experienced Wink & Reunion members: By now you know these two
have worked out a deal to merge. It had been in 'negotiations'
since 2005, but they've announced the new site will launch some
time in February 2009.
To increase the launch numbers, WinkUnion (or whatever they
decide to call it) will pull personal information from sites like
Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, as well as other public records
online according to the article on Gigaom.
From what I understand from the article, the new company will
retain Reunion's social networking and friend-finding features
and make it dramatically easier to find people on the Web. Wink
CEO Michael Tanne had this to say about the merger
"We're aiming to create an entirely new online
experience that simplifies people's lives by making it easy to
find and keep up with everyone they know".
My 2009 prediction: We're going to see right at the first of the
year no less, inbox mayhem and spammers having major wet dreams!
Pulling personal information from other social sites and public
records??? Isn't that what spam bots are designed to do?!
Maybe I'm being paranoid but I'm wondering: Do I really want
the information I have on Linked In handed over to a site I
haven't given permission to contact me?
And public records...uhm, that really bothers me because that
means actual home address, phone number, any family members
living with you, mortgage, vehicle registrations or bankruptcy
information through public records are also part of this 'Weird
Al' loop.
Cheer up, maybe my paranoia is the rant of someone too old to
appreciate the 'network' thing. But in case my paranoia walks
up to your front door wearing nothing more than a smile and a
hat, now might be as good a time as any to go review some of your
information on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter.
Public records is a lost cause but that's why as a Solo
Entrepreneur you should be thinking...Llc, SCorp and Trusts.
Right??
This is on a personal note, so if you're treating your vendors,
customer, readers of your blog and visitors to your sites with
empathetic courtesy during these trying times, then you can read
the quote and go have a nice day.
If you are one of those who have lately been jumping on the 'bad
economy' fear bandwagon and acting like Lenny the Snake to sell
your products and services, this is for you.
The internet community has a very, very long memory. What this
means is fear may sell - for a little while.
would answer their simple question about a product, you didn't.
and you were the one who blasted them with a 'shoot from the
hip' comment.
time you send them an email - they will report you as spamming them.
If they're really feeling the power, they will go to Epinions and
Consumer Democracy type sites to 'get you back'.
It doesn't matter which blogger or guru you follow, your actions
are the only ones your customers, readers and visitors to your
site remember.
Many of you are using reviews because they are proven as one of
the best techniques for getting more traffic, but when you bash
another marketers product to make yours look good - you lose.
Not preaching at you, maybe a little but understand that your
readers and visitors are looking to you as someone they can
trust. More importantly, they want to feel connected to you by
your products or services, definitely by how they are treated.
When you start stabbing other marketers in the back, flipping off
those who may not be as internet savvy as you are or treat
people badly, it will take them less than a NY Minute to find a
way to retaliate.
That's it for today and I leave you with this -
"Your customers and employees and investors will remember how you treated them when times were tough, when they needed a break, when a little support meant everything. No one in particular will remember how you acted during the boom times. ~ Seth Godin
