​If you’re using social media for your business you likely have something you want to accomplish. If you don’t...well, that’s the first thing you need to do.
 
Go ahead. I’ll wait.
 
For brevity’s sake, let’s assume you have something you want to get out of social media for your business. Maybe it’s more customers. Maybe you want to streamline your customer support and make it more accessible. Or maybe you just want to get your business name out there.
 
Whatever you were hoping your social media presence would do, it’s obviously not working for you if you’ve read this far.
 
And that’s exactly what this article is for...getting more from your social media. 

​On Monday, March 7, 2022 the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce performed a ribbon cutting ceromony for the Key West branch of MiMutual Mortgage, now located on 1121 Duval Street.
 
Chamber Executive Vice President Robert Goltz and MiMutual branch manager Christian Newberry spoke briefly to those in attendance that had gathered to celebrate the occasion.
 
MiMutual was welcomed to the community and to the Chamber as Newberry performed the traditional formality of cutting the ribbon outside of the doors to the property.
 
MiMutual’s team of mortgage loan officers specialize in mortgage loan purchasing, remodeling, and refinancing. More information can be found at https://keywestflorida.mimutual.com/ or call (248) 220-5444.

​The Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce presented the William “Billy” Appelrouth Award and the Athena Award at the inaugural “Roaring 22s” Installation & Awards Dinner on February 25, 2022.
 
The William “Billy” Appelrouth Award is given to an individual who has provided extraordinary service to the Key West Chamber of Commerce. It recognizes a pinnacle of service that goes well above and beyond traditional volunteerism. Billy Appelrouth was a Key West business owner who was dedicated to giving back to his island community.
 
Patricia Neyra received this honor for her service to the Board of Directors, leadership positions within the committees of the chamber, and for exceeding all expectations beyond the call of duty, no matter what task is on hand. Patty strives to honor and represent all ideals of the Chamber.
 
The Athena Award was founded in 1982 and is designed to recognize the achievements of outstanding business and professional women in communities across the country and around the world. By honoring exceptional leaders, the Athena Award program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives. The award sculpture depicts Athena, the dynamic goddess of Greek mythology.
 
The 2022 Athena Award was sponsored by Jack Niles of Niles Sales and Service and was accepted by Mona Clark. Mona is a Key West native who had a dedicated teaching career and continues to have an unwavering commitment to the children of the community through 22 years of Take Stock in Children mentorship, as well as constantly uplifts and empowers the Black community and fellow women through volunteer work and leadership roles.
 
 

​The Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce installed the officers and directors of the Board, presented annual awards, and celebrated over 100 years serving the business community of Key West on Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Reach Resort. The “Roaring 22s” soiree by presenting sponsors La Trattoria Venezia and Ocean Blue Galleries .
 
Attendees of the 1920s themed affair arrived sporting feather boas, sparkly headpieces, gloves, and three piece suits, the fashion of the iconic time period. The event took place outdoors on the lawn from 7pm to 10pm.
 
The 2022 Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce Officers and Board of Directors are:
 
Suzanne Moore – President
Patricia Neyra – First Vice President
Brittany Snyder – Second Vice President
Karen Sharp – Treasurer
Diane Schmidt – Secretary
Greg Sullivan – Immediate Past President
 
Board Members:  Casey Arnold, Annie Briening, Joe Caso, David Clay, Travis Doll, George Fernandez, Van Fischer, Melissa Kendrick, Bill Lay, Andrew Morawski, Mark Rossi, Amber Shaffer, John Toppino, and Jim Wilson.
 
Chamber President Suzanne Moore provided remarks on the past year and goals for 2022.  Awards presented at the event were the Athena Award to Mona Clark, sponsored by Jack Niles of Niles Sales and Service and the William “Billy” Appelrouth Award to Patricia Neyra.
 
The event would not have been possible without our sponsors:  La Trattoria Venezia, Ocean Blue Galleries, Opal Key Resort, Appelrouth, Farah & Company, Bascom Grooms Real Estate, The College of the Florida Keys, Suzanne Moore Real Estate Services, Cara Higgins Law, Monroe Concrete Products, VDF Law, PLLC, Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc., The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Goal Tending Services.

​Are you on TikTok? Maybe you’re just figuring out video and livestreaming and you have written off TikTok as a site for kids.
 
While you aren’t wrong about that (32.5% of users are between 10 and 19, while 41 percent of TikTok users are between 16 and 24 years old), the TikTok adult audience has grown at a rate of about 5.5 times in just 18 months.
 
The app now boasts 1 billion active users. TikTok videos are becoming a way to pass time for many people and the average user spends about 52 minutes per day on the app. It also has huge reach. 167 million TikTok videos are watched in a minute on average.
 
So, if you’re looking to reach an under 35 audience in your business, TikTok might be the avenue for you. Here’s what you need to know as a beginning user:

This week's Black History Month Spotlight is on Shane and Amy La Beet.  Owners of Pepper Pot Island Cafe.
Here are some questions we asked them.

​In the late 1700’s, African Americans experienced racism and discrimination attending Christian church services at primarily white congregations. In 1794, the African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in Philadelphia by Richard Allen, a former slave from Delaware, who sought a safe space for African Methodists to worship. During the Reconstruction period after the Civil War, clergy of the AME recruited many newly freed slaves into the church. As a result, AME spread across the United States.
 
The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Key West has been a staple of the African American community in the Bahama Village neighborhood since 1887. Originally built on Duval Street, the location was moved in 1923 to its present location on Truman Avenue after damages from the Hurricane of 1909, and a fire that some speculate were possibly the actions of the Ku Klux Klan in 1922. 

This week's Black History Month Spotlight is on Chef Clive Thompson,  Owner of One Love Food Truck.
Here are some questions we asked Chef Clive Thompson:

​Whether you are a business or a nonprofit, operating in the public sector or the private one, serving businesses and organizations or serving individuals, established in your sector or just starting out, running an empire or “lone wolfing” it, your audience wants to get to know you better.
 
In fact, they expect it.
 
So, what does that look like and how does that benefit you?
 
It depends on your ideal demographic, but most of the things we’ll cover in this article, will work for everyone. Good content creates loyal, engaged followers. In turn, a loyal audience (eventually) will create content for you. Best of all, that type of content, known as referral marketing or word of mouth marketing, is not only one of the strongest in converting new followers and creating an army of people willing to give you money, it is also free, minus the time it takes to nurture that type of follower.