If you are a small business owner you know the value of social media marketing and your network of connections.

For months I have known about the existence of my Facebook stalker.  Watching every friend I made, watching every business I connected to, watching every picture I posted, watching, watching, watching.  But who cares, right? They must be watching me because I was doing something right.  More about my story in a few moments.

What do business people really use Facebook for?  “Businesses with fewer than five employees see Facebook and others as a way to reach targeted consumers while saving marketing expenditures during a rough economy.” (USA Today)

In the beginning I, like most business owners, accepted every friend request that came my way.  The more friends the better.  After all I wanted to get my business name out there.  Well then came the creeps, the not so normal sounding people who wanted to be my friend.  I started thinking about who was on our fan page and what our privacy settings were.  I personally started thinking about the quality of the relationships versus the quantity. Long distance family teased me over how I made one thousand friends so quickly. I started thinking, who are some of these people?

Over the past year it has not been easy for the small business owner to keep up with the Facebook changes…groups, pages, fans, likes, tabs, fbml and more. So we turned to our friends and networks seeking advice and tips.  Here’s where you need to be careful.  Back to my story…

So the weird thing was that I knew who the stalker was but I didn’t know how he/she was watching me and my page.  We were not connected in any way that I could tell.  I’m not really sure what inspired me to spend several hours yesterday morning going through my connections one-by-one.  I “un-friended” every single person that I hadn’t personally conversed with or met.  There were musicians, bar owners, politicians, etc.  My thinking was 1) we had never conversed, even on Facebook, 2) we had never done business together, and 3) we could always reconnect.

BAM, within 20 minutes the impostor sent me a Facebook friend request.  Oh my gosh, my heart was pounding.  I sent back a reply “Hi xxx, sorry have we ever met?“.  I clicked on the person’s info, then got to their website, and got a phone number.  I called the person which I must say, was really bizarre.  I said, ”This will sound really strange, but did you just send me a Facebook message?” Of course the business owner was thinking “no, I don’t even know you” and then I asked the question “Is someone administrating your page for you?“  The business owner hesitated and said “yeah…but I don’t think my personal page“.  In the meantime, BAM another  Facebook message, “We have some mutual friends.  Just looking to network and connect.”  The business owner was in a state of shock.  The person who was trusted to manage the company website and social media was I believe to be committing fraud. Pretending to be another person to communicate with and spy on another business for their own personal gain.

I share this story to not alarm, but to warn the independent business owner.  Know who you are working with.  If “an expert” wants to help you with your social media make sure you do your homework. I have helped clients and friends set up Facebook pages and NEVER did I set myself up as their administrator. I just educated them on how to do it themselves.  Be sharp and protect yourself and your business!

It’s the first annual Maguire Gilner Angel Day 5K Run.

Mark your calendar now for May 14th, 2011.

I only briefly met the mom of Maguire standing on a friend’s driveway. She was coming, I was going. For some reason I asked, “How many kids do you have?”  One of my typical questions when I meet another mom.  When she told me she had lost two baby boys, I could barely get out an “I’m sorry.”  With a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes I drove home thinking about how lucky I was to have my two beautiful and healthy kids.

This is an update to our “Boy on a Mission” story.

Jack N. has put together a team of elementary school kids to help reach this year’s goal to raise of $10,000 for Children’s Mercy Hospital.  Kids in Overland Park have been busy brainstorming ideas to raise funds.  A holiday bake sale has already yielded $200.  A garage sale is scheduled for December 11th for the kids to sell their outgrown clothes and gently-used toys, games, books and other items.  (Contact gailsscoop@gmail.com for details).

Jumping Jax, an indoor open-play venue in Overland Park, is again generously hosting two open-play sessions in December.  There will be free playtime for kids with a donation to Children’s Mercy Hospital.  Sessions are scheduled for December 28th and 30th from 3-6 p.m.

100% of all proceeds will be benefit the Pediatric Dental Clinic at Children’s Mercy Hospital. They treat children with special needs and those who cannot afford treatment.

Since 2005, Jack Novorr has set out to raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital during the holidays. This year’s goal: $10,000!

It began when Jack was 5 years old and overheard a story about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The television story was about sick children who were victims of the hurricane and were being airlifted to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. The kids had lost everything, including in some cases their parents. After his parents explained, as best they could to a 5 year old, what happened, Jack disappeared to his room. When his mom Jennifer went to check in on him, he was sitting on his floor emptying out his piggy bank. He told his parents that he wanted to give all of his money to the kids on t.v. to help buy new houses, clothes, and toys. Needless to say, he had a pretty full piggy bank. He donated several hundred dollars of his own money (all in loose change), which went directly to help the kids that he saw on television”.

In 2006, Jack recruited his younger sister Sophie to help raise money. Together, they raised more donations than the year before. Their donation that year, and every year since has grown, and has funded new toys for sick kids to play with while staying at Children’s Mercy.

Last year, with the power of 3 younger siblings (Sophie, Tate, and Lilah), Jack was more determined than ever. He partnered with his neighbors who own Jumping Jax, an indoor inflatable play venue in Overland Park. Jumping Jax  generously donated open play sessions to the public, in exchange for a donation to Children’s Mercy Hospital.  Jack and his family donated nearly $5,000 to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

This year Jack is now in 5th grade and is quite the young philanthropist.  He is putting together a team of elementary school kids to help reach this year’s goal of $10,000.  Jumping Jax is again generously hosting with two open-play sessions in December.  Free play for kids with a donation to Children’s Mercy Hospital.  Specific dates and times will be announced soon.