With increasing use of the Internet and social media as a marketing tool, some reports caution REALTORS® about leaving a web trail. Social media has become very popular for individuals, as well as businesses. REALTORS® and other business professionals frequently update their presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Linked. Due to the nature of their work, they are likely to have "friends," followers and connections whom they don't know.
September is REALTOR® Safety Month. As part of its commitment to safety, the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® shares the following safety tips with members and consumers regarding staying safe with social media. Following these basic steps can help you avoid exposing yourself or your data to risk through social media tools.
Keep Business Separate
One way that you can make sure you are not revealing too much personal information is simple: set up a business account on each platform. Familiarize yourselves with privacy settings and keep your personal account private. Protect family photos, links to your children's pages, and personal posts from people you do not know.
Tag! You're It!
When a friend posts your photo, you may be "tagged" against your will. If you don't want others to find a reference like this, such as a less-than-flattering photo taken at a late night party, you can remove the tag and/or ask the person who posted it to do so. Change the privacy settings to have friends check with you first before tagging.
Don't Give Away Passwords
One way hackers manage to crack personal passwords is by searching Facebook for easy answers. They know they may find answers to common security questions such as, "What high school did you attend?" and "What are the names of your children?" So keep information about family members, household details, and past events to a minimum in order to help prevent this.
Guard Against Identity Theft
These days, anyone can find all kinds of personal information about anyone else. That doesn't mean you have to make it easy. For example, if you who want to post your birthday, don't include the year. Delete any public comments that indicate their exact age.
Tweets Are Forever
Social media usage has an impact on your safety, as well as your reputation. Carefully consider each item you share, and be aware that old posts, even if they've been deleted, may be copied or saved. The Library of Congress is actually recording every single tweet.
Safeguard Client Data
Cyber security goes much deeper than safe use of social media. In your business, you may routinely keep sensitive, personal information about clients on your computer. If this information falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to fraud, identity theft, or similar harms. To avoid potential legal and liability costs of a security breach, develop a data security program based on the Federal Trade Commission's five key principles to a sound data security program. Details can be found at www.ftc.gov/infosecurity.
"It is important to consider what you are sharing through the Internet. Following basic steps to help safeguard yourself, your data, and your reputation. You can maximize the business-building potential of social media while minimizing the unique risks it poses," says Chris Isaacson, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®.
To learn about more safety strategies, and access free safety resources, including safety expert Andrew Wooten's webinar "Social Media and Cyber Safety," visit www.REALTOR®.org/Safety.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.