Murphy NC 28906

I created a social networking site for Murphy, NC on ning.com a few weeks ago at MurphyNC28906.ning.com. You can still reach it at that address, but now it has a new name: Murphy Connections.

Along with a new name, it has a new domain: MurphyConnections.com.

If you have bookmarked the site, please update your bookmarks to reflect the domain change.

If you live in Murphy, NC or if you live somewhere else and you’re interested in our town and what people in our area are doing, come on over and join us at Murphy Connections.

Act on your dream!

JD

Good morning!

I don’t think it’s been much of a secret that I’ve been feeling pretty awful for the last month or so, but I’m happy to tell you that I’m feeling much better this week.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how we can work together to share our experiences of living in Murphy and meeting new friends who live here or plan to move or visit here.

So, yesterday, I started a new discussion in our forum and I look forward to reading your thoughts…

What is my vision for this Murphy NC social networking site?

Perhaps you have different ideas for making this a more active and useful site and I’m open to your critiques and suggestions. I’m happy to do the behind-the-scenes work, but the site will only become useful if you are active here.

I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking about patronizing locally-owned businesses versus chain stores and I’d love to hear what you think.

Here’s the forum discussion on this topic…

Why are local businesses important?

I hope you’re having a great day and look forward to discussing these issues, and others, with you.

Act on your dream!

JD

Visit Murphy NC 28906 at: http://murphync28906.ning.com

Our Murphy, NC Social Networking Community is less than a month old and already we’re attracting visitors from four countries, including the United States, Canada, China, and Australia.

Over 17% of the visitors to the site are coming from the search engines, so that indicates that we’re getting indexed and found for both local and general searches.

The site is designed to be easily indexed by the search engines and there are many RSS feeds to make it easy to syndicate the content on other sites and to be indexed by the RSS aggregators.

Over time, as we get new members and increased participation, more visitors will find us and learn about what is taking place in Murphy, NC. I believe this community will be even more useful for the people who live here and join in the fun.

I am happy to do all I can to help promote our community, but I can’t do it all by myself, so I encourage you to join and participate.

Tell us what you are doing and keep us up to date on what’s happening with your business, organizations, churches, and other interests and activities.

When you join, you can customize your profile page with information about you and what you’re doing.

You have your very own blog there and can join in, or start, discussions in our forum.

I’ve been busy creating new groups to make it easy for people who share common interests to meet and interact with each other.

I don’t want to create too many groups, but I’m always listening to what you want, and if you want a new group created for your interests, just let me know.

The following groups are active and ready for you to join and participate in, and are presented in no particular order:

• Promote Your Business
• Music and Musicians
• Government and Politics
• New To Murphy
• Local Photography
• Murphy Small Business
• Murphy Real Estate
• Nonprofits and Volunteers
• Hunting and Fishing
• Gardening and Farming
• Arts and Crafts
• Merchant Circle Members
• Pet Lovers
• Murphy Dreamers

If you visit the groups page, you’ll see all the groups and a brief description of their purpose.

I am happy to do what I can to help promote Murphy, NC and the people who live here. I can cover a small part of the activities in our area, but your participation is required if our online community is to reach its potential.

Don’t be shy. Join in the fun and tell us what’s happening in your corner of the Murphy area.

Of course, it’s free!

I hope to see you there.

Act on your dream!

JD

Several local merchants in Murphy, NC are offering new discount coupons this week. You can find these coupons on their listings on Merchant Circle.

Dilbeck Marketing has one new coupon:

Dilbeck Marketing - Free Initial Marketing Consultation - Expires 12-31-2009

Mountain Spirit Essentials has one new coupon:

Mountain Spirit Essentials - Come Join us! Women’s Wisdom Circle 5:30 PM 1st Wednesdays @ Cafe Bella Luna. - Expires 05-27-2009

Images by Courtnie has one new coupon:

Images by Courtnie - Free 8×10 with any Portrait Sitting - Expires: 03-31-2009

Downtown Bakery has one new coupon:

Downtown Bakery - Buy One, Get One Free - Expires 09-30-2009. This offer is good for one free cookie when you buy one.

Tri-State Shoppers Guide has one new coupon:

Tri-State Shoppers Guide - Online Advertising Orders 25% OFF - Expires 03-05-2009

(For more details on this coupon, see this blog post with more details. Call Cat at 828-837-5700 to take advantage of this coupon.)

Other coupons may be available. Here is a complete list of discount coupons for Murphy, NC on Merchant Circle.

Are you the owner of a locally-owned business in Murphy, NC who either already has a listing on Merchant Circle, or would like to learn more about how Merchant Circle can help you promote your business? If you are, come join our new Merchant Circle Members group on our Murphy, NC community site.

Act on your dream!

JD

Before I say anything else, I want to thank the people who have already joined our social and business networking community at:

http://MurphyNC28906.ning.com

Since it is still a new site, it’s growing slowly, but that’s to be expected. If you find it of value, I’d like to ask you join and participate, and then to invite at least one of your friends to join us there.

Today, I added several new groups and I’ll be happy to add other groups as requested. What are your interests? Let’s set up a place where you can discuss them and meet others who share them.

Now, you can upload photos and videos to the site.

I’ve added sections to the forum where you are welcome to place ads for what you want to buy and sell.

There is a new chat feature that was improved this morning.

What else can we do to make this the gathering place for people who live in, or are interested in, Murphy?

I welcome your feedback and suggestions and look forward to interacting with you and your friends.

Act on your dream!

JD

In late December 2007, I created a new social networking site for Murphy NC 28906 on Ning.com.

If you live in, visit, or want to know more about Murphy, NC, come join us at the Murphy NC 28906 social networking site.

You can customize your profile, write a blog, discuss topics related to Murphy, NC in our forum, meet and get to know fellow residents, upload photos, and much more — all for free!

Anyone living in, visiting, or wanting to know more about Murphy, NC is welcome. Come join us today.