HootSuite, TweetDeck, Phishing and GooglePlus business pages

HootSuite, TweetDeck, Phishing and GooglePlus business pages

For months, I have used TweetDeck to post to Twitter.  Then Twitter stopped allowing auto posting of Twitter tweets to LinkedIn.  Yet they allow this feature to be used in FaceBook.  Not sure why the discrepancy.

Automatically posting to Google Plus

I had my Hoot Suite account in an inactive state for several months.  Recently I wrestled with auto posting entries to Google Plus.  The problem is that Google hasn’t released an API (i.e. application program interface) for Google Plus.  I have to sign into my personal Google Plus account to do so.  I can’t easily post my Twitter Tweets to Google Plus.  There are some Geeky ways to do it, like those described at:

• How to autopost from Twitter to Google+
• Elgan: How to automate Google+

But it does involve a bit of technical know how and trickery.

HootSuite to the Rescue

Hoot Suite allows you to post to a Google Plus business page – so I set one up.  My Twitter feed automatically goes to Facebook   All I need to do is post an entry to LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus page, regarding social media, technology, etc.

I have noticed a delay posting to FaceBook, when I tie my FaceBook posting via Twitter.  Then I switched it over to doing it with HootSuite.  But the service wishes to generate a preview link for FaceBook first.  As Jerry Seinfeld might ask, “why is that?”  Why doesn’t HootSuite do this for Twitter, Google Plus or LinkedIn?  I really don’t mind.  It saves a bit of time.

Yet if you want to find out what’s happening on Twitter, TweetDeck is a quick way of doing so.

WordPress Social Media Sharing

Then I noticed WordPress also allows Social Media Sharing.  I have enabled sharing to FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumbler and Yahoo Messenger.  I’m not sure if the last two are very productive.  I’m really not active in Tumbler or Yahoo.

Google Plus business pages and videos

An interesting discovery is that you can upload large videos to the Google Plus business page.  I uploaded one forty minutes long.  I also have this hosted on Vimeo, a video hosting service.  It needs to be downloaded from Vimeo first.

One fact I believe is correct.  FaceBook keeps their data on servers not indexed by Google.  I’m not sure if this is correct for Twitter.  Perhaps I need to wait and see.

Phishing

Wiki defines phishing as, “the act of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money) by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.”

This week, I got two such attempts.

• One looked like an award from the local Carol Stream chamber of commerce.  They  wanted to award me for having the best business.  Unfortunately for the scammers, it was my first business name attempt.  I started using my name.  Now I use a business name.
• The second attempt was from Sprint.  It claimed I had a phone bill of around five thousand dollars.  It gave a web address where to pay the bill.  They also posted some toll-free Sprint numbers.  I did a reverse look-up on the numbers.  They really belonged to Sprint.  Don’t you think I would call Sprint first before paying the bill?

Here’s a trick, folks.  Just point your mouse over any “official website” URL address.   If it brings up another address instead, it’s phishing.  It’s a simple trick that works most of the time.

• For an interesting article, read Pay Up or the Hard Drive Gets It .
• Another good site about romance scams is found at Romance scams.

Academic and business blog posts

Here are some blog posts I recommend from academic and business acquaintances of mine

• How to Save Money at the Grocery Store Blog post
• 30 Blogs with Good Information on the Seasonal Flu Blog post
• 5 Ways Nannies Can Create a Learning Environment in the Backyard Blog post
• How to Prepare Your Child for a Trip to the Dentist Blog post
• 10 iPhone Apps For Stay at Home Dads Blog post
• Choosing a Nanny for a High Needs Child Blog post
• 10 Top Characteristics to Look for in a Nanny Blog post
• 10 iPhone Apps That Promote Early Reading Blog post
• Top 5 Pressure Cookers for Quick and Easy Meals Blog post
• How to Make Your Own Dog Biscuits Blog post
• 30 Blogs for Reducing Your Family’s Carbon Footprint Blog post
• 8 Fun Activities to Do with Balloons Blog post
• How to Politely Reject a Nanny Applicant Blog post
• 10 iPhone Apps that Help Young Kids With Math Blog post
• 5 Ways to Recycle Light Bulbs Blog post
• 30 Blogs With the Best Tips for Keeping Kids Healthy Blog post
• How to Create Pine Cone Turkeys for Thanksgiving Blog post
• How to Teach Your Child Phone Etiquette Blog post
• 10 Ways to Prevent a Meltdown at the Grocery Store Blog post
• 30 Blogs With Eco-Friendly Parenting Tips Blog post
• 10 Tips for Potty Training Without Disposable Training Pants Blog post
• 12 Ways to Help Your Child Gain Confidence Blog post
• How to Throw a Balloon-Themed Party Blog post
• How to Choose Between FluMist or the Flu Shot for Your Child Blog post
• 25 Numbers Nannies Should Know Blog post
• Eight Ways a Nanny Can Help Her Charges Say Good-Bye Blog post
• How Nannies Can Create a Learning Environment at Home Blog post
• How to Write a Cover Letter for a Nanny Job Blog post