Businesses in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia are learning how to use social media for marketing and increasing their visibility. I had the pleasure of delivering the first night of training last night. It was great to see businesses from Cole Harbour, Halifax and Dartmouth present. Here are a few thoughts on what they have learned so far.
The night started off with a talk around security and social media. Here the some points we discussed:
- Passwords have to be different for each website and social network. It’s a real bad idea to use the same one across all site logins.
- I introduced them to the Microsoft Password Checker so that they could check how strong their passwords were.
- We discussed wireless and the risks that go with connecting to wireless networks.
- For homework, I gave them the task to checking out online password keepers.
- We also talked about shredding documents at work and at home.
- We looked at how to use Windows Update to make sure security patches were being applied. We talked Apple stuff as well.
- We looked at each of the anti-virus programs that the participants were using on their machines.
It’s a bad idea to start using social media if you do not have a great security foundation in place. If something happens, it will keep you from being 100% present in your business activities. You need to focus on sales and billable hours; not on problems caused by being hacked or such.
The risks for those who neglect security include identity theft, computer being hacked and taken over, loss of bank account contents, and even personal injury because of stalking. I want my participants to do great on social media; but I want them to be safe at the same time.
By the way, it’s been a challenge to get blog posts out on schedule these last few weeks. My work load and business has greatly increased. I will continue to try to deliver great information and tips when I can. Please forgive me for missing my early morning schedules. It’s getting hard because of all the training I have to deliver this Fall. I am now booking for 2014.
Please watch the Alpha Social Media Facebook Page for pictures and mini updates as I go along this Fall. Your encouragement will be greatly appreciated. I hope to help a lot of businesses this Fall see better results.
So have a great day in business this week. When we all do well, the economy gets stronger.
