http://myspacetruckin.com/ en Copyright 2007 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:39:01 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The Pitfalls of Advertising on MySpace Many users of MySpace tout the potential for advertising to be one of the most useful features of this online community. However, there are quite a few pitfalls to advertising on MySpace. Most importantly those who advertise on MySpace run the risk of finding themselves in violation of MySpace�fs terms of service and facing the consequences of these infractions. In addition advertising on MySpace can appear very unprofessional to potential customers. Finally, those who advertise on MySpace may become guilty of spamming. This article will take a look at these three advertising pitfalls and provide advice for avoiding these potential problems. Violating the Terms of Service on MySpace One of the most serious potential problems with advertising on MySpace is violating the terms of service outlined by the administrators of MySpace. This is significant because members who are found to be in violation of these terms of service can have their websites deleted and may be banned from the community. The terms of service should be reviewed carefully to determine which types of activities, in relation to advertising, are permitted and which activities are prohibited. Special attention should be paid to the section of the terms of services which specifies member websites are not to be commercial in nature. It might be necessary to contact MySpace directly for ask for clarification of this section and additional information on what constitutes a commercial website. Appearing Unprofessional Another potential pitfall to advertising on MySpace is appearing unprofessional. MySpace websites can be created very quickly and easily through available templates. This may result in some members becoming overly anxious to start advertising immediately. When this happens the members may be sloppy in their design and may create a website with many errors which does not present a professional appearance. Additionally, MySpace is a rather relaxed community where members often use slang or abbreviations haphazard. This practice can also create an unprofessional appearance which may alienate some potential clients. Also, MySpace members must consider the comments left for them by other members of the community. The individual who maintains the website should understand the comments left for them are considered by others to be a reflection of them. Therefore those who do not think highly of the comments left on your website are not likely to think highly of you or your business either. For this reason care should be taken to maintain a lee of control over the comments left for you. This can be done either by not allowing comments at all or by only allowing comments that receive your approval to appear on your website. Engaging in Spamming techniques One of the most dangerous pitfalls those who advertise on MySpace might encounter is spamming. Before advertising care should be taken to review MySpace�fs policy on spam to ensure the advertising techniques you are using are not considered to be spam by MySpace. This is important because those who are found guilty of spamming may have their account and website deleted. They may even be banned from creating a new account in the future. Also, potential customers are not likely to think highly of a business that they view as engaging in spamming techniques. These customers are likely to purchase products and services from other providers who they believe run a more honest marketing campaign. Spamming can therefore be a very costly mistake for business owners.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000102.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000102.html 002Making Money on MySpace Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:39:01 -0500 Networking on MySpace MySpace is an online community where members can meet to share photos, journals and interests with an extensive network of friends. The MySpace mission statement describes the MySpace network as being for everyone including: * Friends who want to talk Online * Single people who want to meet other Singles * Matchmakers who want to connect their friends with other friends * Families who want to keep in touch--map your Family Tree * Business people and co-workers interested in networking * Classmates and study partners * Anyone looking for long lost friends! From this description it is clear that MySpace is an excellent place for online networking. This article will take a look at how to find the people you want to network with on MySpace and will examine whether or not the networking should remain online. Who Do You Want to Meet? When using MySpace to network it is important to consider who you want to meet in your networking endeavor. There is a misconception that MySpace is just for kids but many are finding there are all types of people using MySpace. Before making a decision about whether or not you want to network on MySpace it is wise to spend some time searching around MySpace to find out whether or not there is a large amount of individuals who share your interests. Spending some time doing research before beginning your own MySpace website is helpful because otherwise you might invest time and energy into designing your website only to find there are not many members with which you want to network. Where Can You Find Those You Want to Meet? Now that you have identified who you are looking to meet online through MySpace it is time to start finding these individuals. The search feature can be very helpful for this purpose. Compile a list of keywords which are likely to be used on the MySpace websites of members you would like to meet. Searching for these keywords can help you to locate those who share your interests. Visiting the MySpace websites of your friends�f friends can also help you to meet more interesting individuals on MySpace. Those who you already consider to be friends likely share some of your interests. Likewise many of their existing friends may share these interests as well. Investigating websites of those who are friends of your friends can put you in contact with many more people who might be potential friends for you. Do You Want to Take Your Networking Offline? After networking online the natural progression is to determine whether or not you want to expand on your network to include face to face meetings as a part of this networking. Care should be taken when making this decision to ensure you are not putting yourself, or others, at unnecessary risk by arranging these networking meetings. The most important aspect in arranging offline networking meetings with those who you meet online is choosing a safe location for these meetings. A well lit, busy, public location is ideal for these types of meetings. These types of locations not only minimize the chance that any participants in the meeting will attempt to harm others but also helps to make those who are planning to attend feel safer. You might think a house belonging to your friend is an excellent location because you are familiar with the location and will have friends with you but it is important to note those you are meeting may be just as suspicious of you as you are of them. They are more likely to be interested in attending your meeting if it takes place in a public location because they will feel more comfortable. Another aspect to consider when deciding whether or not to take virtual networking opportunities offline is whether or not you think the friendships will be the same offline as they are online. Many Internet users feel freer to express their opinions online than they do in face to face meetings. Friends who have wonderful relationships through MySpace may find their relationship falters when they actually meet in person.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000101.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000101.html 002Making Money on MySpace Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:07:49 -0500 Security and Privacy on MySpace Is there security and privacy on MySpace? This can be a difficult question to answer because there are many possible answers. There can be a certain degree of security and privacy available on MySpace but as with any online community there is also the potential for unsafe situations and violations of privacy. However, there are a couple of ways MySpace members can ensure they are receiving the highest levels of security and privacy possible. This includes being familiar with the terms of service, taking active measures to protect yourself and making use of the privacy features included in the software. Read the Terms of Service Carefully Reading the terms of service carefully can give users an understanding of the amount of security and privacy available on MySpace. These terms of service provide members with useful information for the types of activities or content which are prohibited on MySpace. Understanding these regulations will help members to understand whether their actions or the actions of other members are in violation of the terms of service. While the MySpace administrators do not have a policy of policing the community for content violations, they will respond to allegations by other members of violations and will take appropriate actions if the members are in fact found to be in violation of the terms of service. These actions may include deleting the members account and taking appropriate legal actions. The MySpace privacy policy is referenced within the terms of service and this reference incorporates the entirety of the privacy policy into the terms of service. As a result members who join the MySpace community and agree to the terms of services are also, by default, agreeing to the privacy policy. Therefore, members should carefully review the privacy policy and familiarize themselves with the terms of this policy. Protect Yourself on MySpace Members of MySpace do have a small degree of protection afforded by the administrators of MySpace but they can provide themselves with a great deal of additional protection by being aware of how the Internet works and using common sense. Generic safety tips for protecting oneself on the Internet also apply to the MySpace community. Just like it is not wise to give out sensitive information such as your address or social security number on online discussion boards, it is not wise to list this type of information on a MySpace profile either. MySpace members may think the information they post on their profile is only being viewed by their friends and the members of their extended network but this is not true. There can be many individuals on MySpace who are lurking and viewing members�f websites all the time. Some of these lurkers may be completely innocent but others may be harvesting information. Making Profiles Private MySpace does have some features which can give members an increased amount of protection. The ability to make a profile private is one of these features. Most MySpace profiles are public and are viewable by both members of the community and nonmembers. However, those who wish to keep their website private can make it only available to those on their friends list. Members of MySpace also have the ability to remove members from their friends list or block other members from sending them emails or instant messages. Only members in your friends list can post comments on your website so if there are members who are leaving malicious comments, you can remove them from your friends list to avoid future problems. Also, if you are receiving harassing emails or messages you can block users to prevent them from contacting you in the future.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000100.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000100.html 004MySpace Precautions Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:36:37 -0500 MySpace Precautions MySpace is an online community where members can create personal websites and meet new friends or reconnect with old friends. It can be a lot of fun and can also provide excellent networking opportunities but there are some precautions which should be taken by all users of MySpace. These precautions include being aware of the ability for individuals to misrepresent themselves online, knowing how to avoid being harmed or scammed and understanding the terms of service on MySpace. This article will discuss these three key concepts which are minimum precautions MySpace members should take to ensure their MySpace experience is pleasurable. Beware of Wolves in Sheep�fs Clothing The Internet provides an excellent opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to deliberately misrepresent themselves. This misrepresentation may be somewhat innocent such as lying about interest or activities for the purpose of being more attractive to someone you have a crush on or it can be more series. Those with criminal intent may lie about a number of factors such as their age, sex and location in order to lure another member into a harmful situation. There have been numerous stories which made national headlines about young users of MySpace being abducted by individuals they met online. Although these cases are considered to be somewhat rare, they do exist and members of MySpace should be aware of the potential for this type of activity. Those who want to do physical harm to another may deliberately misrepresent themselves but there are other potentially harmful reasons why an individual on MySpace might pretend to be someone else. This can be done to gain the trust of other members before conducting a financial scam which will result in a significant loss of money for the MySpace members who are duped in such a scam. MySpace members can avoid both physical and financial danger by exercising caution in their interactions with other members of the community. This includes emails and instant messages but care should also be taken to avoid posting sensitive information on MySpace pages as this information can be viewed by the general public unless the profile is made private. Know How Much Information is Too Much One important precaution MySpace members should take is safeguarding their personal information. This information includes, but is not limited to, the following pieces of information: * Full name * Social security number * Credit card numbers * Bank account numbers * Physical address * Phone number * Place of birth * High school attended and year of graduation * Names of children and location and date of their births Some of the items on the above list such as social security number and bank account numbers are pieces of information most people are aware they should not divulge to the general public. However, other pieces of information such as high school attended and year of graduation or names of children and location and date of their births may seem harmless. Unfortunately this is not true. These seemingly harmless pieces of information can be used to research an individual and it might be possible to deduce where a person lives from this type of information. Understand the Terms of Service Finally, members of MySpace should familiarize themselves with the terms of service provided by MySpace. This information is important for a couple of reasons. First it will help MySpace members to understand their rights as well as the security features which exist in the community. Members who are aware of these facts know their course of action if they are harassed by other members of MySpace. Additionally, being familiar with the terms of service on MySpace is important because it helps members to understand which actions are permissible and which actions are prohibited. This is important because it can prevent a member from inadvertently breaking the community rules and running the risk of being banned from the community. If after reviewing the terms of service you have questions, contact MySpace directly for clarification.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000099.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000099.html 004MySpace Precautions Mon, 20 Aug 2007 01:05:25 -0500 Meeting People on MySpace The process of meeting people on MySpace is extremely easy. MySpace is an online community which encourages individuals from all over the world to become involved and create an online profile. Members are able to create a MySpace website which they can use to provide others with information about them. Members are also encouraged to view the websites belonging to other members to learn more about other members of the community. Those who participate in MySpace can provide as much or as little personal information as they wish and are not required to give any specific information when they design their website. Those who are willing to open up more, however, are likely to be more interesting to other members and may accumulate friends very quickly on MySpace. Searching for Friends on MySpace The search feature can help new MySpace members to find friends in the community. The search feature allows users to enter in a particular word and provides search results which include MySpace members�f websites which use this word. This is an interesting way to meet potential friends on MySpace because you can enter keywords which are associated to a favorite hobby, band, book or other interest to find others who share this interest. Those on MySpace can use the search feature to find new friends but can also use the search feature to meet find friends with whom you have lost touch over the years. Members can also search through MySpace for users with a particular name although this not always effective because users are not required to post their full name on their MySpace website. However, there are many who do include their full name so trying this search feature is worthwhile if you are looking to locate someone from your past on MySpace. Using Caution on MySpace With any online community, caution should be used when cultivating friendships on MySpace. The vast majority of those who use MySpace are simply looking to either make new friends or find long last friends but there are a small percentage of users who may have malicious intents. MySpace created their terms of services and makes an honest attempt to enforce these terms but this can be a difficult task on the Internet It is important to remember that the Internet allows a certain degree of anonymity that can allow some unscrupulous individuals to mask their true identity and convince other MySpace members they are someone who they are really not. Common scenarios which may occur on the Internet include individuals obtaining enough information to steal the identity of another or individuals obtaining information such as an address which enables them to do physical harm to another member of MySpace. Those who use MySpace should be careful to ensure their private information is kept private while they are online. Information which can be used to harm them may include any combination of the following: * Full name * Place of birth * Names of children and information on when and where they were born * High school and year of graduation * Social security number * Credit card numbers * Bank account numbers Some of the information above may seem harmless but it is important to remember devious criminals can use public resources such as newspapers and library books to find out more information about an individual. When you are Being Harassed on MySpace Harassment is a serious issue which the MySpace administrators take very seriously. However, the most effective method they recommend for getting those harassing you to stop is to ignore them. According to the FAQ page on MySpace 99.9% of harassment situations diffuse if harassing emails are completely ignored. You can also block users which prevents them from contacting you through MySpace and remove them from your friends list which will prevent them from adding comments. If another user has created a profile about you with malicious intent you can contact MySpace customer service and provide them with a link to the profile and they will investigate the profile and delete it if warranted.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/001finding-a-date-on-myspace/blog000098.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/001finding-a-date-on-myspace/blog000098.html 001Finding a Date on MySpace Sun, 19 Aug 2007 01:34:13 -0500 Keeping Kids Safe on MySpace There are a lot of teens who are using MySpace. Individuals over the age of 14 are eligible to use MySpace so as a result there are many teenagers who are members of the online MySpace community. These young members may appreciate the opportunity to express their creativity, express their feelings, meet new friends or stay in touch with their old friends but they should also be aware that there is the potential for danger on any Internet community. Making kids aware of this is helpful but there is also a certain degree of parental involvement which is necessary to keep kids safe when they are online. Enforcing Household Internet Rules Kids who use MySpace, or the Internet in general, should be restricted to a few household rules regarding Internet usage. Putting these rules in place can be very helpful in reducing the potential for danger. Some of the general Internet rules parents might consider are: * Do not post full name and address online or even school location. This will help to prevent stalking which could become a problem if online predators know where your child lives or go to school. * Restrict Internet usage to specific hours during the day. This can prevent overuse of the Internet. * Do not agree to meet online friends in person without consent. Ideally the parents should also accompany their children on these meetings and should ensure the meetings take place in a well lit, public location such as a coffee shop as opposed to a secluded spot such as an individual�fs home. * Do not respond to threats or harassment. Kids should be taught to ignore this type of behavior and report these instances to parents or the Internet service provider instead of responding to the threats. Responding to threats or harassing messages can exacerbate a potentially harmful situation. * Internet usage should be restricted to high traffic locations in the house. For example kids should only be allowed to use the Internet in computers which are in locations such as the family room or kitchen as opposed to allowing kids Internet access in their bedrooms. Monitoring Online Interactions Parents whose children have a MySpace account should monitor their child�fs online interactions on a regular basis to ensure these interactions are not potentially harmful. Parents should be particularly concerned when children are interacting with older individuals who engage in activities which are not appropriate for the child�fs age or when the children are interacting with those who might be a negative influence on the child. Parents should also be aware that those their child is interacting with may not be honest about their identity. For example a parent may think it is harmless for their 15 year old daughter to engage in flirtatious banter with a 16 year old boy but there is the possibility that her online friend is really a much older individual. Parents should monitor these activities for suspicious behavior or suggestions of meeting in person. Reviewing the Terms of Service Finally, parents who want to keep their kid safe on MySpace should familiarize themselves with the online community as well as the terms of service and privacy policy. This will give the parents a better idea of the type of activities their children are engaging in and being exposed to as well as the safety precautions which are in place to help you protect your child.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000097.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000097.html 004MySpace Precautions Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:03:01 -0500 Promoting Your Business on MySpace The question of whether or not MySpace can be used to promote a business is certainly debatable. MySpace is intended to be a non-commercial website by nature but there is a different between blatant commercialization and mentioning a product or service you offer and providing a link as a useful resource to visitors of your website. This article will take a look at the opportunities to promote a business on MySpace by providing information on determining whether or not your method of business promotion is permitted on MySpace and information on how to promote your business without being accused of spamming MySpace. Review the Terms of Service Carefully The terms of service provided by MySpace can provide the greatest insight into whether or not there are ways to promote your business through MySpace. Members of MySpace are asked to review the terms of service before becoming a member. Each member should carefully read through this entire agreement to come to a better understanding of which types of activities are allowed on MySpace as well as which types of activities are prohibited. One of the stipulations of the MySpace reads as follows, �gNon-commercial Use by Members. The MySpace Services are for the personal use of Members only and may not be used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com. Illegal and/or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services, including collecting usernames and/or email addresses of Members by electronic or other means for the purpose of sending unsolicited email or unauthorized framing of or linking to the MySpace Website is prohibited. Commercial advertisements, affiliate links, and other forms of solicitation may be removed from Member profiles without notice and may result in termination of Membership privileges. Appropriate legal action will be taken for any illegal or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services.�h This section of the terms of service stipulates that MySpace is created for non-commercial use unless Myspace.com has approved the use of a member�fs website for commercial purposes. Therefore care should be taken when designing a MySpace website to ensure the website will not be deemed to be a commercial website by MySpace administrators. When In Doubt, Ask Questions Those who are unsure of whether or not their MySpace website, as they have designed it, will be considered a commercial website should consult with MySpace administrators. This step is not necessary unless the member is concerned their content will be perceived as being commercial. Reviewing the terms of use agreement can provide a great deal of information but some users may still be concerned with the possibility that their website will be penalized if the administrators deem it to be commercial in nature. Contacting MySpace is a fairly simple process. Members can use the, �gContact MySpace�h link from the MySpace.com homepage. The contact page enables members to select a subject and a subtopic and submit this information. Once this is done MySpace provides some preliminary information which may be relevant. If this information is not useful to the member they can email a detailed request to MySpace. Avoid Spamming at All Costs If you determine there is an opportunity for you to promote your business through MySpace, care should be taken to ensure the promotion does not cross the line into spam. Spamming is taken very seriously by the MySpace administrators and it may result in links or content being deleted or the privileges of membership may be revoked when a member is found to be guilty of spamming. Links to your ecommerce website integrated into your MySpace website isn�ft considered spamming. Depending on how it is used it may not even be considered advertising, and therefore prohibited, by MySpace administrators. However, visiting other MySpace websites and placing a link to your ecommerce website on each website you visit would be considered spam. These individuals may or may not be interested in the website you provide but even if they are interested sending these links to numerous websites unsolicited is often considered to be spam.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000096.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000096.html 002Making Money on MySpace Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:31:49 -0500 Maintaining a Professional Appearance on MySpace MySpace is an online community which can be a fun way for members to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends or make romantic connections. MySpace members who are interested in pursuing these types of activities online are free to create a website which reflects their personality. This will help others to understand who they are and to learn more about their preferences. Although MySpace offers all of these fun entertainment type activities, there are some members of MySpace who utilize the community for business purposes. They may use MySpace to network, make business connections or to promote their business. In these cases care should be taken to create a MySpace website that is attractive and interesting while maintaining a professional appearance. Avoid Slang and Abbreviations One way to maintain a professional appearance on a MySpace website is to avoid the use of slang or abbreviations. Many MySpace websites feature slang, abbreviations and terms which are not grammatically correct. While this type of Internet language may be entertaining and may be considered acceptable among members of the community, this type of writing is not likely to appeal to potential customers or business partners. Additionally, not everyone understand the cryptic language often used on message boards, text messages and emails and those who do not understand may have trouble reading the information presented on the website. Keep the Design Tasteful As previously mentioned, those who are using MySpace strictly for entertainment purposes can design a website according to their personal preferences. This may include unusual fonts, garish colors, offensive images and blaring background music. While this type of design may provide a great deal of insight into an individual�fs personality it is not a good idea for a business related website. Therefore those who are using their website for promotion of a business should create a more tasteful design. There are a few generic tips which can make a website appear more professional. The use of muted colors that complement each other can make a website aesthetically appealing. Users are more likely to spend time on websites with these types of color combinations because it is soothing. Additionally, the use of a common font type and size which makes reading the text simple is recommended. The use of background music should also be avoided in professional websites as many users either do not have speakers or may view the website in a location where they do not want to hear music. Avoid Embarrassing Photos Finally, special consideration should be given to the use of photos on a website which is striving to maintain a professional appearance. While those who are using MySpace for entertainment purposes only may opt to plaster their website with embarrassing pictures of them and their friends, those who have business intentions should use photos more judiciously. The photos used on a business website should invoke a professional sentiment. This may include posed photos of the website owner in a dignified location, landscape photographs or pictures of products sold by the company. Alternately those who are using MySpace to promote products or services might consider not using images as at all. Whether or not pictures are used on a website is a matter of personal preference but when they are used, care should be taken to ensure they contribute to the overall design of the website rather than distract from it.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000095.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000095.html 002Making Money on MySpace Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:00:37 -0500 Generating Traffic to Your MySpace Website MySpace is an exciting online community where members can make new friends, reconnect with old friends, network or even find potential romantic partners. While there are some MySpace members who join the community simply for the ability to stay in touch with their old friends and are not looking to make new friends. These members may keep their websites private to not allow other users to view their personal information and may not spend a great deal of time visiting public websites of other members. However, most MySpace members are interested in making a great deal of friends online and are always looking to generate more traffic to their website. Create an Interesting MySpace Website One of the simplest ways MySpace members can generate increased traffic to their website is to create a website which is both aesthetically appealing and interesting to others. The aesthetic appeal of a website can greatly influence the amount of repeat traffic a MySpace website receives. For example members who use garish colors and fonts which are too small or otherwise difficult to read may not receive repeat traffic even if the content of their website is very interesting and engaging. This is because other members may lose interest in the website quickly. The other part of an excellent website design is interesting and intriguing content. A website which is aesthetically appealing may entice visitors to peruse the content but if it is simply not interesting and engaging the visitors are not likely to spend much time on the website and are also not likely to return. However, MySpace members who fill their website with exciting content are likely to keep visitors interested. When visitors are interested in the content they are likely to return and also to encourage others to visit the website as well. Visit Members�f Websites Another way to generate increased traffic to your MySpace website is by visiting the websites of other members. You can use the search feature to find other members who share your interests. By visiting their websites you will get a better idea of whether or not you are interested in being friends with these members. When you encounter other members you might be interested in meeting you can sent them an email or instant message commenting on their website and asking to be added to their network of friends. You can also suggest they visit your website as well. Those who make an effort to meet other members are likely to increase their own web site traffic. Invite Friends to Your MySpace Website Finally, MySpace members can generate additional traffic to their website by inviting others to visit them. They can speak directly to friends and family members and encourage them to view their website. Also, those who participate in other online communities such as message boards may include a link to their MySpace website in their signature so those who want to learn more about them can visit their MySpace profile. MySpace also has an invite feature which enables members to send messages to others to encourage them to start a MySpace account. Members who have friends or family members who do not belong to the MySpace community can send them one of these invitations to encourage them to participate. The invitation can include a link to the members MySpace website to give the others an idea of what MySpace really is.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000094.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000094.html 002Making Money on MySpace Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:29:25 -0500 Keeping Personal Information Personal on MySpace MySpace is an incredible online community which gives members the opportunity to make new friends, reconnect with long lost friends, network or even meet potential romantic partners. While there are many great social aspects to using MySpace it is also important to not there is the potential for predators to be lurking on MySpace. These predators may either be nonmembers who simply comb member profiles in search of useful information or they may be members who create profiles which mask their true identity and foster online friendship for devious purposes. In general the harm which can come from using MySpace could be either physical or financial. This article will discuss how MySpace members can avoid physical or financial harm by keeping their personal information personal. Avoiding Physical Harm Those who agree to meet online friends in person put themselves at risk for physical harm. Although in many cases agreeing to meet an online friend in person will not lead to any problems there is always the potential for your online friend to really be a harmful predator. Not agreeing to offline meetings is the most obvious way to avoid this type of danger. However, there are other precautions MySpace members can take to avoid the possibility encountering their online friends in person. Not posting information which can be used to track you down can help to minimize the risk of physical harm which results from interactions with MySpace members. The most obvious information which can be used for this purpose is a full name and an address. Additionally, a telephone number can be used to find out your address. These are not the only ways predators can find you. For example if you have pictures of yourself posted on your MySpace website and post a blog entry about your plans to visit Disney Land on a particular weekend, Internet stalkers can use this information to find and abduct you. Posting about weekend plans may seem harmless but those who know where you will be and what you look like can find you even in a crowded location. Also, if you post a blog entry mentioning you will be out of town and also include your full name and the city you live in, savvy predators can use this information to determine your address and burglarize your home while you enjoy your vacation. Those who use MySpace and do not make their website private should be aware that any information they post can be viewed by others who may have malicious intentions. Keeping this in mind helps members to realize they should be cautious about the type of information they divulge on MySpace. Avoiding Financial Harm The information on a MySpace website can also be used, by Internet predators, to commit identity theft or other types of financial fraud. When using MySpace care should be taken to avoid giving out sensitive information such as full name, address, social security number, credit card numbers and bank account numbers. This type of information can be used to commit identity theft and the results of identity theft can be financial ruin including bankruptcy and damaged credit. Also, the result of identity theft can be difficult to reverse. Even if the predator is caught in his actions, it may be many years before the victim recovers financially.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/001finding-a-date-on-myspace/blog000093.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/001finding-a-date-on-myspace/blog000093.html 001Finding a Date on MySpace Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:58:13 -0500 Uploading Files to MySpace MySpace websites can be created without only the use of solid background colors and text. However, this type of website is not likely to be very interesting. MySpace is an online community which is designed to be a place where members can make new friends, reconnect with long lost friends, network, share ideas or opinions or even meet potential romantic partners. This social aspect of the community makes it almost necessary for members to design websites which accurately represent their personalities. One of the easiest ways members can sow off their personality is through the inclusion of photos on their MySpace website. These photos may be pictures of the members or other photos which provide insight into the member�fs personality. Tips for Uploading Photos to MySpace One of the most important things to remember when uploading files to MySpace is that these files may be seen by many people. This is especially important for those who are uploading pictures of themselves to place on their MySpace website. Members are not required to place a photo of themselves on their profile but many users do include a photo so those who visit their website have a visual image of the member. Users may place an embarrassing photo of themselves thinking only their friends will see this photo but in reality many other members and nonmembers may view this photo as well. This other members may include potential bosses, neighbors or others who might be shocked by these photos. Parents of children who use MySpace should also exercise caution when allowing their children to post their photos on their MySpace profile. There are many harmful predators on the Internet and many of these predators are seeking young children to prey upon. Parents should carefully consider whether or not they want to allow their child to add a picture to their profile. Alternately, parents might recommend their children use a picture that represents a hobby of theirs or a favorite cartoon character instead of their own photo. When posting a picture of an object or character care should be taken to ensure posting the photo is not a violation of copyrights associated with the photo. Uploading Photos and Videos to MySpace Uploading photos to your MySpace account is fairly simple. First you must log into your account and then click on the links that says, �gAdd/edit photos.�h You then receive a warning stating that photos which include nudity, violent or offensive materials or copyrighted images are not permitted. You are also given the option of making photos visible to only you or to everyone. You can then browse through your hard drive to find the desired photo. Photos uploaded to MySpace must be .gif or .jpg format and must be smaller than 600k. Once you find an appropriate photo, click upload and the photo will be added to your account. Once a photo is added you can create a caption for this photo. MySpace members can search through existing video clips on MySpace to find video clips to add to their website. They can also upload their own videos for use on their website and for others to share. When uploading videos to MySpace, members should be sure to read the terms and conditions to ensure the video they are posting is permissible. Uploading pornography or other objectionable materials may result in the member having his MySpace account deleted.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000092.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000092.html 003Getting Started on MySpace Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:27:01 -0500 Advanced Uses for MySpace MySpace members can generate a website quickly through templates. These templates enable users to create a generic website in very little time. For those who are just interested in making new friends or keeping in touch with old friends, this may be all the member needs. However, those who want to offer more on their website or those who simply want to create a more detailed website may require some more advanced knowledge to achieve the desired effects. Adding Background Music in MySpace The majority of websites on the Internet do not have background music. This may lead many novice MySpace members to believe adding music to the background is a difficult process but it really isn�ft. In fact MySpace makes it incredibly simple for members to add music to their profiles. The steps to add music to a MySpace profile are as follows: * Log into your MySpace account * While logged in visit this web address: http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music * Listen to the music available and select a suitable song for your profile * Click on the link that says �gAdd�h below the song title * The music is then automatically added to your profile It is important to note that users can only add one song at a time to their profile. Clicking the �gAdd�h link on a second song will result in the original song being replaced on the profile by the new song. Songs can be removed from a profile at any time by going to the �gEdit profile�h section of your account and entering the �gProfile songs�h subcategory. Here you have the option to remove your chosen song. Adding Videos to MySpace Adding videos to MySpace is also not as difficult as it seems. Even those with no HTML skills can add videos produced by other members or even their own videos to their MySpace profile. The steps to add a video to your MySpace profile are as follows: * Log into your MySpace Account * From your MySpace homepage, click on the �gAdd/Change Videos�h link * You are then taken to another webpage where you can either search through a database of previously uploaded videos or upload your own video * To search the database, click on the search videos button and browse through the available videos * After watching a video you can add the video to your profile in a couple of ways. First you can click on the �gAdd to my profile�h button or you can copy the source code provided and paste this code into the desired location on your profile. Alternately you can add your own videos to your MySpace profile by first uploading them to MySpace and then adding them to your profile. When uploading a video care should be taken to ensure the video does not violate the terms of service. Creating Interactive Features on MySpace Creating interactive features on MySpace is a bit more involved. Members can create features which allow visitor interaction but these features require more extensive HTML knowledge. The best way to acquire the information necessary to design these types of features is to research the subject of HTML code in books or on the Internet. However, if you find a feature on another MySpace website you would like to include in your own profile you can contact the member and ask them how to add this feature.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000091.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000091.html 003Getting Started on MySpace Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:55:49 -0500 MySpace or Your Space? MySpace is quickly revolutionizing the dating scene. MySpace advertises themselves as a virtual community for users to network, meet people, browse profiles and make friends around the world. However, some are taking this ability to meet people even further and are using MySpace similarly to the way they would use a dating website. While couples are still meeting in more traditional locations such as nightclubs and bar, more and more couples are making love connections online via MySpace. MySpace allows members to create websites where they can post personal information about themselves and allow others to view this information and post messages commenting on the website. Through these interactions users can really get to know each other better and can foster relationships. This article will take a look at how MySpace users can meet other users, begin courting and possibly eventually meet romantic partners offline. Meeting New People on MySpace Meeting new people on MySpace is unbelievably easy. The search feature allows anyone to search through the MySpace community to find user websites that contain the search term entered. Individuals do not have to be members to view the search results; however, some websites might be private and not viewable by the general public. Entering search terms relevant to a particular hobby or interest will generate search results of those who share this interest or hobby. Once an individual finds a number of websites from those who share their interests they can review these websites to determine if they wish to meet any of these MySpace members. One way to open the lines of communication with another user is to post a comment on their website. Only members of the MySpace community are allowed to post comments though so before leaving a comment users have to become members of the community. This also gives the user the opportunity to generate their own MySpace website. They can then invite those they are interested in meeting to view their website. Flirting on MySpace As previously, mentioned MySpace is quickly becoming a location to allow users to meet potential romantic partners. MySpace gives users the opportunity to publish photos of themselves as well as personal information making it an ideal opportunity for users to get to know each other in a safe environment. Users can also post information such as age, marital status, hobbies and interests so users can get to know each other better. For many MySpace allows those who are normally more shy to feel confident about flirting with potential romantic partners. Those who usually don�ft feel confident in crowded nightclub or bar settings may be able to express their feelings more freely through MySpace. They may also have the confidence to approach others they would not normally approach in a face to face situation. Making Romantic Connections on MySpace With so many opportunities to meet others through the MySpace community, it is no surprise that many of these users are making these online connections a reality by meeting their online friends in the real world. These face to face meetings can be a lot of fun but care should be taken in these situations to avoid putting yourself at risk. It is important to remember that the Internet can allow individuals to mask their true identities. This makes it easy for harmful predators to pretend to be one person online to attract others who might be interested in meeting them offline when, in reality, they are a completely different person. When meeting others online it is important to take precautions to safeguard personal information. Most people are aware they should not give out their address, social security number, credit card number, bank account number and other similar sensitive information but do not realize other information can also be harmful. For example seemingly innocent information such as the name of the high school attended and year of graduation can allow criminals to combine this information with other information such as a first name to determine where a person lives.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000090.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/003getting-started-on-myspace/blog000090.html 003Getting Started on MySpace Sat, 11 Aug 2007 05:24:37 -0500 Where Can MySpace Take You? MySpace is a powerful online community which can take members virtually anywhere they want to go. MySpace was designed to allow members the opportunity to meet friends, reconnect with old friends, network and even meet potential romantic partners. MySpace may have started as a small project but has ballooned into a huge community with members from around the world. These members represent a variety of different races, regions, sexual orientations and occupations and can lead to all of the members learning so much more about the world around them. Friends from Around the World on MySpace MySpace is an expansive community and there are members from all over the world. This gives members the ability to meet and connect with members from different countries. Although these friendships may remain online and never turn into face to face meetings they can give an individual a greater understanding of the world around them. Through MySpace friendships with members from other countries, individuals can learn about the struggles experienced in other countries as well as the benefits of living in other countries. Learn about Different Cultures on MySpace Many people were raised with limited knowledge of other cultures. They may have had parents who were different races or another relative who was a different race or religion but for the most part they might have only learned in depth about a handful of other religions and cultures while they were growing up. This does not necessarily foster hate but it can lead to problems which relate to ignorance. Members of MySpace come in contact with those of other races, religions and cultures all the time. In fact MySpace members may spend a great deal of time getting to know another member before they even know the race, religion or ethnicity of the other individual. This ability to get to know each other first and then learn more about cultural backgrounds can lead to more tolerance of others. Making Connections Offline We have already discussed how MySpace can help members to make friends around the world and learn more about different cultures but MySpace doesn�ft have to take you miles and miles away. The fact that there are MySpace members around the world may give you the opportunity to make friends in other countries but it also means you have the opportunity to make new friends in your geographic area. Even those people who live in the smallest towns may find there are other MySpace members who live in their town. Getting to know these members creates the opportunity for MySpace members to take their online friendships offline and meet in person. Meeting online friends in person can be a wonderful experience which can give the members the opportunity to really get to know each other better. Some members of MySpace may have joined the community just to speak to others online and may have no desire to meet others offline but for some, the opportunity to meet others offline after fostering an online relationship may be very appealing. However, those who plan to meet online friends in person should exercise a certain amount of caution. Initial meetings should take place in a busy, public location that is well lit as opposed to a secluded location. Additionally, those who are meeting an online friend for the first time might bring along another trusted friend for security.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000089.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/004myspace-precautions/blog000089.html 004MySpace Precautions Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:53:25 -0500 Sell Your Products on MySpace When most people think of MySpace they believe it is merely a community for individuals to make friends or reconnect with old friends but MySpace can offer more to savvy Internet marketers who know how to network effectively on MySpace. Although MySpace is intended to be a noncommercial community and commercial websites are strictly prohibited there are some opportunities to advertise and stimulate sales through MySpace. This article will discuss the subject of advertising on MySpace, the terms of service on MySpace and how MySpace members can avoid being viewed as dreaded spammers by other members of the community or by MySpace administrators. Advertising on Your MySpace According to the MySpace mission statement, the community is meant to be a noncommercial one. However, this statement refers to the individuals�f pages created and maintained by members and not the website as a whole. In fact MySpace is a commercial website with banner advertisements running on many of the pages and other advertisements appearing in sidebars and other locations. These advertising opportunities are open to the public and anyone who is interested in advertising in these areas is urged to contact MySpace directly for more information. This type of advertising is worthwhile for business owners who have products or services which may appeal to the members of the community. While advertising on individual websites on MySpace is prohibited by the terms of service there is sometimes room to market products one ones website without violating the terms of service. Although many visitors to MySpace have encountered websites which are blatant advertisements, this practice is not recommended because, if discovered by MySpace administrators, it may lead to the individual being banned from the community. However, consider an example where a link to an ecommerce website selling sunglasses is placed in answer to a question of, �gWhat is your favorite type of sunglasses?�h The link certainly provides a relevant answer to the question and does allow visitors to the website to learn more about the member. Determining whether or not this is advertising or not is a matter for MySpace to determine but it is likely they would not consider this advertising although those who follow the link might end up making a purchase. MySpace Terms of Service The terms of service provided by MySpace were created to offer members guidelines as to what types of actions are acceptable and what actions are prohibited. All members should read these terms of service before joining and should review the information periodically to ensure it has not changed significantly during the course of the membership. Members who have questions regarding the terms of service should contact MySpace directly for more detailed information or an explanation of the terms. Avoiding the Spam Pitfalls on MySpace We have already discussed how although commercial websites are prohibited on MySpace there are some advertising opportunities which still exist. MySpace reaches a large audience each day and this large audience might tempt some to try to advertise to all of these members and visitors at once. Unfortunately this sometimes can be construed as spam. Therefore, precautions should be taken to avoid actions which might be considered spam by other members or the MySpace administrators. As an example of the potential for spam consider a MySpace member who is very excited about the cosmetics line they sell. This member might really believe in the products and think they are so wonderful that everyone should learn more about these products. However, if this user then begins systematically going through MySpace searching for all users who mention anything even remotely related to cosmetics and then places a comment on their website directing them to a link to more information about these cosmetics this would likely be considered to be spam. The member may think their actions are harmless but the members who receive these comments and the MySpace administrators may disagree.]]> http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000088.html http://myspacetruckin.com/myspace/002making-money-on-myspace/blog000088.html 002Making Money on MySpace Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:22:13 -0500