Successful Blog

What to Do When Your (Personal) Social Media Content Has Been Stolen

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Social media has become the top way for brands to increase awareness of what they’re doing, from promoting new products to interacting with customers. Experts encourage entrepreneurs to regularly post high-quality content in the hopes followers will share it across their own networks.

This means spending hours developing insightful updates, linking to your own great blog posts, and sourcing images from stock photo sites.

After putting all of this work into your content creation efforts, it can be even more disturbing to find your information posted on another site. It may even be a competing business’s blog or an industry magazine. Even if the site credits you as the author of the work, using your content without compensating you for it is a violation.

“There are several situations where social media content can be stolen,” says Robert May, founding attorney at The May Firm. “Increasingly publications are using social media posts as part of their news stories, as seen here. When they get permission first, it isn’t a problem.

Unfortunately, less professional sites fail to get that permission. Sometimes a site uses an original photo or copies a blog post that has been linked on social media. In more extreme instances, a business owner may find a fake account has been set up using his own name and likeness.”

Whatever the type of content or identity theft, it’s important to act quickly to make sure the content is removed. Here are a few steps you should take if you find your social media content has been stolen.

Step One: Make Contact

Before doing anything, send a friendly email politely asking that the content be removed. Don’t use forceful language in this initial contact. Simply state the action you would like to have taken as a result of the letter. If you want the content removed, ask politely that they do so within a certain number of business days.

If you are agreeable to being compensated for your content, state the price and offer removing the content as an alternative. Hopefully the offender will remove the content and send a letter of apology for the inconvenience. If not, wait the stated number of days before taking further action. If the content was posted on a site by an employee of an organization, take your complaint further up the chain before checking into outside options.

Step Two: Check the Terms of Service

While you’re waiting, carefully review the terms of service on the social media site where your content was originally posted. Facebook allows you to report copyright infringements using this tool, while Twitter’s tool is here.

Both are products of the Digital Millennial Copyright Act (DMCA), passed in 1996 to protect copyright holders from online theft. You may also want to check into the policies of the website where the content is posted, since they’ll have their own copyright infringement notification procedures.

DMCA Takedown Notice

In addition to the tools offered on various social media sites, copyright holders can also have content taken down using a DMCA Takedown Notice. You’ll need to determine the Internet Service Provider hosting the site where the content is posted and direct your letter there.

After an investigation, you’ll often find that the content is removed without having to wait for the person who posted it to respond. DMCA charges for the service through its site, but you can craft a letter for free using the instructions provided on the National Press Photographers Association site.

Contact an Attorney

When other recourse has failed to bring action, it’s time to contact a lawyer. Although attorneys will charge an hourly fee to help with copyright infringement, often content can be removed through a cease and desist letter. Such a letter packs a heavy punch when it comes from a law office.

If for some reason that letter doesn’t achieve results, however, an attorney can go through the courts to have a cease and desist order placed on the content, which requires that it be removed.

Having your content stolen can feel like a violation. Fortunately, there are actions you can take to let offenders know that you won’t allow your photos and text to be used for free. By having tools in place to use in the event your content is stolen, you’ll be prepared to take action if it ever happens.

Image by Pavlofox from Pixabay

How Safe Are Your Employees On the Job?

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No matter how many employees you have, one responsibility in you have is making sure they’re safe.

With that thought in mind, how safe are your workers when on the job?

Although you can’t watch them when not on the clock nor should you, you do want to know how they are doing when working.

From the office to driving to meet with clients, attend conferences and more, do all you can to ensure safety.

Employee Safety Should Be One of Your Priorities

In looking at how safe your workers are when on the job, focus on these key areas:

  1. In the office – Whether you have an office or work out of a warehouse, how safe are your employees when doing work for you? You can and should set various safety protocols in place. Doing this increases the chances your workers will go home safe at the end of their shifts. For example, review your work environment to see how safe it is. Do you have any items that could injure employees? Are there any issues when it comes to potential slips-and-falls in your office? How safe is your parking area for when employees are coming and going? By reviewing these things on a regular basis, you lessen the odds of accidents taking place.
  2. Out on the roads – When one has employees driving for the company, it is important the former are as safe as can be. Unfortunately, safety is an issue out on the roads for some employees. As a result, you need to be sure your workers know how important safety on the roads is for both you and them. That said are you giving them the safest employee vehicles to drive around in? When considering buying vehicles for your fleet, be educated on the automobile market. Shop for not only economical autos, but also ones that come with high safety ratings. In the event your folks use their own vehicles for work-related purposes, check to see what they drive. Remember, if the time is now to go car shopping for you or them, safety should have a major emphasis.
  3. Online activities – Safety does not only come in the form of one’s physical well-being. That said make sure your workers are as safe as possible when doing work for you online. As an example, your employees should never give out sensitive info when on the Internet. Doing so can lead to hacking. If your company is hacked online, it can mean financial issues and more for you and your customers. If you have contract employees working for you from their homes, the same is true. If they have access to your online efforts, it needs protection. At the end of the day, online security should always be a focus for you and your team.

In keeping  your team safe, remember, their safety translates to your ability to be in business.

So, could your company safety see improvement?

If the answer is yes, get working on it today.

Photo credit: Pixiebay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

 

How to Relieve Stress and Learn to Enjoy Life

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The modern world is a lot of hard work. Money troubles, family issues, work problems are just some of the issues people have to face all of the time.

No matter if you’re a stay at home parent or a complete workaholic, the common pitfalls of everyday life can leave you feeling angry, worn down and frustrated. And don’t get me started on the feeling of guilt that never leaves a mom’s brain.

Long term stress can be seriously detrimental to personal well-being. It can be the cause of regular migraines, muscle tension, heart disease, insomnia, ulcers as well as major contributor to a host of psychological illnesses.

Dealing with anxiety and stress doesn’t have to be difficult. Some of my favorite ways of combating stress are:

Pick up a Pen

It’s been said that writing in a journal can help free your mind from the tangle of constant thoughts, as well as helping to naturally organize them. If analog pen and paper aren’t your style, there are a few great journaling applications out there. Day 1 has a seamless interface but is only available for IOS. Journey is a great alternative for Android.

You can also set up a blog to keep your journal there. It gives you a great feeling of accomplishment. Here are best blogging platforms for you to choose from.

Whatever your method, the act of putting your thoughts on paper will leave you feeling freer and lighter as the days wear on. And if the thought of journaling is too much to bear, for even a few minutes a day, try an adult coloring book.

Get in Your Cardio

Or really, any exercise, as long as it gets you moving. Your body functions in such a way that exercise helps to release dopamine into your system, stabilizing mood and increasing focus.

You don’t need a gym membership to get this going, a quick turn around the neighborhood for a half hour is enough to help boost. This has more long-term effects than immediate benefits, but the longer you persevere, the greater the effects.

Find Some Hobbies

Everybody needs to have interests outside of the work and family. Making sure some parts of your life are totally separate from other parts will help in those times when you need a refuge from the outside world. If your time is only spent thinking about the things which (can) cause you stress, then you are far more likely to remain stressed all of the time.

I like to read a lot of fantasy novels and then argue about them online. Hobbies don’t have to be physical activities, they should just be something you are really passionate about.

Try Meditation

Meditation for stress relief is available in many different forms. Guided meditations, hypnotherapy, mantra meditations, silent meditations and whole host of things that come somewhere in between. With all of them the main point is to find thirty minutes to an hour each day, where you can just sit back, let go of all your worries and just relax.

Daily meditation rituals help your body and mind remember what it is like to be content and relax. In time you will be able to use that feeling to help overcome stressful situations as they occur throughout the day, just by closing your eyes, taking a deep breath and remembering what it is like to be calm and relaxed.

Setting aside time to relax is very important, as if you don’t you’ll run the risk of getting physically, mentally and emotionally burnt out, which will only result in misery and failure. So allow yourself personal time, but make sure you plan out when that time will be, so that for the rest of the day you’re focused on your  work.

Remember you can remain productive even when you are bored and tired. It’s not about doing work all the time: Being productive is all about spending every minute of your life with purpose, even if that purpose is to relax and de-stress.

Those are the ways I like to relieve stress and anxiety on a daily basis, if you’ve got any good tips I’d love to hear what you’ve got to say.

Image source: Pixabay

Are You Doing Enough for Your Business?

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In running a business, you have a myriad of responsibilities on your plate. As such, you can’t afford to drop the ball on many of them. When you do, it can have a negative impact on your brand.

So, is it time you did more for your business?

Even when working as hard as you are, it may not be enough.

What Kinds of Promotions Are You Engaged in?

One of the big keys to being a successful owner is making sure your brand gets the proper promotions.

With this in mind, do you feel as if you are doing everything possible for your business?

Promotions come in many different forms.

For instance, do you use social media on a regular business? That is to get the word out about what you have to offer consumers?

Unfortunately, some business owners are out of touch when it comes to social media.

They for one reason or another fail to utilize it and all it has to offer. As such, their competitors take advantage of them.

If you are not using social media or use it infrequently, now would be a good time to change this.

Among the sites it would be wise to be active on include:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • You Tube

By being active on social networking, you increase odds of engagement with consumers.

Another great way to promote your business is through podcasts.

Okay, you say you are not all that familiar with podcasts?

Note that podcast studios for rent are something that would be worth your time checking into.

In doing occasional podcasts, you can get your company’s message out there to consumers.

One of the other advantages of doing podcasts is that you can be seen as an expert in your specific line of work. This can go a long way in influencing a consumer to which products and services they will end up buying.

If you do decide to some podcasts, make sure you do not rush them. Take the time to come up with relevant and informative topics. Doing so is worth the time and effort they take.

Last; use social networking to spread the word about your podcasts.

As podcasting is gaining traction, you should be a part of it.

Don’t Forget About Customer Service

Even when doing many or all the needed promotions, you can’t be lax when it comes to customer service.

With this in mind, are you doing everything to give your customers the best experiences?

Too many business owners get so wrapped up in other things that they lose sight of customer service. When this happens, it can mean lost business over time.

Take some time to reflect on your customer service efforts.

Among the areas you should be covering:

  • Being there for your customer whenever necessary
  • Making sure they leave each business transaction happy.
  • Showing them you care by rewarding them for their business

When you make customer service a top priority, you and your customers win.

If the time has come for you to do more for your business, what are you waiting for?

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

5 Ideas for Gamification in the Workplace

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By Kayla Matthews

Gamification is a tool used by businesses to achieve new goals. However, with the emphasis on fresh new technology, many small companies are hesitant to adopt the strategy.

Implementing gamification is easier than you think and can lead to significant results. That’s why many large brands, including Microsoft, Target and Nike, have already undertaken the challenge.

What Is Gamification?

Gamification is a tool that implements game design and content elements into non-game applications to motivate participation, engagement and loyalty. It doesn’t have to be digital, relegated to your website, apps or social media. It can also be analog and relate to day-to-day operations.

The elements of gamification are referred to as game mechanics, covering competition, challenges, collaboration, levels, badges, instant feedback and more. These elements can be used in various combinations to achieve your desired goal.

While some businesses use gamification as a way to connect with customers, many have already realized the benefits of bringing the tool into the workplace.

How to Gamify Your Workplace

For gamification to be successful, it has to be well-planned, executed and maintained. If done right, it can increase engagement and motivation in employees.

When considering how to gamify the workplace, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What goal or objective do you wish to achieve?
  • What is your target employee behavior?
  • How do you think gamification will help?
  • What motivates your employees?
  • What tech will employees be comfortable with?

The gamification process isn’t an instant one. It’s a method you should test and tweak each time you implement a new idea.

  1. Train New Hires

Training new hires can be tedious, especially when there’s a lot of information to cover in a short amount of time. At the end of orientation, it’s not uncommon for trainees to feel they learned very little. By implementing gamification into the new hire training process, you can create a system that promotes learning through gaming mechanics.

One example of this is using badges as a user progresses. Samsung developed a similar program dubbed Samsung Nation, which rewards users with badges as they create content, watch videos, review products and engage with the community. Other companies are using a similar gamification process where new hires can gain achievements as they train.

  1. Boost Employee Performance

Outside of new hire training, gamification is used as a tool to enhance employee job performance, with 90 percent of employees rated more productive when using gamification. It can add a fresh and healthy competitive air to your office space, spurring employees to have fun as they work harder.

One example of using gamification to boost performance is Salesforce, which introduced its Big Game Hunter program to entice sales representatives to use the customer relationship management (CRM) system. Each team member started at the first level as a chicken hunter. As they became more aware of the CRM features, they could work their way up in status.

  1. Implement Team Goals

To make gamification work, you need to understand what your employees want. Once you have a goal in mind, create a path with actionable tasks to achieve it. By creating a clear objective, using a focus both you and your employees can agree on, you can use gamification to align employee goals with your own.

One example of a goal that can benefit both employees and management is a new R&R space, which can easily be added with an office pod. While you may think napping during work hours can’t possibly be beneficial, research shows there’s a strong correlation between rest and recovery and workplace productivity.

  1. Use Clear Communication

From new hires to top-tier managers, employees need clear communication and feedback to perform well. This can be a major issue employers face, especially those with a large workforce. Without open and clear communication, workers often feel disconnected and unpassionate about the work they do.

One way to combat this is to learn from Target, which wanted to connect with front-of-the-line staff — cashiers. Target decided to create a game they could play when checking out items for customers, providing real-time feedback in the form of red and green blinking lights. Before this method, cashiers had no way of knowing if their methods were effective.

  1. Improve Workplace Efficiency

Employees may be knowledgeable and hardworking, but that doesn’t mean they’re being as efficient as possible. One method businesses have used to evoke leaner practices is to introduce gamification in the form of challenges, achievements, rewards and recognition.

One company utilizing gamification is Omnicare, which created a series of achievements sales representatives could work toward, starting with a challenge at the beginning of each shift. As workers progress through the day’s problems, they can earn rewards. This led to less wait time for customers, an increase in customer satisfaction and a reduction in employee turnover.

Utilizing Gamification in the Workplace

When implementing gamification in your workplace, the key to success is understanding precisely what you wish to achieve. Listen to your employees to better understand their wants and motivations. Try to come up with a rewards or achievement system that works with their unique desires and limitations.

Once you’ve used this tool, be sure to assess if it’s effective and what areas can use improvement. You should always be searching for new ways to optimize and improve results, even when you’ve already achieved your desired goal.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Featured image: Eric Tompkins on Unsplash

Does Your Brand Market Success?

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How good of a job are you doing these days when it comes to marketing your brand for success?

If you responded to say not all that good, don’t you think this will need to change?

This is especially the case if you are in an industry where you face a lot of competition on a daily basis.

So, does your brand market success or do you need to focus more on your marketing efforts?

What Marketing Initiatives Are You Using?

In looking at your brand’s marketing efforts, are you focused where you should be?

To start, are you doing the bulk of your marketing in-house or out-sourcing what you need done? If the latter, you want to be sure you are working with a top-notch agency.

Whether you look at Klicker or another inbound marketing agency, find one that works for you.

One of the ways to find the right agency for your marketing needs is using the Internet.

Many marketing agencies have websites. As such, it is not all that difficult to find them online.

With a Google search or if you already have an agency’s website URL, get online and begin the hunt. Before long you may have the agency you need to partner with for more brand success.

In looking at which agency to work with, consider the following:

  • How long has the agency been around? While there are some great young agencies out there, one with experience may be your best bet. Either way, find the agency that will get to know you and your brand and help you succeed.
  • What does the agency have to offer? – Different marketing agencies will have a myriad of offers available. That said find the one best suited to your brand’s marketing needs.
  • Will the customer service be first-rate? – Last, you need a marketing agency that provides you with first-rate customer service. Anything short of this will not cut it. That said get some feelers on how agencies you consider working with treat customers.

What is Your Competition up to?

While you do not want to become fixated on what your competitors are doing, do not go to sleep on them either.

With this thought in mind, do you know what they do, especially as it concerns their online efforts?

In checking out their efforts, you should get a better understanding of what works and what does not. As a result, it can help you become more in tune with what marketing steps you may well need to take.

Finally, look for ways to push the envelope when it comes to your online marketing efforts.

From contests to podcasts and more, make your brand stand out from others. This is why seeing what the competition is up to and finding ways to one up them is key.

When you stop to look at what you are doing, is your brand marketing making its case?

In the event the answer is no, you need to get working on a successful brand marketing operation.

Photo credit: Pixiebay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.