Category: UncategorizedSeems I have been on the road way too many days in the past few weeks…enough that it’s time I start blogging about the road and the funny things I encounter. If you don’t or haven’t worked “on the road”…it’s quite a life I tell you. Some days I just zip to a clients house, most days though I am back to backing appointments. Trying to book everyone in the same area on the same day isn’t easy either, but I am making it happen!
Yesterday I had to go down to the office and finish doing a data move and pick up a client machine for drop off in Bloomington. Then off to Oak City in Bloomington for a LinkedMinnesota meeting. Almost 70 people were there and it was quite an event. Lots and lots of networking! I even had strangers asking me what was going on…it was pretty cool. And 3 folks told me that they read my blog. I can’t even being to tell you how cool that is….all three brought up 3 different topics too!
Then after Oak City, off to give the client back her computer and off to Macy’s at Southdale to look for fun sunglasses. No joy. I didn’t like any of them. Back on the road to a clients house and that computer….just would not play nice. I had to reschedule for Wed. Off to another client and headed home around 6:15.
Thought about stopping at Subway in SLP for a sammie, but as I was turning in the lot, a lady was waiting for a spot. She just sat there forever and I’m thinking “good gravy lady, the lot is half empty! move it!”….and then another spot opened up a bit closer to Subway so she took that one! ARGH!!! I had to wait for nothing. I was so mad I didn’t even go to Subway and just went home and cooked dinner.
Probably a better idea anyway:) That was my day yesterday, enjoy your Tuesday!
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!
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
“People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, …but they will always remember how you made them feel”
~Carrie Bradshaw
Hello everyone! Quick update on the Project! We have so far helped over 250 people learn to use LinkedIn to get leads and opportunities for their job search! We are moving to the next level and moving on to other cities, Milwaukee and Kansas City are our next test markets.
Currently I have 8 pro bono assistants on board and we are looking for more. In the next week I will be blasting out the open positions and seeing if we can get some more pro bono folks on with us to help. Just a reminder, if you or someone you know is looking for work and is on LinkedIn, they may qualify to take the workshop.
Please send them to: https://callthatgirl.biz/projectlinkitforward.html
Thanks again everyone for your support, this is a great Project and I am thrilled for it’s success! We are still scheduling for Minneapolis/St. Paul!
In easy to understand terms…there is an Internet virus spreading like wild fire right now. I see this in my shop at least a couple of times a week. It’s not a virus that is usually caught by your standard anti-virus program. I call this thread of viruses “A family”. It’s actually got a few names that it runs under but for the general user, they will see “Antivirus 2008 ” or “Antivirus 2009” on their desktop or start getting pop up ads for removal.
There are many ways the virus tricks you into downloading it. One way is through the fake “Google” window, they replicated Google and the whole window is “the virus” so no matter what you click on, even the X in the corner…you have activated a download. This is very tricky to avoid, so I just recommend going to your start menu and rebooting your computer. There are other ways to close this window, but for the general user, this is easiest. This goes for Macintosh users as well…I have seen the “windows” pop up on my Macintosh.
Once you get the virus, if you get it removed right away…you’re in good shape. If you let the virus grow, your computer could end up on the reformat block (meaning, starting your computer from scratch and losing everything if not backed up).
A few tips and tricks…
~Lisa
Call That Girl!
…Computer Repair with flair!
Lisa Hendrickson
Office 612-746-0566
Cell 612-865-4475
https://callthatgirl.biz/>
http://www.linkedin.com/in/callthatgirl
