Being an election year, we’re already starting to see the mud slinging and attacks on character that candidates resort to in order to get a leg up on their competition.  Instead of focusing on their own merits, political candidates often take to destroying the reputation of their competition in an effort to win over the public.  I’ve never been a fan of this winning by being the least awful approach to political races, but it does serve as a good reminder to keep an eye on what we’re doing online.

Indoor and outdoor allergies can be a real pain to deal with.

I know this first hand because some of my loved ones have learned to live with annoying seasonal, environmental and food allergies. I’m constantly on the lookout for information and products that can help me prepare and respond better when an allergy decides to show up. The good news is there are allergy communities devoted to make allergies less irritating and more manageable – but sifting through mounds of allergy information can be overwhelming and can cause a headache all by itself.

When I caught the tail end of a commercial introducing Oreck’s newest air purifier, the AirInstinct, I wondered if this new product could bring an end to some of the indoor allergies I knew so well. Once I was able to put the AirInstinct to the test at home, I was very pleased with how the air quality improved. The customer service and AirInstinct were so good that I want to get another AirInstinct! I went to Oreck’s website to check out their new line of products; paying attention to how they differed from past products I purchased, like the Steam-It, an all-purpose steamer from Oreck.

Oreck had my attention.

When I purchased the Steam-It, I wanted a dependable steamer to clean the floors and carpet without adding chemicals to our home environment. I used the Steam-It to sanitize the kitchen and bathroom tiles and our carpet until the heating element stopped working properly.  At the time, my mother was terribly ill – in and out of the hospital over the course of seven months – leaving me little, if any time, to worry about a broken steamer. When I did call customer service, I did not receive confirmation a replacement would be sent out… so I held on to the Steam-It and moved on…thinking I might contact Oreck about it again at a later time when I had time to discuss the details.

Oreck Up Close

The positive experience with the AirInstinct led me to contact Oreck about the Steam-It. I sent a tweet to Oreck saying the Steam-It was broken, and I asked for help with resolving this issue. Oreck responded to my tweet and provided alternate ways (e.g., email address: twitter@oreck.com) to contact them to continue our conversations about the broken Steam-It. I sent an email with the requested information and waited for a response from Oreck. I received an email informing me I would receive a phone call shortly to resolve the Steam-It issue.

Then, Devin B., a Customer Service Representative from Oreck followed up my email with a phone call to work on resolving the broken Steam-It. She explained that I needed to return the broken Steam-It, and once it had been received, they would ship out a new replacement Steam-It. Devin B. mailed me a UPS return label, and when I could not find a box to fit the Steam-It I spoke with Devin B. and she had UPS to deliver a box to put the broken Steam-It in. I packed up the Steam- It and I dropped off the box at UPS.

I was so thankful the broken Steam-It situation was almost over! All I have to do now… is wait for the new Steam-It to arrive.

Making It Right

Oreck decided to “make it right” for me which showed me they stick by their products and they care about their customers. It was really nice to know that my hard earned money was appreciated and so was I as a loyal customer. It is wonderful to witness a company you have bought products from value your time; listen to their customers and work to make a bad product experience go away.

Oreck’s positive response has led to some favorable outcomes. By listening and working to understand my concerns Oreck:

• improved customer loyalty
• increased their positive social media shares
• increased the likely hood I will speak favorably about them
• showed they are listening and they care.

I am more than pleased with Oreck! They stand by their products; they value their customers and their reputation. Oreck sure knows how to make it right!

Want to work for the coolest company on the interwebz?

No, not Google.

No, not Facebook!

Sheesh!

Let me rephrase the question: want to work at Trackur?

We’re looking to hire a full time entry level Front End Web Developer to help us with our continued development and improvement of Trackur’s dashboard design. You should have the following skilz:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JQuery
• PHP & MySQL a plus.
• Experience working with application/software UIs also a plus.
• Be able to play the ukulele

Ideally you’ll be in Raleigh, but then again we have a virtual office environment, so we’ll consider you even if you live elsewhere.

You are not: a design firm fishing for clients, a scammer phishing for shmucks, a UNC grad….OK, we’re kidding about that last one.

Interested?

Send a note, resume, and examples of previous work to: andyDOTbealATgmailDOTcom

Have you thought about what will happen to your social media profiles, personal blog, or your email accounts when you’re no longer around?  The U.S. Government has, and they’re recommending that you take some time to add your final wishes to your will.

“If you have social media profiles set up online, you should create a statement of how you would like your online identity to be handled. Just like a traditional will helps your survivors handle your physical belongings, a social media will spells out how you want your online identity to be handled.”

Estimates show that nearly half a million people with Facebook accounts passed away last year.  What happens to those accounts?  As of now, it’s up to friends and family to decide what to do with your profile.  Some leave them open so loved ones can post memories, some opt to convert the profiles to memorial pages, and some delete them completely.  This is a big project for grieving loved ones to take on, especially if they find information they aren’t expecting to see.

What about a personal blog – do you let it sit idle, allow someone else to take it over, or take it offline?  While it may be nice for loved ones to go back and read posts, some may be offended by new content being added by someone who’s taken it upon themselves to speak for you.

Even murkier than the Facebook page or a blog, what does one do with a personal email account?  Ideally, email accounts would have a self destruct option that would forward necessary documents out to whomever needs copies, and any personal information that you don’t want shared would just implode.  Unfortunately, unless you’re James Bond, this is not likely an option.  Having something in your will would allow you to select a trusted friend or family member wade through your info, pass on what is pertinent, and delete whatever is not.  Chances are, in addition to random jokes and communication with friends, there is some sensitive information in nearly any email account that the owner of the account may not want shared.  While they may no longer be affected by the contents of their inbox, the sender/recipient or subject of sensitive messages may be.  Obviously, whomever you choose to take care of sifting through years of electronic communications would have to be someone you trust to not share (or not even read) things that you ask them not to.  The temptation may be too great for many.

As this dynamic intellectual property continues to become more ingrained in everyday life, trial and error will help us learn how to better handle tricky situations such as these.  But for right now, with common usage of such sites being fairly new, there are likely to be many growing pains throughout the learning process.  Have you thought about how you’d like your information to be handled if something were to happen to you?

Have you ever noticed certain things rub you the wrong way?

If specific things people say or do royally tick you off - before you pounce, pay close attention to how you feel and why you feel inclined to respond.

Whoopi Goldberg once famously said:

“I don’t have pet peeves; I have whole kennels of irritation”.

Irritating or not, allowing pet peeves to knock you off course creates serious problems for your professional and personal life, especially if you lose control of your emotions over and over again.

Problematic personalities, annoying experiences and unexpected troubles are all around us, all the time.

In the end, professionals should be aware of what irks them so they can be better prepared to respond, if they respond at all. Otherwise, if you allow the things that bother you to suck you in to an emotional whirlwind, you may become overly defensive and completely miss an opportunity to handle the issues before you with tact and professionalism.

Facing Digital Pet Peeves

The best way to manage a digital pet peeve is to know it, understand it and prepare to face it without drama. Once you know which digital pet peeves are real for you, you can begin working on ways to effectively deal with them, as you keep your reputation intact. Check out the twenty items below to see if any of these digital pet peeves ring a bell for you.

1. Free eBook downloads that ask for more than an email address or too much background info
2. Social web and social network bullies
3. “Isms” on fire online (e.g., sexism, racism)
4.  Text messages received in the wee morning hours
5. Cursing when other descriptive words would do
6. Sharing too much information on social networks
7. “Free” apps, goods and online tools that have hidden costs
8. Mobile apps that have multiple mobile ads
9. Mobile push ads that pop up in your smartphone’s notification bar
10. Mobile apps that are not upgraded or abandoned  by their developer
11. Receiving numerous emails (daily/weekly) from a website or organization
12. Random text messages sent to your smartphone or mobile device
13. Social media rants that go on and on and on…
14. Unattractive photos tagged on Facebook or shared on other social networks
15. Confused, egotistical or arrogant webinars, hosts & speakers
16. Forwarded chain emails with massive cc attached
17. People talking way too loud on their mobile phone
18. Mobile apps that can’t be moved once downloaded or updated
19. Mobile apps that can’t be moved to an SD card
20. Digital content curated to cause a negative, counterproductive stir /response (e.g., videos, blog posts)

For Goodness & For Business

Organizations benefit from actively working to equip employees with life skills and skills sets which enable employees to be less distracted at work and therefore, more productive. When an organization provides employees with new opportunities to reach their personal best, it shows employees they’re cared for above and beyond the roles they play at work.

It is better for organizational leaders to be aware of everything that could potentially cause employees to lose their focus and become less effective while at work. While a digital issue such as this, can be overlooked, it remains a powerful opportunity to provide ongoing training that teaches employees how to handle different digital perspectives as they learn to navigate emerging challenges in digital times.

Once you’re aware of the things that bother you, you can be properly prepared to deal with them when they occur. Personal and professional hang ups don’t have to get in the way of your professional progress. Find a way to make digital pet peeves work for you!

What are your digital pet peeves?

Simply put, reputable organizations want to maintain an unblemished reputation. Most professionals and organizations do their best to stay far away from situations they fear might harm how they’re perceived by the people they work with and the people they serve. It’s no surprise that most organizations will do everything within their power to safeguard the good reputation they’ve worked so hard to build.

We know that we are not perfect beings.  We understand that it is very possible that somewhere in the past,  a secret or two may have been tucked away because you were afraid of how it might alter your works or the way others perceive you.

When a singular, spectacular secret spreads its wings,

sterling reputations begin hemorrhaging –

and only time will tell if the bleeding can be stopped.

…all deals are off when unspoken truths surfaces.

Secrets Reveal

When a secret enters a room, it has a way of making other concerns fall away. Secrets – seven little letters that have the power to turn everything you’ve worked for and worked toward on its head. When revealed… secrets…have a way of snatching your legs out from under you – knocking you flat – on – your – back. You are left senseless, dazed and completely defenseless to attacks from competitors and anyone else who wants to dance around the fires of your devastation.

Secrets contaminate the internal and external working environment of organizations by clouding the minds of everyone that comes in touch with them. It causes people to question authority and everything they have done and everything they will do going forward. The result is not good for the organizational climate, professional  & personal relationships or for business. Still, things can get exponentially worse if this secret finds a home on the internet.

Online Secrets

Once a secret is revealed online you must shift your attentions, roll up your sleeves and start working to get a handle  on the situation quickly before more damage is done due to wonders of online amplification. If you are not currently monitoring what is said online, you can begin tracking what is said online by using a social media monitoring tool that makes it simple and hassle free to track what is said or shared online. Lean on online reputation monitoring tools to help you gather insights and weather reputation storms. When used well, they will help you get back on track.

Take these 7 steps to turn the situation around:

1. Assess the situation as it is and not as you want it to be.
2. Gather all details – research, research, research.
3. Track what’s being said online and know what sources are influencing the conversation.
4. Note your sources, offline and online.
5. Manage your emotions along the way.
6. Frame the conversation in your favor. Don’t let the story take on a life of its own. Step in, adapt and redirect the conversation as needed.
7. Express your intention to be secret free and to become transparent going forward.

Scandals Come & Scandals Go

When a scandal erupts offline and then spreads online (or vice versa)  it can easily get out control. In the end, an omission or telling a little white lie can cause irreparable damage – far more damage than if the secrets were dealt with or the truth was presented “as is”  and addressed head on.  How you respond will determine how long this scandal–this secret–will be a centerpiece in your life.

With Mother’s Day two weeks away, this is the perfect time to celebrate mothers and to discuss why it is important for a digital mother to keep her loved ones and herself protected online. “Mother” is a loaded word – that carries a lot of weight. A mother is commonly described as a female who gives birth to a baby, adopts a baby (child) or a woman who steps in to provide ongoing, nurturing care of child.

Society considers motherhood to be the crowning accomplishment of womanhood and motherhood, whether planned or not, is one of the most intense, fulfilling, and challenging positions a woman can undertake.

The above description may be commonly accepted but it doesn’t take into consideration the many other ways today’s mother contributes to our world. Modern mothers give birth to ideas, deliver new opportunities, and build businesses in addition to, or instead of raising a child.

Mothers serve as the anchor or backbone of many households and organizations around the world. A mother is invaluable.

The Digital Mother

Mothers are spending more time online partially because smartphones and other mobile devices make it easier for mothers to access the internet while on the go.  Most mothers manage a dynamic daily to-do list which makes it more challenging to keep track of the digital responsibilities that come along with being a digital mother. Yet, these digital responsibilities aren’t going away. If anything, these responsibilities will increase as the social web, mobile apps, and social networks continue to grow.

Exceptional Mothers

Every mother is different, yet society can unfairly expect all mother’s to fit into a definition that is far too narrow to embody what “mothering” means or requires. Every mother is exceptional in her own way. An exceptional mother teaches and raises her child to be comfortable in their skin.  Likewise, a mothering spirit does wonders for business because it helps workers feel grounded and connected while working with and for someone that is caring and not careless with their feelings.

A mother’s responsibilities now include keeping an eye on what children (workers) do and say online because what they say or do online will  reveal their character and can alter their reputation.

Multitasking Mom

A mother is no stranger to multitasking. A savvy mother will quickly learn how to lean on her skill sets to help her efficiently manage her household and business affairs.  Trackur’s social media monitoring helps busy mothers handle and simplify these new digital responsibilities headache and hassle free.

Just a quick note to let you know about a super easy contest Trackur just launched on Facebook.

How easy?

Super easy!

Just tell us the last time you “Googled” your own name. That’s it! Tell us the last time you checked on your Google reputation and you might just win a brand new Apple iPad.

Check out the contest entry page for further details and rules.

Good luck!

Click Here to Enter!

What would you do if you were using your smartphone (or tablet) when someone snatched the smartphone out of your hands and took off running?

This terrifying scenario represents a real threat smartphone and tablet owners face every day, whether they know it or not.  While smartphone and tablet owners don’t know when criminals will strike, they do know smartphones and tablets are hot ticket items – in demand by the best and worst of us.

Smartphone thefts are on the rise in communities across America and unfortunately many of these crimes are much more violent than the one described above. As the number of smartphone and tablet owners increase and more smartphones and tablets owners rely on accessing private data, the attention given to consumer privacy and consumer safety should also increase. Organizations (businesses) and individuals can be prepared to stop a smartphone theft from becoming a reputation crisis by taking steps to make sure sensitive information and your reputation remains secure.

To counter this growing smartphone and tablet theft problem, the government, law enforcement agencies and mobile companies are working together to reduce the interest in smartphone and tablet thefts. Earlier this month Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a new mobile device initiative, The PROTECT Initiative, which aims to end smartphone theft.

The PROTECT Initiative has three key elements:

1. Establish a national database to prevent stolen smartphones and tablets from being used. The PROTECT Initiative Database will allow cell phone companies to disable stolen smartphones and tablets, diminishing their resale value which significantly alters their worth on the street.
2. Automatically prompt smartphones and tablets owners to select a password to secure devices.
3. Launch a public education campaign to strongly encourage smartphone and tablet owners to learn about and use mobile security applications that equip smartphone and tablet owners to find, lock and erase all data from stolen smartphones and tablets.

Chairman Genachowski trusts that once thieves hear about how broad this smartphone and tablet theft crackdown is, smartphone and tablet theft will decline and end overtime.

Outsmart Smartphone Thieves

One day in the near future smartphones and tablets won’t be tempting targets for thieves. Stolen devices will no longer work and suddenly smartphone and tablet theft becomes crimes that don’t pay, literally. The FCC believes the above three steps will kick start the end of smartphone and tablet theft, an outcome that will be welcomed with open arms by law enforcement agencies, wireless companies and smartphone owners all across America. It’s time to outsmart smartphone thieves!

Share your thoughts.

A few weeks ago, I was informed via Twitter that I’d won a contest that I wasn’t even aware that I’d entered.  Pretty cool, right?

Wrong.

I received a Tweet from a traffic notification account that I’d won two free lift tickets to Copper Mountain, and to email the admin at goI70 to claim my prize.  I was pretty excited, I lived and worked at Copper Mountain just out of college, and loved every minute of it.  It was the perfect transition from college life to the real world, giving me the opportunity to have one last hurrah before joining the 9-5 working crowd.  Winning those tickets was like getting a glimpse back into that time in my life.  I emailed the address that was sent to me thanking them for getting in touch with me, and asking how I could go about getting my free lift tickets. 

A week later, I received an email from the admin with an apology for her delay in response, letting me know she’d been on vacation with encouragement to continue sharing my travel observations.  The email did not mention my prize, so I responded asking about the aforementioned tickets.  Here is the response I got:

Back when I sent you the message via Twitter there were two weekends left to their ski season, but Copper Mountain closed yesterday so unfortunately the tickets have expired.  I’m sorry the timing didn’t work out such that you could have used them!

So, basically, I won a prize for a contest that was never mentioned, but because the site admin went on vacation and didn’t have the foresight to have someone else monitoring the email account, I missed out?  I never received an autoresponder about her being on vacation, but my Tweets about winning sure were being monitored and retweeted.  Who holds a contest with such a short window to claim a prize, and then doesn’t communicate during the last week of the time that the prize is available?

I tried to brush this off, but it has continued to annoy me.  Couldn’t they have offered tickets for next season?  Not offered the tickets in the first place?  Offered a backup because of their poor communication?  Nope.  I may not have gotten my lift tickets, but at least I got some blog fodder.  If you’re holding contests on social media sites, here’s a little pro tip: make sure that you are offering something that you can deliver on.  If you can’t, find a way to make it right.  Have clear and concise guidelines in order to set expectations properly.  I used to find this Twitter account to be very credible, but now? Not so much.

Fortunately, I have had many more positive contest experiences on Twitter than negative.  I’ll be talking about those later this week.  What have your experiences been?  Good?  Bad?  Ugly?  We’d love to hear about them!