Social Media, Viruses and Hoaxes — Oh My!

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nf/20090305/tc_nf/65095

Well, well, well.  Just when you thought it was safe to post that profile….

With Facebook and other social networking media sites being inflicted with viruses, hoaxes, worms and other things that don’t sound like the kind of things you want around – especially in your computer, or being sent “on your behalf” to your friends – doesn’t it make sense to be found the one place people always look – at the top of Google.

Consider that :

Malware authors are investing more energy in Facebook and other social-networking sites because that effort pays off, according to Michael Argast, a security analyst at Sophos. Facebook alone has more than 175 million users, which makes it an attractive target.

So, not only do you need a profile there to be found, now being found there can endanger you, your reputation, your friends, their reputations – which might make sense if it was the only option or a risk you could mitigate and see happening.  However, it isn’t, and when you think about the following, it gives one pause on where to rest your internet home(s).

Argast called the Koobface worm a mix of something old and something new. The new is using social networks as a method to spread malware. The old is using fake codec Trojans linked to a saucy video to induce the user to install the malware.

“I would expect to see more attacks on Facebook,” Argast said. “As long as this is a successful propagation method, the bad guys will double down and invest more. They are entirely motivated by financial gain. If it pays, they’ll continue to romp in your social playgrounds.”

The one thing you take with you is your name

I was at a meeting yesterday with a client who had lost most everything – his job, his house was foreclosed on, his marriage was failing, he felt spiritually down – but despite all the potential for negatives – here was someone wanting to rebuild from the one solid thing he felt he still had left in the world – his good name.

We all have one thing that will stick with us through life – our name. Our cell numbers, job titles or companies, mailing or e-mailing addresses – those all change from time to time. However, the one way in which people find us, know us and qualify us, is with our name. If you want to begin to take protection, promotion and positioning of your name seriously – be sure to check out the free course on Positioning Your Name Properly, at www.becomeanexpertonline.com

How to Make Positive and Memorable Networking Followup

So, you found the tips we espoused in How to Make a Positive and Memorable Networking Appearance to be helpful – or maybe you didn’t yet read it – which we’d suggest doing first.  If not, some of this article may prove only “partially worthwhile.”

So, you went to event, organized your cards, gave good attention and time to others, and found ways you can help them.  Now it is time to follow up.  Simply put, this is the most important thing you can possibly do.  Unless you see networking events as social butterfly occasions – this is where the rubber meets the road.  Following up shows people you were serious when you said you could help them.  Following up quickly shows you can be responsive and are good to your word.  Following up creatively allows you to continue to stand out.  Here are a few guidelines to follow:

1.  Do it within 3 days – that is enough time that they should still recall who you are/were.

2.  Use various mediums – email is easy, but a handwritten note or something like SendOutCards is far better for a sincere one to one followup.

3.  Touch on things they mentioned (that you took notes on the card, remember?)

4.  Take the time to suggest next steps – coffee, lunch, meeting? 

If you are doing an introduction between two people, be sure to take the time to really introduce them.  Here is something NOT to write:

Frank, I met Lynda – the two of you should really talk.  - NO! NO! NO! NO!

When we make an introduction, we want it to be acted on.  So, take the time to do the following things – or don’t bother with the introduction:

1.  Spend a few sentences for each person saying what they do, especially the common interest points you had trigger the introduction in the first place.  (of course, it is nice if they can just Google each other….but that’s not everyone yet.)

2.  Tell them where you see the introduction heading.  Many people don’t see what you see.  Take the time spell out some ideas for them.

3.  Offer to be there or to be available to answer questions – “Let me know how I can help from here.”

These are some basic ways to make followup more effective.  Oh, and one other thing.  Don’t be afraid to send a second email.  In the world of filters and blockers and protections, sometimes try #1 misses.  This isn’t spam, and sometimes it gets lost – other times people just miss it.

The Pros and Cons of Social Networks

Social Networking is one of the most popular and remarkable techno-revolutions of our time. And, the dramatic growth continue unabated with visitors and users growing into the hundreds of millions globally.[1] To expose the far reaching effects that this phenomenon transfers to the enthusiastic user, the movement deserves an examination of the more obvious benefits and down-sides.

I Do!

The purpose of Social Networking Sites (SNS), like Facebook and My Space according to one user is to promote “Connectiveness” or to “…keep in touch…” with your network (of friends and family). The tools and applications to connect with friends have grown and evolved to meet the desire of networkers to “play” in each other’s space. In Facebook for example, “Writing on the walls” and “tagging” have become common place activities and permit an open forum for exchanges of relationship capital and personal expressions within the local communities of friends harbored by SNS’s.

In their most Nirvanic state, successful societies collectively practice the best human values. Ones that promote trust, intimacy, mutual respect and honest communication can only contribute to positive self-esteem and an overall positive attitude about life for participating individuals. SNS’s do yield many of these benefits for users, but SNS’s do not really produce such a pure form of Shangri-La and have some noted pitfalls.

Here are some of the ‘Permanent Pen’ realities of SNS’s.

Profiles on SNSs can be downloaded and stored over time and incrementally by third parties, creating a digital dossier of personal data. Information revealed on an SNS can be used for purposes and in contexts different from the ones the profile owner had considered.

Outside the social context of the network, information can become embarrassing or even

damaging, as evidenced by reports of people missing out on employment opportunities due to employer reviews of SNS profiles [2] [3]. While profiles can be changed or even deleted, additional storage elsewhere cannot be prevented– thus personal data takes on a life of its own even when the information itself may no longer be accurate or relevant.

A new SHRM survey looking at social media says negative information on an applicants social networking profile, has a greater impact on hiring decisions than positive information.

The Survey says social networking sites were most effective in recruiting for exempt/non-management and middle management positions. The top reasons for using social networking sites were to recruit passive applicants who might not otherwise apply, followed by the ability to target applicants with specific job levels and skill sets.

Now What?

Remember that SNS’s are still in their infancy: the engines are still immature and the platforms are vulnerable to determined attackers. Reports of faulty SN code appear regularly in the media, and you cannot rely on the integrity and non-disclosure of your personal details due to multiple weaknesses in SN systems. Cross-scripting errors (XSS) enabling attackers to view restricted sections of user data have affected almost every SN site, much like the way spyware targeted Windows systems that had not been patched with SP2 back in 2003.

The 3rd party applications (widgets) that Facebook and Myspace offer as additional downloads are even more problematic. These programs are not tested for compatibility or security defects, so be sure you understand exactly what you are installing when you choose to use one of these applications.

Don’t access your online profile from public computers – such actions are fraught with additional risk because of the potential for theft or malware compromise. Your log-in details might be stored in a local cache and later extracted and used to illegally access your profile, or the computer may be infected with keylogger that will silently capture any piece of information, including log-ins and dialog sessions, and relay this data to unauthorized third parties.

Use the latest browser software and install Windows Updates as soon as they become available. And, use a firewall to protect your system against unknown threats; use up-to-date antivirus to block known threats and intrusion prevention software to alert you to potentially dangerous activities on your computer.

Do not download, open or respond to content published or sent by unknown people. There has recently been a virus outbreak in the Russian portion of an SN that resulted from unwary users clicking on a reference to a fake image file that led to the activation of a virus that then wiped user data from the affected computers. [4]

Charles Fellingham is founder of QAlias, a personal branding tool that provides prominent personal placement optimization on the web. He is also a corporate trainer for the Forum Corporation and a Regional Sales Manager for a Fortune 200 company.

[1] Comscore media metrix, July 2007

www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=15552) A. Fuller. Employers snoop on Facebook, The Stanford Daily, 20 January 2006

http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2006/1/20/employersSnoopOnFacebook

[2] J. Flesher. Wall Street Journal Career Site, How to Clean Up Your Digital Dirt Before It Trashes Your

Job Search, 2006

[3] http://www.securityteacher.com/2008/06/16/the-perils-of-social-networking/

[4] http://www.shrm.org/surveys/

Why NOW For Personal Branding?

Do you remember your first VCR? Thrill of recording things and watching them on your own time!

Do you recollect your first cell phone? Was it hardwired, in a bag or handheld?

How about your first laptop? Wasn’t it nice to move from a large box to something you could carry with you?

Do you remember your first cd player? Leaving cassette tapes behind wasn’t hard for most of us.

Now think about it:

VCR’s gave way to DVD which is giving way to BluRay.

Cell Phones get more sophisticated all the time – now they are virtual small computers, cameras, mp3 players and GPS devices in one package.

Laptops get faster and lighter, and per feature, less expensive.

Cd’s have morphed to digital downloads, i-Pods, mp3’s and more is coming.

So, do you think internet positioning and search is any different?

Actually in some ways it is. Although in the decade Google has existed it went from word-of-mouth search engine to household name to verb to synonymous for “how to find things” – it still isn’t all that crowded on the personal branding space.

What we’re about to tell you is powerful, and important. To your career, to your child’s future and to the world we’re now living in.

As gas prices rise and people turn to both selling and buying online, the time is now to claim your top spot online.

Unlike the items listed above – your won’t be able to wait to establish your personal brand until others do and then you just “jump in and get one, too.” See, there’s always an internet doppelganger out there for you – someone who shares your name. If they make the first move, your work to claim the top spot will be much more difficult, time intensive and expensive.

Be sure to register for QAlias today and gain top position – and then contact us to learn more about how you begin to take that top spot and leverage it to make yourself an expert online. Now is the time. Do it while it’s top of mind. Go to www.qalias.com – and for $9.95 be on top of the search engine world, starting tomorrow.

As Parents, We Want To Give Our Child Every Advantage…

As parents, we all want to give our children the advantages they need to succeed. For the parents of current high school and college students, the need to help extends to the internet. Giving your child top line priority is more important than ever, as we’ll explain.

The internet, and especially the search engines led by Google, have changed the way in which we do business and look for information. There has also been a large change in both what can be found – and how much credence it carries with those who find it. As Money Magazine said “You’re Only As Good As Google Says You Are!”

While many students are aware of the inherent dangers of posting compromising photos or immature comments on their Facebook profiles, many times they aren’t attentive to the converse – being sure they actually make a great impression online. Yes, a picture of your child covered in Sharpie and shaving cream after a party would be a huge detriment and should be avoided. But, the chances of that occurring are actually drastically less than an admissions officer, or a recruiter or HR hiring manager Googling your child for more information.

Think about it. There’s an 87% chance your child will be searched – and not necessarily to find the bad things – but simply to compare and contrast against a similar candidate. Google (and the other major search engines) are being used to distinguish your child from others competing for the same admission, the same job. Don’t you want to be sure they are represented as well as they can be? It can make the difference between them gaining admission to the school they covet or the job the cherish – or not. Being found right away, in the right way – is more important than ever.

Starting early is helpful – say in 9^th grade – to allow them to “build a profile” online – which can later turn into their brand in a professional career. However, thanks to services like QAlias, you can place your child at the top of the list, beginning today. You can help them highlight the things they have done that are positive and set them apart from the crowd.

One good piece of news – once people find what they were looking for – they stop looking. In the case of admissions officers and recruiters, they are searching certain items about your child. QAlias profiles and bios provide a chance for a “one-stop” dispersal of all the information about your child in one place – which is found on page one of Google and Yahoo.

As one parent said to us, “It’s less than $1000 to keep my child on QAlias for the next 8 years, from 9^th grade in High School through the year they graduate college. I can’t see why I would protect my child, my family name and my investment.” Indeed. Go to www.qalias.com and sign up today.

How to Make a Positive and Memorable Networking Appearance

Sometimes, when we’re at a networking event, we end up with a large stack of cards – and a blurry memory (even when there aren’t drinks!) We feel as if we wasted our time. We don’t come away with leads or meetings worthy of the time we spent. And often, the people we met feel the same way about us.

While it is very difficult for most people to process the amount of input they receive in a networking atmosphere – especially larger mixers – there are steps you can take to maximize the experience and outcome for you and those you meet.

Here are some tips on how to “stand out in the crowd” (while you are there) and then how to stand out “from the crowd” (in your follow up and your follow through.)

While you’re at the event:

1. Be sure to take a card of theirs before you offer your own. It is common courtesy – and I always take notes while I ask the other person to talk about what they do. That way, I know what they do and how I might be able to help them. Also, when I hand them my card, I write a person I think they should know on the back. I ask them to connect with me (even though I have the same info on the back of their card) so that I know they want the introduction.

2. I use a “rating system” – and keep cards in an order in the meeting. There are (a) people I am glad to have met, (b) people I know I can help, (c) people I want to meet with further, and (d) people who I made a business connection with – they need my product(s) – or I need theirs. This allows me to follow up properly and promptly.

3. Be sure to keep eye contact with those you meet. We’re all been told how this is polite – but I never realized how much it can separate you from the pack. Keeping eye contact also increases your focus on the other person and what they are saying. They feel like you are tuned into them. I have had both new clients and great networking friends comment on how this made me stand out.

4. In every meeting, small or large, I try to use a trick I learned from Jackie Robinson via Jack Petrash. They both speak of how, when a batter goes to the plate, the batter is entitled to 3 good pitches. I keep the same thing in mind – only in networking, it is 3 good minutes. One minute to understand the person in front of me, one to listen harder and ask a good question or two – and then one to share my own insight or value I could bring to them.

5. In larger groups I try to keep in mind the people I met who are in the “spheres of influence” for those I am meeting. That way, I can ask “do you know Sam Jones – he does trash removal – and you’re a landlord with lots of turning properties.” I also can keep this in mind the next time I attend – and bring along people with coinciding interests.

6. Ask distinguishing questions to set yourself apart. Be sure to go deeper than surface level – asking them not just what they do – but what things they need to take next steps for success in their business? or who they get best leads from? or what else they have done or do outside of work? In that minute or so – asking them for this type of information allows you to gain a more intimate understanding of how you can help them and who else you know with similar interests. Again, keep track of these small things for the follow up, on the back of that person’s card.

7. Give them a way to find you that is unique and different. Sure, connecting with them on LinkedIn and for other social and business networking sites can be a way to expand your relations – but being able to say “Google Me” – is a really great tool – it helps with “your ‘bility.”

8. Finally, I try to take note of what type of networker and person I am meeting, using Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point” trio to distinguish people as either a maven, connector or salesperson. This helps me know how to introduce them (article on page 20) when I begin networking introductions – one of the five followup rules. If you haven’t read “Tipping Point” – I very highly recommend it.

Be sure to check out our article on “How to Make Positive and Memorable Networking Followup.”

Becoming an “Expert” Online

Do you know what people find when they look for you online? Do you think it matters? Money Magazine said “You’re Only As Good As Google Says You Are!” and there’s a great deal of truth to that statement.

People now use Google, not the White Pages or other sources to find you, to refer you and to show your credibility. It isn’t hard to be seen as an expert online – with some work and some immediate action. However, wait too long and someone else with your name will claim your space a top the search engines. Then, you’ll have your hands full trying to claim equal space.

Grab top page ranking now with QAlias – and then begin to link your profile and bio there to all the important things about you online. Articles, blogs, interviews, e-Books, networking groups, boards you sit on, other activities. Any and all help increase the way people find you – and how much they immediately assume about you. In fact, if you want to know more, email us to find out about classes, seminars and coaching.

What happens when they find another person with your name – or worse – when they find nothing?

Begin building your online expert status today – at QAlias – for only $9.95 a month.

Sign up now and be on top the search engine world by tomorrow and on your way to being seen as an online expert in 6 months.

Every Transaction Brands You

I have been conducting sales training this year for the national sales force of a well know brand management company representing some of the most common retail brands in the world.  The training is focused upon “Building Brand U” by managing each person-to-person, point-of-sale transaction to be a professional experience for the customer. The emphasis holds that every promise kept, or not kept, contributes to the brands image. And, this linked string of experiences ultimately creates tipping point that propels branded products that will become woven in the fabric of our society.

 

Think of some of the product brands that have come from nowhere to become a mainstay of the consumer preference in the past ten years;  Prius, Dell, Grey Goose, Smart Water, Brita, Jet Blue, Axe, Google, Little Black Dress wines, facebook.  While it may seem that these brands came from no name to top name, it was largely the result of having effective marketing plans, yes. More importantly, making each transaction between service provider and end user a pleasing one translates to a positive experience. And, it is these experiences that creates long lasting brands with loyal, if not enthusiastic, users. There is not magic wand, but there is a magic in consistency of positive experiences.

 

When Huey Lewis and the News received their Grammy a decade and a half ago, Huey humbly thanked “…all the fans that followed us (his band) from garages to back street bars to small town pavilions and big city music venues over the past 20 years until they became on overnight success.”  Having seen Huey Lewis some five years ago I must admit that he and his band gives it all he’s got for his audience. I can only believe that twenty five years of top drawer performing joined with talented songwriting and the combined charisma of “The News” has created a indelible consumer brand.

 

The lessons that we can personally draw from marketers of successful consumer brands is to understand that every transaction we have with individuals in our larger network contributes to our personal brand.  It creates a marquis reputation that precedes itself.

 

Thus, a motto for “Building Brand U…” 

The strength of my personal brand is a function of my past and current interactions with others, which become the ‘experience’ of doing business with me. The legend of that experience becomes my personal brand fingerprint. 

 

Charles Fellingham is founder of QAlias, a personal branding tool that provides prominent personal placement optimization on the web. He is also a corporate trainer for the Forum Corporation and a Regional Sales Manager for a Fortune 200 company.

Gaining Every Single Advantage in Today’s Sales World

The economy has slowed down, the competition has become more intense and the battle is becoming one of commoditization for many sales professionals.  How do you rise above the industry standards?  How do you gain a competitive advantage over your competition?  What can you do to make yourself more credible, findable and referrable?

Simply put, you need to do something bold, something forceful, something with class and with value.  You could spend a lot of money on a campaign that promotes your company.  You could cold call all day.  You could go to networking events and gain a few leads from those who take your card.

However, there is a way to gain instant credibility with prospects, instant referability from those in your growing network and even a way you can simultaneously promote your company, and the cost is often recouped in even one extra sale. 

Think about it – what if someone could find you just by Googling your name?  What if all it took to refer you was the simple phrase “Google her” instead of “let me find her card, or send a three way email, or set up a lunch, or find time to do a call.” 

What if there was a way you could leverage this new top position to make yourself look like an expert in your field?  To show off all you do that matters to you?

Thanks to the fastest growing new personal branding optimization service, QAlias, there is a way to do all this and more.  With subscriber training included, as well as private label branding options, this is a surefire way to bring yourself to the top of the search engines, represent the company you work for in a new way, and ensure quick and easy referrals.

Be sure to learn more today - and sign up if you like what you see.