Our next Blogalicious Pop-Up Experience is less than a week away. Before we embed links to the forthcoming kick back, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recap the Atlanta Experience.

As you know, Atlanta is our home away from home. So many of our community lives and works there, so it’s literally a reunion “every time we link up”. Because the love is mutual, you guys showed up and showed out, reinforcing the love we have for our southern delight. Here’s a recap of the Blogalicious Pop-Up Experience: Atlanta, featuring moments, run of the show, and photos drenched in tribe goals.

ATL Blogalicious Pop-Up Experience Panel Experts

We’re sending a special thank you to:

Precious Bivings of Surrender, Work, Live! who moderated the event. Precious is an accountability coach whose mission is to “M.ake A.mazing S.h*t H.appen”. We support her message and appreciate her support of Blogalicious.

Stacey Ferguson of Justice Fergie and co-founder of Blogalicious. Stacey lives and breathes the mission of Blogalicious, which is to “elevate women multicultural social media influencers, creatives, and entrepreneurs”. Thank you for your leadership, Stacey.

Paulette Jewsome, representing Coca-Cola. Thank you, Paulette.

Denene Milner of My Brown Baby. Denene is the journalist mama to know! While her accomplishments are too lengthy to list — hello, Denene Milner Books and award-winning website — her heart is ten times bigger. We appreciate this woman.

Alexis Davis Smith of PRecise Communications, an award-winning boutique public relations firm specializing in consumer brand marketing, media relations, social media management and multicultural communications. Thank you, Alexis!

and last but not least, Danica Kombol of Everywhere Agency. Danica has been in our corner for years. There aren’t enough words to express what our connection truly means. Aside from letting us host our Pop-Up in your beautiful office, we appreciate Danica and her amazing team!

A Memorable Quote

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.” – Seth Godwin, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

Candid Photos

Thanks to Team Blogalicious members Cara Paige and Terrance Gaines for capturing these moments in Atlanta for us! Use the left and right arrows on your keypad to view all photos.

We’ll see you at our next stop in New York this Saturday at Vapiano! RSVP here.

Finding your tribe can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur or influencer. It can be the thing that elevates you from working hard by yourself to working hard with other creatives and professionals in higher places. Your tribe will serve as your sounding board, support system, and beta testers for all things work and life. Within the Blogalicious network, these are things that we experience on a regular basis. Though we can speak freely about the benefits of having (multiple) tribes, there are many people without a tribe of their own.

Our conference this year, as you know, will focus on this topic and hopefully be paramount in your tribe building journey. We’ve put hundreds of hours into cultivating a space for you to do this and more. What’s great about our network is they believe the same manifesto – that tribes are important to almost every aspect of our lives.

In this post, we’re sharing heartfelt messages from movers and shakers within our community on why tribes are important. Write down your favorite messages and share them with us on social media.

7 heartfelt messages on why tribes are important

via GIPHY

1. Tribe= A group with a shared sense of purpose that celebrates each other’s successes, supports each other’s dreams and encourages each other during challenging times. The tribe is non-judgemental and provides a safe space to be vulnerable and to grow. – Dr. Jamie Hardy
2. Tribes are the lifeblood of our lives, whether connected by blood or common interest, we need our tribes to survive and most importantly, to thrive. Without my connections of other women and my family and friends, I would wither. Tribes give us the fortitude to deal with the hard edges of life. – Michelle Talbert
3. In order to #TribeUp and elevate to the next level within our business, brand, and blog, it takes a #Tribe. We are born into the world, alone, but it takes a #Tribe of support, collaboration, and a whole lot of positive energy, in order for us to authentically be our best “selves”. Having sisterpreneurs in blogging and business who support our goals and mission, is what we all need to be successful! – Patrice Tartt
4. There’s a popular Jamaican proverb that says “One han cyaa clap” (One hand can’t clap). Which means You need to work with others to achieve a common goal, you can’t do it alone. Growth and success does not happen in isolation – other people are part of our growth and success. Being part of a tribe, especially with my fellow Caribbean Content Creators means that we recognize that together we can build a stronger community, support system so that we can make a greater impact on the niched audience we serve. – Kerry & Reid Brown
5. Long ago, women would go to the riverbed and wash and dry clothes on the rocks. The women who joined her, were her confidants, her tribe. The same is true today – only we meet up via text, via social media or better yet, IRL. – Danica Kombol
6. Tribes are necessary like eating. Tribes are the fuel that pushes the human race forward. Where we live, our work and our hobbies are defined by our tribes that represent our activities and attitudes. Our value is based on the value we bring to others in the tribe, or by how large a tribe we can create. – Jay Jackson
7. I personally wouldn’t be anywhere with out my tribe. Tribes cheer you on on the good days and support you when the world feels like it’s crashing down around you. – Andrea Corson
   

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Are tribes important to you? Tell us why below or on social media.

These days being a busy working woman is just what one does. If you examine your tribes, virtually and in real life, you’ll notice your women-friends fulfilling their destinies, making life altering decisions, and traveling, usually while being someone’s mom, wife, girlfriend, daughter, or confidant. Her calendar is filled with so many obligations that she often wonders how she’ll get them done and what she’ll wear while doing them. We’re still fine tuning the mythical creature known as the work-life balance so we may not have all the answers on managing that lively aspect just yet. However, there’s one thing we can put you onto and that’s an amazing company called prAna.

prAna is a clothing company with a mission to inspire healthy, active, and free-spirited living. They create versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear during every activity, every adventure, every day. prAna’s designs are based on their creator’s own experiences as yogis, climbers, and world travelers. They use their knowledge to make clothes that look good and play hard.

“We like to focus on the details and aren’t afraid to go bold when it comes to colors and whimsical patterns. We love to combine classic style with modern materials, ever mindful of where and how our creations are made.” – prAna

1632, SANTORINI, GREECE, EUROPE, PRANA, LIFESTYLE, CATALOG, FERRY, ZAKYNTHOS

In a recent campaign, a group of our influencers was sent clothing items made of organic cotton or hemp, in which many also use recycled materials. Maintaining planet friendly products is important to prAna (and us) and with one comfortable, stylish top or pair of pants at a time, they’re making this feat accessible to all. prAna’s “from city streets to mountain peaks” clothing is created to be fashionable, comfortable and versatile.

While prAna clothing is made to accommodate any adventure, the items are first and foremost mindfully made in order to support fair trade and sustainable practices. prAna actually has only one core belief, and that is to give back more than we take from the world.

Can you imagine your wardrobe being one less thing to worry about in your already busy life? Yesterday that might have sounded bizarre but today you can find assurance in knowing that it can actually be done. prAna has cute styles for traveling, yoga, climbing, swimwear, and activewear. (You’ll find extras like bra tops, dresses, and skirts on their website, too.) The best part about supporting this company is knowing that your purchase will make a difference in someone’s life and for our planet.

1632, ATHENS, GREECE, EUROPE, CHRIS, BURKARD, RUSSEL, HOLIDAY, PRANA, LIFESTYLE, CATALOGUE

We can’t wait to put our prAna clothing and accessories to the test. You can, too. Use code S17BL for 15% off your purchase when you visit www.prana.com. Click on hashtag #myprAna on social media to see how other busy working women are simplifying their lives and wardrobes while prioritizing self-care with prAna.

Which item do you envision yourself wearing while running errands?

More Blogalicious Reads:

• Tips on Being Your Authentic Self
• 9 Motivational Books Entrepreneurs Should Read Every Year

We’re so excited to announce that Myleik Teele is coming to Miami!!

She’s inviting you inside her world to talk business, personal branding, and women’s empowerment! This self-made businesswoman and #MyTaughtYou podcast creator (can you say 2 million downloads in 2016??) will be in the house for a keynote spotlight Q&A at Blogalicious 2017. Tweek Myleik Teele at @Myleik and let her know that we can’t wait to see to her!

About Myleik:

An astute businesswoman who unapologetically pursues excellence in all she does, Myleik Teele is the
founder and Chief Experience Officer of curlBOX, the first monthly subscription service for naturally curly
hair. Through her notable career as a public relations executive, Myleik’s ability to instinctively identify
and market popular trends to the masses, garnered her opportunities to work with brands such as Calvin
Klein Cosmetics, The Grammy Awards, Nike, and a stellar roster of clients across the entertainment, tech,
and beauty industries.
Since the launch of curlBOX in 2011, L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Target, Walmart, and
SheaMoisture is a short list of brands that have trusted Myleik’s vision of making the lives of black women
easier by providing them with the high-quality selection of products they deserve.
A teacher at heart, her wildly popular, #MyTaughtYou podcast has become her global classroom where
women from all walks of life tune in for guidance and a healthy dose of motivation to live life on their own
terms. In 2016, #MyTaughtYou saw over 2 million downloads and the listenership continues to grow.
Based in Atlanta, GA, Myleik Teele is a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.
She regularly gives inspiring talks around the country centered around business, personal branding, and
women’s empowerment. When she’s not working on building her empire, you can find her exploring the
world through travel, hidden behind the pages of a good book, or nurturing her future sommelier
ambitions.

Click to Register for Blogalicious Weekend

Success doesn’t happen overnight, but it can still happen. One of the most effective ways to get there is by reading mind shifting literature and applying those lessons learned. Entrepreneurs, both successful and well on their way, deem reading or studying an important part of their “come up”. As avid readers (and do-ers) we agree with this stance and encourage you to seek books with proper insight and inspiration while on your journey to entrepreneurial success. To celebrate our 9th year in business (and our 9th annual conference that you must attend) here are 9 motivational books we think entrepreneurs should (re) read every year.

9 Books Entrepreneurs Should Read

1. Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun? by Reginald Lewis

Reginald Lewis was a philanthropist, Wall Street wizard, and lawyer. He is also the wealthiest black man in American history. His story of hard work and determination is mapped out in this book, co-written by USA Today writer Blair S. Walker. At the time of his death, Lewis’s personal wealth estimated $400 million. This book is not only history but remarkable. Order your copy here.

2. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes is responsible for America’s Thursday night lineup of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder. Anyone with those kinds of writing chops just has to be fearless, right? Wrong! In Year of Yes, Rhimes reveals how she brought strong heroines to life on paper, but cowered in real life due to fear and constantly putting work first. Her older sister dared her to finally say “yes” to something other than work in her life and her “year of yes” began. Doing this, Rhimes lost weight, strengthened the bond with her three daughters, spoke at colleges, and more. Year of Yes records those accounts and gives great advice on how to achieve better lives personally and professionally. Start reading!

3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

With over 10,000 reviews on Amazon, The Alchemist is a must-read book.

“Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.” Buy The Alchemist here.

4. Self Made by Nely Galan

Nely Galan graced the Blogalicious stage last year as one of our beloved guest speakers. Her talk was inspirational, funny, and what some would call – a moment. Galan debuted her book, Self Made: Becoming Empowered, Self-Reliant, and Rich In Every Way, and our audience loved it. She shares her journey on working her way to the top in television and real estate, one move at a time. If you’re looking for an empowering book on entrepreneurship with a feminine focus, Self Made is the book for you.

5. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

One hundred dollars is all it takes to start the business of your creative dreams, as told by entrepreneur Chris Guillebeau.

“In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group, he’s chosen to focus on the 50 most intriguing case studies.  In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment.”

After reading that, doesn’t it feel like any of us could achieve sustainability in our businesses? If you haven’t, add The $100 Startup to your reading list this month.

6. Monster Loyalty by Jackie Huba

Lady Gaga has mastered the art of turning followers into raving fanatics. She’s built an impressive tribe of “Little Monsters” that literally buy whatever she sells, pegging her as a musical and creative authority. Author Jackie Huba breaks this down to a science in Monster Loyalty: How Lady Gaga Turns Followers Into Fanatics. Read all about it.

7. You Are A Badass: by Jen Sincero

“You Are a Badass will help you: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast past your fears so you can take big exciting risks, figure out how to make some damn money already, learn to love yourself and others, set big goals and reach them – it will basically show you how to create a life you totally love, and how to create it NOW.” 

This book is amazing! Learn how to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life here.

8. Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Getting your mind right is essential in every aspect of your life. In Mindfulness for Beginners, long time teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn instructs us on how to be “in the moment” instead of disconnected or on our phones. While this doesn’t apply to business specifically, the results, such as strengthening focus and becoming more self-aware, are things that can impact us professionally. This book is great for beginners (obviously!) and those needing a refresher. Grab it here.

9. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

If you want to ‘Transform Your Business From A Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine’ we advise you to devour this book. “With dozens of case studies, practical, step-by-step advice, and his signature sense of humor, Michalowicz has the game-changing roadmap for any entrepreneur to make money they always dreamed of.” 

Learn how to earn profits first for your business by clicking here.

That’s right, it’s finally here! Thanks for all of your patience as we played our monster game of Tetris; making sure all the moving pieces fit ‘just so’ into our agenda puzzle. And we’re excited to finally release it to you.

A few key items to note:

1. Our Agenda this year begins on Thursday, October 5th and ends on Sunday, October 8th. We’re taking it back to the early years of Blogalicious where we spent 3.5 days together! Adding back in a half day allows us to accept more of your fabulous speaker pitches, offer up more fun sponsor activations AND build in the downtime that you want.
2. The General Conference starts on Thursday afternoon. Starting at 3:30pm on Thursday, October 5th, the General Conference will kickoff with a series of Masterclasses. These sessions ARE included in your Influencer Registration and are NOT a part of the VIP Day program. Note: Registration for the General Conference and Early Bird Sessions opens up at 1pm on Thursday.

Rest assured we will be giving you a TON more details about the agenda over the next few weeks. Keep your eyes peeled and make sure that you are connected via our newsletter, Social Suite on Facebook, and of course across social media @beblogalicious.

MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Buy Your Ticket!!!!!

View the Blogalicious Weekend 2017 schedule & directory.

Calling all Small Business owners: Blogalicious is back with the fifth edition of The Perfect Pitch contest, providing the small business owners with an opportunity to pitch their business ideas in the big leagues!! Not only is the $5,000 cash prize at the end of the rainbow a major incentive,but you’ll also be able to craft a pitch, business plan summary and case study. Feedback from the accomplished judges’ panel is icing on the cake. Think about the information and advice that you’ll be able to take back and use to better your brand.

Ok! Ok! I’m sold! What do I need to know?

We’re glad you asked :-) Here goes!

The Perfect Pitch V
Small Business Pitch Event

Saturday, October 7th @ 10am

Pitch your business to our expert panel of judges for a chance to win $5,000

Contest Eligibility: No more than five years in business. View Official Contest Rules Here.

Submission Criteria:

1. One-minute video introduction (published to You Tube)
2. Business plan overview (PDF)
3. Case study of a successful project (PDF)
4. Headshot and bio to be provided with the submission (Hi-Res)

Submissions will be accepted via email to: info@beblogalicious.com and your contest entry should contain a link to the video on YouTube, a business plan, a case study,  and your bio and headshot. Please ensure consistency in naming across all files: business name_first and last name. (ex: Blogalicious_Stacey Ferguson)

Submission Due Date: Friday, August 25th @ 11:59PM

Scoring:
Submissions will be judged by our expert panelists/judges based on the following:

♦ 20% Originality of Business Concept

o  Demonstrate that you have a unique and innovative business concept that differentiates you from other businesses

♦ 60% Business Pitch

o  Clear articulation of your business plan and model

o  Clear explanation of financials

o  Concise explanation on why your business should be selected

♦ 20% Package Quality

o  Submission is visually appealing and creative

o  Demonstrates professionalism

Scoring Guidelines:
Submissions will be rated in each category on a five point scale.

Finalist Selection:
Three finalists will be selected based on highest cumulative scores as determined by the scoring process. Blogalicious will notify both the finalists, and those not selected, via email on Monday, September 25th.

Click here for official contest rules

Ready? Set? Gooooo!

July is almost over, but that doesn’t stop the festivities. Our friends across the country are doing great things with their brands and communities. From Atlanta to Houston to California, we’re sharing events that will advance your careers and social lives. You’ll also find the latest in good reads, content creation services, and more.

We hope you’ll enjoy our content. Here’s our monthly roundup for July 2017.

Real Good (reads, music & more)

I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide & Journal is a mindfulness book created by The Mindfulness Project. It’s filled with creative activities that encourage readers to be more curious, journal easily and be conscious of everyday life. Users also have access to guided meditation by Tara Brach through the self-titled website, www.iamherenow.com. If you’re looking for a more balanced, peaceful life, this book is great for beginners or those who need a refresher. Visit their website for Sample Pages and to learn more information about The Mindfulness Project.

Events

If you’re a Black blogger in the Houston area, HAAB has a treat for you. Check it out below.

Join us this year at the Houston African-American Bloggers Association’s 2017 Blog Bootcamp where we are discussing CREATING INFLUENCE THROUGH CONTENT. We will explore the convergence of content, influence, and engagement through blogging, branding and building online communities. http://houstonafricanamericanbloggers.com/ 

Interested in leveraging content to drive awareness for your platform @HTX_AAbloggers is hosting a Blog Boot Camp. http://houstonafricanamericanbloggers.com/.

Shift Con needs you!

Are you free in Atlanta this weekend? Visit TCF Expo, presented by Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista.

The best news that we can receive at Blogalicious HQ is that our community members are hosting their own events. And, an event series that makes us beyond happy (and chic!) is TCFStyle Expo. Hosted by Marie Denee, The Curvy Fashionista, this is the third annual, ground-breaking and celebratory shopping event and experience that celebrates the plus size community and fashion industry. Come to TCFStyle Expo in Atlanta July 28 & 29 For two days, July 28-29, 750+ plus size fashion lovers, designers, boutique owners, brand representatives, influencers and media will come to shop, explore trends, enjoy speakers and experience The Curvy Fashionista IRL and get exclusive access to the plus size brands, designers, and influencers who have been featured on the site and in southern style capital Atlanta.Are you in? Register here and enter code BLOGALICIOUS for an exclusive 20% off your ticket!

Community Love – #TribeUp

Blogalicious needs you! We’re looking for fun, driven individuals to help us handle social media for this year’s conference. If you’ve ever been an Ambassador, you can imagine how this goes. However, we’ve got tons of information for you here, should you have any questions.

Remember last year’s keynote speaker Ramon Ray of Smart Hustle Mag? He recently launched a cool new service for content creators like us that we’re excited to share. Check our Your Sizzle Video and find out how you can repurpose your blog posts into shareable video content. Congrats Ramon!!! #ContentIsLife https://yoursizzlevideo.com/

We have a quick opportunity for you! A Ph.D. student we know is doing important research for her dissertation about influencers as opinion leaders on health. Her study involves taking a survey, which should take no more than 15 minutes. You can take the survey here: https://gmuchss.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etcKSRjcUPe1Czb. Your answers will be confidential and you can be entered into a $200 gift card raffle for participating in the survey.

In case you missed Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta, we’ve got the recap of the century for you. Our influencers were on fire watching this show and it showed in their tweets, shares, and blog posts. Here’s the rundown!

Ariel Williams is the digital content manager and part-time social media support at Blogalicious.com. She also runs SlayCulture.com. Send your pitches and questions to ariel@beblogalicious.com. 

Learn How to Profit from Your Event during this FREE Webinar!

If there’s one question that Stacey gets ALL the time, it’s how to make money from a live event instead of stressing about ending up in the red or busting your behind just to break even.

So she’s teamed up with her super-friend, Aprille Franks-Hunt of Coach, Speak & Serve, EPIC Conference and Spark & Hustle to bring you the secrets to designing, marketing and leveraging your LIVE event as a profitable income stream, all while using simple, easy-to-duplicate strategies!

What’s in this FREE Training?

• How to leverage Facebook for event marketing
• How to create a ticket-selling media partner program
• How to price your event tickets for profit
• How to format your event for paid sponsorships
• And much more!

If you’ve been watching Stacey’s FB LIVEs this week, then you know the webinar is going to be FIRE!!

Don’t miss this exclusive training. Click here to register!

Blogalicious is also proud to present a Master Class on the very hot topic of Instagram! If you want to learn how you can get more exposure for your blog, brand, or business on Instagram, then you’ll need to be front and center on Wednesday.

Brandelyn Green, Instagram Guru and Founder of VoiceOfHair wants to personally invite you to her FREE online training on “3 Secrets to Getting More Exposure For Your Blog Through Instagram” that will be held live on Wednesday, July 19 th at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST/ 6PM PST.

Brandelyn has grown her VoiceOfHair Instagram brand to over 300K+ followers in 2+ years, and during our special training, she’ll show you how she did it. If you are tired of struggling to get exposure on social media to grow your blog, brand, or business, then this free training is for you. On this training, you will learn how to get more exposure, increase engagement, and how to drive more sales to your bottom line.

So join NOW while you can by registering HERE. Spots will fill up quickly so reserve yours now while it’s still fresh on your mind. See you on the training!