Your facebook account has been cloned – How did this happen and what can you do about it
Many of my facebook friends have posted that their accounts have been cloned and their friends have received ‘friend’ requests from ‘them’ recently. Has this happened to you?
Facebook profile cloning is a form of identity theft. A replica of your facebook profile is made – it looks exactly like your real one. The scary thing is that they have access to your friends and can communicate with them as if they are you. Everything from commenting on your friend’s pictures, tagging them etc.
How did this happen? These dishonest characters (a more diplomatic term) firstly request you as a friend. Once accepted by you, they gain access to all your information and start replicating it to a new facebook profile. It is pretty simple, to download your images and add them to a new account, including copying and pasting over all your information like where you work, relationship status etc.
It would be difficult for a friend of your to tell the difference really because the posts look the same, the images look the same and it is all of your information – a carbon copy.
This is the nasty bit. This new you, can go and report/block your profile and family and close friends. Which means you will not even know that it exists nor will those close to you.
What does this allow them to do? Well, anything from asking for sponsorship, advertising and even money.
What can you do about it?
- Accept friend requests from people you know.
- Do a clean up on your account of people you do not know.
- Facebook privacy settings should be amended so that only your friends can see your posts.
- Select to limit your past posts.
- Check that your photo albums are set to only your friends being able to see them.
- Change your profile pic and cover image regularly.
- Like my friends have done, write a post to inform your friends not to accept any new friends requests from ‘you’
- If your friend has received a request from ‘you’, they should let you know so that you can report it to Facebook’s help centre.
Has this happened to you? Please share this with your network. The more people are aware of this the less damage there will be for your friends to deal with, should it happen to them.
People sure do have a lot of time on their hands to go about all of this! So, if you get a request from me for money because I am stranded on some island or without fuel along the road, do not send me money. Thank you.
Sharing is caring, your best tips on social media sharing
We have heard the old adage of ‘sharing is caring’ not only is it exactly that but it is what has made social media the success it is today, tomorrow and beyond.
Here are some great tips for successful social media sharing on your networks.
Sharing great content, the diva, of the social media sphere and sharing it publicly is key.
Use great images, audio and video showcasing your products, your team, your works in progress.
Video, vlogs, vine and hangouts make it interesting. Give us a tour and why not share it here for us to see.
Promote a new product launch or fantastic seasonal offer. Use events on facebook and google + or run a pin to win aticket comp on pinterest.
Advertise. Yes, nothing in life is really for free. Your time, that last sale, it all costs. But highly targeted social ads work really well at extending your reach and getting your brand noticed. Try Linkedin ads for your professional network, try facebook and google ads for your fans and the world.
Then the real gem, is well, to be social. It sounds straight forward and so obvious. However, 70% of brands do not respond to follows, likes, shares and comments on their social networks. Engagement is not just a buzz word, it’s a crucial part of your social networking.
What are your tips on social sharing? I would love to hear how you’re sharing with your fan club. Send us a tweet here.
Chat soon
Your starter guide to blogging
Your blog is your online journaling space. If you write a blog for your brand’s fan base, it’s your digital pen to share thoughts, ideas, opinions, and reviews. Your blog helps develop a culture within your business.
Blogs can be hosted on sites like Blogger or WordPress, but the best is to have your blog integrated with your website and self hosted. Blogging platforms make it easy to get your message online with little or no coding experience.
“Have keyboard, will blog.”
Many platforms allow easy text editing, image and video embedding. If you can upload photos to your laptop, you’re good to go.
Blog styles can include, the written word, image based, vlog (video blogging) or even audio.
The main features for a blog post are:
- Title
- Body
- Author Bio
- Trackback
- Permanent Link
- Comments
One of the advantages of blogging is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike, other websites that is made up of numerous individual pages, this makes it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fix setting that include: slots for title, body of the post, category, etc.
This is especially useful for first time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can chose from a number of templates that blogging websites provide.
Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice. Once they’ve become members, they automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. They can browse through other bloggers pages, and link them back to their own blogs. Be social and comment on other blogs and you open up the doors to the law of reciprocity.
Blogging in some instances have become the medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions. It is a great way in your business to be picked up as an expert in your salon or as an individual. It is a great way to raise your profile and be recognized by fashion stores, PR companies and even television.
A personal journal style blog is a great way to humanize your brand, whether it’s a business with a shop front window or a celebrity stylist, make up artist who are mobile. You become part of a community in your industry and it’s your place to shine and let people in.
Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy. Tell your story and please share it with me over on facebook.
5 Tips to rock your Linkedin company page
Your Linkedin profile is set up and you have followed up on all the invitations to build your contacts. However, now Linkedin throw in a curve ball and you need a Linkedin company page too. Remember ,that your connections follow you, because they know you (or should). Many fans of your brand will follow your company page because they love your brand and the people who work within it – so it’s not all about you.
A Linkedin company page will give your business the opportunity to have a business company profile in order to show off the great products you have to offer and the services you provide to your clients. It is an extension of your brand to share news worthy and useful updates with your audience.
Here are 5 of the best tips to get your Linkedin company page follow worthy.
You should absolutely be creating a Linkedin company page if you network and serve professionals. This is the top professional social network and it’s free and easy to set up. Give it some thought as to what you could share and offer to make people click the ‘follow’ button.
5* Write your story – make it interesting.
When people scroll down to your company page description, you want to provide them with a great summary of what your company is about. Focus on your unique selling point (USP) and add some keywords in there to ensure that you’re helping your page appear in Linkedin’s search results.
4* Show them what you’ve got.
The opportunity to add your product and services, is like gold dust. Your audience can see what you have to offer without leaving Linkedin and having to go to your website. Less work for them and more exposure for you. Don’t forget to add this.
3* Add a cover image that will make your business stand out.
At the top of your Linkedin company page you can choose a cover photo that is visually interesting and will get their attention.You could add some text to explain and highlight something your business offers.
4* Promote your page.
Get employees to follow your page and to make sure their current employment links to your page. Add a link to your website, so that it is easy for people to follow your page. Share your company page link on your social networks, email signature and print marketing.
5* Ask for product and service reviews.
If you don’t ask you probably won’t get them. It’s another space to acquire testimonials. You can then use them on your website and print marketing too. Testimonials give you social cred and people buy into what other people have, use, want. Be that brand.
Now all you need is to keep it interesting. Make sure you post useful and newsworthy content to it, to keep your followers engaged. It is a social networking after all.
Pop over to our Linkedin Company Page and click the yellow ‘follow’ button, for regular social media news, interesting finds and tips to succeed in the social media sphere.
Share your Linkedin company page in the comments below and I would love to connect with you there too.
To your social stardom*
Tam
Savvy networking advice
The ever inspiring Alice Wood from Inspiring Women UK has recently done a video for the business hub group powered by NatWest and RBS on networking.
The vital tips you need to extend your reach through networking right here…
Social Savvy Check List part 1
Share the first in the series on pinterest.
Top tips to fit social media in your busy schedule
How do you fit social media in your busy schedule, is often the first question I am asked.
SmartBrief Smart Blog has published my top tips for you. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media
How are you fitting your social media efforts into your day?
Share your comments below.
The steps to selling more
The steps to selling more is a great addition to helping you make your marketing work harder for you on social media networks and your blogging efforts.
Source: coolestinfographics.com viaThe Service Leader on Pinterest
What is helping you convert your efforts online, into leads and sales offline?
If you like this infographic, tweet it or pin it and share the love.
What to do if your twitter account is hacked
Hacked twitter account?
This is when you get those lovely direct messages (DM’s) that say something along the lines of “Have you seen this funny pic of you…” or something alike. It’s the kind of message that makes you want to click immediately to see what someone might have posted about you and sent out to the twitter sphere.
The reason that’s happening is because the person sending them to you has had their account hacked.
Firstly, do NOT click on the link. As twitter automatically loads the link to open in your browser, your account becomes vulnerable too.
If you click on the link or receive the message, the courtesy is to share this blog post with them.
Tweet them to advise them of the below and likewise if you have clicked the link -
They need to change their password & check their Twitter | Settings | Applications (http://twitter.com, then go into settings then into applications – revoke access to any that seem dodgy.
A client of ours recently got hacked and unfortunately a follower of their reacted with an obscenely rude message, because they had clicked on the link in the message. It obviously took them somewhere that was offensive or the like. Diffuse the situation by send a reply and a tweet out saying that you have been hacked.
A great tip to add to your social network housekeeping too. We often connect applications like twitter and facebook and then never use them again. Keep this clean to avoid getting hacked with old apps that may become affected by bugs or hacking.
Have you clicked on one of the messages before? Crazy right?
Tweet me @tamjacksonhq
How to transform your blog into a vlog.
Source: blog.hubspot.com via HubSpot on Pinterest
So you’ve started your blog but are not sure if anyone is interested in what you have to say or even if they are getting to read it.
Think about it – when you see the play button on a video, would you rather press the button, than read some lengthy text? Thought so.
So, let’s rock your blog with some video?
I am working with business owners to get over themselves (mean right?) but really particularly us girls, we tend to be a little camera shy. What we’re doing is working together to get our ‘vlog on’
Yes, I hear you “Why have you not done any vlogs?” Well, because just like you I just love working behind the camera and watch you turn into an absolute star.
However, because I do listen, I thought that I would capture a little vlog just for you to show you, that I can do it to. It doesn’t have to be a ‘professional’ video like this one it can just go a little something like this…
What did you think of that? Could you see the potential in sharing tips about your services or products in short and sweet bite sized blogs?
