More nosy social media - LinkedIn

::: Heavy sigh :::
http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-pulled-a-facebook-and-messed-with-your-info-heres-how-to-fix-it-2011-8

Briefly:

LinkedIn has volunteered your name and photograph to be used for advertising if it feels like it wants to use them. 

I noticed this earlier in the week when my LinkedIn profile photo ended up on an ad.  I knew the new "opt out" alert would come along right after that.

I can't say this enough:  when you're networking for any reason, including advertising your business or services, you are going to forfeit a certain amount of privacy.  That's the cost of doing business as a small business or entrepreneur.

Each person has to decide what is personal promotion, and what info use has crossed the line.  Be vigilant, pay attention, and when someone is using your info without consent, get on them ASAP.  (I just threw a hissy fit at Google - again - for posting a picture of my house.  Double-plus uncool.)  Be careful when using your cell phone to "check in" anywhere and make sure the apps you are using are not revealing your location without your consent. 

Stranger Danger - it's not just for kids anymore.  But it is more complex for us grown folks!

Facebook and Phone Numbers - the latest complaint

About half of my Facebook friends and their friends had the following on their status some time today.

ALL PHONE NUMBERS IN YOUR PHONE ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK! Go to the right of screen, click on Account, click Edit Friends, see left side of screen, click Contacts - you will see ALL phone numbers from your phone (FB friend or not) are published that you've stored in phone. REMOVE, go to Right column, click on "this page" then REMOVE. How did FB get all our Phone numbers out of our phone?

The following is Facebook's official comment:

Rumors claiming that your phone contacts are visible to everyone on Facebook are false. Our Contacts list, formerly called Phonebook, has existed for a long time. The phone numbers listed there were [snip] either added by your friends themselves and made visible to you, or you have previously synced your phone contacts with Facebook. Just like on your phone, only you can see these numbers.

I thought this might be the case when phone numbers of people NOT on my phone contacts list were visible.  It is startling to see phone numbers under peoples' faces all of a sudden.  The explanation has yet to reach http://www.snopes.com/, I'll post it when it does.

Let's be careful out there, people.  Just because some website asks for your phone number so you can talk to your friends doesn't mean you should give it.  Especially your personal or private info.  Facebook, like Google, is nosy as hell.  Between the requirement of cookies on your computer and the API tapping into advertising companies, I'd start feeling naked about now if I used either of these for any kind of networking other than my job.

Maybe all of these sudden scares about info becoming visible are going to get people to pay attention to how much information is taken and shared.  Remember the "right to privacy" touted in legal cases only applies to privacy from the government.  There is no constitutional right to privacy from private individuals or private organizations.  If you value your privacy, limit the information you distribute online and be vigilant about what other companies (*cough*Google*cough*) acquire on their own for their own uses.  Demand that info and photos be removed if used without your express consent.

Opportunity Knocking - SOHO Office

There are a lot of good local print-and-mail shops in Dunwoody but one has an edge.
I do all of my "official SDOC business" at the local SOHO Office store in Orchard Park (near that Kroger and right next door to that restauarnt that doesn't seem to last more than a few months at a time.) 

Technically, this isn't "in" Dunwoody but I do my business here because they offer a corporate meeting room with WiFi.  Sure they have mailboxes, notary, printing, and the usual services too.  But if I'm meeting a client for the first time, or making a presentation, and I don't feel like stalking Starbucks for a half-decent table, the meeting room service makes a very professional impression.  The location even matches my mailing address.  Even the chairs are nice and cushy.

Most of all this is a small, local operation created by a couple of guys looking for new careers with hands-on service.  They understand "small office / home office" needs.  (SOHO - get it?)

Lots of opportunity here.  For part-timers, and entrepreneurs, this set of services is a big hand-up for the inevitable meetings and presentations that have to be given "face time".

SOHO Office is also looking to open new franchises.  If you're in the market for a new career or new business, check out the operation at http://www.sohooffice.com/. 

For the other mail store companies in town:  you might want to put some serious thought into renting meeting space to meet the needs of entrepreneurs in this growing market.