Cyber security has been getting a lot of attention in recent years after a number of corporations and government websites have undergone security breaches. In fact, Congress is even weighing the idea of cyber security legislation in an effort to prevent against cyber warfare.
Jerry Brito, however, who is the Director of the Technology Policy Program at George Mason University, believes that the hype is overblown. He has studied the area extensively but told us that, while there is a very real threat in cyber security, the concerns that the government is suggesting are exaggerated.
As he explained, some government officials have equated the current threats to Pearl Harbor or September 11, 2001, which he believes is misleading based on the evidence. According to him, the cyber threats that would have a catastrophic impact like 9/11 did are few and far between. Although the others, namely distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and cyber espionage, are harmful, Brito said they do not lead to mass casualties.
For this reason, he told us that legislation that would require companies to secure their networks based on a government standard is not needed. He said companies are aware of the threats that exist and are capable of protecting themselves.
Brito did point out that he would like to see the barriers broken down that would allow companies and the federal government to share information with one another in a way that would maintain consumer privacy protections.
How big of a threat is cyber warfare to you? What do you think?
Filed under Internet Marketing by on Apr 1st, 2012. 
NDTV’s recent debate on We the Tweeple, discussing how social media is changing human equations and our lives in general was an intriguing one. Politicians, film actors, activists and general public participating in the debate used adjectives like dangerous, empowering, confessional, and controversial – to describe this growing platform of communication.
I am an avid evangelist of the power of social media as a channel of communication for those of us wanting to engage an audience with a message. Increasingly as humans, our first stop for accessing news and views about a range of subjects is an FB post or a quick tweet and not the traditional BBC or local newspaper! In this age of the digital revolution where one is constantly on the go and dinner table conversations with friends and family become increasingly rare – the new social world available 24×7 at the click of a blackberry button provides a sense of community, sharing and one on one dialogue. Our friends and followers, irrespective of distance or age and the fact that we may have never met many of them – are our new support system and those we trust. The recommendations of these people influence the choices, decisions and opinions we make.
From the perspective of a marketing communications professional, the opportunity and strength of social media lies in its impact on consumer behaviour and the trust placed in the network. From the mobilisation of support for causes such as the Arab revolutions earlier this year, India’s fight against corruption or even the global launch of the latest new Iphone 4S, the conversations on Facebook, Twitter and other topical blogs have been key to creating awareness, sourcing crowds and influencing public opinion.
Having said that, as a strategic marcomms consultant, I have often thought twice about recommending this channel as a voice box to many. The key to success with social media lies in the quality of interaction with one’s audience. What we say in the virtual world is in public domain to be appreciated or trashed and we got to be prepared for unsuspected reactions. In this respect, the argument about being on social being dangerous and controversial holds true. Especially in context of corporate brands and organisations, this opportunity of building equity with a relevant audience through a two way conversation requires the courage and transparency of being open to naysayers and negative comments.
In the world of social media, the skill of being outspoken is as important as the ability to listen and provide a rapid response. Being unresponsive to a vent on twitter against your brand or worse still, deleting it from your Facebook profile (and yes I have experience of brands doing that!) defeats the fundamental concept of being social. Moreover, it possibly does more reputational damage than being completely invisible on the channel itself. The rules of the twitter world mean you learn to take criticism on the chin and come with a bit of a thick skin along with buckets of wit and humour. For the risk averse and those sensitive to every word spoken about them, this isn’t the medium to chase.
Filed under Internet Marketing by on Nov 14th, 2011.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the online world lately. Well, I mean, about the big picture stuff. In various and sundry places, I’ve let little tidbits of these thoughts pop out. I’ve talked about how you shouldn’t sell your soul just because you want to get in with the “in” crowd. I’ve talked about how being mean in the online world just makes you look, well, mean. I’ve talked about how being nice is often equated to being boring. But really, there is one key issue that is at the core of all of those posts.
I think people assume that a kind person is a stupid person.
I am not really sure why that is. Is it because the world is so cruel it’s hard to imagine anyone would want to waste their time being nice? Is it because some folks think the meaner you are the cooler you are? I don’t know. I don’t get it, but I feel it. I feel the condescending attitude some people use when they talk to me online or offline. I feel it when people fail to beat around the bush and flat-out insinuate that I’m an idiot for being nice to people. I think some people even think I’m easy to manipulate or a real push-over.
Being kind doesn’t make me stupid.
A little story
A lot of people have told me that they want to get to know me a little better. They note that I don’t tend to talk about myself very much – a rather unusual characteristic to offer in the online world, I suppose. Well, let me offer you some insight into why I prefer to err on the side of kindness. It’s just one story of many.
A few years ago, I went out to dinner with a person who tended to really bust my chops. We had good times, and I came to realize a lot of the harsh criticisms they gave were out of concern and worry. However, we mixed approximately as well as oil and water. This dinner was no different, and I just wasn’t in the mood for it, so I got up and left. I was angry. I was fed up. I just didn’t feel like being raked over the coals, and I figured at some point we’d get together and make up for it.
As it turned out, that was the last time I ever saw that person. They died about a month later rather unexpectedly. I had not heard their voice since that dinner, nor had I gotten a chance to smooth things over.
How often do I wish I had stuck around and been a little more patient? Almost every day. Do I ever want to make that kind of mistake again? Heck no. It’s not worth it. It’s just not.
But that doesn’t mean I’m stupid
My desire to leave as few bridges burned as possible does not reflect upon my intellect. It does not mean that if you walk up to me and say you need $ 100,000 I’ll smilingly write you a check with no questions asked. It doesn’t mean that I am completely unaware of when I am being picked on, made fun of, offended, or otherwise treated shabbily. I just have better things to do in life than to get all frothy about it.
The glorification of jerks
In the online world, the jerkier you are, the more credit you get. If you pepper your posts with cuss words, call people out, and are generally unpleasant, people seem to want to get all the closer to you. It’s a real paradox. And I think it can make being mean or jerky kind of tempting. Who wouldn’t want to be feared and revered, right? And after all, those kind folks, they’re so “safe” and boring. *yawn*
Well, if that is what it takes to make it big in the online world, I shall be doomed to mediocrity. But from my safe perch, I would say this. One day, you will say something that you regret soon after. You will assume that you have all of the time in the world to make it right, say you were kidding, apologize, or otherwise even out the situation. But something will happen that will steal that option from you. Are you prepared to live with that as a trade for online respect?
I’m not.
Does that make me stupid?
You tell me.
Filed under Internet Marketing by on Oct 17th, 2011.
I’m going to tell you a secret, just between us. Are you ready?
Over the last couple of months, a string of events has occurred that made me question, at various times, whether doing all of this “Social Media stuff” was really the best idea for me. There were moments of frustration, some moments of disappointment, and an awful lot of moments of learning, as we all must learn when we are involved in something that is still so new.
There were a few times when I thought, “Heck, I don’t *need* to do this stuff. It’s not how I make my living. Nobody’s life, in fact, depends on whether I keep on blogging (thank goodness).”
To put it simply, there have been a few times over the last couple of months when I came close to letting various irritations convince me that I should give up my Social Media world. But I am still here. Now how, you might ask, did that happen?
One Word. Love.
In fact, it’s just as simple as this. When I thought that maybe taking “a break” from blogging or Twitter or Facebook would be a good idea, I quickly got a sinking feeling. “But I enjoy engaging with my blog readers,” I thought. “I enjoy writing. I enjoy reading what other people are saying. I think I have good things to say, good things to share, and I have some ideas I want to get out there, too. And I don’t want to pull back just because things got a little icky here and there.”
Don’t find your purpose by almost losing it
Engaging is really important, I happen to believe. But here’s the thing. When you interact and engage with a lot of people, you can get pulled in all kinds of different directions. You can agree to run a project with a person over here or help a person out over there. You can get involved in silly online dramas or find that a person is not really the way you thought they were (in good ways or in bad ways). Engaging is really important, but if it takes you off the path on which you need to travel, it can be dangerous.
So I think it’s important, while engaging, to be a little bit self-centered. That’s not the same thing as being egotistical or selfish or anything like that. It just means that as you head out into the world of Social Media, you need to keep your head straight, your eyes forward, and your heart clear. You need to have your goals in mind and you need to keep working towards them. When you accomplish one of your objectives, you need to celebrate and then set new ones.
In the end, Social Media engagement is not far different from our day-to-day lives. We need people, and we need to interact with people, but when doing so takes us far off course, we can run into trouble. If you have a life goal, don’t be shy about holding on to that goal even as other people try to move you in different directions.
I love the online world despite, or perhaps because of, all of its crazy quirkiness, but I almost let events and people outside of my control move me away from what I enjoy. For a brief moment, I forgot that what I want to accomplish and achieve matters more than the fact that sometimes it’s super hard, or that some people may not want me to accomplish those things.
Don’t make the same mistake I almost made. Keep yourself centered. Keep yourself a little self-centered. If you do it right, it can be an anchor instead of a turn-off.
What do you think?
This is post #70 in the Engagement Series. I hope you enjoyed this post and are enjoying this series.
Filed under Internet Marketing by on Jun 21st, 2011.
Helium is showing that life can go on for victims of Google’s Panda update. Helium is a user-generated content site, often compared to other known Panda victims like Demand Media, HubPages, Suite101, Associated Content, etc.
Of course, Demand Media (now a publicly traded company) posted better-than expected earnings, but Helium has managed to secure a new $ 10 million in financing. It would appear that a commitment to improved quality, an increased focus on local, and/or dialogue with Google has been enough to convince somebody that Helium is here to stay. VatorNews points to an SEC form that indicates as much.
“Helium has engaged in an on-going dialogue with Google for the last three years or more. Google understands the Helium business and content model and agrees that the Helium site publishes quality content,” Helium VP Architecture and Technology Tracy Flynn recently said.
The main way writers earn money from Helium comes from views, which are largely driven by search. Clearly, the site’s performance in Google results plays a key role here. However, there are other ways writers can make money from Helium. These include payments from Helium when third-parties purchase articles for use elsewhere, and one-time incentive payments through various programs run by the site, such as contests, up-front payments, customer sponsorships, etc.
Of course, like many other big victims of the Panda update, they’re doing numerous things to adjust their content strategy, to comply more with what Google is seeking out in terms of higher quality (and less shallow) content. Among other things, Helium is asking writers to submit their articles to Helium only, to avoid duplicate content issues, and to use social media to promote articles (which in turn, Google can see and apply it in its own rankings).
Over the months, Helium has been providing writers with various tips and guidelines on its blog. For example, a recent post entitled, “Why your article or blog posts just aren’t making the cut” lists:
1. You didn’t cite your resources
2. You didn’t proofread or use spell-check on your article
3. You don’t format the article to your advantage
4. You don’t include simple SEO techniques
5. You neglect to add it to your social networking realms like Twitter, Facebook and even your own blog.
6. You posted it in more place[s] than one.
Helium also pointed to some do’s and don’ts for writer bios, which is probably a good idea, as bios can be indicative of authority on a given subject. Keep in mind that one of the top questions Google is asking itself as it tweaks its algorithm is, “Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?”
Helium has also made adjustments to its assignment system. “A highlight of the new system is the ability to tailor assignments by writing skills and expertise, as well as allowing all writers to pick up general assignments,” the company explains. “As we learn more about your strengths, we can provide more opportunities that are targeted for your favorite subjects and writing style.”
In April, Helium encouraged writers to get more involved with local-based writing, as the company has filled positions for local writers for city guide websites, a national real estate web site, a regional newspaper, and a neighborhood profiler for a “major daily newspaper” in LA. “Helium Content Source staffers are constantly on the lookout for writers for these types of assignments,” the company said.
Google has been placing a great deal more emphasis on local these days, no question. Local results seem to have even been helped by the Panda update.
Last week, Helium launched a new mobile version of its assignment system for Android and iPhone.
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Filed under Internet Marketing by on May 9th, 2011.
