Social network Archives - Monetization Magic

Social Networks Used for Surveillance

Are social networking being used for surveillance? In a word…yes. Is it legal? Yes it is. Anything that you put online is basically public information especially with Google! In the EULA for Google it very plainly states that it becomes the owner of that information.

In an article published today on MSNBC, it states that governments are pushing for the social networks to collect more information than they need for their own business purposes.

So what exactly can be collected? Any time to place data on the internet, your IP address and location can be obtained. The information that you place out there can be obtained along with the time that it was posted. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Facebook’s new “Read” edge coupled with other technology gives the ability to see what you are doing online and serve up user specific information that it’s technology believes you would be most interested in. You don’t even have to click on a “like” button for this to take place. That sounds rather innocent on the surface doesn’t it. In order for this ability to take place, what you are doing has to be recorded in a database somewhere so that it can be queried to come up with future information to serve you. When you opt in to use the application, it begins to provide this individual content while collecting the data in order to provide the content.

While I believe that Google and Facebook are just attempting to provide a better quality experience for internet users, I also know that data can be used in many different ways. As it points out in the MSNBC article, many governments and law enforcement are obtaining the information for their own purposes. According to the article, “Soghoian estimates that U.S. Internet and telecoms companies may receive about 300,000 such requests in connection with law enforcement each year — but public information is scarce.” The influx of requests are so taxing that “Every decent-sized U.S. telecoms and Internet company has a team that does nothing but respond to requests for information,” Soghoian told Reuters in an interview.

What can you do about this? Basically, don’t post things on the internet that you wouldn’t be proud for your mom or grandmother to see. As you’re reading information, ensure that you are doing so responsibly. Most folks won’t have any issues with this; however, you need to be aware that where you go and what you do is being recorded in a database somewhere to be used at a later date. When you are opting into applications, make sure you are aware of how that information can be used. You don’t have to develop a phobia about it. Just be aware of what you are doing when logged into the internet. Ensure that others using your equipment are equally as responsible. The bottom line is to assume that what you put out on the internet is not private. After all, the internet is a public network.

Blogging for Business Growth

By SoftwareGirl

Gone are the days when having a website meant that you had a cute picture of your store front with your business name, address, phone number and hours of operation. Today’s website needs to include a blog, social network connections, free give-away items, an area to get more information from the business, an area to submit an e-mail from the website, items for sale and in some cases an events calendar.

Does that sound like a lot of hats to wear in addition to your normal day-to-day operations? Actually, it’s a blessing rather than a curse. It’s a blessing because you don’t have to do everything yourself. You are able to hire someone else to do some of the work for you at a reasonable rate. Other tasks can be created once and automated so that you can get back to the normal operations of your business.

The websites of today can introduce several additional streams of passive and residual income to your bottom line. The optin area is used to gather names and email addresses for people who are interested in learning more about what you have to offer or perhaps to receive your monthly newsletter. The email addresses are fed to your auto-responder software to send out communication to your current and prospective customers to let them know key items about your business.

For instance, let’s say you have a heating, ventilation and air conditioning business. Every fall it starts to get cold and every spring it starts to get warm. Every month we’re supposed to change the filter in our systems. What if every summer, your email system automatically began to notify customers that they needed to contact your company to set up an appointment to have their furnace serviced to take advantage of the Early Bird special? What if every winter, your email system automatically began to notify customers that they needed to contact your company to set up an appointment to have their air conditioner serviced to take advantage of the Spring Early Bird special?

Customers might even choose to schedule their appointments and pay for the service prior to you performing the service. It’s convenient for them and would remove some receivables from your books. WooHoo! Instant cash flow! I can see your accountant clicking their heals already.

Your blog could be used to educate your customers on the proper way to install a filter or drain a sprinkler system. It could also be used to let your current and prospective customers that you regularly maintain the local soup kitchen for no charge just because you like to give back to your community. Your blog gives your business a human touch to an otherwise cold relationship. If your little business will be doing an exhibit at the local home and garden show, you can let your customers know to stop by and see you to pick up their coupon for one of your services along with something nice to drink. People like to do business with people whom they know, like and trust. You may not have time and resources to meet and greet all your customers, so put some systems in place to do that work for you.

Take a look at the website you have today. If your website is more like an unlit billboard in the night than a fully interactive, systematized money-making machine, consider having an Action Strategy Session with me so that you can begin adding more to your bottom line before your competition gets a hold of this valuable information. The normal investment for this service is $349.00. The Action Strategy Session is even priced for today’s economy because you can take advantage of the Take Action Special for $97.00. You may just find there are 10-15 different income streams that you can take advantage of that you hadn’t even thought about before your Session. Reserve your time at I’m always happy to help!

Best Advertising for Small Business Owners

By SoftwareGirl

Surely by now you’ve heard about the coupon sensation called Groupon? If you’re a small business owner, this is an excellent service! Since the buzz created with Groupon produces paying customers rather than just browsers, I consider this the best advertising for small business owners!

Groupon will use the social networks for you to get the word out about your special offering. They encourage deals to be sent out to friends or being using by friends to add to the fun. Prospective customers can use their social networks to arrange plans and further spread the word about your business.

Groupon negotiates huge discounts—usually 50-90% off—with popular businesses. They send the deals to thousands of subscribers in their free daily email, and they send your business a ton of new customers. These are not just browsing folks on the internet, these are actual paying customers that have already purchased and are ready to redeem their coupon purchase. That’s the Groupon magic!

There are no out of pocket costs associated with being featured on Groupon. They make money by taking a piece of each Groupon they sell. In other words, they only win if you win – and you know what you’re getting at every step of the process.

Since a minimum number of people must buy for the offer to be valid, Groupon guarantees paying customers. These subscribers are not looking for “the perfect deal.” They’re looking for the perfect excuse to try something new. They get them to your business, and you bring them back again and again.

A Groupon feature puts you in front of thousands of subscribers in each Groupon city – with thousands more opting in each day. Their subscribers share your offer with everyone they know via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. This buzz will continue to attract new customers for months following your feature.

Just as you’ve seen people who have appeared on Oprah before they are ready, you should also be ready to receive a flood of customers to your business prior to advertising on Groupon. It makes you look better when you’re prepared and there’s less stress that way! Before advertising with Groupon, think ahead of time about how you will bring these new customers back again and again by offering a special promotion just for them once they visit your store.

Do you have a fitness business and you’re offering New Year New You packages? Perhaps you’d like to offer a special on a cruise celebration once they’ve reached their goal weight to show of their newly acquired physique? Or perhaps you could do a buy one get one at half price special for the cruise or other special event?

Groupon allows you to target a specific area which makes it great for opening up a new area of your town or state or section of the country. Perhaps you would like to couple it with a fund raising event to double your exposure and donate to a good cause as well.

Be ready to create a buzz about your incredible offering and get your message out to thousands of people for your next big launch. Contact Groupon today!