Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

Virtual Business Cards: The Future of Networking – Eye On Annapolis

A virtual or electronic business card, sometimes a digital one, replaces the traditional paper business card. A virtual business card may include links to a persons social media networks and websites in addition to the conventional name, title, and contact information found on a traditional business card.

Virtual business cards may be quickly sent via email, text messaging, or online networking sites like LinkedIn or VCard. They are more versatile than traditional business cards and less wasteful. Sharing and preserving Virtual business cards differs significantly from storing and exchanging physical cards.

Due to the obstacle of conventional business cards physical character, exchanging them physically may be uncomfortable and time-consuming. On the other hand, virtual business cards offer the benefit of being easily shared and stored digitally, which expedites and simplifies sharing of contact information with others.

Virtual business cardshave many benefits over traditional business cards, the most important of which is their convenience. In addition, they are better for the environment since they do not need paper or other physical items. This can potentially reduce business cards environmental impact while promoting long-term viability.

Another advantage of Virtual business cards is their design and editing flexibility. You may only use information that fits on a normal business card; if any of that information changes, you must order new cards. If contact information or aesthetic preferences change, Virtual business cards remove the need to produce new cards regularly.

In addition to these benefits, Virtual business cards may provide advantages that conventional business cards do not. For example, links to your online accounts and portfolios may be included on your Virtual business card. People can locate and interact with you online more readily if you do this, increasing your online presence.

Virtual business cards are the best and least expensive way to get customers attention without spending much money or time. Many small businesses spend too much time and money creating and printing paper cards. The only cost of making digital gifts, though, is the time it takes to do so. Because of this, the total cost is less than it would be with standard calling cards.

Most workers give and get business cards at trade shows and gatherings. Virtual business cards can be sent quickly and easily online, giving the receiver complete access to whatever you wish to showcase. In addition, your buyers and friends can easily share your business card with people in their networks without having a physical copy.

Youll stand out fast since most people are not on the Virtual business card bandwagon. It shows how modern you are and how up-to-date you can be. This is a great way of making a good first impression.

If you add media assets to Virtual business cards, customers may learn more about your business and its past. For example, there could be movies, sign-up sheets, and other links to the outside world. This is a great way of encompassing everything you wish to showcase in your card.

Traditional business cards need to be carefully planned to fit all the important information, notes, and pictures on a small piece of paper. You can add details like your website, social media accounts, phone number, and more to Virtual business cards. Since there are only links to the data, you can add as much as you like to ensure the potential buyer has all the information.

Changing the text on paper cards requires a new print run. But this can be done quickly and easily with digital cards. It also tells your friends right away about any changes you make.

When youre through creating your Virtual business card, you have many choices for distributing it. The link may be sent through email or text, placed on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, or printed in physical form, if required, with a QR code that people can scan. Your contact information on your Virtual business card should always be up to date. This information may also be useful in your email signatures.

Virtual business cards, electronic reproductions of paper business cards, are becoming increasingly popular as a convenient and ecologically friendly alternative to traditional business cards. Virtual business cards offer the benefit of being easily updated and customizable and adding features like links to social media accounts and websites. In addition, they can be easily shared and stored electronically. Whether a small business owner, freelancer, or job seeker, a Virtual business card may help you network and market your firm.

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Virtual Business Cards: The Future of Networking - Eye On Annapolis

Sex Offender Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Department of Justice

ALBANY, NEW YORK Andrew Edick, age 36, of Mohawk, New York, was arrested and charged today with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Edick appeared today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained after reserving his right to seek a detention hearing at a later date.

According to a criminal complaint, Edick, who is a registered sex offender in the State of New York, videotaped the genital region of a child, and shared the video recording over an internet social networking application in August 2022. Edick also shared numerous additional videos containing depictions of child pornography using the same social networking application. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Edick carries a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. A defendants sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

HIS is investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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Sex Offender Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor - Department of Justice

Platform Powerplay: How to choose the ultimate social media … – The Sanford Herald

In todays digital age, harnessing the power of social media is crucial for businesses seeking to thrive. With a buffet of social media platforms available, determining which platform is best for your business can be a daunting task, and its important to make an informed decision about where to invest your time and resources. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right social media platform to maximize your online presence.

Before deciding upon your social media platform, its vital to identify your business objectives and align them with the platform that best suits your goals. Are you looking to build brand awareness, generate leads, foster customer engagement, or establish yourself as an industry expert? Each social media platform has its strengths and caters to different objectives. For example, Instagram and Facebook are fantastic choices for engaging a broad audience with their focus on visual storytelling. However, if your business focuses on professional services and networking, LinkedIn would be the platform of choice.

I used to tell my students that you wouldnt talk to your mom the same way you talk to your friends and this rings true in the digital world as well. Research and identify the demographics, preferences, and online behavior of your ideal customer. Are they predominately younger or older? Do they engage more with visual content, written posts, or videos? By aligning your target audience with the user demographics of the different social media platforms, you can narrow down your choices. For instance, if your audience consists of young professionals or tech-savvy individuals, platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn might be effective, while a Facebook page may not receive much traction.

Each social media platform offers unique features and functions that can impact your businesss visibility and engagement. Consider the type of content you plan to share and how well it aligns with the platforms format. For example, if your business relies heavily on a product, you may find that a visual platform works best, such as Pinterest or Instagram. If your content is more focused on news updates or industry insights, platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn will be more beneficial. Additionally, each platform features its own advertising capabilities, analytic tools, and community engagement features that differ based on content.

Once youve chosen the right social media platform(s), its time to create your profile and develop a content strategy that aligns with your objectives and resonates with your target audience. Consistency, quality, and engagement are the three key factors to building a strong online presence. Regularly monitor your performance using the platforms analytic tools to gain insight on what is resonating with your audience and what can be improved. Adjust the strategy as needed, but understand just like business success takes time, so does establishing an online presence. Give your strategy 4-6 months to determine if the strategy needs any changes.

Social media is paramount to finding and keeping customers in the 21st century. If this is a new concept to you, take a breath, and remember that everything you are now an expert in was once a foreign concept to you. By using your knowledge of your own business, evaluating the platforms based on your needs, and monitoring long-term performance, you can drive business growth while fostering meaningful connections with customers. The online world is ever changing, so stay adaptable and open to exploring new opportunities.

Caitlin Moore is Communications & Events Coordinator for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance.

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Platform Powerplay: How to choose the ultimate social media ... - The Sanford Herald

LikeRE, A Leading EdTech And Social Network For Real Estate Professionals, Adds Muriel Williams-Thompson To – EIN News

LikeRE is exactly what the real estate industry needs to educate and empower real estate professionals to serve their communities, while empowering agents who represent minorities on home ownership.

Muriel Williams-Thompson

Muriel brings remarkable experience and insight to LikeRE as a Director, said Beau LaPoint, CEO for LikeRE. She brings to our team more than twenty years of real estate executive experience with organizations whose focus has been on equity, diversity and inclusion for minorities in homeownership - which aligns very well with LikeREs vision, added LaPoint.

Muriel has been the Managing Broker of Town & Country Realty since 2015, and a real estate agent since 2006. She comes from a lineage of real estate professionals passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion, as her grandfather was a Founding member of the Denver Chapter of NAREB (National Association of Real Estate Brokers), established in 1947.

LikeRE is exactly what the real estate industry needs to educate and empower real estate professionals to serve their communities, while empowering and educating agents who represent minorities on home ownership," said Managing Broker of Town & Country Realty, Muriel Williams-Thompson. As a LikeRE Director, Im ready to help the company make the local and national connections that will result in better education and awareness for real estate professionals to address the challenges their buyers and sellers face everyday, added Muriel.

Through the LikeRE.com platform, real estate professionals and companies are empowered with unmatched technology to serve their clients while growing their own business expertise.

About LikeRE, Inc.

More than 100 real estate professionals came together as co-founders and creators of the LikeRE real estate social network and professional development platform. LikeRE.com promotes greater industry education, increased marketing efficiency, decrease in transactional mistakes, and provides real estate professionals with the ability to save time and grow their expertise in the residential real estate sector.

Beau LaPointLikeRE, Inc.+1 877-700-7107email us hereVisit us on social media:FacebookTwitterLinkedIn

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LikeRE, A Leading EdTech And Social Network For Real Estate Professionals, Adds Muriel Williams-Thompson To - EIN News

Experts Say These Are the Best Social Media Platforms for Money Advice – GOBankingRates

Though a strongly recommended investment, not everyone can afford a financial advisor. To help build up and fill out ones knowledge on personal finance, consumers frequently turn to social media. According to a new survey from GOBankingRates, 31.58% have turned to social media in the past year to seek out money advice.

Here, we explore the best social media platforms to visit for money advice, according to finance experts.

Its critical to remember that none of these platforms replace the need for professional financial advisors. Always use caution and take what you read with a grain of salt. Its also wise to consider the source behind the information that is being generated.

What are their motivations? What are their incentives? And how are they benefiting, financially or otherwise, from this content? asked Eric Blattner, CFA, CFP, CIMA, EA, partner and wealth advisor at Divvi Wealth Management. Few people are sharing content out of the goodness of their hearts, and even those that are may not have the backgrounds or credibility youd want from someone giving financial advice.

It is also important to know how to determine good versus bad advice. Here are some tips, courtesy of Kendall Meade, CFP at SoFi:

Now lets look at the best social media platforms for personal finance advice.

With its deep-dive approach and expert contributors, Quora shines as a top platform to learn and ask about personal finance matters.

Take Our Poll: Who Has Given You the Best Money Advice You Have Ever Received?

Sign in, select the topics you want to see in your newsfeed, such as personal finance, and then join the various groups on the platform, said Raymond Quisumbing, registered financial planner at BizReport. Once you are in, feel free to post your questions and other relevant details in the group so that the various group experts can weigh in on your situation. On Quora, you get to see the credentials and experience of other members, as indicated below the names.

Twitter has been going through some upheaval since it was acquired by Elon Musk, but it can still be an excellent hub for getting information and tips on personal finance.

Its super easy to find people in a niche talking about economics and finance, said Will Guiding, creator of spot price.pro. Twitter also has the Trending feature, allowing people to see whats trending at the moment in Business and see whats most popular in the finance category of tweets. Very fast, very quick and very current. Its also super easy to reach out to people and create connections.

Most frequently used as a networking platform for employees, managers and prospective hires, LinkedIn is known as a place to talk jobs. But its also a place to learn about finance because thought leaders in the space share there.

The best social media for money advice as the audiences are professionals and financial organizations that post valuable and informative content, said Wayne Mui, finance and accounting professional at WealthyPayoff. Utilize LinkedIn by following professional leaders and organizations, joining groups you are interested in learning more about, and engaging by commenting on posts and asking questions.

If you want to get down (and potentially dirty) into the world of personal finance, head on over to Reddit, where people tend to not hold back on their opinions.

Reddit is a popular platform with various communities dedicated to personal finance and investing, said Sarah Connelly, finance expert at Cashfloat. Subreddits like r/personalfinance and r/investing provide a wealth of information, advice and discussions on financial topics. To use Reddit effectively, start by exploring these subreddits and reading posts and comments from experienced users. Remember to verify information from reliable sources and be cautious of potential misinformation.

TikTok has been exploding in growth in the personal finance community, especially among Gen Z users. According to recent data from Vericast, a martech company, 34% of Gen Z consumers obtain financial advice from TikTok compared to 24% who turn to a financial advisor.

TikTok is a bit of a double-edged sword, but overall can be a great starting point for financial concepts if you follow up with your own research and contact a financial professional before making any major financial moves, said Colin Palfrey, CMO at Crediful. The platform allows for visual and verbal context around financial concepts, and links in bio can help you determine if the content creator is a licensed professional, a well-learned person or a scam artist.

Facebook, one of the OG social media platforms, may not have the steam it once had, but its still a great place to connect with others about finance topics. Facebook groups in particular are ideal hubs.

Facebook Groups dedicated to personal finance and money matters can provide a supportive community where members can seek advice and share experiences, said Marcus Phillips, founder and managing director at Mortgages. By joining groups such as Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE), Debt-Free Community, or Budgeting and Saving Tips, individuals can connect with like-minded individuals, ask questions and gain insights into various financial topics. However, as with any online community, its important to exercise caution and verify the credibility of the information shared.

As a favorite destination for video content, YouTube is highly revered as a diverse place to get financial advice from a range of influencers and experts.

YouTube has a huge library of finance creators who have been building their catalogs of information for years now, said Scott Nelson, CEO of MoneyNerd. As the platform allows for both short-form and long-form videos, finance concepts and money ideas are explained in concise and detailed formats, depending on what you are looking for.

YouTube is also very search-friendly more so than other social media platforms.

The great thing about using YouTube for money matters is that it is easy to use the search function to find the exact information you need (unlike platforms like TikTok and Twitter that rely on algorithms), and there is bound to be at least one video out there that discusses your money problem, Nelson said.

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