After walking down the aisle in September, I’ve just started the massive task of changing my name everywhere. I’m sure most women (like me) don’t realise how big this task will be until they actually start the process. Bank accounts, phone, electricity, drivers licence….the list goes on.

But, these days we also have social media to deal with. How on earth do you change your name on Facebook and LinkedIn? I’ve just figured a couple of these things out and have some basic steps below. [Although...these sites do tend to change frequently so to future readers of this post, apologies if the steps aren’t quite right.]

FACEBOOK

Once you have logged into your Facebook page, on the menu in the far right you will see a small down arrow. If you click this you will see a number of options, one of which is ‘Account Settings’. Click this.

Within ‘Account Settings’ you can update things like Name, Username and Email.

Change your name

To start, change your last name by editing the ‘Name’ field. Change your last name to your new married name then add your maiden name to the ‘alternative name’ field. This will ensure that people from your past can still find you even if they don’t know your new married name. If you’d like your maiden name to appear in your profile, tick the box.

On my profile page my name now appears as Angela Logovik (Brown).

Change your username [or Vanity URL]

A Username in Facebook will make it easier for people to find you. This URL is also sometimes referred to as a Vanity URL.

Type in your preferred username and Facebook will let you know whether it is available.

If you already have a username and need to update it, Facebook will allow you to update your username once only. Type in your new username and save changes.

Change your email

If your main email address has changed update the information by adding another email to your account and updating your primary email address. The primary address that you choose will be the email you use to login to Facebook with (unless you have created a separate username).

Facebook does give you the option to include multiple email addresses in your account so you can add in your new address but also keep your old address for a while.

Remember to use the correct email the next time you try to login!

LINKEDIN

You may need to change a few things in LinkedIn, or at least I did.

Change your email

To change your primary email go to settings. There is a drop down list when you hover over your name in the top right hand corner of the page. Select ‘Settings’.

Towards the bottom of this page there are four tabs [Profile / Email Preferences / Groups, Companies & Applications / Account]. Select ‘Account’.

Under ‘Email & Password’ select ‘Add & change email addresses’.

A lightbox will appear where you can add and/or remove email addresses from LinkedIn. Add your new email address and update your primary address. Your primary address will be the email you use to login to LinkedIn with.

Remember to use the correct email the next time you try to login!

Change your name

Go to the profile tab (next to Home on the main navigation) and select ‘Edit Profile’.

This screen shows your entire profile and gives you the chance to edit various information. Select  ‘edit’ next to your name.

Complete your new details on this page. Change your last name, add your maiden name to the appropriate field and select how your name should be displayed.

Next to the ‘Former/Maiden Name’ field there is a lock icon that will allow you to set the visibility of your former name.

Change your Public Profile URL [or Vanity URL]

If you don’t already have one, you can follow these steps to create one.

If you have created a Vanity URL you may need to change it. For example, my URL used to be http://au.linkedin.com/in/angelabrownbluewire. For me it didn’t make sense to keep using this URL as I am no longer Angela Brown.

Go to the ‘Edit Profile’ page. If you have just changed your name you are already here. If not go to ‘Profile’ then ‘Edit Profile’.

At the top of the page you will see all of your personal information listed including name, current position, education, connections etc. At the bottom of this list is ‘Public Profile’.

Select ‘edit’ next to the URL at ‘Public Profile’ and this will show you your Public Profile page. This is the profile that people see when they search for you.

On the right hand side of this screen at the top you will see ‘Customise Your Public Profile’ and below that ‘Your Public Profile URL’.

To edit or create your URL, select ‘Customise your public profile URL’ (it’s a blue link).  A lightbox will appear where you can add setup your URL. Don’t worry it’s easy.

My new Public Profile URL now looks like this http://au.linkedin.com/in/angelalogovik.

Finally…

Don’t forget to update these details in your email signature. You don’t want people trying to click through to links that no longer exist!

Are you the company Shmoo? (CMO) Is your social media presence entrusted to the intern?

The ROI of Social Media is that your business still exists in 5 years…

Interesting take. Is that a fair statement or just more BS?

I’d love to hear what you think…

Below is a transcript too.

Why social media can be useless

The relational intent that you have in social media is what matters. In other words, you can connect with a bunch of people and have no relationships. That’s not a network. A network is a group of individuals that have your back. A network is a group of individuals where you lead with generosity, you don’t lead with ‘what’s in it for me’.

Lead with generosity

Keeping in touch

Never Eat Alone

The next thing of course is it allows us to stay in touch. Pinging is something that I talk about in Never Eat Alone, which is constantly reaching out, sending emails, staying on people’s radar screen. What a wonderful opportunity using facebook and other forms of social media to stay ‘on touch’ and yes stay connected.

But it’s not a replacement for being relational and going deep. That actually has to do wioth you authentically being generous. Go onto LinkedIn and send a recommendation to somebody that you want to build a better relationship with. That’s the kind of connectedness we are talking about.

So just remember connections are not relationships but they are powerful particularly if we have the relational intentionality.

More about Keith Ferrazzi

For more you visit www.keithferrazzi.com or follow @keithferrazzi.

Sneakers hold high appeal for London looters.

It wouldn’t feel right to blog this week without mentioning the economic holocaust that appears to be threatening the world. The Dow is doomed, Greece is gutted, the States are failing and anyone close to retirement is likely starting to panic. If you didn’t already have your super sorted, you’d be forgiven for feeling downright depressed this week. You might even feel tempted to pack it all in, don a hoodie and join the riots in London. But the rioters don’t in fact stand for anything. There is no silenced, disenfranchised voice emerging from the fray. The only audible voice is that of a greedy kid wanting a cool TV and the latest Air Jordans. It looks like nothing less than a nasty old scab grab.

The deeper cut

While it is easy to sweep the entire episode under one heading and label them all criminals, any society whose youth feel this disconnected from their own communities, undoubtedly needs to take a deeper look. And although ironic, a world whose leading economy just lost their credit rating, is also disturbing and unsettling. Certainly the “I”, “I” “I, “me”, “me”, “me” liberal individualism of the capitalist model is being tested.

1. The greed had to peak eventually, and it sure did in spectacular fashion smashing through the global debt ceiling. American financial markets played pass the parcel with the debt until it finally landed in the states lap and there is no more passing it on. The government is screwed, we’re petrified and the global markets are flailing. But what got us into such debt?  A society focused on the accumulation of wealth above all else?
2. Observing the looters in London certainly suggests that the youth don’t know what else to want for but ‘things” – consumerism gone mad. For years they have postured on the corners outside shops and liquor stores being ignored. Now they have our attention and it must feel good, but there is no political aim or social criticism. It looks like blind consumption and destruction. Is it capitalism that has fostered this unhealthy degree of materialism, or is it instead a hallmark of socialism and the “I expect a handout” mentality it can sometimes foster?

The capitalist, democratic systems of the west are copping it from all sides – economic, political and social concerns are emerging in force, and are airing quickly and efficiently across the globe through the use of modern technology.

London scenes that depict criminality or a socially isolated, disenfranchised youth?

Social Media: the good the bad and the ugly

Once again in our brave new world, social media have played a vital role in unfolding events. Social media was used to organise the initial peaceful protest against police brutality in Tottenham, after a local man was shot dead. Once the riots began the looters used social media to arrange the next “hit” and to avoid police. Onlookers and locals used social media to express outrage, generate social debate and share the latest news updates. Locals used Twitter #LondonRiots to stay abreast of the moving, changing situation, identifying safe back streets via which to return home. Twitter #RiotCleanup was used to mobilise people for clean ups throughout the ravaged communities. The good, the bad and the ugly, social media operates at the very heartland of our world.

Elsewhere it’s same same but different

While London youth rioted, Tel Aviv in Israel claimed itself a revolution after more than 300,000 people peacefully protested against rising housing prices and an increasingly unaffordable cost of living. Whole tent villages spanned the city and spontaneous dancing and music filled the scene. A far cry from London’s masked children smashing windows for “stuff”. Perhaps the same fundamental issues underlie both events – a rising gap between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots. While both events will be experienced, explored and shared through social media, sadly only one stands a chance of achieving a positive outcome, the other having lost all public sympathy.

Tel Aviv, Israel - peaceful protest.

The end game

Worst case, we know what to do.

A rough week indeed, one for head scratching and pondering the shocking scenes from London, while worrying and despairing about our personal fortunes as the world’s leading financial nations teeter on the edge of an unchartered abyss.  It’s only natural to wonder if we’re on a one way street toward anarchy and poverty – a world that after economic depression is handed over to the likes of the angry youth we see in London.  If it all goes tits up, Aussies know exactly what to do. Buy a dirt bike, a helmet and some shin pads, and strap in for a hell ride….Mad Max style.

To have Sharon copywrite in any capacity on your website contact Bluewire Media on 1300 258394.

For superannuation concerns in the current economic climate visit www.superguide.com.au for free information.

The risk

Despite the fact that these naysayers are in the minority, they are yet a powerful and important group and the business or branding that steps up to represent them will be in a special position. They will become the branding for the counter culture – young rebels who want to resist the mainstream. Sprite stepped up years ago to become the branding for hip hop on MTV and it was a hugely successful partnership. They became the branding of that voice in society. In one way it is a dangerous move, since it isolates the business and their products from the mainstream.

The reward

The advantage is that it captures the niche market of the minority. Advertising and marketing that actively articulates the anti facebook movement, actively ridicules the new world obsession with social media and takes the mickey out of the self obsessed, egocentric evolution of technology, can potentially seriously capitalise. They will win the hearts and minds of a growing number of social media naysayers, and the potentially hilarious advertising copy is limitless. Cartoon the me, me, me!!! culture of social media and then just let it rip. We social media lovers can handle it.

If like Sharon you’re keen to apply for one of our internship positions, visit our jobs page.

Sharon will be with us for the next 10 weeks so stay tuned for more posts.

Take it away Sharon.

*****************

When you think about the digital age you picture sassy, open minded people cruising the information highway, facebooking (yes it is a verb now), snatching news headlines on the run, while commenting about pertinent world issues on Twitter. What we imagine is an opening – a broadening of knowledge as people from all walks of life, cultures and political landscapes connect through social media, swapping ideas and sharing understanding. We picture a consistent learning on a global scale. But are we really becoming more knowledgeable and open-minded? Or is all this social media and personal connectivity in fact creating a narrowing of our knowledge base?

These questions were raised during the recent Ideas Festival, held in Brisbane in May this year, and are certainly worthy of our consideration. We live in a rapidly changing society and it is broadband cable that is connecting us. The faster we connect, the faster we can exchange ideas and the faster we can potentially encourage different behavior and influence the shape of the future planet. All of this seems positive and exciting, but the truth is that the consequences of this brave new world are unknown.

The argument runs like this. Research shows that more people get their information from social media networks than from anywhere else. And let’s face it; we’re all guilty of this. On a busy day, a quick check of the twitter or facebook feed is often enough to keep us relevant and up to date. The problem is that more and more we will have a population that has a tiny bit of knowledge on a whole range of topics. Not only that, but they will have only the perspective that matches like-minded people. Our facebook friends are usually similar to us, and on twitter we share interests. Consequentially we get a narrowing of our understanding of the world, rather than a deepening. We’re getting little sound bites – homogenous views across our shared networks. We end up with a select and often restricted view of the world. If knowledge really is power, then suddenly our increased personal connectivity through social media appears disquieting. Perhaps this will be the real challenge for the digital era – maintaining depth of understanding.

We need to consider the danger of creating a blinkered world view through our use of social media, and make the effort to broaden our scope. It’s fine to get the snap shot, to keep up to date using facebook and twitter, providing our search for knowledge and quest for the truth are not abandoned to convenience and mobility. Rather than absorb a readymade opinion from the news feed, let’s all commit to a little further research on issues that matter. Let’s try for some authenticity in our understanding of the important stuff.

Facebook has recently launched the “Facebook for Business” website which is aimed at providing a step-by-step guide to help small businesses use and make the most of the social networking site. If you’re struggling with the basics or even just after some new ideas to improve how your using it at the moment, I suggest you check it out.

Facebook joins Twitter who has had a “Twitter for Business” resource for a little while now. Both websites are a handy resource for how you can make the most of your foray into Social Media Marketing.

The timing of Facebook’s release is also interesting as it comes in the same week Google has copped a lot of flack over deleting business profiles from the new Google Plus.

Rest assured Google Plus business pages/profiles are coming soon and I’m sure I’ll be able to update this post with a link to Google own version of “Google Plus for Business“.

It’s interesting times indeed.

How are you as a business owner finding the social networking landscape at the moment?

Do resources like these help and make it easy enough for you to get involved? Or is it still a bit overwhelming?

I must admit I was a little nervous when I rang Saasu.

The website looked good, the accounting feature list definitely favoured them, and the reviews I found were pretty positive from users and bookkeepers. So my expectations were high and I was really hoping not to be disappointed…

Thankfully, I wasn’t.

Getting started:

• I called them and a HUMAN answered. Within 3 rings. Tick.
• It was Tony Hollingsworth – Chief Happiness Office of Saasu. Tick.
• In a 15 minute discussion, I outlined my criteria and he said that yes they were capable of handling all of that plus a few other features like live bank feeds etc. Tick.
• Mobile phone access? He had to check with another staff member, then came back and said that the iPhone app was going to be launched in 2 weeks. Tick. (now live)
• A key issue for me was the transition time from MYOB to Saasu: a 15 minute process to get your base data across. Mmmm – I was a little sceptical but prepared to give it a shot.
• Integration with Highrise (CRM) and Basecamp (Project management)? Yep – through a cloud platform called OneSaas. Mmmm – I’d have to check what this was about.
• Cost? $25 per month. But free while you upload all your data and make the transition! Tick.

What has happened since I opened the trial account:

• Uploaded core data (but not transaction data because we chose not to do so) into the free account from MYOB in 15 mins.
• Customised the invoice and statement in an afternoon.
• Spoke with OneSaas and had the integration with Highrise complete in 2 days (we had a few synchronising issues which were quickly resolved).
• Refined our chart of accounts.
• Only a couple of hiccups through the process, which were handled extremely efficiently by the Saasu team.
• Paid for the first 12 months in advance (and received a month or 2 free).

It wasn’t all perfect, but nothing like a deal breaker in sight:

• We had some issues with our Commbank data feed, but the support was really responsive and it was fixed quickly. (A paypal data feed is also on the cards which is great news)
• No default invoice payment terms set up for customers.
• Employee data (leave/bank accounts/TFNs etc) had to be manually entered – not a deal breaker for us with only 6 full timers.

End result:

We were completely operational in the new system in 5 working days and this would have been a lot quicker without a whole lot of cleaning up of databases etc that needed to happen at our end.

Tony said to me that Saasu’s mission is to deliver an extreme value web accounting system. After 2 weeks I was convinced but 3 months later, I can’t agree with him more.

Plus I’ve got a gut feeling that this is just going to continue. Thanks to Marc (the CEO), Tony and the Saasu team for a great product and great support. Fingers crossed I may have found an end to the constant switching between systems!

[Side note: When I told Sam, one of our developers, about Saasu, he went home and set it up for his fiancee's Brisbane mobile beauty business immediately!]

Reading further into the story online, journalists at Herald Sun started to place the blame on social media, particularly Facebook.

This is of course not the first time that social media has had to wear the blame for society’s unruly behavior.

Earlier this year ABCNews.com reported on Flash Robberies and Violent Flash Mobs who orchestrated their anti-social behavior using Twitter.

Last year, the UK’s The Telegraph reported that teachers were blaming social media for an increase in poor grades amongst school children.

Blaming social media is like blaming a murder on the knife.

So with social media in the center of these issues, we should all be pointing the finger at Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter creator Jack Dorsey!

These two men are to blame for school yard violence and mass anti-social demonstrations… Or that’s what it sounds like in the media!

Social media is a tool, a powerful tool which is used by millions with good intentions.

A knife is also a tool, used my millions to cut carrots, skillet fish or the unlikely scenario of saving a damsel in distress who has been tied up on train tracks.

However with evil intentions a knife can be used to harm, inflict pain and kill.

It is highly unlikely that when I open my Sunday Mail I would read the headlines: “Wiltshire knife to blame for death”.

We can’t shift the blame to the tool when it’s the person using it who should be taking the responsibility.

Do you think we should be blaming social media or is it still the responsibility of the user?

I know it’s important not to measure one’s worth in followers. But after a fortnight of being on Twitter, I’ve amassed (yes) nine followers. One-third of these are related to me. As you can see from Angus Russell’s post about Twitter last week, he is beating me by 220 followers. Not that it’s a competition. It’s just that my mum doesn’t use social media.

For such a long time, my friends have raved about how good Twitter is. These Twitter pushers hang out on every corner, opening their trench coats to flash you something to weaken your resolve: Chat with Dr Karl! Be nerdy with Shakespeare Geek! Come this close to Stephen Fry!

I believe I am converted

In two weeks, I’ve become a tiny convert. I don’t have an iPhone, so all my tweeting is done from my home, at my computer. And like all good distractions, Twitter has taken me away from important things, like doing assignments, or unstacking the dishwasher, or standing up.

For me, the attraction of Twitter is the ability to see how others tick. I love the connections you can make with a broad range of people beyond your own friends. From the other side of the world—or just around the corner—I can communicate with people whose lives and interests are similar, or very, very different. By following @BreakfastNews I can learn a little of what’s happening in the world each morning. On Sunday I followed GetUp Australia’s #SayYesAus campaign, with its dozens of updates each hour. I’ve learnt about adding a hashtag to highlight common topics that groups of people may be interested in (it seems to frequently be #justinbieber; a few weeks ago it was #rapture.)

One final word on words

As well as using Twitter to chat and check out photos of friends in distant places, two of my mates are online word game addicts. Scrabble—and games like it that allow you to humiliate your loved ones with a perfectly placed “Qi”—has an authoritative dictionary. Last week, it added facebook to its list of allowable words. Not Facebook, the proper noun, which is Scrabble-illegal, but the lower-case verb, facebook. As in, “After I tweet my sister and fruit-ninja my nephew, I will facebook you my recipe for banana bread.”

I am @WordsAndCo. I am extremely #grateful to @Bluewire_Media for a fantastic internship. Thank you all for having me.

Photo: Caitlin Regan