Antionette Blake- Classy Connections

Happy Tuesday #Jontourage,
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Welcome back to the “Classy Gent Chronicles”, where staying classy is the only way to be. We are back with another “Classy Connections” edition, where I will be interviewing some amazing entrepreneurs. Today for our spotlight, meet Antionette Blake. She is truly the queen of the blogging world but also uses her passions to educate others on how to have a successful brand. Let’s learn more about Antionette:

Jonathan: Tell us a little about yourself.
Antionette: Thank you Jonathan, I appreciate being included as part of Classy Gent Chronicles.  I am Antionette Blake, who is more commonly known and widely recognized as a multi-award winning Delaware Blogger is also the  author of “Basic Blogging Tips for Beginners, a Branding & Social Media Communications Manager, Educator and Professional Speaker. I  host a weekly Podcast “Out & About with Antionette on the Delaware Blogger Podcast” where I spotlights Delawareans doing positive things in their  communities

As the owner of ABlake Enterprises, Social Media Marketing & Consulting I  work with business owners and organizations on their social media marketing strategies and building their brand online Also as  a Subject Matter Expert (SME) I often  present on topics that include, Social Media Marketing and Blogging designed for business owners, students, management and the everyday user. 
As the founder and CEO of A. Blake Enterprises Social Media Marketing & Management as well as a podcaster and blogger my days are varied. However, before I begin my actual workday, I start by reading The Daily Bread, scriptures from the Bible and then writing in my Gratitude Journal - this is how I arm myself before jumping online.

Jonathan: Walk us through a typical day for you.
Antionette: I work from home so 9 times out of 10 I'm usually online posting or pre-recording podcasts but there are other times during the week that I'm out and about meeting with new clients, attending networking events, giving presentations at schools or teaching Blogging classes at Del Tech Community College. Once a month I drive down to Prince George’s County, Maryland to tape an episode of the Co-Marketing Masters TV Show. Some days are busier than others but no two  are ever the same.

Jonathan: How did your entrepreneurial journey begin?
Antionette: As an Encore Entrepreneur my entrepreneurial journey did not begin until after the age of 55. Actually, it wasn't official until after a 2nd lay off from IBM after 32 years, fortunately, I had been building the business prior to that so I was able to make the  transition from working a 9-5 to running a business full time.
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Jonathan: How does your brand stand out compared to others in your industry?
Antionette: Because my target market audience are boomers and beyond I stand out more so because as a seasoned social media marketer I have more patience and my clients feel more comfortable with me as opposed to those in the younger generation with less patience or may not understand their specific marketing goals and needs coming from a previous generation.

Jonathan: One of the interesting things about you is that you are not only a successful entrepreneur but also a loving wife and mother. How do you balance making your brand grow while committing to your family?
Antionette: I've been married for almost 30 years and both my sons are adults with jobs and lives of their own. However, now that I'm working from home I do have to be conscious of spending some time with my husband as he is retired and wants to travel but I haven't given in yet. I do try to shut down by 6:00 p.m. so that we can eat our meal together and then spend time watching television or winding down for the evening.

Jonathan: You do a lot of interviews with many people with the hopes that your listeners will pick up some new gems along the way. However, I am sure you have learned some new things yourself. Tell me about a lesson you’ve learned from one of your show guests.
Antionette: Oh, wow that's  a hard one to pinpoint because with each guest, I always learn something new which is why I enjoy interviewing a variety of people. I can't really say if there was one individual, however,  I did learn a lot about dedication and determination when it comes to becoming a TEDx Speaker from our interview together..

Jonathan: You are truly one of the proudest Delawareans that I know. For someone who has never been to the state of Delaware, tell us why we should visit there at least once?
Antionette:I would recommend taking a stroll along the Riverfront in Wilmington; reflect on the fact that our ancestors were taken from slave ships docked there who were then marched up to Rodney Square where they were auctioned off.   I don’t believe many young Delawareans know their history nor appreciate the sacrifices made for what they so freely enjoy  today.

Jonathan: You teach, have your own podcast, blog, and so much more. Of all of the endeavors you work on, tell us what is your favorite thing to work on and why?
Antionette: My first love is and has always been teaching and educating; so conducting Blogging Workshops and  Social Media Seminars is something that I could do all day every day !

Jonathan: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Antionette: 5 years from now, while I'll be in my 60’s, I still hope to be doing what I'm doing now because I love it - but perhaps it will be from a small island while on vacation with hubby!

Jonathan: Who/What do you look to for inspiration?
Antionette: Other bloggers, podcasters and reading social media marketing articles are where I get my inspiration. I love what I do ~ I do what I love ~ so success is inevitable!

Jonathan: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those looking to breakthrough in your industry?
Antionette: For aspiring entrepreneurs especially those who are going to be managing the social media accounts for others, I want them to remember that behind every business, product or services there is a person so please be considerate and kind and market in an H2H manner - human to human.

Jonathan: Outside of your work, what are your other hobbies/passions?
Antionette: I love shopping and bargaining hunting and of course writing.  Vegging on the sofa watching HGTV with hubby is also one of my favorite passions.

Jonathan: Do you have any upcoming projects?
Antionette: Yes, I recently published a book, “Basic Blogging Tips for Beginners”, so I am promoting that; I will be presenting “blogging for business” at  the “Our Black is Beautiful” event sponsored by Omar Rashada at the Academy of Peace in Wilmington.  I am part of a Local Author Showcase at Barnes and Noble in North Wilmington on the 23rd of February, will be conducting a Blogging Basics and Podcasting Pointers break out session at the 2020 Social Media Conference hosted by Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown, Delaware in March; I am also working on Podcasting Your Purpose Workshops in Smyrna starting in March, in April working with FinHealth Challenge and an Author’s Roundtable in Prince George’s County MD, conducting Social Media Savvy for Students Workshops also in April at DSU and then  an Email Marketing presentation for the Elkton Library this fall.  So I am going to be pretty busy these next few months, not to mention working with my current clients on their social media marketing strategies as well as looking to add more!

Jonathan: How can the #Jontourage/followers stay in touch with you?
Antionette: Antionette can be reached
●       Cell- 302-312-6513
●       Email - [email protected]
●       www.ablakeenterprises.com
●       https://linktr.ee/delblogger
●       FB/Instagram/Pinterest - @DelBlogger
●       Twitter - @DelawareBlogger
●       LinkedIn
●       Delaware Blogger Podcast
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Moral of the story: It’s never too late to carve a new path for yourself.  Believe in yourself and you’re already halfway there.  Thank you, Antionette, for being an inspiration to everyone you come in contact with. Remember, in order to live out your dreams, you have to think it, feel it, live it!  If you know of an amazing entrepreneur who you believe shouldbe featured, please contact me here so that we can connect  https://www.authorjon.com/work-with-jonathan.html.  

Until next time, stay classy...

Remember, in order to live out your dreams, you have to think it, feel it, live it! Until next time, stay classy...
 
For more Classy Gent Chronicles blog post, be sure to visit https://www.authorjon.com/blog