In today’s electronic world security is a big concern. Just about everything about us is stored electronically: Birth records, marriage license, legal proceedings, academic records, property ownership, financial information and so on.  While these things are important for managing the varied pieces of our lives lest they spiral out of control over time, as if they aren’t enough we also advertise ourselves on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, and who doesn’t send the occasional text message?

As uncomfortable as it may be to ponder upon, there really is no privacy anymore. Your privacy is up to you, and all you can do is limit the amount of information and the ease of access others have to it in our digital world. On that vein, I’d like to discuss the most common form of security on the Internet: passwords.

Google announces a new social media platform that launches from users’ current Google accounts.

Google just recently introduced Google Buzz, a social networking software which works collaboratively with users’ Google accounts.  Google Buzz automatically allows users to connect with friends they e-mail or chat with the most in Gmail.  The software allows users to share updates, photos, videos, and more.  Buzz’s privacy settings allow users to share their thoughts publicly or privately.  Posts are delivered via e-mail to followers who can continue the conversation by simply replying to the e-mail.

One of the best features of Google Buzz is the ability to connect with sites that users currently use such as Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.  This turns Google Buzz into a one stop portal for users to check e-mail, visit friends, and announce their thoughts to the world!  Buzz can also be accessed from phones.  The best part about Buzz is that users do not need to set it up, it’s already part of their Gmail accounts.

You’ve signed up for MySpace, created a profile on Facebook, and joined Twitter and LinkedIn. Now what?

Identify Your Time Commitment

How many social networks is your business a part of right now? Are you really using this very popular tool for marketing purposes or are you just a profile on a page?
Social networking–like any form of networking–is about dedicating time. Checking in for 10 minutes a day to update your profile status is not going to get you business leads. Additionally, not being involved in the tools you say you use can also send the wrong message to people who are reaching out to you. Make sure you have someone available to put the time into keeping your information fresh and up to date.

While I do my best to keep up with Internet technologies, I’m usually a little slow to embrace anything related to social networking. I value my privacy way too much to publish an online profile that identifies any personal information, post my vacation pictures for the entire world to browse, or keep even my closest friends apprised of my daily activities. So when Twitter started becoming all the rage, I was quick to dismiss it as another silly tool for oversharers.

But then last May, I read an article on nytimes.com that made me think twice about all of these Tweets that seem to be popping up everywhere. The article referenced several companies that have hired full-time social media experts whose jobs are to promote their brands via blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. While the article cited several large companies that have jumped (flown?) onto the Twitter bandwagon, such as PepsiCo, General Motors, and Comcast, smaller, less recognizable brands are embracing the power of Twitter, as well. The article opened with a description of Murphy-Goode Winery’s search for a “social media whiz.” The job pays $10,000 a month plus free accommodations…for Tweeting! Okay, so there’s probably some Facebooking and blogging involved too, but still…maybe I need to rethink my career?!

Anyone who’s ever had an email address knows the dread of wading through all their junk-mail clogging up their inbox.  Also known as spam, these unsolicited messages account for as much as 94% of all e-mail sent across the internet, with over 100 billion of these messages sent per day according to a recent New York Times article.  These messages can range from annoying pharmaceutical ads to outrageous money scams to potentially dangerous viruses.  It’s easy to become overwhelmed with this junk, but there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself, your business, and perhaps most importantly, your sanity.