Jan 16, 2017 |
Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Edie Melson- Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
As writers we know the importance of developing an online presence, but is there such a thing as too much information out there?
Absolutely!
The result of too much information online can range from the irritating to the dangerous. But it is possible to be smart and still have an online presence that will garner you the right kind of reader notice.
So how much is too much to stay safe online? Anything that lets your online presence collide with your physical presence without you managing the connections.
Here are some tips to help you stay out of trouble:
- Have boundaries firmly established in your own mind—BEFORE something happens. That way, when someone get too familiar, you’ll be ready to do more than just feel vaguely uncomfortable. So often I talk to writers who have a cyber-stalker and they’re not even certain whether they should be concerned or not.
- Trust your instincts. I cannot emphasize this one strongly enough. If someone makes you uncomfortable, act on your feelings.
- Don’t friend/follow/or otherwise engage someone who isn’t willing to post a picture and/or give out reasonable information.
- Don’t use any social media networks and/or settings where you check in at places. There is no good reason for someone to know where you are generally. If you’re at a conference or a big event, you can let people know you’re there if you choose, but don’t leave your safety to a computer program.
- Turn OFF your location settings for all your digital devices—phone, digital camera, ereader and tablet. Otherwise, any picture you take with those devices could have an imbedded code that gives the latitude and longitude of where the picture was taken. This is especially true if you post pictures of children (your own or even grandkids). Don’t make it easy for a predator to map out your location.
What should you do when something makes you uncomfortable?
The biggest thing is do NOT be tempted to be polite when you’re worried. This is similar to following your instincts in that we often push down our uncomfortable feelings for the sake of being polite. If someone is tweeting to you, sending you repeated Facebook messages, or contacting you in any way that makes you uncomfortable, don’t ignore your feelings.
- First, if it’s someone you know, confront the person making you uncomfortable and request they respect your boundaries. If it’s a spammer, do NOT engage. Just move straight to blocking them.
- If they don’t adhere to your guidelines, immediately block them from the social media networks where they are contacting you.
- Finally, report them to the social media network(s) where the infraction occurred.
This isn’t something you should fool around with, but it’s also something you shouldn’t be worried about. Taking these steps will keep you safe and give you the boundaries you need to stay safe online.
What steps do you take to stay safe? Have you ever felt uncomfortable by a contact? If so what did you do?
CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, My Dear: Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
Edie Melson
Edie Melson—author, blogger, and speaker is a prolific writer with years of experience in the publishing industry. Her best-selling ebook has been expanded and re-released as Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her popular industry blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month.
In addition, she’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Social Media director for Southern Writers Magazine, Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy and the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket.
You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oct 17, 2016 |
Edie Melson, Social Media Steampunk, and Molly Jo Realy, Woman of Mystery, at BRMCWC
I met Edie within minutes of arriving at my first Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2015. By the end of Tuesday night, she had not only mentored me in her classes, but we became friends. I still remember as the conference came to a close, she told me, “You better stay in touch, girl. We’re cut from the same cloth.” I couldn’t have a better compliment from someone I respect so much.
While you can find me at her blog, The Write Conversation, every third Monday of the month, I wanted my own readers to experience her knowledge. This month, she shares 8 tips to stay safe online.
Don’t Get Hacked!
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never be hacked. Especially since, as writers today, this is where we spend so much of our time. But there are a LOT of things we can do to lower the odds of it happening.
This week I want to give you some tips on how to keep from being hacked online. This advice will continue to change because inevitably, the more wise we become at protecting ourselves, the more cunning those wishing us harm become.
The majority of times we get hacked it’s because we clicked a link that uploaded a virus which opened us up to hackers.
This is the bad news, but there’s also good news. This kind of hacking is preventable, and here are some steps to take to stay safe online.
- Be wise. This seems basic, but so many times we just ignore our better judgment. How many of us have been sucked in by direct messages like these? “Have you heard the rumors your friend is spreading about you?” or “This is a hilarious video just uploaded about you.” Stop. Think. Then DON’T click that link!
- Assume it’s a lie. Awhile back, I got an email from an online company confirming a large purchase with my credit card. I knew I hadn’t made any purchases, but still had to fight the urge to panic. My gut response was to reply to the email. Thankfully, I took a step back and looked more closely at the email. I noticed several things that made me suspicious. I immediately did an online search for scams involving that company and came up with pages of recent victims. I contacted the company directly (not through the info in their email) and confirmed the email was a ruse to steal my information.
- Never give out sensitive information. Let me repeat, NEVER GIVE OUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION! Companies don’t ask for bank account info, passwords or other information over the internet. First, if you’re a customer, they already have all of your information they need. Keeping up with personal passwords is a liability for companies.
- Stop accepting friend requests on Facebook from people you don’t know. If you’ve read my blog for long, you know that I run my personal FB profile as a public forum. BUT I still don’t allow “FRIEND” access to strangers. There was a time when we could look at common friends as a sort of endorsement for accepting a connect. That time is GONE. The only time I might consider looking further at a possible friendship would be if we had HUNDREDS of friends in common.
- Never share personal data while you’re on a public Wi-Fi. This includes logging into sites when you must type in a password. It’s okay to bring up a site you’re already logged into, but NEVER type a password in a public place. Not only is it a risk, but it’s so easy to counterfeit a public Wi-Fi and make it look legitimate.
- Use two-level authentication whenever possible. For instance, when I log into my Google account from a new device or new location, I receive a text message with an additional code I must type in. This has saved me so many times. A lot of networks offer this option and I always sign up for it. It may seem frustrating when you’re in a hurry. The truth is, when we’re rushed is when we’re not paying attention and we’re often more vulnerable.
- For PC users, invest in a good security program. And good programs don’t necessarily mean expensive programs. AVG is excellent and has free options.
- Have a different password for EVERY site you’re on. And change your passwords every six months. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I cannot emphasize this strong enough. Your password must be different for every account you have. That can seem overwhelming. If you’re like me you probably have dozens of accounts, so how can we keep up with all those passwords? Trust me, it’s not with sticky notes or a file on your computer. Every single time I share this information, someone confesses that they have a file on their computer and no one will know it’s there because it’s labeled INFO or something similar.
Instead, take advantage of some wonderful programs. Some charge a small fee, others are free—all have the highest security rating available. And they all have apps so you can access your accounts from your mobile devices.
LastPass
1Password
Keepass X (for Mac) and Keepass (for PC)
I’ve heard people suggest that these programs are a security risk. The experts disagree and so do I. Look for ones that have AES-256 encryption (and ideally two-factor authentication) to make certain your information stays safe.
There are also blank booklets available for those of you who are old school and want something you can hold in your hand. I’ve seen them at local discount stores, as well as high-end specialty stores.
Now it’s your turn, what are some tricks you use to stay safe online? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
[bctt tweet=”Frankly, My Dear . . . Edie Melson: Don’t Get Hacked.” username=”@RealMojo68, @ediemelson”]
Edie Melson—author, blogger, and speaker is a prolific writer with years of experience in the publishing industry. Her best-selling ebook has been expanded and re-released as Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her popular industry blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month.
In addition, she’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Social Media director for Southern Writers Magazine, Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy and the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket. You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Aug 16, 2013 |
Five Things Friday at Frankly, My Dear…
Remember the CBS show NUM3ERS? That was a great show. I loved every episode. How Charlie showed his big brother Don that crimes don’t have to be solved with force. That sometimes brains are better than brawn. That while human nature is unpredictable, numbers are always reliable.
Y’all know my theory of One. It’s pretty much the best number in the world, because it’s a beginning. A start. The foundation upon which anything else is built. Because I’m not God, I can’t create something out of nothing. I need to add to what’s already there.
Yeah. I really like the number One.
This week’s Five Things Friday takes a bit of a different turn. Instead of listing tangible Things, it’s more of a this-is-what-I-think-and-feel post.
It started last week when the worlds of several friends began to crumble. A death. A divorce. A sickness. Compounded by the typical wearing-down that life can bring. We prayed with each other. For each other. We reached out, we accepted. And it’s been a great comfort. We found security in not being alone. We found Safety in Numbers.
People need people. We need to know we matter especially to those who matter to us. A “hi” here, a cup of coffee there. A friendly text or phone call. Reaching out is one of the greatest things we can do for someone else. Even if we’re hurting. Even if we’re struggling in some way (and who isn’t)?
People need people.
Reaching out takes the focus off ourselves and lets someone else know they’re not alone. Their situation is unique. They are one-of-a-kind. But they (YOU) are not alone. And reaching out bonds us together. It gives us that fortitude we need to continue.
And let’s face it… when someone reaches out to you, doesn’t it make you smile, just a little? Even if they don’t get it. Even if they can’t comprehend what you’re going through. Even when no one else knows what’s happening in your world. Doesn’t it make it better when someone comes alongside you for a bit of the journey?
So what are you waiting for? Be that person for someone else! I like asking the hard questions. “How are you, really?” “What’s honestly going on?” “Did this or that get resolved?” “What are you thinking right this moment?” I like being a person that others can trust, want to trust. I like being a person others can reach out to when they don’t think they have someone. I like being a friend.
I like being a friend.
In Matthew 18:20 Jesus tells us, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Certainly, our relationship with God is singularly individual. But it’s also communal. Just as you have a singularly individual relationship with your spouse, each child, each friend, and everyone who crosses your path. You’re One. I’m One. And together, we’re more.
Your efforts may not be returned. They may be ignored or worse, trampled upon. They’re still important. If for no reason other than you’re capable of showing compassion.
That’s my first for this Five Things Friday. To tell you how important you are.
You matter. Period.
2. Just a thought, but who’s more protected: someone with one person on her side, or the one with ten? Do you walk a dark street at night alone if you don’t have to? Do you make the tough decisions without talking to anyone else first? Would you rather send one person into battle or a hundred? I find great Safety in Numbers. Great comfort, joy, fun, and encouragement. I’m a bit of an awkward social butterfly, but I do so love going out and meeting people.
3. I enjoy cooking big. Most times, it’s just for me and Dot. But I love those once-a-week cooking moments that provide great leftovers (and fewer cleanups!). I’d rather cook four chicken breasts at once and know she has lunch ready the next day, and often, dinner as well. I’d rather make a huge pot of soup and freeze half of it for later. Less dishes, more family time. And I’m a Big Fan of the grab-and-go ease of having something already prepared for my own lunch. I’m not so big on making lunch myself each morning.
4. My friend Danny helped push me toward self-publication two years ago with this great comment:
“Would you rather write something that five million people read once, or something that five people read a million times?”
In all honesty, the latter. And so if my niche is a smaller market, I’m okay with that. Five million is a big number. And to be recognized by five million readers would be spectacular, being remembered forever by five is a big more wonderful. Sometimes there’s Safety in (Smaller) Numbers, too.
5. One is a great number. It’s the start to everything. But it’s not the conclusion. You can’t have a collection of something if you only have one. “How do you like my spoon?” or “What do you think of my stamp?” just isn’t as special as an assortment. That doesn’t mean you have to collect everything. I love Jim Shore Disney miniatures, but only certain ones. I adore coffee mugs. I stopped collecting cats after Sparkles became the fifth member of our fur family.
Sparkles
I also think it’s a bit punny that this post should be under the “Five Things Friday” umbrella. I guess there really is Safety in Numbers.
Where do you find Safety in Numbers?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Friday Five – STORIES
Five Things Friday – TRAVEL
Five Things Friday: Everything Old is NEW Again
Five Things Friday: POETRY
Five Things Friday: The Big Easy
TGIF: One
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Apr 24, 2012
I don’t watch Talk Shows. I try to avoid them unless George Clooney is trying to help the children in Darfur, or Michael Buble is singing through the commercials.
So today I wasn’t really paying attention as the TV happened to be tuned to “The View” on ABC. I wasn’t paying attention, until the topic began with the disappearance of Etan Patz in 1979 when he was six years old. Until I actually heard Whoopi Goldberg state make the following statement:
“Is it too creepy for me to say, we should, we maybe need to start thinking about one of those little tracking things in children? Because they put it in our animals… I know there’s all kinds of things in the Christian Bible that says don’t do those kinds of things, but I just, you know… I mean, is that too crazy? I mean, we confined our animals when they, when they wander away. Is it wrong to suggest something like that?”
Halfway through her statement, one of her earrings fell and caused a momentary distraction. But then she jumped right back on the horse with the support of her co-hosts.
A few things really bother me about this statement. And I’m here to tell you, Whoopi, that yes, it is too creepy for you to suggest we implant our children.
First, I am a Christian. And I resent your implication that a Christian who follows the Good Book lacks a certain something in society. I can’t figure out if you were trying to call us dumb, or ignorant, or stuck in our old ways… Secondly, you never finished that statement. I’m curious to know, had your earring not fallen, what would you have said about Christians and our beliefs? That we’re not doing enough to protect our loved ones? I’m pretty sure the person who kidnap Etan wasn’t a real Christian. Does he get a pass on his ugly actions for not knowing God? By the way, the Bible’s called Good for a reason. Read it, you might actually figure it out!
Your suggestion that we implant our children was offensive as you categorized our little people as being on par with four-legged animals. You in fact, recognized that we confine our animals. Is that what you want for our youth? To lock them in a psychological, voyeuristic jail where they know that every thing they do is tracked? Where’s Johnny? Oh, he had too much milk at dinner, he’s been in the bathroom for half an hour.
What saddens me more than your one comment, however, was the insane support from your co-hosts. Sherri’s suggestion that an implant be designed to dissolve once a person reaches the age of 18 has so many problems wrapped in it I can’t even get my head around it. Joy said parents need peace of mind. I absolutely agree. But does she really think having a tracking device in my child is going to give that to me? Yes, Elisabeth, that is “too Big Brother” for me.
Certainly there will always be ugly crimes against the world, against children. But your solution does nothing but lower their status to that of cattle branding. Why not have them tattooed:
“If found, please return to Mother.”
Even the best of families experience tragedy. Implanting a tracking device into our children is merely an invasion of privacy and alienation of human rights. If it’s allowed by the parents, where would it stop? School coaches would need to make sure their athletes aren’t getting into trouble. Government employees should definitely be kept on a tight leash so they don’t divulge secrets. We wouldn’t want them to keep unsavory company.
Perhaps we could include a low-volt shock to correct bad behavior. Don’t make faces at your sister, Johnny. Finish your homework, Martha. Watch your language. Change your clothes. I don’t like your hairstyle. Fix it. Fix it! FIX IT!
Where would it stop? The crazy idea that we can protect our children by belittling them, by lowering their status to the same classifications that we give farm animals and pets is ridiculous, insulting, and demeaning.
Let’s put an dog collar on you and place you inside an electric fence for a week. Then you can tell me how great it was that no one snatched you out of your yard. Sure, you wouldn’t be able to go out to coffee with your friends, but you’d be safe. You’d have to send people out to run errands for you, but you’d be safe. You might miss out on some great adventures, but, you know, at least you’d be safe.
I have an idea. Let’s try to keep our kids safe without forgetting that they’re kids. I don’t have the solution. I don’t know what will work. But I know implants won’t. Because guaranteed someone somewhere has already thought up the anti-solution.
But let’s at least not forget our kids are kids. And they’re entitled to feel like parts of their world is safe. Not dictated under the guise of being “for their own good”.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
This post was featured on the BlogHer.com network on April 23, 2012.
