What would you do if Facebook disappeared?

So, my sister is tripping out, via text, and I am trying to assure her that life will continue but she really doesn't think so.  She's feverishly typing and there's all kind of autocorrect #FAILS.

The issue, her Facebook page and Fanpage were being hacked, at that moment.  Within a matter of hours she watched as her page was taken over, closed and subsequently locked!! 
It was detrimental, at least to her.  She wanted to make a call, send an email, and (of course) cry.
On a Sunday, Facebook is kinda hard to get in touch with, who'd a thunk it!?

As a small business owner, with  a brick and mortar business, she ran her entire life and business contact list on Facebook, posting pictures of her work, accepting appointments and reaching out to other nail techs across the country. (check out GlamNailz by Chloe)

Which leads me to the reason of this post.  
What would you do if Facebook disappeared?  Not if it never were invented, but if one second you were LIKEing pics and posts and then one second you weren't.

Would you be able to live without knowing everything your high school best-friend was doing?  Would your children have a hobby to fall back on?  Would you know about all of the new Jordan sneakers that are coming out (again)?

This past weekend I decided to go through my social networks, like LinkedIn and Twitter, and pull off emails of folks I know (or knew).  I had a goal of updating my contact list, reaching out to my network and launching a few new projects with people that were "already in my circle".  Mind you, I usually collect and then covet my followers and friends, oftentimes never really reaching out to them, but isn't that what these networks are about?  Making connections, scratching backs and ultimately getting a good rub down yourself (wait, that came out wrong, but I'll roll with it).

As I personally phished through LinkedIn, Twitter (all three accounts) and Google+ I noticed just how many "new" people I'd become acquainted with via social media.  Most of them I had only known through the internet, only to meet them in person and feel like old friends.

Hell, I met my husband on Twitter! And being new to San Antonio, I've contacted and been reached by  a ton of small business owners, bloggers and clients via LinkedIn and Google+.

Facebook and other sites built around the same social construct (the construct that it's not who you know, but on which network you meet them) have drawn multiple industry professionals to the flare of being recruited to a Fortune 500 company, getting a record deal, launching their products on The Oprah Winfrey Network, or maybe becoming a world-renowned fashion model.

But, what if all of that was taken away from us?  Would everyone's life still be "perfect", "blessed" and "highly favored"?  Would you still actively involve yourself in conversations with complete strangers?  Would Kodak still be in business (getting film developed use to be such fun)?

What would you do if Facebook disappeared?
I'll wait...

HomeGirl Chronicles #5 - I admit, #IFoundMyManOnTwitter

Surprise Surprise ... I have not the most random of women, but I do know a good thing when I see one ... check out my personal, SOCIAL MEDIA induced love story at ...

http://happilyblended.com/2012/02/love-story-igboswag-darealchrisreed/

special thanks to HARO.com and Blogger @BrandyEllen for the feature

#teamOgba

@DaRealChrisReed and @MrOgba

HomeGirl Chronicles #2: Make Your Own First Impression

Relying on introductions can be #TheWorst.  As a business person, neighbor, or just wanna buy a girl a drink you naturally want people to see you in a good light ... that is if you're like me.

As a marketer and publicist I find myself reaching out to people on a daily basis.  And I love when I get in touch with just the right person the first time-around ("Never Take a NO", new post coming soon).

I hate, however, when I have to go through other people to make a contact.  It requires patience and confidence that whomever your reference is can properly communicate information about you ... excuse me, GOOD information about you.

I mean, you can't always trust what people say or how it comes out.

So, I was overjoyed when I found @WhoDoYouKnowAt ... its a site that (1) Locate the proper people and describe their relationship to you .. or (2) Allow you to build your own interactional (because you have to define this now, since everything internet is social, interactional is the congregation of actual people in a common place)


#WHOAT.NET will let you use their CHAMPION GOLF COURSE .. that's right!  If they can't find the right person you want to talk to, they'll let you use their  golf course.


The site is coming soon and has already gotten much acclaim as a top contender for super stardom!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://whoat.net?lrRef=O0mIi

Got some great things in the terms of getting the coolest info and toys to my faithful tech-monsters. 


All this month readers will get some awesome opportunities to score FREE STUFF! Check back soon!


ttyl

Next Stop On Top contest gives rappers STARdom

So, not only is it #newClientMonday ... but I am going to go ahead and scoop myself and some of my friends in the media.

As everyone knows I am all for independence ... however as of late I have noticed just how hard it is to be independent. I launched my freelance lifestyle a little under a year ago and its been a tough ride. However, I couldn't help but to tap into some of my instincts and natural talents. Take for instance the fact that I am a #Google Queen! Just hear me out. My mind works in keywords ... an old skill I picked up when I was studying for a spelling bee.

(way back when I was young enough to be in spelling bees)

In spelling and linguistics you learn that one or two histories or meanings a word may have can sometime tell how it is spelled

(yeah, I was the largest nerd, of the latin origin hugemongous)

Nevertheless, back to the point. My business is back to growing and I am keeping up with my networking, when all of a sudden a young entrepreneur by the name of Nelson "NBanks" Morris contacted me with a task. He is a music producer, based in Houston, who wants to find other likeminded professional artist who want to branch out of their individual markets.

The "Next Stop on Top" contest is looking for artists to download a beat from NBanks' production house site, BrokenBeatzEnt.com, record some hot verses, send it in and get their friends to vote for the best song ... in the end, the winner will be flown to Austin, TX where they'll shoot a video for the song, be featured in a showcase and then have the song promoted to independent weblogs and stations.

Sound good?! I mean, if this was a contest for young publicists I'd enter... so this is the goal, shoot this post to a friend that is a rapper or singer so they can enter to win this opportunity.

Or you can log onto brokenbeatzent.com for more information.

That's all for now my wonderful Black readers

TTYL

FAN PAGE EXCHANGE - SUPPORTING EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK | LinkedIn

The movement has begun... and its spreading.

Many have been trying to answer the question, Is blogging a competition?

And the answer is No, never. How could it be? This question infers that there is a good and bad type of blogger, but the actual truth is that the blogging media is only in competition with the widespread media, those stories that when you turn on the television, radio or log on are all from ...well, the associated press, which I have no qualm with, but I kinda dislike repetition, the same story every 15 minutes annoys me to no end. I mean, frank.

Bloggers are a community, mutually beneficial, that found there was news and information the public needed but weren't getting. They get inspiration from other blogs, advertisements, their everyday lives, personal business, etc., and they're driven by the need to share, teach and receive feedback. Which is why I felt compelled to blog about this movement.

After a few weeks of reading and commenting on some of my favorite blogs I logged onto LinkedIn and found this conversation on the Black Enterprise Network...its an actual network of business owners, not a game of "who can get the most".

The FAN PAGE EXCHANGE is a promotional tool, kinda like #teamfollowback for facebook, much like the Black Blogger Network, helping business owners cross reference each other, build with each other and ofcourse, exchange support. I urge all of you to read about the businesses that are self promoting themselves, much like blogs via their Facebook pages...so read up and by all means, support your local and national small business.

FAN PAGE EXCHANGE - SUPPORTING EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK | LinkedIn: "FAN PAGE EXCHANGE - SUPPORTING EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK
Social media is really on fire right on. I am participating in several Linkedin Fan Page Exchanges, and as a result, there are several testimonies of where business professionals now have over 600 fans in a short period of time. If you would like to increase your fans, please participate in this exchange. Supporting each other through social media is what it is about today. Thanks for participating.

Here's the simple instructions:

1) Post Your Fan Page Url for Other Members to Become a Fan
2) Anyone that Replies that they have become a fan, then you become a fan of their page.
3) Become a fan of everyone that is listed, and post a reply to each person that you have become a fan of.
4) Log in everyday to add more fans

oooh...and check out my about.me/chrisbethany page ... it leads you to all of my social networking sites.

Announcing Kanye Karaoke @ River Place Bar!!

When my girl came to me with this, I couldn't help but crack up! But it sounds like a bunch of fun, I mean, I'm sorry Jay Z, but autotune is not dead ... atleast not in my house!

See you all at KANYE KARAOKE!

Building and Benefiting - Divas Connection networking event!

Divas Country Club, an event series started in 2008 by entrepreneur Christian Reed was created to assist in building a thriving social network amongst the urban and professional women in Detroit. The Club has hosted events at some of downtown Detroit's most visited hotspots, including Detroit Riverfront, 5E Gallery and Cliff Bells Bar.

Who are the Divas?

Divas, up and coming, movers and shakers in the City. The Divas understand self worth and know that having a social life is just as much of an investment as their newest business suit, laptop tote, and even their education. The Divas Country Club caters to women that are seeking fun, inspiration as well as looking to climb the corporate latter or promote their service or skill.

A DCC staple, the Divas Connection is an opportunity for women business owners and corporate decision makers to come together and build profitable relationships. This networking event is peppered with giveaways, special deals on bulk orders with specific DDC vendors, chair massages and hor'dourves.

Divas Connection & Happy Hour

Thursday, October, 28, 2010 4-8pm

RiverPlace Bar and Grill (formerly Miami Bar)

225 Joseph Campau, located Downtown Detroit

RiverPlace Bar Website

Drink Specials/ Hor'Deurves/ Networking/ Giveaways

All are welcome to this FREE Event.

Social Networking and Marketing for your small business

I gotta get the panel members for this panel, my minicomputer was acting up. They seem powerful and extremely well-put together.

The dollar doesn't turn around once in the Black community, that means, when a black person gets a dollar, they spend it and more than likely with someone of an opposite race. Out of approximately 6000 businesses that start every year, less than 19% of those businesses are started by blacks. Small business is a major aspect in revitalizing the national economy.

Okay, here are the panel members
Ken Blanks Harrell
Ed Foxworthy
Hajj Flemmings (moderator)
there's a few more, but I am doing this LIVE and I am not keeping up with the names like I should...email me chrisreed07@gmail.com
1. HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY THE BUSINESS THAT YOU ARE IN (marketing)? What was your AH-HA moment?
-Forget about what you think life is and figure out what you enjoy doing and put a dollar sign on it.
-After making so many mistakes, and having self pitty parties, you begin to realize that your loyalty needs to be with you. Maximize your time, improve your skill and make your activities co-inside with your goal. If you say you want to make $1 million, then make it.

Ms. Gillian Blackwell, one of the benefits of the internet, they have leveled the playing field for small businesses and the connections that they can make. But one of the downfalls is that everyone is claiming to be an expert. However, it trying to organizing who is best at what. In my last post I mentioned that small business owners need to find those that are perfectionists in their industries and can help you run your business. But take your mommas advice to heart, You can tell a tree by its fruit. Look at the relationships that your colleagues may have created, take a peek at their e-networking history, listen to what they have to say, do your research..don't go int a situation completely blind.

@ Mr. Ken Blanks Harrell, he demanded that we take notes. He speaks on his success and what prevents them from being successful (making money)
1. There is no need for your service
2. There is no money
3. There is no trust
Staying consistent with your message is very important with how your business lives
Stay relevant with the audience you want, get a website, build your following, be in the face of your audience. Promote yourself. Create a plan that you will be able to make you money.

I am really enjoying this forum, especially when they are talking about FREE methods of social networking and finding leads for your business. It all comes down to building a base, and then using those connections. Thats what facebook, myspace, twitter and the such are for, they are to be used to better define your audience, getting your specific message to the people and most importantly, LISTENING TO YOUR AUDIENCE. Although there are a ton of things to get on sites like ebay and amazon.com, but if you look close enough you can find the things that people want. When building your social network make sure you keep thinking about who you want to meet, what you want them to know about you and why they should want to continue to know you.

Branding - Developing a Professional Image and Polishing Your Brand
All of your information needs to be available to potential clients/customers. Your customers should constantly see it so that when people they know need something, you are the first person they think of it. Gaining HOUSEHOLD BRAND status is very important and very easy, just stay out there, all the time and everywhere. Your branding strategy includes the entire experience a customer has when dealing with you, the way you answer the phone, the presentation of your product, your follow up, the price versus the feel of purchasing your product or service. Develop what it is that is going to be your image.

JUST GOT A LITTLE INSPIRATION, I'ma post this on TWITTER (darealchrisreed) NEWSLETTER COMING SOON

Thank you to Mr. Harrell for "Own your own, or be owned by someone else." Corporate America is frustrating and I am pretty sure that you feel me on this, let it frustrate you so much that you start your own and do it as good as you can.