Blogs

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing this grow by over a thousand members in the space of only a few months. In looking throughmy blog posts I noticed that I posted an article about ‘creating relationshipsonline’ and how important it is do so, especially if yours is a strictly onlinebusiness.

Because the group has grown so much in such a short time, I wanted to reiterate some of the points that I wrote about in the blog post.Perhaps this is the first online group that you have joined or you’re an oldonline veteran (like me, lol). Either way, we can all still gain something fromeach other, but only if you’re willing to get in and participate.

Many people join online groups, create a page in this group and expect the dollars to roll in, because of course, your product or service isso irresistible that all you have to do is “be” and folks will come to you. I’mreally sorry to burst your bubble, but, sor-ry – it just ain’t so. You have towork much harder at creating relationships online because you do not have theforce of your physical presence (in person/on phone) to back up your salespitch.

I would like to provide you with a few pointers to find and foster relationships (read network) online.

• Form a relationship based on what you can give, rather than what you can get.
  A lot of people have the attitude "I'm not going to do anything for anyone ifthere's nothing in it for me." We all remember our high schoolliterature, right? "No man is an island". Although you may not beworking side by side with other entrepreneurs/business women, we are allconnected in one way or another. Now I'm not saying talk up someoneelse's product over your own, but there's no harm in giving out the name of asistapreneur who you know can help someone. For example, someone postedon this board about needing a lawyer. I replied that one of the sisterson the board was a representative for Pre-Paid Legal Services - hopefullythese two sisters were able to connect and both benefit from my"introduction".

• Don't wait for people to come to you
  Cruise around BBWO and get the lay of the land. Run a search for yourkeywords or check out a few profiles at random. Leave a comment (yourcalling card) on profiles that interest you. For example, as a naturalbath and body maker, I looked for other bath and body makers. Then Ilooked for holistic/natural practitioners, then I looked for natural haircare. As I ran this search, I found a few sisters who shared my samevision or with whom I could connect with on another level. Reach out,leave a comment!

• Personalize your approach
  Please, please, do not leave a generic comment on 20 profiles. "I've gota great automated business that will generate multiple streams of incomethrough affiliate marketing." You've heard it, I've heard it, we've allheard it. Take the time to come up with something original, likeactually reading the person's profile and asking a question about what theydo.

• Read the boards.
  LaShanda has said this all ready but I'll say it again. Read! Iwas fortunate enough to be interviewed by a lovely lady from Canada AND Ilearned about a trend called New Urbanism. How? If I can't doanything else, I read the front page of BBWO from top to bottom at least threetimes a week. Even if I don't post, I check the newsfeed. Sistersare asking for advice, for information, for guest bloggers, samples for goodybags, article content - there's plenty going on.

• Be professional
  Maybe I'm a prude, but nothing turns me off more than foul language on abusiness board. If I'm on a personal board, hey, I know that anythingpretty much goes. But when I'm reading your blog post request for guestbloggers which used profanity, I'm not sure I want to be associated with yoursite. Save the profanity for your friends, please! You never knowhow people will react to your choice of language.

For more pointers on finding your way around BBWO, see LaShanda's post andmy original post on this topic.

CeeCee Woolard
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Sweatin' For You In Congress and at the FDA!

I'm excited to be back from our trip to Washington, DC to advocate against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. I will be reporting all the details to Indie Beauty Network members in a members only conference call tomorrow. (Check your email members!) In the meantime, I just have to share some photos and a little bit about our journey. It all started at 1:00AM Tuesday (yesterday) when my dear youngest brother picked me up from the airport. I arrived at our family home at about 2:00AM and fell asleep almost immediately. When the alarm went off at 5:30AM, it was on. We squeezed in 4 meetings all over town in one day. Here's how we did it.

First Call

I met up with Kayla Fioravanti (see pronunciation lesson below) of Essential Wholesale, Jamila White of j.blossom, Anne-Marie Faiola of Brambleberry and Lela Barker of Bella Lucce at 8:15 at the Food & Drug Administration's Office of Cosmetics & Colors. We huddled in the lobby (there were no chairs) for about an hour rehearsing our presentation. The energy level was high. We were looking our best, even showing off our fabulous shoes. These are Lela's. Note the high heels.

e.Our meeting started at 9:00AM. We were done by 10:20. After our meeting with FDA, we ran (literally) to catch the metro so we would be on time for an 11:00 meeting with a staffer in Senator John Kerry's office. It wasn't long before we ditched our heels in favor of flats and flip flops, as demonstrated by Jamila White who sported a summer pedicure. We could really run fast without the heels.

When we got to the Senate Office Building, we promptly got lost. When we discovered where we were, we learned that we had entered the building through the door that was the furthest away from Senator Kerry's very grand corner suite of offices. So we ran some more.

By this time, we gave the Indie Beauty Network a new name. The Sweaty Beauty Network.

Lucky for us, the staffer was delayed. So we stood in Senator Kerry's outer office with our chins on the floor. That's right, our mouths were wide open in awe at the hundreds of photographs recounting Kerry's years of public service. Yes, the original swift boat photos are there. And the ones with the Dalai Lama and tons with kids. We posed for one of our own.

Enter: Senator Kerry's staffer. So, we delivered our presentation a second time. We tried to pawn off some beauty products on the staffer, but ever the law abiding citizen, she refused. Then we had to eat.

I Must Digress

But we couldn't eat before Kayla announced, after we've known each other for 6 years, that I had been saying her last name incorrectly for the past 6 years. And now, I was doing it in front of Congress. That apparently was the last straw.

So, everyone, Fioravanti is pronounced Fiora-vaaaaaah-nti. It's "vaaaaaahh-nti" like a soothing spa massage. Not "van-ti," like a mini-van. Got that?! Check.

I think I kept messing it up anyway, being nervous in front of Congress and all. Now that I've spelled it out, it won't happen again. But I digress.

Food, Then More Sweat

So we took yet another metro to Union Station and gulped down some grub in a food court. Then off to meet with Virgil Miller, the Professional Staff Member in charge of the draft law that brought us to Washington, DC. We ran. We hustled. We sweated.

Our meeting with Mr. Miller was fantastic. He was professional, forthcoming and very interested in what we had to say. He also told us how we could make a helpful contribution to the overall political process where this law is concerned.

But we couldn't rest yet. One more meeting, which unfortunately required us to become sweaty again. Not only that, it started to rain. Indies in the City. Without umbrellas. Wet. Sweaty. Nice.

Thank God for paper towels. We made it to Congressman Jackson's office just in time, and once again, we delivered our presentation. The staffers were very encouraging and made some suggestions for how we could continue our efforts.

Last Call

After many high fives, and completely exhausted, it was time to head to California Pizza Kitchen. Sick and tired of being sweaty and tired, we decided to take a cab since we did not have to rush.

When we got to CPK, we found our second wind. Who wouldn't? Just look at these Indies In The City.

Seated: dM, Jamila White, Michele Keiper (Flower Peddler)
Standing: Kelly Bloom (Southern Soapers), Lela Barker, Kayla Fioravaaaaaahh-nti, Anne-Marie Faiola, Daniela Maldonado (Hello Bath & Body), Funlayo Alibi (Shea Radiance)

Jamila and Michele looking fetching, not sweaty.

We enjoyed a fantastic time drinking cocktails (on me!) and eating delicious things like white pizza, Tuscan hummus, pear and Gorgonzola cheese pizza and Thai crunch salad. It was the perfect way to cap an energizing, enlightening, empowering and, yes, very sweaty day.

Go Indie!