Style Bloggers of Color Conference 2012

Saturday June 9, 2012 Atlanta, GA

  I was afforded the opportunity to attend Panel discussions during Mattieologie's Style Bloggers of Color Conference. I sat and listened to the Build & Brand: What Brands Want & How To Build Your Own panel discussion. The panel consisted of Nicole Garner of The Garner Circle PR, Shalawn Willis of Lamik Beauty, Myleik Teele of Curlbox, and Alexis Felder of CurlsCoilsAndKinks.com. Some of the continued pieces of advice that were shared by the panelist were making a connection with brands and showing that you're influential.

  Alexis asked the panelist about developing your own personal brand! I honestly sat upright in my chair when this question was asked. Building my personal brand is something I've been working on lately so I was eager to hear the ladies responses.

Myleik: Be about results. Respond back to emails and inquiries. Be committed and consistent. Nobody can be you but you!

Shalawn: Respect others in the same field. Be nice to everyone. You never know who you are sitting beside.

Alexis: Be friendly and respectful.

Nicole: Know what your brand is and try to get it across!

Alexis: Are all Bloggers Event Planners?

Nicole: Event planning is completely different than posting to your blog! 

Myleik: If you want to try throwing an event, do it! You'll learn what you did right and what you need to improve in. Focus on your relationships. Have good relationships with people in your same position. You'll rise together. The CEO of a company cannot do much for you. Stop trying to be so competitive!

Alexis: What makes you reach out to certain bloggers?

Nicole: Analytics. How many followers do you have on your blog, Youtube, Twitter, etc.  What's the age median of your followers? What's your market online versus offline. How engaging are you? What's your personality? Be engaging. 

Myleik: Do people aspire to be you or do they relate to you. Make a connection. Be authentic.

Nicole: Have a level of transparency. Have integrity.

Myleik: All money ain't good money. Be your brand.

Nicole: NETWORK! Its not personal, its business. Register on an analytical site to show brands you are serious. QuantCast, Google Analytics . 

Alexis: How do you transition from personal blogging to business blogging?

Myleik:  It stops becoming a hobby when you're ready to commit and take it seriously. It's not going to be easy. There's goodness on the other side when you stop being afraid. Need nothing but attract everything. Don't be afraid.

Alexis: I started taking my blog seriously when I was making brands thousands of dollars!

Alexis: Should a blogger have a publicist?

Myleik: Be your own publicist on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, etc. You can get the word out about your brand until you get to the point where you can't. Publicist spread the word about how hot you are, they don't make you hot. Be hot.

Alexis: Make valuable connections.

Nicole: Transparency is key when managing the integrity of your brand.

Myleik: Get your idea all the way together before you talk about it publicly to anyone. 

Questions were open to the crowd and a young lady asked how do we as bloggers/vloggers pitch ourselves to companies.

Nicole: Build your brands so people don't want to do any of your pitched ideas without you. Be ambitious.

Myleik: Be hot. This is a business. You have not because you ask not. Say what you want and you just might get it. Determine how much you want to share. Look in your closet and bathroom. Those are the brands you're representing. Those are who you should reach out to. Reach out when you get hot. Tell companies you love their stuff. Be selective. Lay out your plan.

Crowd Networking

Tia Lou of ifiwereabritgirl.blogspot.com and Lexi

Crowd Networking

Crowd Networking

Tiffini Gaitlin of www.tastemakermag.com

Jasmine Bacon, Social Media Professional

Jessica Burden, urbeninventory.bigcartel.com

So I decided since it was a Style Bloggers of Color Conference that I would steer clear of my all black and venture into some color. My look seemed to be a hit and I received many compliments. I wore a blazer and leggings from Sears and shoes from Charlotte Russe. Check me out: 

About the Panelist:

Nicole Garner is the Founder/CEO of The Garner Circle PR. The Garner Circle PR is a lifestyle marketing and event execution agency headquartered in  Atlanta, GA with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The Garner Circle PR prides itself in serving a vital niche, rich, and unconventional territories. The Garner Circle PR is very selective in working with clients in which they see their vision and believe in their mission. Some of their clients include: Celebrities Chrisette Michelle and Young Jeezy, Luxury Brands such as Porsche and Nike, Fashion such as Sole Fetish and the BET Awards Style Suite, and many other Non Profits, Beauty, and Cinema. Connect with her: @thegarnercircle, www.thegarnercirclepr.com.

-Alexis Felder is the creator of CurlsCoilsAndKinks.com, has a Youtube channel LexiWithTheCurls, and is a Digital Marketer for a major Gossip Blog. Her blog is for the natural, transitioning, and those relaxed/texlaxed ladies thinking about going natural. The blog addresses different issues with being natural, product reviews, tutorials, and much more. Connect with her: @CurlyGirlLexi, www.CurlsCoilsAndKinks.com.

-Myleik Teele is the Founder/CEO of Curlbox. Myleik has had a decade of successful project management and public relations agency experience. She has successfully executed media relations for music, lifestyle brands, consumer products, and special events.Curlbox is a monthly subscription in which subscribers receive 5-7 quality hair products samples for a monthly fee of $20. Subcribers can look forward to extraordinary products from established brands as well as some really great and up and coming brands. It eliminates the hassle of overspending on products your may or may not like.  Connect with her: @myleik, www.curlbox.com

-Shalawn Willis, also known as Queen Shalawn, is the manager for Lamik Beauty and is an instructor at the Georgia Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics. Lamik Beauty is the first eco-chic make-up brand, including facial care and eyelashes. Lamik believes simply Beauty is revealed... not applied! Connect with her: @beautyarchitect, www.lamik-beauty.com.