tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90692326500405704412024-03-05T00:05:07.918-08:00My PR NotebookPR Tips, Tech Tricks and Social Media NewsAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-65704846647053993292013-11-26T11:17:00.001-08:002014-03-20T09:02:38.493-07:00Can a Social Media Manager Quit Social Media? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_tmLyb5wpaz4BxK_IBu6eyw23naORnuYfJNYA-P8WZAjd9imMGhCL1tl1Ysk7FTYMqVL-g1X-t4pvihvv7WzVLOfvQDgHwhP_sJsoWs7HATRHUCQi4ENgj1GlfxZW4szbN1zlUw-rjD5/s1600/photo-4+copy.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_tmLyb5wpaz4BxK_IBu6eyw23naORnuYfJNYA-P8WZAjd9imMGhCL1tl1Ysk7FTYMqVL-g1X-t4pvihvv7WzVLOfvQDgHwhP_sJsoWs7HATRHUCQi4ENgj1GlfxZW4szbN1zlUw-rjD5/s400/photo-4+copy.tiff" height="312" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've had it with social media and I'm thinking about quitting. Well, kind of. Let me explain. As a public relations professional, I naturally started managing social media for my company in 2008. My role in social grew, while my role in public relations became less as the focus shifted. The past few years have seen so many changes. I love the excitement and learning new things. But the negative side can make anyone lose focus, especially if you're online 24-7 like most social media managers. Here are some of my biggest social media gripes and how to fix them:<br />
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<b>Brands posting for a negative response. </b><br />
This is probably comparable to the any PR is good PR tactic. I *was* a Facebook fan of one of my favorite Websites. But, they consistently post images of one celebrity they know will get a response, a negative response. They'll post "Doesn't *celebrity name* look cute," or something similar. And, after watching their feed for days, <i>you know that they know</i> their post will bring out the keyboard courage internet trolls slamming her/him. Social media managers, at least in my experience, are under the gun to get more likes, more comments and more eyes on posts. But at what cost. Content is key...don't lose your audience or forfeit your company values for more likes. Figure out how to get there positively!<br />
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<b>Private people putting private people in the public eye.</b><i> </i><br />
It's one thing to post your own dorky selfies-that's you posting about yourself. I'm okay with that. But, when did it become okay to take random photos of people, post them on your social media site and make fun of them. Yesterday in my Instagram feed, a grown man posted a photo of an older woman and a young girl...making fun of their clothes. When did this become okay. Granted, this has been going on a while, just look at the People of Wal-Mart Website. But before, I could just ignore the Website. Now, it's everywhere, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. We are a bullying society, yet we say we say we take a stand against bullying! Uh, I don't think so. We all have the power to make this simple change-just put the camera/iPhone/Android down.<br />
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<b>Brands not responding at all. </b><br />
And, okay this one doesn't really make me want to quit social media. BUT, it does make me want to help these brands! If you're going to be on social media, BE on social media. I recently found out about a new product through a promotion they did with a tech site. I had a question about that product that I couldn't find through Google, so I reached out to that company first through it's Website support with no response, then to Twitter with no response, then to Facebook private messaging with no response, then to the Facebook wall with no response. In the past couple of months, this has happened to me twice. If you can't keep up with social media, don't be on those sites. Now, I know it's hard...but if you have to scale down, do one thing and do it well.<br />
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Ultimately, the truth is that I just can't quit social media. It has helped me through the pain of losing my beloved dog, reconnected me with my 5th grade best friend, given me insight into the lives of people in a different way and given me an outlet for creativity in a new way. Although I don't know how my role in public relations or social media will change in the next five years, I'm hopeful.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-28481521341474872692012-05-23T18:45:00.000-07:002012-05-23T18:45:13.041-07:00Get Organized While Charging Your Tech<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABKISXn0W-THfyKLWBOS8tty5aE9o4VjlV7-INcFIENY0vmIkZ4GpVbwLWYM206IBck_l4ZtIAUJqFlXA1Utf-Hc1Jmw8CzCY_TAeHdXeRIiSpQjMJEARb1ItSRv27SKl0fRU5yenSfXJ/s1600/Charging+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABKISXn0W-THfyKLWBOS8tty5aE9o4VjlV7-INcFIENY0vmIkZ4GpVbwLWYM206IBck_l4ZtIAUJqFlXA1Utf-Hc1Jmw8CzCY_TAeHdXeRIiSpQjMJEARb1ItSRv27SKl0fRU5yenSfXJ/s400/Charging+Station.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
iPad charging, check. iPhone charging, check. Kindle
charging, check. MP3 player charging, check. Location, all over my house equaling cords everywhere.<br />
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Admittedly I am a neat freak. Before I go to bed, I clean my
house, put away any dishes and plug in any of my tech tools that need a charge
before the next busy day. As my list of tech tools has grown, so has the
location they are plugged in around my house: my kitchen, bedroom dining room
and living room.</div>
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To some, this won’t be a big deal, but add another person
and their tech tools into the mix and you have cords everywhere. My solution to
this was simple: I needed a charging station. I needed to organize my cords. A
quick search online pulled up many options. But, I also needed to factor in
that I also wanted one that was aesthetically pleasing and wouldn’t stand out
in my house. I ended up choosing the Bedford Smart Technology Large Recharge
Station from Pottery Barn. Beautiful and on sale. </div>
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The charging station is 12” wide, 12” deep and 6” high,
which isn’t small but it fits comfortably on one section of my dresser in my
bedroom, next to a 32” flat screen. My favorite feature is the built in power
strip plug-in with 6 plugs available. This was a must-have for me, since many
(like a similar from Wal-Mart) seemed not to come with it. The four holes allow
cords and wires to be hidden but conveniently placed for easy-access to
charging. The charging station also features a pull-out drawer, where I keep my
flash drives and extra iPhone covers. </div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-80915013004439154492012-01-10T11:12:00.000-08:002012-05-23T18:27:06.922-07:00Social Media by the Numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkP1YqP46cjBhR6enJruQ5zHvCDUOb9IJXvA3sFylUaHrxIA7AXPYDhgJ-jlaVCB4GtPtN3zenDF8sYMpHEn5FlGbRqcGcFz-3BPfSFsdA4q0q5JZ84r8NCCttz25SxPRH24D-phoohc/s1600/6a00d834516a5769e20162fcbc7d0c970d-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkP1YqP46cjBhR6enJruQ5zHvCDUOb9IJXvA3sFylUaHrxIA7AXPYDhgJ-jlaVCB4GtPtN3zenDF8sYMpHEn5FlGbRqcGcFz-3BPfSFsdA4q0q5JZ84r8NCCttz25SxPRH24D-phoohc/s400/6a00d834516a5769e20162fcbc7d0c970d-500wi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">I am a huge fan of statistics and numbers for social media-it really puts into perspective the amazing growth we have seen over the past couple of years in the digital arena. Here are a few from Socialnomics that amaze:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Over 50% of the world’s population is under 30-years-old</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">In 10 years over 40 percent of the Fortune 500 will no longer be here</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the U.S.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">If Facebook were a country it would be the world's third largest and two times the size of the U.S. population</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">1 in 5 divorces are blamed on Facebook</span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">See the rest of the list and the video <a href="http://www.socialnomics.net/2012/01/04/39-social-media-statistics-to-start-2012/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-19815052060429193702012-01-01T21:36:00.000-08:002012-05-23T18:26:55.086-07:00Pretty as a Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-js-ZTcQhFv8/TwFB4FyyA3I/AAAAAAAABbs/oVp1OjV2R0g/s1600/instagram-logo-iphone-kevin-systrom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-js-ZTcQhFv8/TwFB4FyyA3I/AAAAAAAABbs/oVp1OjV2R0g/s320/instagram-logo-iphone-kevin-systrom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Apple named Instagram the app of the year for 2011 and I agree 100%. It is by far my favorite app for three reasons: photos are quick and easy to post...they tell the story, I can follow people in cities that I dream about visiting then favorite them for future reference, and finally, you are connecting in a new, personal way. </div>
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I started an account for my company, which hasn't been a huge focus for us due to lack of time (although I HATE saying that). A great brand I follow is "katespadeny" where I enjoy photos of New York, the manager of the account at work or at photo shoots, as well as their products. Of course it is easy for such a fashionable crew to find pretty things to post, but check out "generalelectric" and you will see that you don't have to have color, purses and the background from an amazing city to tell a story through your photos. </div>
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I have been using the app at an increasing rate personally and just started a 30-Day Photo Challenge, which you can read about <a href="http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/2011/12/photo-day-challenge-january-2012.html">here</a>. Just today at 11:30 p.m. there are over 2700 photos tagged for the challenge. Makes me think of the fun that large and small businesses alike could have with the site. </div>
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It will be fun to watch the site grow and how businesses find new and exciting ways to use it. You can find me on Instagram by searching "amberpresley" but beware, I post a lot of Yorkie photos! </div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-12409986827392628992011-08-31T16:53:00.000-07:002012-06-05T19:54:00.269-07:00Foodspotting Across Austin! (Repost)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuhyphenhyphen-spliLXinVlVjHPH80Xz_V6AVML5L2oAf81GF-ILsK3U8GLbDARtKUQmx77_Prwwc4aahy-o3NTyNUvIgyMZu6kO7WYm9GiNS2uP6RVIAW45Z0o_8T2xXugAr45PYQWgbFgMPxusD/s1600/photo-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuhyphenhyphen-spliLXinVlVjHPH80Xz_V6AVML5L2oAf81GF-ILsK3U8GLbDARtKUQmx77_Prwwc4aahy-o3NTyNUvIgyMZu6kO7WYm9GiNS2uP6RVIAW45Z0o_8T2xXugAr45PYQWgbFgMPxusD/s320/photo-9.png" width="213" /></a></div>
<i>Originally posted on the Keller Williams Realty Blog when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i>
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<div style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Coming to Austin for Mega Camp, another event or just to visit KW…and just not sure where or what to eat? Well, we are here to help! Austin is full of amazing restaurants and there are so many choices. To make it a little easier on our guests, we created a Food Guide on Foodspotting. So, first things first, what is Foodspotting?<br />
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Foodspotting is a unique local guide where you can find and visually see what people have "Spotted" at restaurants-to see what looks good to you or discover something new. Maybe you would never try the Pasta with Clams, but it looks so good that you can't pass it up (that's me)! It is a great way to visually see what looks tasty, instead of reading through reviews. Basically it is social media heaven for foodies! There are three ways to participate: as a food seeker or as a foodspotter, or in my case, as both. </div>
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As a food seeker, you can search by food type, neighborhood, city or you can look up specific restaurants. </div>
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Another fun option is to bookmark foods that look good to you that you might want to check out later (see below left). You can do this by researching restaurants or by seeing what people you follow have spotted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3CAZU-xbdydQUhmmgfDaM5mM3Vumn_SVNbFSvcZibJdrHAAGqZmUCh7TqTaGhKP2ueGtLFk9cDqB8ZVKOr1EWl8Ol9KIfCfMzvqKB9xDeenwdp87lUr1McOs3t2zUIBDhYqgu_jdsQjO/s1600/Wanted3-199x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3CAZU-xbdydQUhmmgfDaM5mM3Vumn_SVNbFSvcZibJdrHAAGqZmUCh7TqTaGhKP2ueGtLFk9cDqB8ZVKOr1EWl8Ol9KIfCfMzvqKB9xDeenwdp87lUr1McOs3t2zUIBDhYqgu_jdsQjO/s200/Wanted3-199x300.png" width="132" /></span></a>As a foodspotter, you take a photo of your food and share it by uploading your photo, you can become a dish expert by spotting the same types of foods (for example, I am a seafood and soup expert on Foodspotting), or by following people or guides that you find interesting. <br />
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And after you have completed uploading the photo and review (see below left), it wills how up in the streams of people following you on Foodspotting and connected to that specific restaurant. You also have the option to feed the review and photo through to Twitter and Facebook if you choose.<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, we just created "Keller Williams Realty's Guide to Austin" (at the bottom of this post) to help you fnd and follow food we love. Guides work this way: you follow the guide and "spot" the dishes listed in the guide. So, if you follow our guide, go to the guide on your smart phone or online and click "spot" for that dish, for example, the beef brisket at Franklin Barbecue or one of Mo's favorite dishes, the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf at Bess, you would then upload the photo and it would show up that you uploaded to our guide. Make sure the name of the dishe is consistent so you get credit. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnREGa7hQX5JFcSlz6fBlbxprKyEAfS7gjvrKMJi5S2sVbIuYxwPR_lrlcMtKNLdqBsjX4GmJH8NDqlLXgLVmdjFb1Tm0O3HPEQ6AmNwtalF9wDz1gkm1mcFAVYNr9qjKKF204o_1vAcgz/s1600/Uploading-to-foodspotting-200x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnREGa7hQX5JFcSlz6fBlbxprKyEAfS7gjvrKMJi5S2sVbIuYxwPR_lrlcMtKNLdqBsjX4GmJH8NDqlLXgLVmdjFb1Tm0O3HPEQ6AmNwtalF9wDz1gkm1mcFAVYNr9qjKKF204o_1vAcgz/s200/Uploading-to-foodspotting-200x300.png" width="133" /></span></a>The more food you spot on our guide, you will get the opportunity to obtain the "KW Foodspotting Badge" (the KW logo on the guide) for Austin and a chance to win a copy of Green Your Home!<br />
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So, how do you sign up? All you have to do is download the free application to you smart phone or sign up online on <a href="http://www.footspotting.com/">http://www.footspotting.com</a> and create an account. Currently the application is available for Windows phones, iPhone and Android. <br />
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To follow our guide, go here: <a href="http://www.foodspotting.com/guides/3098-keller-williams-realty-s-guide-to-austin" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keller Williams Realty's Guide to Austin</span></a>. Make sure to follow the guide and you are set. Don't wait until Mega Camp or until you are in Austin to start Foodspotting! Get started tonight at dinner, while grabbing a latte at your favorite coffee shop or maybe even get creative and put together a guide for your neighborhood and promote it to your clients. Most of all, have fun and happy Foodspotting!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf8oIYo5Ir8SCZWgq86WA4Y160vF72vLYmqfpEy8-4WOPFOpzb7RN2MoXpO4C2gsC5mE4Ts5rVI5_cP85r4UVgMJ6SLFvgOytXew9J0ZjqcYPDLB1v9r9adZMXNWX_KX1RDxQxqVrCy9N/s1600/photo-82.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf8oIYo5Ir8SCZWgq86WA4Y160vF72vLYmqfpEy8-4WOPFOpzb7RN2MoXpO4C2gsC5mE4Ts5rVI5_cP85r4UVgMJ6SLFvgOytXew9J0ZjqcYPDLB1v9r9adZMXNWX_KX1RDxQxqVrCy9N/s400/photo-82.png" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLBDDafAplgdZD1MoSSeKAyUcrP5LvYIysNR7li490yG52rqc2yYYxPGCaKfJkJD8F5-jfT4vycv_4sPG0DlUb4Y4Dd5CQ3boGDqqXtZaBCBtv-99HRkQvQnKt0rXsozIiS7AynqrOZ0o/s1600/photo-82.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-33570176524519145592011-08-04T08:59:00.000-07:002012-06-05T19:54:16.483-07:00Is Your Password 123456?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamaI8NtVUEi_5J4dne3YvgwXd9wulNF5qUPzzbsBaGhVuTTJL8uPTYxA4xNrD1csHU4uZwCEfi8l-UUwLB1oZ7JB4NghdJVOqzFkRWZ0Z3mpU3OpQ289Nnw2TkBFMd3Rb3MPsFJsbw2Iv/s1600/Most-Common-Password.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamaI8NtVUEi_5J4dne3YvgwXd9wulNF5qUPzzbsBaGhVuTTJL8uPTYxA4xNrD1csHU4uZwCEfi8l-UUwLB1oZ7JB4NghdJVOqzFkRWZ0Z3mpU3OpQ289Nnw2TkBFMd3Rb3MPsFJsbw2Iv/s320/Most-Common-Password.png" width="184" /></a></div>
Nearly 1 in 100 people use the password “123456” for their accounts online. It also happens to be the first password hackers check, according to Imperva, an online security site. In 2009 alone, there were 32 million breached accounts.<br />
Luckily there are easy best practices to follow to ensure you are not one of the growing millions getting hacked:<br />
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•Include upper AND lower case characters in your password.<br />
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•Make sure your password is eight to 10 characters long at least.<br />
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•Use a different password for all sites – yes, this is a hard pill to swallow, but just write them down to remember. Otherwise think about how easy it is to access ALL of your accounts if they access one.<br />
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•Over 50% of people use names, slang words, dictionary words or trivial passwords…don’t do this! Hackers use dictionaries and lists of common terms and phrases, or information they find on your own social sites to figure out a password. <br />
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Additionally, there are computer programs that can figure out a 5-character password in less than 2 hours.<br />
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•Use a formula to determine a password, for example, a quote you like from a book or movie. <br />
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Here is one example: using a quote from Fight Club "I am Jack’s complete lack of surprise." Boil this down to initials: iAjClos. Now add in some numbers and special characters: Maybe a 3 because it is your third favorite movie of all time and a "?" and you've now got 3iAjClos? – a 9-character chain with special characters and a mix of upper and lower case letters.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-14957210924789771592011-07-27T13:53:00.001-07:002011-07-27T13:53:12.380-07:00Airport Tech<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic2MenQDKX2u3CkSHdh04NkVUmTs7XXf_-5t6q9HhzpCzj0nLe0FbEwFdzqgd1bwmHbxBsUF0m7FAiZPYavkMoTqUiV8MBpnO97Sc32e6VPB_i0yDtbIpvuhS6Cylz_7gnBwSFhetRzJZ/s1600/photo-792381.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic2MenQDKX2u3CkSHdh04NkVUmTs7XXf_-5t6q9HhzpCzj0nLe0FbEwFdzqgd1bwmHbxBsUF0m7FAiZPYavkMoTqUiV8MBpnO97Sc32e6VPB_i0yDtbIpvuhS6Cylz_7gnBwSFhetRzJZ/s320/photo-792381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634138065570168290" /></a></p>Apple used to have one of these in the Houston international terminal. Way too tempting!<p>Sent from my iPhoneAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-46888540326013525052011-07-21T09:13:00.000-07:002011-07-21T09:13:56.886-07:00Simple, Pretty Products<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpRgWfT6ifvbWyCeBZvZ-BuxesQNjxkTjeP2_tTHATWRnyXrSpam9_n1_0Z5nbXukxKzxikZ9MMtXGr8V8-TZTq3H8znAyr40p9El5uBBQJS3dr0b3f7u-5pRd_7RnX7vhrfMjHGY022l/s1600/products.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="157" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpRgWfT6ifvbWyCeBZvZ-BuxesQNjxkTjeP2_tTHATWRnyXrSpam9_n1_0Z5nbXukxKzxikZ9MMtXGr8V8-TZTq3H8znAyr40p9El5uBBQJS3dr0b3f7u-5pRd_7RnX7vhrfMjHGY022l/s320/products.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The names, labels, colors and containers...I adore it all. Makes me want to buy buy buy. Sometimes less is more for this consumer.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-71057610954013250232011-07-19T21:55:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:55:26.963-07:00Vimeo vs. YouTubeI have always been a fan of Vimeo branding versus YouTube. In addition to the look and feel of the site, I do love that I always find videos with more of an artsy flare to them, like this beautiful time-lapse video of San Francisco to Paris in Two Minutes. Maybe I just don't know how to search YouTube or maybe too many people have posted too many bad videos to find the good. <br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21822029?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/21822029">SF to Paris in Two Minutes</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/beepshow">Beep Show</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-63564741517046994032011-07-14T18:05:00.000-07:002011-07-14T18:07:30.852-07:00Surviving a Breakup on Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb33dZtk8YUScCtftIAIcZXtsxdP7ErzTv71aA65G60mxoMe6V6sSMYgF2BXTYOTuVTOuseHQJYamCUO6-WZmlpFLB5IQGqBxy0lArz1Z5p-aj2aG7urFBHCHO6VBOVdYCsVEGOCzfsyob/s1600/breakup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb33dZtk8YUScCtftIAIcZXtsxdP7ErzTv71aA65G60mxoMe6V6sSMYgF2BXTYOTuVTOuseHQJYamCUO6-WZmlpFLB5IQGqBxy0lArz1Z5p-aj2aG7urFBHCHO6VBOVdYCsVEGOCzfsyob/s320/breakup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It is hard enough to go through a breakup. And, now add social media to the mix...the whole world knows your relationship status. I recently got a call from a friend that wanted to change her relationship status on Facebook but didn't want to deal with potential comments on the fact that she was getting divorced. Helping her adjust her privacy settings made me think more people might want to know how to do this. So, here is a quick tip to ensure that your breakup isn't blasted for all the world to see:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Before you change your relationship status, go to your privacy settings</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Click on "Customize Settings"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Under "Things I share" click on the drop down tab for "Relationships" and choose "Custom"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">On the "Make this visible to" drop down choose "Only Me"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Now click "Save Setting" - don't forget this part!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It should say "Only Me" now for "Relationships"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">You can now make the change to your relationship status</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It will seem to post on your profile, but don't worry only you can see it...but go ahead and delete the post if it makes you feel better. I would wait a couple of days before you change the settings back from "Only Me" to be safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-9161374300490370772011-06-09T16:59:00.000-07:002011-06-09T17:01:42.480-07:00How To Save Wet Electronics You Dropped in the Pool/Toilet/Washing Machine<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is summer...you are lounging by the pool taking a photo for Facebook and BAM...you drop your iPhone in the water. Enter panic and diving in the water only to think of a million things you can do to fix it. Whether it is your cell phone, iPod or any other electronic device, we have all been there. </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I learned a trick from my good friend Daniel that may or may not work for you, depending on the damage and how long it is in the water-but it is worth a try.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 1: Do NOT attempt to turn your phone on!</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 2: Take the battery out of your phone.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 3: Grab some rice and a ziplock baggie.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 4: Put your phone and battery in the baggie with the rice and leave it.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 5: Leave your phone alone (yes, don't touch!) for 2-3 days and then take it out and put your phone back together</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully it works for you like it did for my friend! It didn't work for the person I pulled this image below from (</span><a href="http://bit.ly/lJ10Fi" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://bit.ly/lJ10Fi</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) but it seems she gained some peace and perspective by not having a phone. ;)</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=207421332628415&set=o.207420129295202&type=1" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/260447_207421332628415_203828552987693_511772_2707174_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></a></div></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-8636226139948570482011-06-08T18:51:00.002-07:002011-06-08T19:01:19.798-07:00What Personal Information is Spokeo.com Sharing About You?If you Google yourself, odds are a listing will pop up with a link to Spokeo.com, which offers personal contact information for anyone with your name. Upon search it is amazing/freaky scary what you will find. Luckily, my current address wasn't listed, but my previous cell phone number and address to two former locations was.<br />
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My parents weren't so lucky. Their home address, phone number and a photo of their home was listed on the site, along with information about how much homes cost on average in their neighborhood, what the salary level for the area is, and the option to get a personal email and social network links. Luckily, removing your information off the site is pretty easy.<br />
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To remove yourself, go to Spokeo.com, search your name and click on your current state. If you find yourself and you want to delete your listing, copy the link of the page you are on with your personal information (as seen in the photo below-red arrow pointing to the link).<br />
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Then, go back to Spokeo.com and at the bottom of the page, click on "privacy" which will take you to a page where you will need to paste the link you copied. You have to provide your email address, so I would either use an alternate email or create one for this purpose. I would NOT provide your current email address...who knows what they will do with it.<br />
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You will then receive an email at the address you provided to confirm deletion. Once you do that it will be removed from the site. Keep in mind you might still see it on the site unless you delete your cache in your browser settings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVJVKGsuwAOB5qDpOi3coYoZFWLG0DbFl5-VziBMCw8cRqV1PLLHSAzOTDRxoKGlLDy6KVjIjzBhIy9LdAjyDSdD2oSSuTh_PsOvUw_oEd0rZh0pv4Gec_aqZdjWoi0wWMqst69enkYh1/s1600/253610_206978926005989_203828552987693_509651_434068_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVJVKGsuwAOB5qDpOi3coYoZFWLG0DbFl5-VziBMCw8cRqV1PLLHSAzOTDRxoKGlLDy6KVjIjzBhIy9LdAjyDSdD2oSSuTh_PsOvUw_oEd0rZh0pv4Gec_aqZdjWoi0wWMqst69enkYh1/s400/253610_206978926005989_203828552987693_509651_434068_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-66545236693470161232010-08-26T18:45:00.000-07:002012-02-09T16:57:40.442-08:00Facebook Places: Another Adventure in Privacy (Repost)<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
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<img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1174" height="351" src="http://blog.kw.com/files/2010/08/facebook-places1.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="500" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" style="color: #889911; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></div>
</span>Already a big fan of location-based applications like Foursquare and Gowalla, I was pretty excited to try out Facebook Places.</div>
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In short, Facebook Places lets you and your friends check into a location. Once checked in, you can see who else out of your friends is at that location or one nearby. Cool right? But, as with any Facebook update, the addition of Places brings a whole new slew of privacy updates to your Profile that you must know about. So, here are a few things to make note of to ensure that you are comfortable with your settings and what you are sharing on Facebook.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
1. <strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Opt out of friends checking YOU in.</strong> With Facebook Places, the setting is automatically defaulted to “Enabled,” allowing friends to check you in on your behalf. As I wrote this post I was able to check-in at Starbucks on my iPhone from my desk at work (across the freeway from Starbucks) and tag a friend as being there with me. At first, both of us showed up on my Facebook Profile page as being checked in. Then Facebook Places sent an email letting my friend know I was trying to check her in. Once she approved it, a post showed up on her Facebook Profile page.<span id="more-1158" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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If you’re comfortable giving friends’ control over your location, then the default option is for you. If you prefer to keep that information in your hands only, you can “Disable” the setting on the “Privacy Settings” tab under Account, by choosing “Customize Settings.”</div>
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But it is also important to note that I was able to post that I was somewhere with my friend that I really wasn’t, so keep that in the back of your mind when making your decision.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
2. <strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Public opt in options.</strong> If you check in, people who aren’t your “Friends” have the potential to see where you are (see image below). Luckily, Facebook guards your privacy for this setting by giving you the ability to opt in.</div>
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I’m a regular user of other location-based applications such as Foursquare, but for safety reasons I tend to check in only when I am with friends or when I am leaving a place. And, I have a rule that I must actually know you to share my location information with you on Foursquare; which is private unless I feed it to Twitter. Personally, I haven’t decided yet if I will change this to the public setting, but if you’re comfortable allowing others to see your current location, click “Enable” where it says “Include me in “People Here Now” after I check in.”</div>
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Additionally, remember that Facebook Places or locations added are public. So, to the people who check in to your house…you are sharing your address for the world to see!</div>
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<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1175 aligncenter" height="475" src="http://blog.kw.com/files/2010/08/People-here-now.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="359" /></div>
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3. <strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Adjust your Friends lists.</strong> More than likely you’ve set up friends lists that modify what each sees of your profile. As a Facebook user, you would think those same lists would apply to the new Facebook Place application.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Well, not so fast. The default setting for Facebook Places is that <em style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">all</em> of your Friends can see where you check in. So, to keep this private you will need to adjust the settings under “Places I check in to.”</div>
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These tips aren’t meant to scare you away from Facebook Places or other location-based applications. Just be aware before diving in, and as always, think before you post, tweet or update.</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-89580901329807157282010-06-24T09:02:00.000-07:002012-02-09T16:58:40.923-08:00Have You "Checked-In" to Today's Hottest Mobile Technology? (Repost)<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1067" height="367" src="http://blog.kw.com/files/2010/06/Blog-pic-for-foursquare.png" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="495" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" style="color: #889911; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Four Square, I am the mayor of my local Starbucks, a sno-cone stand (it is summer after all), a popular mid-century modern furniture store, as well as my hair salon, to name a few. If you have no idea what I am talking about or aren’t sure why you should care, tune in.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Location-based applications are growing stronger every day and should be on your need-to-know list. Part social city guide and part game, location-based applications include </span><a href="http://www.foursquare.com/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four Square</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.gowalla.com/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gowalla</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.loopt.com/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loopt</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Each of these sites focus on one thing: connecting you to the community. And, just like the early days of Facebook and Twitter, a lot of people still don’t “get” these applications.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this is something you are pondering, here are three reasons I suggest you start using location based sites (a little bit for fun and a little bit for business):</span></div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. They are quick and easy to use.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All you have to do is create an account, sign in on your mobile device and click “check in” at any venue or location.</span></div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. You can show your local expertise.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You probably know a lot about what your town has to offer. Now that you have signed up, utilize that knowledge by giving tips on local businesses that you frequent. This is another way for you to connect with potential clients and get your name out there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most interesting things on Four Square happened the first time I “checked in” at my local grocery store. As soon as I checked in, a tip from a Four Square friend about a café nearby came on the screen. I had the option of saving or deleting the message. It was brilliant because I had never heard of the café and it immediately made me think that I should check it out. And, that my friend must be familiar with the area.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what does it mean to be “mayor”? Each time you check in you are in the running to become the mayor of a venue. The mayor of a venue is the person who has visited the location the most in a given time period (usually 2 months). When you are named mayor of a venue, it shows up on their Four Square page. Smart businesses with products to offer consumers, like Starbucks, are capitalizing on this by giving </span><a href="http://www.geeksugar.com/Location-Based-Rewards-Foursquare-LooptStar-WeReward-TopGuest-8819184" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">incentives</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to users and mayors who frequent their establishment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, sometimes being mayor is fun for bragging rights. In my Twitter feed I have seen many mayor battles for Keller Williams offices, which has been fun to watch. But, I don’t suggest feeding every Four Square check-in to Twitter.</span></div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. These sites are growing in YOUR city.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On June 16, </span><a href="http://twitter.com/foursquare/status/16076087125" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four Square reached 1.6 million</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> users and word is that at least 10 people check in somewhere every second! The site is partnering with many brands including the </span><a href="http://foursquare.com/wsj" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall Street Journal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://foursquare.com/bonappetitmag" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bon Appetit magazine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, to name a few.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gowalla is another leader in the location-based craze and has been creating exciting partnerships. Recently the company partnered with Best Buy to give away </span><a href="http://gowalla.com/blog/2010/06/500-free-eye-fi-cards/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">free Eye-fi cards</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and also with USA Today to create “</span><a href="http://gowalla.com/blog/2010/06/usa-today-and-gowalla-team-up-for-summer-travel-fun/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">road trips</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">” with suggested locations to check in to.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog post is just scratching the surface of the location-based applications. There are many other hot issues surrounding location such as privacy issues, when you should and should not feed your check-ins to Twitter, and much more that we will touch on in the future. </span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-28507485801318880782010-01-07T16:45:00.000-08:002012-02-09T16:59:28.110-08:00Why You Should Be Using Twitter's Hashtags (Repost)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBhfp1MKG16wW-TUYvfh-upoa0oe78AWQmIR6e8yWzHo5HuOK3ogdE6GkS2A5DfusB5DfHvKikx7avR2HiCOqUeC1g2uJfrXh8Px1-8hJRUQ9XC-4pGiDI-xSQO_LFOUm-jrWBYSJqZs0/s1600/kwmc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBhfp1MKG16wW-TUYvfh-upoa0oe78AWQmIR6e8yWzHo5HuOK3ogdE6GkS2A5DfusB5DfHvKikx7avR2HiCOqUeC1g2uJfrXh8Px1-8hJRUQ9XC-4pGiDI-xSQO_LFOUm-jrWBYSJqZs0/s320/kwmc.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" style="color: #889911; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></div>
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Whether or not you use Twitter to actively tweet, no one can deny that what once began as a niche phenomenon for a few enthusiasts has become a great source of information for all. And even if don’t want to tweet, you can always sign up for an account and just listen in on the conversation to understand the tool.</div>
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For example, during <a href="http://familyreunion.kw.com/" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Family Reunion</a>, our associates used Twitter to share what they were learning and experiencing at the event with people who couldn’t be there and each other. Quotes, links, facts and observations were tweeted from the event and were grouped together by adding #kwfr hashtag to tweets about the event.</div>
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For example:</div>
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<em style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">@kwri: Just attended a great session on listing foreclosures! Can’t wait for Mo’s Inspirational Brunch tomorrow! #kwfr”</em></div>
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So, what does #kwfr mean and why should you use a hashtag if tweeting while at an event or about specific subject?</div>
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<span id="more-486" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>The purpose of using hashtags (#) on Twitter is to make it simple for people to search for tweets with a common topic. So essentially, people who couldn’t attend Family Reunion were still getting access to a small snippet of the best real estate training through Twitter! When using hashtags, you want to try to keep them short, because they do use up your precious 140 characters.</div>
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To find a specific topic, go to your “home” page on Twitter and type a keyword or hashtag into the “search” bar at the top of the page. This will bring up all tweets tagged with that specific hashtag and topic. Here is an article with more information on hashtags: <a href="http://help.twitter.com/forums/10711/entries/49309" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://help.twitter.com/forums/10711/entries/49309</a>.</div>
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Remember your hashtags and spread the word for KW events! And, don’t forget to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kwri" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">KWRI</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mapscoaching" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">MAPS Coaching</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kwrinews" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">KWRI News</a> on Twitter !</div>
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Mega Camp: #kwmc</div>
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Masterminds: #kwmm</div>
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Family Reunion: #kwfr</div>
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MAPS Coaching: #MAPS #MAPSCoaching</div>
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BOLD: #BOLD #KWBOLD</div>
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RED Day: #kwred #redday</div>
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Keller Williams Realty: #kwri #kw #kellerwilliams #profitshare #KWCommercial #KWWorldwide #KWCares</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-30418224054034362322009-12-28T16:42:00.000-08:002012-02-09T16:56:25.022-08:00The Social Media Gold Rush of 2009 (Repost)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" style="color: #889911; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></span><br />
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Where were you on June 13 at 11:00 pm? Me? I was glued to my MacBook with a Red Bull in hand scared to death. Facebook was about to open up vanity URLs to the public and I wanted Keller Williams Realty-bad. This was serious. As the seconds ticked away, I got more and more anxious, then as the clock turned to 11:01 central time, I went for it, and at that moment I completely forgot how to spell Keller. I think it was the fear of actually spelling it wrong and having to explain to someone why I forgot how to spell my company’s name. I mean, what if I had to tell Gary!? Well, luckily I got it right. In the first hour, I was one of one million people that reserved a vanity URL. With 550 vanity URLs registered per second, I am thankful that I was able to secure one for KW, as well as my own.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span id="more-439" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>Cut to a little over a week later at 5:30 a.m. and I was sitting in line outside of Apple. Yep, it was time for the newest iPhone. Faster! Video! 3GS! How could I miss out on this opportunity? The store didn’t open until 7 a.m. but there were a lot of people in front of me. What if I didn’t get one I thought? Last year, I hadn’t planned as far in advance and got the last one. It was a close call then, so I prayed that the same wouldn’t happen again. As Apple store employees brought out coffee, water and doughnuts, I knew that this would be something I would face until they stop coming out with new iPhones. But, it is Apple, of course they will come out with a new one every year. As each person walked out with theirs and they cheered it brought a smile to my face. Although ridiculous, part of me was envious. I got the new iPhone and it didn’t disappoint, but no, I didn’t cheer.</div>
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Then came Google Wave rumors. Twitter verified accounts. Changes to Facebook feeds. Google Wave launch. Twitter lists. Twitter Retweet Beta. Google social search. My invite to Google Wave-finally! The list goes on and on. Each time something new releases, I feel the joy and excitement equal to opening a present. Will I like it, what will it be and will I put it aside to play with my other toys? Whether you are new to social media or an old pro, we all had these moments this year. Maybe you just set up your brand new Twitter account, or maybe you maxed out on friends on Facebook and started a fan page, 2009 was our year to get connected. And, as the 2010 rolls in this week, I look forward to exploring the potential of my next new gadget or the next blog.</div>
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What was your big social media moment this year? What do think will be big in social media in 2010?</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-59673413069076596152009-11-09T16:37:00.000-08:002012-02-09T17:05:45.626-08:00Don't Be a Social Media Statistic (Repost)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4SYrbQjCwhbB2EbylH0x9pLMmw2yE5loMXkCX-18bEsb58UzL9ZQPaDRVjNkfOPTJL5XCn61qcy2js4PfybMBcdRuGLQZcS7LrcrEC90mdYFwWo50i8Oktp_XlkuHNjjjChd4B1TpGW-/s1600/Computer_Crime_Scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4SYrbQjCwhbB2EbylH0x9pLMmw2yE5loMXkCX-18bEsb58UzL9ZQPaDRVjNkfOPTJL5XCn61qcy2js4PfybMBcdRuGLQZcS7LrcrEC90mdYFwWo50i8Oktp_XlkuHNjjjChd4B1TpGW-/s320/Computer_Crime_Scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" style="color: #889911; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></span><br />
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"I make money with google. i learned how here: ____.” If you were on Twitter last week, you probably saw that message, during another round of phishing scams. This time, the scam spread through DMs and tweets alike. “Phishing” occurs when a fraudulent operation poses as a legitimate Website or service to steal your personal information.</div>
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Everyone needs to be aware of what phishing is and what to expect. It can happen on any social networking site, which was proven last month on Facebook when viruses spread across the site like wild fire. In that scam, users were urged to update their information by clicking on a provided link which took them to a fake Facebook login page. Once they entered in their information, it was stolen and their accounts were hacked, spreading the virus even further.</div>
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A hacked account on Twitter or even Facebook can lead to account suspensions, or worse, you can be shut out of your account altogether. By falling victim to the scams, you can also unwillingly impact accounts of your friends, family or even your clients!</div>
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<span id="more-340" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>And, these attacks are increasing. According to Fortinet, a firewall systems provider, June 2009 had the “highest rate of phishing attacks to date” on the Web. It will be interesting to see what these rates look like at the end of year with the rise in social media use.</div>
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Here are some tips to stay safe in the new social media world:</div>
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<strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></strong></div>
<ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 35px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just because you get a Direct Message (or DM) on Twitter saying “Check out this cool Website” doesn’t mean you should. In fact, Twitter recently alerted its users that they had uncovered a phishing scam, where a link to a fake Twitter login page was sent through the direct message feature. The purpose of the scam was to steal user login and passwords.</li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Be wary of sites outside of Twitter that ask for your Twitter username and password. Although we all want to know our Twitter rank or might want to take a Twitter quiz, many people have had their accounts compromised by these sites.</li>
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<strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></strong></div>
<ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 35px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Be aware of generic posts or messages similar to this: “Hey, did you read what this blog says about you? I think you should read it.” Or, “I saw your profile picture on this Website, you look great! Check it out.” These are sample messages which also included a link with a virus. DON’T CLICK!</li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Remember that third-party applications and quizzes are just that, third party. Most were not created by Facebook. Always read the fine print before adding them to your page or profile.</li>
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<strong style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></strong></div>
<ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 35px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use a different password for each site you use. This will save you a lot of trouble if one of your accounts is compromised.</li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When a link takes you to sign-in on a familiar site, always look at the URL to make sure that the site is legitimate and not a phishing clone. Phishers count on us not to double check links from our trusted friends, sources and sites.</li>
</ul>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069232650040570441.post-20059833262541777142009-09-24T16:30:00.000-07:002012-02-09T16:35:53.861-08:00Why Start a Blog When Blogs Are Dead (Repost)<br />
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<i>Originally posted on the <a href="http://blog.kw.com/" target="_blank">KW Blog</a> when I was their PR & Social Media Manager</i></div>
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“Blogs are dead.” I heard this headline in 2008 when Wired made the declaration that Facebook and Twitter had made blogs “so 2004.” Since then that headline has floated around across the blogosphere, which seems fitting. In its <a href="http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere//" style="color: #0066cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">State of the Blogosphere</a>, Technorati said that, although blog postings had slowed, blogs weren’t going anywhere.</div>
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No predictions have stood out to me this year, but with the popularity of “micro-blogging” on Twitter and Facebook’s similar status updates, it is no doubt that people are spending a more time on social media sites to get information. Yes, fads come and go, but we will always need quality information. Even in real estate we are seeing an increase in agents utilizing blogs instead of Websites. Blogs are essentially blurring the lines between what is a Website and a blog.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span id="more-247" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>A blog isn’t a blog without quality content, so on this blog you will see posts from a variety of people at Keller Williams. Although it won’t be all real estate all the time, it will be a place for you to come and know you are hearing from some of the most talented and passionate voices in our industry. Whatever your belief – whether blogs are dead or alive, we hope that you will find this to be a great resource for educational information on our industry and an inside peek into KW.</div>
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Although I love Twitter and Facebook, I for one hope that blogs SHIFT through this ever-changing social media world and emerge even stronger.</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083891433141265885noreply@blogger.com0