of their choice:

•    Rafael Batista of Davie – Pembroke Pines Charter School
•    Aporajita Ali of Davie – Western High School
•    Justin Permenter of Pompano Beach – Pompano Beach High School
•    Joshua Solomon of Coral Springs – Coral Glades High School
•    Shane Bryan of Tamarac (alternate) – Coral Springs Charter High School

“I’m very pleased, particularly in these difficult economic times, that we were able to revive our scholarship program through the generous charitable donations from many city officials as well as the League’s Associate business members and supporters,” stated Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick, president of the Broward League of Cities.

The Broward League of Cities, a non-partisan, non-profit organization comprised of elected officials from Broward’s 31 municipal governments, sponsors the scholarship program as an incentive for students dreaming of pursuing political careers. The scholarships were made possible thanks to the generous personal contributions of elected officials and several League of Cities Associate Members.

“[I] want to spend my life learning how the social world works and why, using this knowledge to help humanity live better and create interest in the pursuit so that others may be inspired to do the same,” wrote scholarship recipient Joshua Solomon for his application. In the fall, he will attend the Honors Program at Stetson University to study political science.

The Broward League of Cities is dedicated to supporting education through several committees and its Board of Directors that advocate for and monitor municipal, school board, and state issues and concerns. During the reception, City officials and business Members of the League contributed to the ‘Showcase of Excellence’ where cities displayed information about educational partnerships and programs in their communities.

“In addition to our Scholarship Program, League members devote their time and effort to opening the lines of communications and working with residents, Broward County, the Broward County School Board as well as State and Federal legislators to resolve issues facing our students and teachers,” said Resnick. “It is imperative we work collaboratively to support education in South Florida.”

The Broward League of Cities is a non-partisan, non-profit organization comprised of elected officials from Broward County’s 31 municipal governments including a Broward County representative. Chartered in 1957, the organization is a voluntary association which now serves over 1.7 million residents and more than 80 associate government, non-profit and business organizations throughout the County. The Broward League of Cities is dedicated to increasing awareness and providing resolutions to issues that affect day-to-day operations at the county, state, and federal levels. Read more at www.browardleague.org.

“The new Mini size should really connect with customers during our busiest time of the year which is very exciting,” said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen. “The Blizzard brand is our flagship and alone is greater in sales than any single ice cream treat competitor of ours. Being able to offer our customers something they really want on a brand platform they already love is big news.”

Served in specially designed cups, the Mini Blizzard is about half the size of a small 12 oz. Blizzard and has been well-received and performed well in many test locations over the last nine months. The new Mini represents a portion size that seems to resonate with many different types of customers for many different reasons.

Based on test store performance, Keller expects the Mini to be a hit among many DQ customers. “We had more than 90 percent consumer satisfaction ratings on several key measures in our test markets for the new Mini. The size and price really appeal to many consumers and in fact create a very strong perceived value for the new Mini,” he said.

In most stores, the Mini will likely be priced between $1.99 and $2.49. The Mini will be added to the current Blizzard size line up of 12 oz., 16 oz. and 21 oz.

The Mini is just one of the many initiatives planned for the Blizzard as part of the 25th birthday celebration.

“The Blizzard is a great story for Dairy Queen, particularly in this 25th birthday year, and the Mini is the latest chapter,” said Keller. “We will be out there sharing this news throughout the country for months because it seems like it is just that big.”

For more information visit DairyQueen.com or join the Blizzard Fan Club at BlizzardFanClub.com.

About IDQ:
International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,700 Dairy Queen® stores in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. For more information, visit DairyQueen.com.