Holistic Local Press Releases
Alternative Social Networking Site Launched
People who consider themselves alternative, holistic or green may have found a new spiritual home – online with Holistic Local, the web’s latest social networking venue and established directory for over 4,000 alternative businesses.
The popularity of web-based social networking sites like MySpace and Friendster, where users make friends and contacts according to preferences declared via an online profiling system, has spread beyond the mainstream thanks to holistic lifestyle website Holistic Local.
According to Andy Metcalfe, Internet visionary and co-founder of the site, the convergence of social networking and public interest in alternative and natural living is a head-on meeting of two of the world’s fastest growing social phenomena.
“So many people want to live more naturally, positively, sustainably and peacefully,” says Andy, “but until now it’s been hard to find friends and acquaintances with similar interests.”
“The advent of social networking sites has connected people beyond physical location, so now a community can be defined by its values and interests before its geographical location,” he adds.
Within hours of its launch, people with an alternative outlook have posted their details on the new site hoping to make contact with like-minded souls and contact is being made. The UK and US sites have been quickest off the mark, uniting searchers with unifying interests such as healthy diets, complementary therapies and organic gardening, but also TV shows like Friends, Lost and even Desperate Housewives.
Whilst critics may say interest in natural living is the indulgence of a few self-centred navel-gazers, a looming energy crisis, chronic disease rising at epidemic rates and increasing numbers of wealthy, yet depressed people asking what life is all about, suggest that the trend is unstoppable.
"I am so excited about being a member of the Holistic Local community,” says Gilly Evans Devon-based natural living devotee and typical Holistic Local member.
“It’s hard enough having ideas and habits that seem weird to most of my friends and the isolation sometimes makes me feel like giving up,” complains Gilly. “This wonderfully easy way of connecting with people with similar interests – wherever they are based – is a real help and can keep me positive about living in a more spiritual and environmentally-friendly way.”
The huge, international popularity of Holistic Local’s Natural Living Guide, which covers what it considers to be the key areas of alternative and holistic living such as natural health, healthy eating, going green and personal development, is another sign that there is a hunger not only for this sort of information, but also a meeting place for ideas and discussion – albeit online.
You can try Holistic Local social networking for yourself at: www.holisticlocal.co.uk/
Little Guide Set to Make a Big Difference - New UK Natural Living Guide Stirs Worldwide Interest
March 16, 2006 -- Within days of its release, a little electronic book "The Natural Living Guide," has struck a chord with like-minded readers around the world.
Far exceeding the expectations of its authors, Andy Metcalfe and Carl Munson, who wrote it for members of specialist search engine Holistic Local*, the guide has been the subject of requests from numerous websites as well as people in Australia and America who want to get involved with the idea.
"We wrote the guide simply because we want to make the world a better place by sharing some simple ideas with a few friends and business acquaintances," says a surprised, but delighted Andy. "Within hours of giving away the first few copies, we got an email from Australia and have started a US version to satisfy demand there."
"The Natural Living Guide has ten sections and includes 100 tips on a range of subjects including natural health, healthy eating, going green, creativity and living your dreams," says co-writer Carl. "Our hope was that people would be inspired by our book’s mix of inspirational quotes, information and web links for living a more natural life. We wanted them to read it and pass it on."
It seems the idea has caught on, as every day has brought further requests from individuals, publications and websites who want to give it away – challenging the old cliché that bad news travels round the world while good news is still doing up its shoelaces.
"We’re delighted about the guide’s immediate popularity and are really pleased to be meeting so many other people via the web, interested in natural living, who want to share this information," adds Andy.
The Natural Living Guide is available as a download in Adobe ‘pdf’ format and has a foreword by Janey Lee Grace, BBC Radio 2’s unofficial ‘holistic ambassador’, who says the guide is a “great way for busy people to get informed, get involved and take action.”
Information for editors (How YOU can share The Natural Living Guide)
If you would like to download Holistic Local’s Natural Living Guide for distribution through your publication or website, please go to: http://www.holisticlocal.com/about/media
You can also ‘co-brand’ the guide’s cover and modify its content within certain parameters by contacting: andy@holisticlocal.com
*Holistic Local is a search engine directory for holistic, green and conscious businesses which plans to offer social and community networking services for people who want to make new friends and connect with others sharing similar values. It can be used to find businesses, events such as workshops, retreats, lectures, expos and conferences as well as courses, articles and other holistic living information.
Holistic Local is available on-line in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Meeting Holistic Needs Locally
Thanks to Holistic Local, a new web-based directory that lists thousands of holistically minded businesses, the days of endless phone calls and quizzical looks may be drawing to a close.
December 5, 2005 -- Growing concerns about health, food and the environment are just three reasons why more and more people are seeking a holistic, sustainable and healthy way of life. Green and ethical businesses that offer services ranging from organic home delivery to complementary therapies are most definitely on the increase.
Whatever your worry or need, chances are there’s a small business out there to meet it – but how on mother earth do you find a fertility boosting reflexologist or green funeral advisor and everything in-between if you want to live the good life from start to finish?
Until now, finding a specialist holistic business can be like looking for an acupuncture needle in an organic haystack. In a globalised, corporate marketplace, dominated by the advertising budgets of multi-nationals, it’s a time and energy-consuming challenge. Or is it?
Thanks to Holistic Local, a new web-based directory that lists thousands of holistically minded businesses, the days of endless phone calls and quizzical looks may be drawing to a close. By simply typing in what you want and where you want it, Holistic Local's database can reveal a list of options and contact details.
These guys are in sync with web insiders who - despite the Internet's obvious global appeal - estimate that the vast majority of searches are for local products and services. "Most people's purchases are local." says Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
“Our vision is to become the world's most popular Internet directory and search engine for holistic and socially responsible business services, products & information,” proclaims co-founder Andy Metcalfe who, frustrated by the lack of user friendly and professional looking web sites of this kind, decided to start his own.
“For conscious consumers and information seekers we provide fast, relevant search results that help people to find what they're looking for in the area they live in,” he adds.
“We also want to play a role in bringing about personal and global transformation by inspiring and helping people to raise their awareness,” says colleague Nick Sturgeon, an international expert and advisor to small businesses.
Free to use for both enquirer and the holistic businesses that populate the site, Holistic Local also lists events, courses and articles on all manner of life-enhancing and planet-saving activities relating to your part of the country.
Online now and awaiting your enquiry at: www.holisticlocal.com, this service is set to not only be a help to individuals seeking out holistic enterprises, but also to humankind as the need for these services becomes a bigger and more pressing issue.
