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Monday, December 3, 2012

How a Phone Is Robbing You Of Your Privacy

A phone robs their owner of their privacy at every use. Smart phones major selling point is their ability to surf the web and make updates to social media programs. However, these two services are the two things that make the phone a trap for privacy. Every time a person uses these advanced features they lose more and more of their privacy.

Location Based Tweets and Updates

The social media systems are always trying to get more and more information about their users at every turn. This means that the social media system is going to try to get the location of a user every time they update their profile with an update or post.

This information lets a social media system figure out what types of ads are appropriate for that user and what ads have the best chance of converting. Obviously, they want this information so that they do not pitch this user to an automobile dealer in San Francisco when they are located in Portland, Oregon.

However, as stated before, this information will reveal things about a user that the most people would feel uncomfortable about if they knew the social media system was selling that information to third party advertisers. This means that the phone is helping the social media system gain more information about the user than they realize under the guise of "meeting up with friends based on the user's location".

Location Based Internet Searches

One of the biggest uses for the phone is the use of GPS or navigation services. A lot of the phones that exist use a map from the biggest search engine around. However, this map allows a person to be tracked if they are signed into the search engine. Therefore, this suffers the same problem as the previous problem. The search engine is tracking the location of the user and is working on targeting ads that are specifically designed to get that person to buy something.

Even though the pay per click model is not as well optimized as it is on the desktop systems. It still can be highly effective at getting people to click through and buy something. However, this just means that the search engines will continually evolve their model on the mobile systems until they make a system that is optimized for use on the phones that exist at this moment.

This all equates to the need of a person to protect their privacy by carefully selecting what searches and updates they make on the phone. Every step on the mobile phone is a step that gives a person less and less privacy. Therefore, a person must evaluate what they are doing every time they use the phone. This is the only way that a person can guarantee themselves privacy while using the features of a smart phone.

Comment Marketing: What You've Been Doing All Along Now Has A Name!

One of the best traffic sources is to comment on someone else's blog, when that blog is on a relevant, related topic. It may sound counter-intuitive to raise up our competition but oddly enough it makes us look more authoritative when we do. There are several advantages to being strategic when commenting on blogs, news posts and in forums, so much so that this is now a formal kind of marketing - Comment Marketing. Here's what it involves:

The Goal Of Comment Marketing

When done correctly, commenting will introduce you to people already looking for the information you are an expert in already. When you comment wisely, adding to the conversation in progress, you plant the seed that someone can trust you. You also begin to build your like-ability quotient. This is always the ultimate goal with social networking - to build "know, like and trust" connections in your desired marketplace.

What Comment Marketing Is Not

SEO gurus used to advise us all to comment on leaders' blogs in order to build backlinks. The Google Penquin Update has ended the effectiveness of that tactic. Content Marketing is not about building profiles in as many different places as you can; it is only about adding value to a conversation. This encourages people to see you as an expert. A comment that simply says, "cute post" or "love your theme" does nothing for you and is usually deleted by the blog owner.

3 Quick Comment Marketing Tips

1. It is okay, and often a good idea, to disagree with the main point of the post. So long as you can back up your point of view and do it politely. It gets a good discussion going and helps both you and the owner of the blog, especially if the chat goes on for a while and stays polite!

2. Use the same name and photo everywhere. Your "gravatar" then becomes recognizable and your followers will automatically scroll to your comment to see what you've said. Consistency is key with social networking, so that you can stand out in the noisy, crowded social sandbox.

3. Only plant a url in the comment section if a) it really is helpful and extends the content's value and b) you can do so in such a way as to allow the blog owner to delete it. For example... add your comment, and then add a phrase like "note to editor, if this would be useful to your readers" or "I'm not sure if this is appropriate to place here, yet I believe your readers would gain value from this link".

Raising Up Your Competition

As you can see, comment marketing involves quite a bit of strategy: you will want to pick leaders in your niche and comment on their posts all while following the rules above. You may see those "leaders" as your competition and not want to promote them for fear that they take away your traffic. Oddly enough, the reverse is true. When you authentically (i.e. genuinely) and publicly admire somone else in your field, it shows how much of an expert you are that you recognize their unique abilities and then - and here's the key - shows that you are secure enough in your own authority that you can stand back and admire others with confidence.

Facebook - How To Delete Photos - 2012 Edition

Facebook changes their layout and structure continuously. They call it 'updates'. This keeps us fit and flexible but also means that we always spend time looking for the things we just started to get used to. It also means that as soon as you have finally understood how it works, it has just changed. After my previous article answering this question I had feedback that it did not work anymore, so here is an updated version.

Your uploaded pictures

Easy: For your own photos simply open the photo and you will find the 'Options' menu below the picture on the right hand side. Choose 'Delete this Photo'. Alternatively, if in an album, open the album, click on the 'edit album' link and once you scroll over a picture there is an options menu in the top right corner that appears when you click on the down arrow. Click 'Remove this Photo'.

If you want to delete a whole album, simply click on the delete button on the line with the title of the album next to the 'add photos' link.

Your uploaded pictures in a group

You can only delete photos in a group if you are the administrator. If you are then, once you have the photo opened, there is an 'Options' menu below the picture on the right hand side. Choose 'Remove this Photo'.

If you are not the administrator you might want to ask the administrator to remove it for you.

Someone's uploaded picture of you

If someone else has uploaded a photo and tagged you, you can click on the wheel symbol in the top right corner and select 'Report/Remove Tag'. This means that the photo won't show on your timeline anymore. Additionally, you might like to turn on an option called 'Profile Review' to approve tags before they become public. This option can be found in your privacy settings under 'Timeline and Tagging'.

This does not mean that the photo is gone; it is still visible on the person's wall that uploaded it and also to their friends.

Your profile picture

Just like any other of your photos delete it using the options menu. If you have already updated to timeline hover over your profile picture and the options menu appears. You can choose a new one, take a photo, upload from pictures, edit thumbnail or remove it.

Abusive or unwanted pictures

You can also report a photo if all else fails. Every photo has the 'Options' menu below the picture on the right hand side. The available options change, depending on whether the picture is yours or someone else's. You can click on 'Report This Photo' and it will give the following options to choose from: spam or scam, nudity or pornography, graphic violence, hate speech or symbol, illegal drug use. Choose the option that best describes your situation. All reports are strictly confidential.

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How Far Do You Reach With Facebook?

As a social media strategist, I manage a fair number of Facebook pages for clients. Much of my day involves growing each presence and researching methods for increasing followers and subscriptions, and crafting quality content that encourages fans to share that information. As social networks evolve, not just Facebook, they tend to change the rules and in turn makes jobs like mine more interesting and challenging. Recently, Facebook has allowed page administrators to see real-time results of their actions in the form of "reach" statistics per status update. As hard as you work to promote your business or project through Facebook, however, you may be disappointed with what you see.

First, let's define reach. Next time you're on your Facebook page, check the line of stats underneath the like, comment, and share links. You'll see a number (100 people reached, for example) and a percentage point. The number represents how many people saw that particular status update, and if you hover over that link you'll see how many of those 100 people are organic or viral viewers. Organic viewers have already liked your page, and viral folks are friends of those people. Both demographics are important, of course. You rely on your organic audience to continue visiting your page and reading/liking information, and the content you provide must prove compelling enough for the viral audience to grow and transfer to your organic grouping.

So, 100 people saw one post. If 100 people are fans of your page, you have a perfect record and should pat yourself on the back. If you have 7,000 fans, though, it means your message only reached a small percentage of your captive audience! According to Facebook Marketing, pages will reach an average of 16% of overall fans.

It's wonderful to have thousands of fans attached to your business page, but if so few people actually get the message you could be shouting in the wind.

Why, you may ask, is this reach so low. People have liked the page, so they should see statuses appear in their news feeds, right? Well, yes and no. As we mentioned earlier, Facebook likes to change the game often. The move toward the Timeline algorithm may have put off users who suddenly no longer see updates by certain friends. These days we have to be savvy enough to know how to adjust our feeds so we get what we want. As a page owner, you should know that the people you'll reach most often are the ones who actively seek out your information regularly. In turn, Facebook recognizes that since these people visit your page or access your information often, your updates are included in their feeds.

Similarly, people who don't check your page often don't receive as much attention from you because of this algorithm. Then the unthinkable occurs: out of sight, out of mind. That person remains a notch in your fan count, but they don't benefit.

How do you combat this and raise your reach? Here's the kicker: Facebook offers you the opportunity to promote individual posts. Unlike Facebook ads that direct users to specific pages or off-site links, promoted posts are designed to show in more feeds and hopefully reignite interest among established fans. Once they see you're still active, users may visit your page more often and re-enter the organic demographic, raising your subsequent reach.

Like their ad program, the promoted posts have no set price. You determine the cost and Facebook lets you know how many people will receive the notification. Thirty dollars, for example, could increase your reach by a few thousand people, while a hundred dollars highlights your post to tens of thousands. Remember, we're talking about people who have already liked your page!

The thought that you have to pay to speak up to people who already like your page may frustrate you, especially if you've spent money on campaigns just getting users to click the like button in the first place. You may wonder, is there a way to get around this and work organically toward reviving reach. There are a few tricks to try, but the effectiveness may depend on what you can accomplish via Facebook:

Make sure your followers know to adjust feed settings so your updates show. Have them hover over the page's like button and click "Show in News Feed." Engage those followers you do reach. Respond to comments, positive and negative, and show support through likes. You may find those fans become more active, and you can increase viral reach. Be visual. One thing I've noticed on some client pages is that the reach jumps when we post a photo or upload a video (as opposed to linking to either). Having the media directly on the page increases sharing potential, so definitely create some viral graphics.

Lastly, don't feel discouraged by low reach numbers. Think creatively with your Facebook marketing, and experiment with your page. It only takes one action to create a reaction that sends your information everywhere.

Facebook for Business - Powerful Milestones and Photo Cover Tips

New changes and features on everyone's Facebook page around the world may have brought some initial shock and confusion among Facebook users, but the timeline also brings new and exciting opportunities to explore. Your business would probably benefit best from the Facebook milestones and photo cover features. Ride with the waves, don't fight them, and you'll be alright.

Follow the Wave

Certainly, major brand names have jumped successfully into the new Facebook Timeline bandwagon, and looking back, they can only be proud of themselves continuing through transition and coming out a winner. This innovative format change is also good news for smaller brands and small to midsize companies in several ways.

These clever ways and techniques discussed in this article regarding milestones and the cover photo will help your brand or business survive the Facebook game altogether. Many big companies are growing their brand names already, making whale waves on Facebook. The results depend on your enthusiasm to compete and stand out above the competition. A great vision for unique milestones and a creative cover photo that needs to engage both visitors and prospects alike, will certify your brand recognition.

Considering that the visual layout is a priority for the new Facebook Timeline features, let's explore creative opportunities your business can take advantage of through Facebook with milestones and the photo cover design feature. Since the changes in this world bring new beginnings, now would be the best time to try something entirely new for your business, and Facebook offers just that.

Share Life Events and Highlights of Your Brand or Company

Think through adding interesting milestones for your business. In any case, this will bring your business much closer to your visitors and prospects since they will have a good idea of how life events and highlights transpired. Such milestones would be much better if say, your business has a good history to share. A good example of a company that uses milestones effectively is Skittles and its founding story. The company takes pride in their remarkable and interesting history.

They reveal it all, including how everything evolved from beginning to present time in a well-organized manner through this new, particular feature. Using milestones helps users and fans alike understand the highlights of your brand or business. Milestones work exactly like life events on profile pages. Simply, click the milestone button on your timeline to add one, starting with the date you or your company was born. You have the ability to customize the milestone with specific type, a description, and exclusive image.

Important Milestone Components and Creative Human Connection

For best results, apply quality images with high-resolution, sharp focus, and good lighting. The milestone display size is 843 pixels wide by 403 pixels long. Harness the real magic behind the milestone feature. Incorporate more than just events, like grand openings or new product launches; add exciting photos displaying company parties, guest or public appearances or VIP's like your kids, mentors, and experts.

Freshly written unique content combining infotainment, are important components of the marketing effect to gain more eyeballs for when you post milestones. These varieties of visual stories are an essential human element to your Fan page that your watchers are able to appreciate and engage.

In your case, you can be creative through your businesses' product releases and everything accomplished so far. Since the Facebook Timeline feature is all about the impacts of visual content presentation, you can achieve best results if you can tell an engaging story to follow your featured photos. Whenever you add new photos, you automatically have a slot for posting. Users love seeing photos with a good story attached.

Cover Photo Terms and Creative Design Ideas

Even though the Facebook Pages terms and conditions address that no one can have contact information, calls to action, promotions, or pricing information, Facebook made it easy for companies to embrace other eye-catching copy and creative design, such as:

Professional tagline or motto that describes what your business is about An influential word that symbolizes your brand Thought-provoking quote Names of individuals in your photo cover Professional photographer tributes Exclusive rights to image

Pictures are a compelling technique to build emotions, so paint a picture for users to remember. A Fan page's cover photo ought to express the spirit of the brand. Use superior pictures, designs, and photographs that are crystal-clear, contain composed color and correct lighting, or utilize image-editing software (like Photoshop) to enhance your pictures. You can plan anything you want, for instance a life size collage or apply a unique giant, attractive snapshot. Be sure to take into consideration the cover photo shape when developing your masterpiece.

Use the profile icon for your company logo, or make it noticeable somewhere. There is no need for extra graphics in your profile icon. If text usage is the plan, ponder its position when choosing images.

Here are a small number of image content ideas proper for cover photo brands:

Happy customers that regularly use your products or services (get permission) Popular products Awards won Personnel working Business owners Recognizable vector graphic

Conclusion

Let's review, Facebook features enable companies and brands to take control of their milestones and unique photo cover design. Companies all over the world are taking advantage of the opportunities. Delivering the best quality work is worth the time and money considering both of these features represents your brand.

A recap, by incorporating more than just events with your milestones and providing creative design elements correctly, a company can establish themselves as a unique brand with fans and users alike. Take time to map a plan that integrates both your milestones and photo cover in a delicate fashion.

I hope these tips help you gain more engagement and more fans. Think about how you want to represent your brand.

Five Ways to Fast-Track Yourself Onto My Unfollow List

Have you checked Qwitter recently? If you haven't, you'll probably be surprised to learn that people just don't like following you on Twitter. Your followers are dropping like flies, and it shows no signs of stopping.

Why?

Because you're hell-bent on irritating, upsetting and just plain boring your followers. You keep making the same mistakes, over and over again, and it's going to end in disaster.

You're putting yourself on the fast track to being unfollowed.

Five Ways to Fast-Track Yourself onto My Unfollow List

I like to think that I'm a fair man. So I'll put up with lots from you on Twitter. Swearing, spoiling the ending of Doctor Who and asking celebrities to RT your comments won't put you on my unfollow list, simply because these are par for the course on Twitter.

But if you're indulging in one of these five horrifying Twitter behaviours, it won't just be me reaching for the unfollow button.

1) You're constantly fighting in the streets

Some people liken Twitter to a pub. Others think it's more like a dinner party. Everyone agrees that it'd be a better place if we were all a bit nicer.

So if you're the person who's trading barbs and insults on your favourite antisocial network, make sure you aren't doing it in front of everyone. A robust debate is fine. A sweary tirade through the direct message system will at least fly under the radar.

Using snide little tricks like punctuation before the all important @ so that everyone can see that you're having an argument just makes you look like a plank. We won't think you're some crusader against the dark underbelly of the Twitterverse.

We will think you're a fool who deserves to be unfollowed.

2) You insist on retweet recursion

Everyone likes getting a retweet. Having your great blog post on Twitter etiquette gives you a lovely, warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Which is the exact opposite of the feeling everyone else gets when you RT your RTs.

It's one thing to relentlessly push your own posts, but by jumping up and down and making a scene every time someone admits to reading your posts isn't going to win you any friends. It'll make you look a bit sad, a bit desperate, and a bit like a candidate for my next following cull.

And woe betide any one who RTs a #FollowFriday recommendation...

3) You're a hashtag horrorshow

Using hashtags is easy. You drop one or two in to give context to your tweet, or to link it to an ongoing debate.

#you #do #not #hashtag #every #single #word #you #tweet #Iheart1D #because #you'll #sound #like #a #fool.

I don't think I need to say any more about that, do I?

4) You're filling my DM inbox with spam

This is something that marketing people need to learn. Because nobody appreciates this, everyone hates it, and yet it still happens.

If I follow you, please do not send an automatic response with a link to some product or service that you're hawking. It makes you sound desperate, it's intrusive, and it makes me question your authority straight away.

Because most people I follow on Twitter pass on information for information's sake. And that generates trust. Trust makes me more willing to work with them in future. Or pay them for some of that expertise they've demonstrated.

When your first interaction with me is to make a cack-handed sales pitch, I don't think "Wow, here's an expert." I think "Oh, here's a salesman." Then I hit unfollow.

5) You're just plain boring

It might sound obvious, but being boring is a one-way trip to Unfollowsville, population: You.

So at least try and fake having a personality.

If you steer clear of these five pitfalls, we'll have a long and fruitful Twitter relationship, you and I. But I'd like you to return the favour. What behaviour has you diving for the unfollow button?