Today I have worked pretty much non stop since 7am. I went to a BNI visitor day for the Fireside group in Minnetonka with my buddy John Eichten from Escape Key. The group was interesting and the format was pretty cool. I haven’t been to a BNI group before (well, not since 5 years ago anyway)…and thought it was time I checked it out. Everyone got their time to speak and then they has some presentations and the visitors got a minute to chat, etc. I gave a carpet cleaning company a referral to come clean our parking garage where I live, there is gross sand everywhere!
Then I was on the road after that. I conducted a private LinkedIn session to a small group of 12 in Eden Prairie, they seemed to have enjoyed it and appeared they learned a bit about how to network. Then off to a clients house in Plymouth to fix her printer and docking station. Then off to another client in Plymouth who just needed to learn a few things since she upgraded her technology…then off to buy a card scanner from a guy off craigslist in Hopkins!
Score! Turns out he is on LinkedIn and works in the computer industry….talk about networking via craigslist, I rule yo.
Then down to south Bloomington to fix up some old computers from another client and she is getting a new computer, yay for her! I love it when clients buy new. It’s like buying a new toy.
Then home. Well, a short detour to SuperAmerica for food and stuff.
Now I am home, about to pass out, but must blog! My blog hits are higher than my website at this point, so I will blog for the cause!
Up and at ‘em at my normal time I guess. I was supposed to be at a networking event, but I just couldn’t get out of bed to be there at 7am. I tried though, my alarm snooze went off 8 times. I had a feeling around 5:46 that I was doomed to miss it. So I will have to meet a big group of folks another way I guess.
I have a busy day, going to a client’s house in Eagan and then doing a tour of a business down in Eagan to see if we can do business together. I love finding good partnerships! I have an announcement this Friday that is super exciting btw…so watch for that!
Then it’s off to the office to do mad phone support calls. I have 3 booked today and my intern Hassan is coming in to work on a few marketing ideas we have brewing. Then I believe it’s a good night to take my pup to the dog park. I hope I don’t run into the crazy lady again.
Woke up today in a pretty good mood I must say. I have a weird calendar this week so far and I’m sure it will just get weirder! It’s networking season, woo hoo! That means I have to be up at the crack of dawn 2 mornings to be out in the far burbs at 7am. I will do it! I just don’t think I will be awake….
I have 3 events booked this week, and 3 next week. The winter blah is over for me and it’s time to get back out there. I will be much happier networking with my new business cards, but they won’t be in for awhile:( boo. I am really excited though to get out there with the new cards! They are shiny black with the new metropolitan logo….they look pretty cool if you ask me.
Here is this week’s top 9 referring site for Call That Girl! I like seeing how folks are finding that girl.
Direct hits: 245
Google referrals 133
1. projectlinkitforward.com 93
2. linkedin.com 71
3. minneapolis.craigslist.org 27
4. stthomas.edu 17
5. elizaoneinc.com 9
6. mail.google.com 9
7. facebook.com 8
8. .mail.yahoo.com 6
9. callthatgirl.wordpress.com 5
As I said, it’s Monday am…I am still thinking about going back to bed for a smidge, but I know I will be much happier if I just stay up and get my day rolling. Lots to do this week! Cya!
I got put in LinkedIn jail about a month ago. You get put in jail when you get to many folks that say “I don’t know this person”…and then you are restricted to inviting people to your network only if you have their email address.
Not a big deal, just a bit more of a hassle if you want a bigger network. To just prove that I will continue to thrive on Linkedin without the “invite” by regular options, I am staying in jail. I won’t ask to be “released” and I bet I can still get to 3000 connections by end of summer.
I’m out to put my theory to the test! For me to do the manual labor for this, will only help me market and advertise, so thank you LinkedIn!
Just sayin’.
Happy Sunday everyone…I’m out to figure out a new way to market and connect!
So folks, as you can see…I’m putting some effort into vamping up my word press. I will be moving my official business website to this format here in a few weeks. I have asked my website wizard to help me through this, so expect a lot of changes in the next month!
I have been adding on pages, organizing old posts, doing a bit of this and that. I really am enjoying it though. Good project for me as I love doing this stuff! I want my new website to be more involved with my clients too, so I can have them post up thoughts and comments.
I’m so glad it’s Friday. I worked my butt off this week and really need a good weekend of bike riding and walking the pupster. My house is clean, so that is done, no cleaning to do! YAY! No big plans but I’m sure something fun will come my way:)
Have a good weekend everyone!
Lisa
I’ve been thinking about writing a big blog about my thoughts on social media and today is that morning. This blog entry will include, what’s next, how I’ve used the social media to market and don’t forget face to face networking.
I think we get it, social media is the place to be. But what about those that have already been using it for networking, advertising, marketing and doing good work for others? I am feeling lately…what is the next big thing and when can I start using it. It’s not that I’m tired of my favorite social medias, no way! I love and adore the 2 main ones I’m using. LinkedIn and Facebook. I’m talking about what is coming up and when can I start playing in the new pool.
I started using Facebook in March 2007 and LinkedIn in May of 2007. I learned last fall that I didn’t want my personal Facebook account to be for business, so I created a business Facebook page….that isn’t easy to manage at all. I’m considering just deleting my business one and not using it for business. I don’t really see a value in it because almost everyone on my Facebook page is already one of my LinkedIn contacts! I have though lately seen a big jump in the Facebook marketing. Many of my contacts are on Facebook blasting about events and workshops, tips and tricks, etc. I have been doing it too, but focused less on selling my business, but offering FYI and tips and tricks. I will be making the decision here shortly about using FB for business, I am thinking about that “new boat” I want to get on…and I think I found it. (not telling anyone about it either! you will see shortly!)
So what else is out there that I’ve tried and not gotten into….
Twitter. Probably a great idea for my business, I forget to tweet. If I’m not tweeting, I’m not using it. So I don’t. My account just sits there.
What else. Myspace? Nah. I have a page for Call That Girl, never got anywhere with it.
What else. Digg? I have done a few blasts, I could push more out with my blogs I guess when I have a good tip and tricks.
What else. There are so many more friends/contacts sites, I kinda feel I am doing what I can handle and what I enjoy.
What else. Xing and Ning. Too much work and not enough local people on it. And I figure the locals on it, are already on LinkedIn. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel here folks. One site for everything is good enough for me right now.
So what will work for you?
LinkedIn…has worked for me. But remember, I have spent a lot of time on this site. I have done a few things with it that others will not be able to replicate at all. I have been working with LinkedIn daily since Nov 2007 and I am finally FINALLY seeing my marketing and hard work pay off. Right now about 1/3 of my client load is coming from LinkedIn or referals. (Remember, my core business is computer repair, not teaching LinkedIn). Also take note that I get about 20 inboxes a day from folks and I make sure to reply to everyone. It’s a building block of marketing on LinkedIn in my opinion.
When people ask me how important it is to do the social media, I tell them, “Do what makes you comfortable” if you don’t like giving out all your information, then don’t do it. The social media craze is really for people who like to share their lives, accomplishments, knowledge, thoughts and expressions and who also enjoy making new friends that they haven’t met before. Social media networking is not for every business or everyone.
Remember what your core business is and focus on that. I found a few months ago that I was focusing more attention on my social media events (mostly speaking/teaching events) that I forgot what my core business was. Computer repair! So now I have settled back with using the social media to have fun with and not as a service of my business.
To close…I am looking forward to a fun spring doing face to face events again! Winter is over and the blahs are gone! I am excited to just get back out there like I did when I first started up the business. Kickin’ it old school! I think with the “social media” craze we can’t forget that people enjoy meeting people in person still. I have a few people that I hope to finally meet out this spring. Enjoy today, should be awesome out!
★Email hackers are on the prowl again★
I had one client this week get taken by the hackers and I received another email from someone questioning it. I did some research and found many folks on the internet having this same hack happen to them.
Change your internet email account password and here is why…
Please read this information
* Hackers are logging into your email accounts, sending spam to your contacts and then changing your password.
* These emails usually include a message about “you” being out of the country and losing your wallet and needing money sent to get you back to the US.
* They are wrote in choppy English, but it’s still wrote in a manner that appears personal.
* You are not notified until one of your contacts tells you about it
* You may or may not be able to log in and see the emails being sent as your password has been changed.
* You will have to notify hotmail, yahoo or gmail about the hack to get your account repaired so you can log in again.
* If you do not pass their account credentials to get it repaired, you will have to create a new account and start over and lose all of your contacts and personal information you have in the email folders/lists, etc. This is sometimes your bread and butter! I know many small business folks who are using hotmail for business and think of all the client information you keep on hotmail’s servers. Change your password today to a unique password for email only.
★What Happened and how to prevent it★
Someone got into your account. How did they do this? Do you recall a time lately when you had to fill in a web form or another website to create an account and possibly had to fill in a password? I’ll bet it’s the same password for your email. This is very common! Everyone uses one password for email, Myspace, Facebook, YOUR BANKING, etc…
The hackers are either getting access to those web form databases and/or are using fake forms to get your information and are by luck, gaining access to the account by the information those that gave them: the email and a password.
This is why you should change your email account password to something VERY unique and do not use it for any other sites on the net. I also recommend you back up your contacts asap…just in case. If you need help with this, feel free to Call That Girl for a phone support call and I can help you with this.
~Lisa
Call That Girl!…
…Computer Repair with flair!
Lisa Hendrickson
Office 612-746-0566
Cell 612-865-4475
www.callthatgirl.biz
http://www.linkedin.com/in/callthatgirl
http://callthatgirl.wordpress.com/
“People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, …but they will always remember how you made them feel”
~Carrie Bradshaw
Where has this month gone? GOOD GRAVY! All of a sudden it dawned on me taxes are due on Wed and then you have it…half of April is gone. I swear I can’t be missing half months anymore. Maybe that’s a good sign? I’m so busy with this and that…time is flying.
Today is Easter. I told my family we need to just call it what it is…”Ham day” from now on. We are not really into church or any of that, (well, I for sure am not so I should not speak for them all), so we can have Ham Day in a few weekends from now. I can’t go home right yet, my tires on my truck are BALD. And I ain’t kidding. If anyone would like to donate to the “Please help Lisa buy new tires fund” you can paypal me at “info@callthatgirl.biz”
Any size donation accepted!
I’m just super broke as a struggling entrepreneur should be, so as important as tires are…I still have to wait til I have the money. I feel like a 12 year kid saving up for something with babysitting money. The wait is incredible! Once I get tires, I think I’ll drive to Vegas! WOO!
Today I am going out to Ham Day with a friend and we will be eating a ton of pork products at Famous Dave’s for brunch. Their brunch is the BOMBA! nummy!!! Lisa likey! But then after today, the final bad Ham Day of her life….will be the start of Weight Watchers yet again. I have had a few failed efforts in the past, but I am ready this time to give it a good go. I have all the foods stocked and new walking shoes and if you can believe this….a week without any lunch plans. Yikes. Last week I had 4 booked.
Besides the taxman forcing me to do stupid paperwork, I have a good office week planned. Every week is picking up and I am loving the balance of “on the road” and “office” weeks. It’s pretty cool running my own business I must say. AND what is super cool is my intern is back! I adore Lisa the Intern…she is a lot of fun.
That’s all folks, see ya next time!
Morning! I am loving today so far….woke up to good dreams that I don’t remember. I think that’s a good sign when you don’t remember them, but you know they were making you smile as you were sleeping. Today I am meeting with a client at 9:15 to do a computer cleaning and then off to Outback to meet up with 2 rock star Quick Books troubleshooters to add to the team. I am very excited to bring them on and get my clients the fast and affordable support they need.
Then I have another meeting with one of my competitors…to do a small partnership of services. I am so glad I don’t do everything and have room for these partnerships. I will be announcing a pretty big one here in a couple of weeks and that one is faboolous!
Personally, things are going well. I got my new tv from Sears as the older one was lemon lawed. So now I have a 50″ plasma to watch, woo! Life is in order, work is in order, now tonight I am tackling on the gym and getting into gym mode. Working out is not one of my favorite things to do…but I’m doing it tonight! And then whipping up some naughty steak with peppers and green beans. Tasty!
