My jaw dropped. Why? I recently read an article, shared by a Facebook friend, about a form of scamming that you probably didn’t even know about. I admit I hadn’t a clue! The article neatly describes the simple viral content that is created, shared, and ultimately generates a huge amount of likes on a brand new Facebook page in a relatively short amount of time. Then the page is sold (cash deal) for $200 to a business that wants a built-in fan base. Just change the name of the page; easy to do nowadays (though impossible in the past), and add your own cover art that demonstrates your brand identity and start posting your company’s content on the page. Who’s going to notice? Most of us have “liked” hundreds of pages anyway! The posts made by the scammers during build up are the kind that encourage people to share and, according to the article, tend to be on the trashier side.
Now, who’s to say that they aren’t adding a generous dose of more legitimate looking posts that people can’t resist; inspiration quotes, cute cats doing funny things, stomping out cancer inspiration or perhaps something sassy with the word ass in it? In addition, maybe the words “share this” are on the post in the text or perhaps as suggestive directions on a photo. Maybe there’s a question. At any rate, there’s something enticingly engaging about it. So, the post is shared. And a few friends share it and so the virus grows. Think about it: How many times do you see the same post on your wall that everybody seems to be sharing? Nothing wrong with that, right? Some of those folks are going to fan the page and just one post could bring in thousands of people almost overnight. That happened to my Groovy Reflections page when one post was ultimately seen by 3.3 million people and shared by 187,000 folks; for a short period of time the incoming new fans at one point “liked” the page at a rate of 3 to 5 a minute! However, there’s a BIG difference here: The Groovy Reflections Facebook page is legit. It is real and it actually grows slowly and organically, with highly engaged fans. And this brings up a very alarming point. I’m a small business owner, with two businesses. And chances are some of those businesses that are buying their built in fan base many compete with me in some way. Not fair to us who play by the rules with honesty, integrity, and good old fashioned ethics. Is there a way to shut down this practice? Facebook, are you listening? One suggestion: If it's a page that you fanned a long time ago, chances are it is legit. Be leary of the newer ones! Listen people at Facebook! Herman's Hermits sang a song about gaining attention long long ago; we're hoping that you will listen and spread the word about this sleezy practice and bring these scammers down! Oh and do stop by and say hello to this organically grown small business owner's our website, or on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.
A few years ago, a friend mentioned a show called No Reservations and touted the originality of the show’s star.
Intrigued, I checked it out. In one of the first episodes I watched, Anthony Bourdain visited dive hot dog grilles in New Jersey. I completely identified with that (being a product of that fine state) as I marveled at his audacity. He was brutally honest and upfront with everything he said and I was impressed that he had no issues with dining under $10.
Hello, not everyone goes to La Bernadin every week! And there’s nothing like a good old fashioned hot dog, laden with cheese, chili, onions, or whatever your fancy is.
Bourdain’s show included some world travel too which was just as fascinating as his romps in the states. Wisely, he would rely on a local accomplish for help with language barriers and to show him the ropes. Together, they’d explore street markets and cheap places that are unlikely to be listed in Fodor’s.
While he was never outright rude on the show, his cocky attitude suggested he could be. After all, he’s a New Yawker who attended high school in New Jersey (double whammy).
He is an industry.
For Christmas, one of my gifts was a book, Kitchen Confidential. This is the book that put him on the map; it documents his life “in the trenches”. Sounds kinda boring, right? Nope. It’s Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll: Full Throttle! The term screwing is about more than a cap on a bottle of olive oil here. Who knew about the shenanigans going on behind those kitchen doors?
The read is blunt, honest, entertaining, and may make you squiggle in your seat. Get used to the “F” word being used often as both a verb and an adjective. It may be there as a noun too.
Oh, but there’s more! If you’re involved in the food industry, in particular a restaurant owner, all those “little secrets” are laid out on the table. So that’s how you make a profit off of five day old fish? And now I know how twenty cents worth of garnish aids in charging an additional three to four dollars for a plate of food.
Who knew?
So, what IS it about this guy? He’s not in his thirties sporting rugged good looks, he’s showing signs of wear and tear, smokes like a chimney, has attire that suggests “I don’t give a crap about anything" (because he doesn't), and heck, most of us had no clue who he was five years ago. How does he get away with that?
He is himself.
And that teaches us all a valuable lesson. Your brand’s foundation stems from you. It is created by you, it is guided by you, and it evolves because you do. It’s not something that you aspire to: It’s what you are today. It projects your personality. It grows from your passions for the product or service. So let it show.
No compromises!
Now excuse me while I log in to Amazon to order his latest book.
Anthony Bourdain likes listening to LOUD music while cooking, including this band (I like the Ramones too)...
