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Scrapers Steal From You

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Fascinating and frightening cover story in today’s Wall Street Journal, . Why it’s fascinating and frightening is for one reason alone — people share personal information online at the risk of privacy and loss of identity.

Scraping is the “business of tracking people’s activities online and selling details about their behavior and personal interests,” says the story.  The Web site was scraped by , and the former sent a cease and desist letter to the latter on May 18, 2010. The latter agreed to stop, but what damage to the site’s consumer members had already been done? Revealing use of medications, medical history and commiserating about daily life online is personal choice.

Data brokers salivate at these new social networking sites and online forums where everyone attacks a topic with relish while including high-level personal information. Legally, “scrapers operate in a gray area,” according the Wall Street Journal piece. That’s carte blanche to dive full speed ahead into the gazillion bytes of online data deemed fair game because CONSUMERS PUT IT THERE TO BEGIN WITH.

Where I fault my friends, family and colleagues is not enrolling on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn (although there are boundaries here, too); I question the judgment of those willing to trust any online site with such information as personal use of pharmaceuticals, medical conditions and states of mind on a daily basis i.e. depression, suicide attempts or self-abuse. What this screams for is the need for services people can experience and trust while seeking support from peers and counselors; and that’s not happening online.

People not in tune to the risk of online engagement fall prey to scraping, scammers and hackers. Not everyone has the background or understanding to ask the questions and make the right choice before opening the personl data chasm. In fact, the scams are so sophisticated now that even folks with solid technological knowledge about Web site back ends can become a victim.

You can get the companies and sites yourself from the story; however, I’d like to flag them here, too:

  • and Facebook continually use technology to block scraping, but who knows how successful they truly are long-term?
  • in Sweden is hired to block scrapers on behalf of its Website clients.
  • InfoCheckUSA, LLC in Florida began as a background-check firm for screening applicants; it now offers more social information pulled from social networking sites and beyond
  • 80Legs.com in Texas scrapes 1 million Web pages for $101
  • Screenscraper.com in Provo, Utah and two other firms operate in “Happy Valley”

According to the story in a Sentor quote, the Stockholm company used to block some 2,000 scrapes monthly for a customer; however, now that figure has risen tenfold on a monthly basis.

What does that say to us? Caveat emptor — buyer beware; and, if it’s free? Run in the other direction!

Planning to SMB Facebook

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So great we can open source this discussion right here to determine what a small-to-medium business forum, community, partnership, etc. looks like. Yesterday, I invited several tweeps to join in the creation of this endeavor, and nearly all accepted.

To recap, Neicole Crepeau and I determined the need for a forum, place, community location to address issues of concern pertaining to SMBs. That’s us. I invited (and they graciously accepted) Michelle Quillin, Jon Buscall, Michelle Hellyar, and Jenn Whinnem.

Another questioned the choice of platforms and said “Fail” to Facebook although he agreed it was “easy to set up.” Am hoping Gregg Morris weighs in here to share  his expertise for the back end. I believe, Davina Brewer at 3Hats will come forth, too, right?

What never fails to frustrate me is the back-end tech requirements of all things social media. Folks not in the know believe it’s “so easy” to set up a blog and take off to the moon. Or, launch a Facebook page with nary a glance at its design or interactivity; or, set up a SMB forum only on Facebook because the knowledge about other platforms is non-existent (sigh).

As a public relations strategist, I am an idea person through and through. It’s these tech details that kill me (and mark my words right here, that I will master this dark tunnel), and that’s why having varying levels of expertise on board for this is fabulous. Without further ado, let’s collaborate on what this puppy looks like. Please weigh in and please also forgive my lack of plug in for “email comments to me.” (The house is not in order!)

Strategic Plan for “The SMB Forum” or WHATEVER!

Objective

  • Create community for SMBs frustrated with new and befuddling rules of engagement for businesses
  • Provide forum for collective opinion and determine ability for call to action oriented to issues
  • Invite SMBs from all verticals to share among peer groups, collaborate freely while supporting and learning one anothers’ plights

Strategy

  • Communicate issues of import to SMBs based on breaking news, state laws, and other items pertaining to general business administration.
  • Inform and educate all SMBs about news that affects us regardless of size or industry sector.
  • Collaborate with independents, solos and other really small businesses and create a familial community where all questions are respected and all comments delivered in like manner and in good humor.

Audience

  • All SMBs who engage online
  • Bloggers seeking partners with whom to collaborate
  • Business owners seeking suppliers

Tactics

  • Assess rules of engagement for group leaders; determine topical interests and purpose for joining
  • Name the group!
  • Launch the group on a platform that is Facebook, ning, LinkedIn or elsewhere? What is preferred/why? (LinkedIn may be a great place to do this…?)
  • Develop some basic rules of engagement: i.e. comments on issues, welcomes to new group members, news articles that pertain to SMBs (many each day re laws and Congress) etc.

OK…your thoughts, please? Thank you!

Freedom of Expression?

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Symbol for Freedom of Expression, Democracy, UNESCO

Freedom of expression has become fear of reprisal for your opinion.

It’s difficult to truly express yourself anymore without feeling intimidated about the inevitable reaction. A Twitter pal expressed  her opinion about a politician; I DM’ed her and offered kudos remarking that public support of our elected officials was dicey and she was brave to display her sentiment on Twitter. (Note my lack of courage to share my thought to the entire stream.)

There are new comment policies being implemented more and more on blogs (I wouldn’t know about that yet!). Bloggers are asking for respect from subscribers/readers for all opinions without show of hatred, vicious attacks or downright rudeness. Apparently, we’ve come to a crossroads in respect where folks hiding behind the written word are compelled to strongly attack instead of invite constructive debate.

There are always two sides to every equation, story, experience, situation, and  circumstance:

  • The creditors and debtors
  • Pro-lifers and pro-choice folks
  • Republicans and Democrats with a few more mixed in
  • Smokers and non-smokers
  • Pro mosque or burning of the Islamic holy book

With international borders invisible on social media and networking, are there issues around global expression becoming more heated? Where are the lines of demarcation for decorum and who monitors those? Are there groups using this ungoverned platform as a means to build grassroots campaigns and take them viral?

I’d suggest yes; however, I’m not privy to an actual movement (perhaps the Tea Party is the best example today). Political parties are doing awfully well on the Ethernet. The gun slinging and hatred across the aisle feel more heightened than ever before. We’re walking a divisive line here that I believe will never blend.

On what side of the fence do you sit? Each of us has opinions to share; whether we share them publicly, privately or in a forum in which others agree.  Bloggers with high levels of subscribers/readers have the opportunity to express their opinions.  In any coursework for new bloggers, we’re told to “be controversial.”

That depends solely on a blogger’s comfort level with the first statement I made in this post.What about you? Do you have an opinion or two to share?

Image credit: Helmut Langer

Observations and Ponderings in Marketing Public Relations

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Sometimes the trivia and inanity pile up. Here are some observations I need to share. Anything goes — marketing, public relations, social media, and just plain old stuff. What can you add?

  • “Tectonic shift” is the new popular, overdone phrase. Where was the last place you read it?
  • Who is using mobile apps enough to warrant the price tag to develop and market them? Mashable says there are some 200,000+ mobile apps.  Kinda hard to find the exact data, but this story provides some healthy competitive info from Apple v. Android.
  • Are there any law firms developing mobile applications? I’d like to know!
  • Do the unemployed consist of people truly seeking work or waiting for the next government extension because the job market stinks?
  • Will alternative fee arrangements hit public relations firms just as it is doing in law firms?
  • Who understands health care reform well?
  • Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal had a typo in a sub-headline “plan vanilla” versus “plain vanilla,” and then it also spelled button as “buttom.”  Now the latter is not a word, and spell check ought to have caught that, right?
  • Social media automaters are hot and vying for business. The prey – SMBs in need of social media assistance to leverage new media for new revenue streams.
  • September 27, 2010 is the Advertising Age Media 2011 issue. It will explore all the channels and complicated distribution of content. It will address how agencies and media are struggling as companies and marketers aggregate their own audiences.
  • Love the UK campaign by Damian Barr, a journalist and cultural entrepreneur, who engaged with Volvo to park 25 Volvos at the Starlite Urban Drive-In in London. Tickets at $40 each sold out in 30 seconds online for showings of “Grease” and “Dirty Dancing.” If that’s not lifestyle marketing, behavioral/emotional marketing and public relations, what is??!

Un-Social Media

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Here’s a quickie; just a rumination, really.

At the crux of “social” media are “un-social” people. Our dependence on the next generation device, new gadget, emerging application, competition to befriend the highest number of peeps, linkedins, FB’ers, and the like is causing detrimentally the weakening of social skills.

  • I watch it with the Wii generation of <10-year-olds.
  • We can see it in the very young teens with texting.
  • We learn about it from the high schoolers with sexting (something they’d NEVER have considered doing with a 35mm lens or Polaroid).
  • I watch the Kindlers and soon-to-be iPadders stick a nose in a device (rather than a book) and ignore the socialization happening around them. (Not sure why I think sticking a nose in a device is less acceptable than a book?)
  • I interact with college students who lack the social graces to interview and communicate without technology or e-mail.
  • And, then there are you and I. For at least 15-hours-a-day, we’re plugged in to social media, email, crackberries and i-devices addicted to who’s saying what and when it’s being delivered.  

I do pick up the phone; I do send a “what’s up?” e-mail to friends not in touch; I do send Skype messages to connect with friends in Mexico and Hong Kong; I do (gasp) write letters!

Alas, the rate of return on these efforts to connect when combined en masse is perhaps 2 percent. A sad state of affairs, isn’t it?

We’re smack in the era of mobile tech, WiFi, MiFi, gigs, and RAM, and there’s no telling when it might right itself. Those of us who pre-date the fax machine (yes, I’m seasoned) know of what I speak. Heck, all of us pre-date social media, and I bet you understand what I’m talking about?