How to Block MySpace from a Home Network

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

MySpace is one of the largest social networking sites on the Internet. There are many reason you may wish to block access to this site on your computer(s). There are three ways to block MySpace from a home network. You can use blocking software, modify your router, or modify the allowable hosts file for every computer on your network.

Steps

Use Blocking Software

1. Choose blocking software, the kind used to protect children from porn on the Internet. Such as Website Block, WebWatcher, PC Tattletale and NetDog.
2. Get a parental controls software from a parental controls software package.
3. Add mySpace to the "always blocked website list" in the parental controls software or NetDog blocker,
   • Optionally, you can set a password in NetDog.

Block Myspace using Hidetools Parental Control

1. Download Parental Control
2. Run Hidetools Parental Control
3. Click Block Websites, then click Add
4. On the Add prohibited website address window, type Myspace
5. Click OK, and then visit myspace.com to make sure you have successfully blocked Myspace on your computer.

Block Myspace with a Router

1. Add the IP numbers below to your Outbound Packet Filter settings.
2. Enter these in the Destination IP field and set port 80 for all of them: 63.208.226.219 63.208.226.24-63.208.226.28 63.208.226.40-63.208.226.43
3. Check the instructions that came with your router for the exact process if your router has specific requirements.

Block the Hosts File

1. Modify the Hosts file on each computer by hand if you do not use a router.
2. Identify the hosts file for your operating system: Windows XP & Vista C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts Windows 2000 C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts Windows 98 C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts Linux/UNIX /etc/hosts
3. Make a backup of the Hosts file and put it somewhere safe, in case you mess up.
4. Open the Hosts file in Notepad or other plain text editor.
5. Copy the following: #block myspace.com 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.219 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.24 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.25 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.28 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.40 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.42 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.43
6. Paste the IP numbers above into the Hosts file after the 127.0.0.1 localhost entry.
7. Save and close the Hosts file.
8. Open a browser and test to see if you can reach mySpace.

Tips

The finished file should looks something like this: Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp. This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows. This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name. The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one space. Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol. For example: 127.0.0.1 localhost #block myspace.com 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.219 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.24 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.25 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.28 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.40 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.42 127.0.0.1 63.208.226.43 You can also check Open DNS. This is completely free and easy to configure, and will (usually) make your internet connection faster.

Warnings

• By design the Hosts file does not have a file extension, don't give it a file extension.

Sources and Citations

How to block Myspace

• NetDog : http://www.netdogsoft.com

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Block MySpace from a Home Network. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Be a MySpacer

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A MySpacer is someone who is proficient in--and some might say addicted to--MySpace. If a good chunk of your social life exists through MySpace, then you might be a MySpacer. Here's how to nurture your MySpace life.

Steps

1. Keep it fresh. Since the web is ever-changing, keep your MySpace fresh by updating it often. Maybe you can blog your thoughts once a week or switch your photo every month. But don't get too caught up. Remember, it's just a website. Keep track of real-life obligations as well.
2. Make new friends. You can browse by school, name, interest, or location. Just click on the Browse link at the top of the screen. Once you find them, you can submit a friends request. If they like you, they'll approve your request. You can also find people with similar interests by joining groups and participating in forums.
3. Comment on your pals! Leaving and getting comments are a part of the enjoyable experience of MySpace. Just hit "Add Comment" on another profile to leave a note. Be clever with your comments, maybe quote quirky lines from a funny flick or post inspirational lyrics from a song that reflects you or your life. Do not send comments saying "Thanks for the add."
4. Try and post blogs that will gather people's interest. You can post about the most random things. Kitty Hollicore likes to post about the drama that happens in her life. Zora Ryu likes to have his friend Kitty post about animation videos he finds. He himself [zora] posts about how he feels about humanity. Raiven Ishtar posts videos of bollywood movies. The possibilities are endless!
5. Myspace applications are your friend! They open the ability to add a ton more friends. for example: Mobsters is the #1 app right now. In order to raise your levels, you need more people in your 'mob'. These are your friends. You can send them request within the game to join, therefore giving you a better advantage. You can look on the game's forums and through myspace groups for people who play mobsters. with the correct knowledge that's a bonus 20 additional friends a day!
6. Try Vanity Groups. They are add me trains created by the lovely myspacer we all idolize. But there is a requirement. For most groups you need at least 5k (5,000) friends. Don't fret, there are groups that don't have a friend count but you must have high quality pictures. High quality = large clear pictures. (at least 800x600 pixels)

Tips

• Do not delete Tom. You can use him to browse through some MySpacers and even send out a few requests. And people think that you are stuck up if you do.
• When it comes to MySpace friends, quality is better than quantity. Sure, the person with 45349 friends may seem impressive, but how many of those people do you think they actually know personally? If you get to that high amount, try this: check out your friends' status and moods on your homepage. If someone says that they are upset, ask them about it and see if they are willing to talk about it. If someone is having a good day or just got some good news, congratulate them.
• When you add someone new, keep an eye out for their bulletins so you can start up conversation. No one likes a MySpace friend who doesn't speak to you.
• If you post a bulletin saying "Comment my pictures, I'll comment back," actually comment back.
• Do NoT tYpE lYk DiS. It's not charming, and it's pretty much grown out of style. Use firefox instead on IE, it has an automatic spell check that can help you.
• (optional) gather a twitter. People who already have one will be more willing to add you if they think you will follow them on twitter.

Warnings

• Try not to add people without profile pictures. There can be some scary people on MySpace.
• If anyone says anything inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable, block them.
• There are nasty MySpacers who get mad at you if you post a lot of bulletins. Do yourself a favor and do not reply to their messages.
• Do not stalk anybody on MySpace. It's not cool and you'll get into big trouble for doing this.
• do not send hate mail to others. You can get reported, ridiculed, blocked by others, or even worse... deleted. Only Send hate when its absolutely important. Or, if you are staging it with another friend of yours (google: role playing)

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a MySpacer. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Defeat a MySpace Addiction

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you find yourself checking MySpace several dozen times a day? Do you neglect the other important things in life? How many bulletins did you post in the last hour? Have you gone hours without blinking or were fifteen minutes late for work because you couldn't stop refreshing your page? Is MySpace open in another window right now? If so, then you may have a problem. Here's how to wean yourself off of MySpace so that you can resume living offline... (* Some of the suggestions listed in this article are also applicable to defeating "Facebook Addiction.")

Steps

1. Admit you have a problem. This may be hard, but accepting that MySpace has taken over your life is an important step into overcoming your addiction. If you simply can't resist the urge to check your home page, then it's clear that MySpace is controlling you and not the other way around.
2. Stop communicating with people through MySpace and correspond with only those you know, as fellow addicts only contribute to your problem. If you don't want to cut them off completely, consider just taking the friendships that you value off of MySpace. Get their phone numbers, email addresses, AIM screen names, ICQ numbers, or any other information that may be a way of contacting them outside of MySpace. (See Tips.)
3. Print out your page. You've probably personalized it and tweaked it to reflect your personality. In a way, it's a work of art that you created. You don't want it to be lost forever, so save a copy in print. Having a hard copy will make it easier to let go of your profile online.
4. Start deleting all of the images, comment boxes, background settings, songs, videos, and anything else you put on the page that didn't come with it. Make it into a plain MySpace profile, like it was when you started it. End all blog subscriptions that you have signed up for. Turn off all email notifications.
5. Post several bulletins announcing that you will be no longer available on MySpace. Delete your main pictures, blog, comments, friends, etc. If your profile is set to private, set it back to normal. Reset the information about yourself.
6. Change the headline to "No Longer Available" or some other indicator that you no longer use MySpace. Stop using MySpace. Get an e-mail filter and set it to block MySpace, Facebook, or any other similar sites.
7. Find other creative activities to do. Try to find activities that both amuse you in the short-term and benefit you in the long-term. MySpace only provides a short-term pleasure (usually). Keep in contact with your friends through phone, e-mail, or messenger! Not talking to them may make you want to return to MySpace. After waiting a good month and re-establishing your life, go back and delete your MySpace. It shouldn't, at this point, rip your heart out to do so. Never go back to MySpace, as it will possibly trigger a relapse into the addiction again.

Tips

• People who hardly know you may not want to give you personal information and may feel uncomfortable interacting with you outside of MySpace.
• If MySpace is your homepage, change it to another informational homepage such as Google, wikiHow, Yahoo, etc.
• If your real-life friends and family members use MySpace, inform them that you're trying to stay away from it, and ask that they don't sign on when you're around.
• It may be really hard to keep in touch with some people, especially if they are MySpace addicts. If you want to talk to them outside of MySpace, but they don't sign onto AIM or you feel awkward calling them, you may want to try weaning them off MySpace as well. Remember, real friends don't let friends be MySpace addicts.
• If you're like most people, MySpace will lose its appeal after a few weeks of steady or perhaps heavy use. Eventually the grandness will fade away and you will get sick of playing the waiting game for your friends to respond to your over-simplistic comments or messages. Sometimes nothing beats simply picking up the phone and calling your friends to see how they're doing. Eventually, not only will you have no interest in signing on to MySpace, but you will have no need to.
• Change your password by closing your eyes and randomly typing. This may require you to copy and paste to confirm your new password. Just be diligent in not peeking or writing this down.
• Think about all the time you wasted on MySpace and how it could have been spent wisely elsewhere.
• One alternative method is to use a less addictive social networking site, such as Xanga or LiveJournal, and posting there, but not actively seeking out friends.
• Even if you try to go cold turkey and delete your MySpace account, you might feel the urge simply to sign up again. Be ready for it and resist.
• Try signing on to MySpace just once a day for a week, then two times a week, then one time a week. When you feel as though you don't need MySpace anymore, delete your account.

Warnings

• it's a website....it's not like they're doing cocaine. now that's serious
  • MySpace addictions are serious matters and should not be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is addicted to MySpace (symptoms listed above in introduction), please help them or get them the help they need immediately.
• MySpace is now a site frequented by predators of a variety of types. It is strongly suggested that anyone associated with the site, either actively or not, to do everything possible to protect themselves from the constant trolling of those who would seek to take advantage of the site's weaknesses and faults (keep in mind, there are predators everywhere, the ones on MySpace are just brought to everyone's attention by the media because it's such a high profile site).
• If you still think you don't have a problem... yet you find yourself reposting this page or this link in a MySpace bulletin, blog, or in your profile itself... THINK AGAIN! You are most definitely a MySpace addict.

Things You'll Need

• Self control
• The will to quit
• Another way to communicate with friends
• Cell phone

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Defeat a MySpace Addiction. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Be Safe on MySpace

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Myspace is an online social networking site where people can create personal profiles of themselves and friend other people. As with other online social networks you should take precautions for your safety.

Steps

1. Don't put too much personal information on your page. Personal information can include your address, where you go to school, your full name, your workplace, and places you frequent are a few examples. Someone who means harm can use this information for their benefit.
2. Avoid drama. People can post nasty things on your profile. Delete those comments and block those people if need be. Don't become sucked into the drama.
   • To avoid nasty comments being placed on your profile, set your profile settings so that you have to approve comments before they go on your profile.
3. Remember you are not anonymous on your MySpace profile. You may not have posted your full name, but others may know who you are from your pictures or other information.
4. Protect yourself by making your profile private. There is a feature that allows you to make your profile private so only your friends can see your entire profile.

Tips

• Be considerate with other people's information as well. Don't put your friends full names or other identifying information on your profile.
• If you post pictures of yourself, make sure they do not include any public landmarks (such as street signs or mailboxes) that can be easily identified.
• Do not post half naked pictures of yourself as you are more likely to be stalked than having a picture of yourself with attire that is appropriate for school or in the general public. If your parents don't allow you to have pictures online, don't do it. Just keep it "no photo" or have a picture of something that doesn't have you or your friends and family in it.

Warnings

• If you are embarrassed or nervous about showing your parents your MySpace page, this is a sign that your page may be inappropriate. Review your page and remove anything that gives you that nervous or embarrassed vibe.
• If you are concerned about a user who pesters or harasses you on MySpace, report them! Nobody likes those kind's people. If the person is in school, talk to your school counselor or principal. If the person is in your local area but not in school, contact the police, social worker, or sheriff if it gets out of hand.
• Do not meet up with anyone you meet online without taking the appropriate safety precautions. Read this article for tips on meeting people you have met online.

Related wikiHows

• How to Add wikiHow to Your MySpace Friends List
• How to Be Safe While Online
• How to Make a MySpace Page
• How to Set Your MySpace Profile to Private
• How to Block a User on MySpace
• How to Safely Meet a Person You Met Online

Sources and Citations

• Myspace Privacy Policy
• Wired Safety - Info on Staying Safe Online
• Myspace Safety Tips
• Safe Teens
• Safety Online http://askmepc.com/index.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Safe on MySpace. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Customize Your MySpace Profile

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you want to make your MySpace page your own custom creation? Here are some helpful tips.

Steps

1. Become a member of MySpace. It is fast and free, and any information you display will be at your discretion.
2. Find custom or original graphics from websites specializing in MySpace graphics. Browse your friends' spaces or look through random pages to come up with ideas.
3. You can use a profile editor to form the bulk of your MySpace profile. Find profile editor links in your friends' spaces.
4. Copy the generated text, or "MySpace Code," and paste it into any part of your Space under "Edit Profile," or in whatever section the Profile Editor instructs you to.
5. Add pictures, music, and contact tables when you are pleased with the rest of your page

Video

Tips

• You can have custom cursors, scrolling text, animated gifs, and actual music videos. The possibilities are endless.
• Create an account with a picture hosting site and upload any images you use in your account. Simply copying links to photos from other sites can cause problem.

Warnings

• Be sure that you fulfill the age requirement on MySpace. If you are a parent considering to let your child to have a page, you should consider monitoring your child's profile and messages. Be sure that the site is being used for its intended purpose, and be wary of people who are not.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Customize Your MySpace Profile. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Delete Friends on MySpace

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If you no longer keep in touch with your friends, then you can simply delete them.

Steps

1. Log in to your my space.
2. Scroll down until you find where you see all your friends. It'll be called Friend Space
3. Under Friend Space, click the word all (it's after the word show)
4. Click on "delete friends" (to the top right of the page) and search the pages until you find the person you would like to delete.
5. Check that person and click "delete selected friends".
6. Never discuss with them who you think that might deleted it.

Video

Tips

• Don't delete someone if they will be offended. At least tell them first.
• If you have 200+ friends, chances are you don't know ALL those people truly as friends, delete those who added you who you have no idea who they are.
• Another sign that it is time to delete would be if you haven't talked to them in over a year, either on the phone or face-to-face, they aren't your real friend. Move on.

Warnings

• It might be hard to find that person's page again when you delete them.
• Your friend might get mad at you.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Delete Friends on MySpace. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Delete Yourself from the Internet

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Seeking to escape the internet? While online notoriety thrills some people, for others, it can become a great burden. Erasing yourself completely is not always possible, but if you follow these steps, you can certainly come close.

Steps

1. Think this through very carefully before proceeding. Much of what is suggested below cannot be undone. This means that you will lose information, forfeit any marketable presence that you've developed online, and in some cases, you'll even lose the opportunity to restart your account using the same name or even the same email address. These are drastic measures and should be treated as such.
   • Consider what is driving your wish to delete yourself completely. Is it a cyberstalker? Is it a single bad experience? Or are you just fed up with its pervasiveness in your life? Be sure you fully understand the issue before diving in.
   • Are there other ways around the problem, such as changing your online name or using a different email account from your normal one? For example, if your current email address has some unsavory online associations, can you create a separate one that you use purely for professional transactions like sending resumes, creating business profiles, etc.?
   • Realize that you might not even remember all the sites you've joined, created, participated in, etc.
2. Delete accounts. As already noted, it's possible that you've joined up to more sites than you'll ever remember. The more well-known the site, however, the better it is to remove yourself from it when trying to disappear from the internet. This won't necessarily resolve "deep web" memory of you but it's a good start. The following list is provided to help make it easier for you to know how to start ridding yourself of the principal sites:
   • Delete yourself from Facebook
   • Delete yourself from Twitter
   • Delete yourself from YouTube
   • Delete yourself from LinkedIn
   • Delete yourself from Flickr
   • Delete yourself from StumbleUpon
   • Delete yourself from MySpace
   • Delete yourself from PayPal
   • Delete yourself from eBay and any other online auction sites
   • Delete yourself from Craigslist and any other local advertising groups.
   • Delete yourself from your Alma Maters (school, college, and university). Only do this if you’re no longer enrolled.
   • Delete yourself from game sites. Remove all your information from all game sites. Yes, that includes all the virtual items you've won and hoarded all those years. Give it away to people you know want the stuff, if the site permits it.
   • Close associated accounts. Associated sites, such as Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, etc., are third-party applications that helped you to use your social networking accounts. Don’t forget about these.
3. Weasel your way out of undeletable accounts. Some sites don’t allow full deletion, forcing you to merely “deactivate” (while your information stays in the system) or abandon your account. If there is a real reason for removal (such as witness protection), contact the site's owner or engineers; at the very least, you should be able to get a name change to cover your real identity. However, if you can’t get anyone to intervene on your behalf, there’s another way of dissociating:
   • Remove every last scrap of information about yourself from the account. If leaving certain fields blank isn’t an option (or you still suspect that your info is being saved somewhere), overwrite it with clearly fake (Dingus Oppenheimer IV) or hopelessly general (John Smith) info. (There’s no need to associate some other poor sucker with your abandoned page.) Note that if you try to provide a different email address, the site will email it to confirm, meaning nonexistent addresses are out of the question. This brings us to our next step.
   • Create a new email account with a free email provider. The more unlikely the username, the better. (Ex.: jr7_9!4dkl@whatever.com. More on this in a minute.) Be sure to provide fake info here as well. Don’t close this page; if your address is as weird as it should be, you might not be able to find it again.
   • Associate the undeletable account with this new email address. Confirm the new email address when prompted. Once it goes through, make sure your real email address no longer appears anywhere in this account.
   • Cancel your new email address. Your undeletable account is now associated with an address that no longer exists. There’s always a chance that one day, someone else who has since chosen the exact username jr7_9!4dkl@whatever.com will also try to create an account with the site you’ve just dissociated from and end up very, very confused, but it probably shouldn’t keep you up nights.
4. Close your personal sites. If you have created sites on the internet, you will need to remove them completely. Some of the sites you might have include:
   • Blogs. If you had a popular blog, keep in mind that snippets of it are probably already scattered throughout the internet. There’s nothing you can do about this.
   • Blogs within sites. Many sites offer blogs as part of joining; don't forget these if you have started any.
   • Groups like Ning, Gro.ups, Yahoo Groups, etc. Your ability to shut these down might be dependent on the participation of others.
   • Forum posts. This is likely to be next-to-impossible for many sites, but do your best.
   • Articles that you have added to article mill sites. Your ability to remove these will be dependent on the terms and conditions of those sites.
5. Check with your phone company to make sure you're not listed online. If you are, ask them to remove your details completely. Ditto for any other customer databases that might cause your name and details to be online.
6. Cancel all mailing lists. This should be fairly straightforward as usually the method for unsubscribing is in the body of each email, often with a direct link. Follow the individual instructions given. If you can't find such instructions, contact the site administrators directly.
7. Delete search engine returns that feature you. Run searches on variations of your name or online name(s) to find anything you may have forgotten about and remove it manually. Remember, search engines also cache old sites, pages, and information -- including mentions of you -- that have since changed or been deleted; since it’s not in a search engine’s best interest to provide outdated results, these will generally go away by themselves with time. In some instances, however, you will need to contact search engines directly for the trickier removals. Be aware that removing yourself from search engines can be fairly detailed work that sometimes involves paperwork in the real world (ex. faxes, etc., to confirm your real identity). Major search engines and people search engines that you will probably want to look through include:
   • Google (read how to ungoogle yourself)
   • Yahoo
   • Bing
   • White Pages
   • US Search
   • Intelius
   • Yahoo People Search
   • Acxiom
   • People Finder
   • Zaba Search
8. Stay polite. While you might be motivated by anger, fear, or irritation, don't let this come across in your tone and attitude if contacting website managers. They're human and will respond to reasonable requests couched in reasonable terms. If you're looking for a name removal because you're job searching, tell them; this at least lets them know you have a genuine reason. Avoid shouting, threatening legal action (unless you mean it, and only after they prove uncooperative), or generally being a bad sport.
9. Consider using a professional company to remove your details from the internet. If contacting the myriad search engines one-by-one overwhelms you (and it is a very daunting prospect), you might be able to use a professional service to do the work for you. Of course, you will need to pay but it might be worth it if your reasons for removal are pressing. Look for a service that:
   • Is able to remove you from the "deep web" rather than just the obvious services.
   • If possible, has agreements in place with data source providers.
10. Cancel your email account. If you're going to this extreme, the method for deletion will depend on whether you're using a paid-for service or a free-roaming service on the web. Be sure to hold off on deleting your email account until the end; you’ll probably need it to do most of the other steps listed here.
    • If free (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, etc.), cancel following the site's instructions.
    • If paid for, contact the relevant company for instructions. Even web-based paid mail should have live people to contact.
    • Some free email accounts self-delete with lack of use.
    • Always check that you're not throwing away any vital information that you want to keep before you delete your account. Transfer all materials you need to a memory stick or other storage facility.
11. Clean up your computer.
    • Remove all internet history, cookies, etc.
    • Remove the internet program if you're really adamant.
    • Remove your computer if you're going "cold technology".
12. Shrug off what you can't remove. There may be some things that you can't do anything about. In that case, it is probably best to just accept that reality as you move on. If instances of your online come back to haunt you, you could always try denying that it's you -- especially if you have a common name! Be forewarned that the following instances of your online presence will be very hard to erase:
    • Mentions of you in news items, blog posts, audio files, etc.
    • Interviews you’ve given to newspapers, radio stations, etc.
    • Comments you have left here, there, and everywhere.
    • Photos of you in other people’s online albums.
    • Photos you’ve taken that have ended up on other people’s websites and blogs.
    • Government-sourced information that is considered appropriate to keep publicly available (except where a process is in place to remove such information).

Video

This video contains some good advice on what to look for when you're first considering removing yourself from online, including whether you'd rather create false aliases and decoy accounts rather than deleting yourself completely.

Tips

• If feeling addicted is the underlying impetus for deleting yourself from the internet, you might prefer to try removing the addiction rather than the internet. Some articles to check out include:
  • Stop your internet addiction
  • Defeat your Facebook addiction
  • Defeat your Myspace addiction
  • Get over your online game addiction
• There are software programs that will help you to remove yourself from online sites. Do a search online.
• If there is a problem with false or defamatory information about you online, contact a legal practitioner for advice in your jurisdiction.
• If you're really in a mess about having your name and details spread across the internet and don't know what to do next, seek help from privacy watchdogs such as Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for personal advice.

Warnings

• Keep in mind the adage, "once online, there for all time." Always take care with what you share in the online environment: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
• Some sites use emotional blackmail techniques to encourage you to stay. Such comments as "all your friends will miss you" are targeted at making you think twice; after all, the site doesn't want to lose your patronage. If you're wavering, get photos of your real life friends, put them in front of you on the desk, press "delete" on the site, and phone up your real friends to go have a drink and chat together. You'll be over it just like that.
• Expect a tongue lashing from some webmasters who will insist on their "right" to keep public information public. Some of them just don't get the personal and privacy angle and see this as a personal affront against what they stand for. Be persistent and, if needed, get help from a privacy organization or a lawyer if your need for privacy is pressing or serious.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Standard request to webmasters; if you are sending a lot of these, craft a good, well-reasoned template request at the beginning
• Legal advice if the reason is serious (such as witness protection, etc.)

Additional Resources

• Use Domain Tools to help you look up ownership of a website so that you know who to contact if needed. (This is especially helpful if no email is provided on a site.) Look for "admin email" and "server data" in the retrieved information.
• Remove a page or site from Google's search results by contacting Google’s webmasters. Be prepared to make your case.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Delete Yourself from the Internet. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Create an Online Survey With Surveymonkey

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

SurveyMonkey is an online service that allows users to create web browser based surveys. This service offers both a free account and a paid account that includes enhanced features. This article will teach you how to create an online survey with SurveyMonkey.

Steps

1. Visit the SurveyMonkey website at http://www.surveymonkey.com/.
2. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page.
3. Enter your Username and Password associated with your Survey Monkey account and click Sign In. Click here to create a Survey Monkey account: https://www.surveymonkey.com/MyAccount_Join.aspx?utm_source=account_login.
   • Alternatively, you can sign up using the Sign Up with Facebook or Sign Up with Google buttons on the right.
4. Click the “+Create Survey” button at the top of the page.
5. Enter a title for your survey.
6. Select a template to use for your survey.
7. Click “Select and Modify” to make edits to the default survey and template.
8. Click the “Collect Reponses” tab at the top.
9. Click the method you wish to use to distribute your survey. (The first option has been used in the example.)
10. Click “Next Step”.
11. Copy the URL and paste it in your email newsletters, tweets, and anywhere else that you can post a link for your users to click and access the survey.
    • Alternatively, you can copy the HTML code to add it to a webpage.
12. Design the survey. Opening the account and knowing the basics of creating the survey are only half the process. The real work comes in designing an effective survey that elicits the information you're really after. This means that you need to know, without a doubt, what it is that you're seeking. Creating a survey without having a clue as to what you want from it will simply waste the time of all involved. Moreover, if it's clear to survey takers that the survey is random, they're much more likely to avoid taking it, especially if it appears as spam. When designing your survey's content, bear the following in mind:
    • When creating a survey, keep the questions relevant above all. Do not try to seek tangential information or those answering it will be surprised and possibly less candid.
    • Anonymity is a useful way to get people to respond to surveys in a candid way––provide this option unless it's absolutely essential to get names. If taking names, always advise as to how you'll maintain confidentiality of details (such as aggregating the results without mentioning individuals). If you don't think people will self-identify but you'd like them to do so, offer an incentive such as a free e-book or similar for those who provide email addresses for future correspondence, etc.
    • Effective survey questions tend to be: brief, simple, relevant and jargon-free. Avoid using questions that are loaded (assumption-filled) or leading (directs the answer).[1]
    • Put sensitive or demographic questions at the end of the survey––a survey taker is more likely to opt out early if these appear at the front. In the same vein, ask interesting questions at the front.[1]
    • Avoid cluttering up the survey. Use white space and only ask one question per line.
    • Test the survey before you send it live. This will allow you to find quirks and things that don't make sense. Test it on a few friends or family members to gauge their responses.

Tips

• When selecting a survey template, you can see a preview of what the survey will like to users by click the “Preview” button on the right of your screen.
• What sort of relationship do you have with those taking the survey? It's a lot better to establish one than to ask people out of the blue. Perhaps they're Facebook friends or fans of your business page, maybe they're students attending the same university as you or possibly they're your friends. Try to find some commonality that helps to link you together, as it'll resonate more and encourage the potential participants to take the survey.
• Timing is important––don't send out a survey when people will be away on vacation or during a rush period such as exams or end-of-year budget reconciliations!
• You may find it helpful to include reminders to complete the survey, especially when it nears the deadline. Don't overdo it though––once or twice is sufficient.

Warnings

• Not all features of the SurveyMonkey service are available to free basic account users. You can upgrade to a Select, Gold, or Platinum account to access more enhanced features.
• Don't spam when sending invitations to do the survey. This includes avoiding the use of any language that makes it sound like spam and sending it to irrelevant people. You should have a reply address that works and looks professional
• This service is also available free from others. For instance you can do this with with the form builder Google Doc.

Things You'll Need

• Surveymonkey account
• Well thought-out questions (with good reasons for seeking the information you're after)
• Pleasantly worded email invitation

Sources and Citations

• http://www.surveymonkey.com/ – research source

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Create an Online Survey With Surveymonkey. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Celebrate OneWebDay

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Celebrate the Internet on OneWebDay on September 22. OneWebDay is recognized yearly, similar to Earth Day. The goal is to hold a global celebration of online life. The Internet has changed each of our lives. We need to recognize how important it is to us by celebrating and publicly showing how it has affected our lives. Here are some ways you can show the web is worth using, protecting, and, of course, celebrating.

Steps

Make the Online World Visible Offline

1. Gather friends and family or set up a block party. Ask each person to bring a printout of something unique that one could only find online. Alternatively, have each person share a story about how the web has changed his or her life for the better.
2. Visit a senior center and share your knowledge about the web. Teach a grandparent how to start a blog or email a family member for the first time. Get them interested in the web by showing them various web sites that they would be interested in.
3. Organize, with your neighbors, to integrate the web into your community. Find out the email addresses of your neighbors and start a neighborhood mailing list. Create a neighborhood blog. Add pictures of your community - local businesses, parks, or events. Ask each resident to write a few words about themselves, and add their email and photos. This could give them the opportunity to recognize and communicate with each other, even though they may not have met before in their own neighborhood.
4. Form a committee in your church or city council to push for free municipal wi fi. Help make the Internet available to all.
5. Celebrate in San Francisco, Sofia, Bulgaria, or even New York - or any of the other cities around the world where OneWebDay celebrations will be held. If your city is left out, form your own party!
6. Tell friends and family about your favorite websites. Inform people about what they can do using the Internet.

Celebrate in and Improve the Online World

1. Email a friend you met online and ask them to celebrate this day by watching an Internet video together, simultaneously from different computers.
2. Email or IM a friend you know from your daily (not online) life, informing them of OneWebDay.
3. Contribute to a wiki, such as Wikipedia or wiki-How. Collaborate with thousands of people around the world to build a free resource that millions of people read, write, and use.
4. Upload your latest photos to a photo site or blog and send them to your mom. She will thank you.
5. IM or email favorite bloggers, wiki editors, artists and webmasters to thank them for their contributions to the Internet.
6. Gather friends and family for an 'online' block party. You could use IRC or other online chat, or even an email list. Talk about how you have shared in each other's lives online.
7. Write a blog entry about what the Internet means to you, including your favorite sites and a description of things you've done using the web that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise.
8. Make a donation to an organization that supports online culture and the Internet.
9. Research laws and pending legislature about the Internet that affect you on the local, state, and/or national level. Sign petitions online regarding legislation about the Internet.

Tips

• Celebrating in public places makes our connection to the web something for everyone to notice collectively. The web is worth celebrating and protecting. It is a vibrant part of our world, belonging to no one person or country. The web is 'us', therefore, it is up to 'us' to protect it - and to celebrate it!
• Many of us use the internet as an integral part of our lives but aren't aware of legislative changes that may affect our online experience; read up on Net Neutrality, and form your own opinion.

Sources and Citations

• OneWebDay - Official website

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Celebrate OneWebDay. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Avoid Being Banned from a Windows or Linux Forum

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Windows and Linux forums often have harsher rules that are strictly enforced.And users are more likely to be banned from these forums than other forums. However, by following these steps, you can avoid being banned from the forum.

Steps

1. Read the rules/TOS (terms of service) first. By doing this, you will know what is and is not allowed, keeping you out of trouble with the moderators.
2. Stay on the topic. While this can be difficult, off-topic posting can get you a warning from moderators. Make sure that you understand what a thread is about before posting in it, and think before you post. Does your post, question, or answer relate to the topic? If you are not sure, then don't post it.
3. Learn what constitutes trolling on your particular forum. General guidelines would be to avoid arguments and spamming.Also posting to get attention could be mistaken for trolling.Or making too many posts in one day. Also, if you encounter a troll, do not give them attention or try to talk with them. This is classified as "feeding a troll," and if the mods are strict, this can get you into trouble as well.
4. Do not post a links to other websites unless the forum allows it. Many forums forbid this, because it is seen as using the forums for self-promotion. If you want to link to your website, check the rules to see if it is allowed first. If you are not sure, then don't do it.
5. Do not use profanity or post obscene content on the forum.
6. Typing in ALL CAPS. That is ALL BLOCK CAPITALS.Some forums forbid this. So if it is not allowed,don't do it.
7. Keep some opinions to yourself. While you may have your own ideas about how you run your computer, some Windows forums are so strict that they will ban you for posting comments such as: "I don't run anti-virus software," or "Windows sucks." If you have such ideas, don't post them on the forum. Avoid starting disputes about what is colloquially known as the OS Wars.
8. Do not copy content from the web and post it on the forum,as this could also get you banned.
9. If you get banned from the forum, do not sign up on the site again with a different user name and email. Those moderating will have records of your IP address, and they'll know it's you. After you get caught the second time, you will get an IP ban which may restrict you from even visiting the site again.
10. If you've been banned from another forum,do not post about it on the forum.Or will be banned from that forum as well.

Tips

• View the site first. That way you can get an idea if or not that forum is right for you.
• If one of your posts is deleted or edited by a moderator, do not post it again. This could earn you a warning. Also, if a thread you've started is locked, don't start another thread about the same topic. The moderators have a right to delete, edit, and lock your posts/threads. You have no control over this.

Warnings

• Even if you follow the rules you may still be banned. Some moderators are just like that.
• If you're banned from the forum do not sign up again on the same site with a different user name and email address. This will make them more angry and they'll ban your IP address.
• If you are banned and you think you have been wrongly banned, you can send a polite email to the administrator or moderator of the forum, but bear in mind they do not have to respond to your emails. If you do not get a reply, do not email them again and again. That is harassment, and they can ban your IP address for that.
• Never post obscene content, such as porn or nudity; that will get you instantly banned.
• Some forums will not allow anyone who has been banned from other forums on their forum.
• The forum has control over everything that you post. They can lock your threads, delete your threads, and make your threads private-view only. You have no control over this, it is their website, not a democracy.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Avoid Being Banned from a Windows or Linux Forum. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Write a Christmas Newsletter

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

]]It's that wonderful time of year again when customary holiday greeting cards are sent out to loved ones, to spread the holiday cheer. When sending out your Christmas Cards, why not include a little home-made newsletter to keep family and friends updated on what is happening in your life?

Steps

1. Tailor your news to your recipient. Think about who you're sending your newsletter to. What sort of information would you like to include for that recipient? Possibilities might include marriage, moving in with your partner, vacations, new pets, children's news, graduations, new job and any significant changes in your life. There's no need to go into great detail. Just mention milestones and happy events that have occurred within the past year.
2. Pick out Christmas or other holiday-themed stationery. There is a wide variety of stationery available with pre-printed themes on the paper that you can use to print your newsletter onto. Alternatively, you can make a colorful Christmas theme on your computer program that will print directly onto plain paper.
3. Design the newsletter. Using a program such as Open Office, MS Word, Pages or Wordpad, start preparing your newsletter. If your program already has pre-set newsletter layouts, you can use these for a very professional result. Choose a pleasing and elegant font, in a fairly large typeset to make it easy for the young and the very old to read beside the firelight.
4. Keep the tone casual and upbeat. Most importantly, don't fill it with tales of how many amazing achievements you and your family have had -- that just sounds like bragging! Similarly, don't be morose and fill it with tales of woe about all your hardships that you've confronted all year. This is Christmas time, when love, warmth and the overcoming of adversity are considered key elements of the season. Remember that you are just updating people, not giving a sermon!
5. Close off the newsletter by wishing your family and friends a wonderful holiday season! You might also wish them a safe, prosperous and happy New Year.

Tips

• For an alternative, create an interesting format that can be used to convey the same news in a more interesting way than a newsletter. Try a travel itinerary that lists the events of the year as though they were travel events -- for example, your children may have been 'upgraded to 10th grade'. Other formats can be a newspaper article, a contractor estimate, a script for a play or soap opera, a travel brochure with photos, recipes, or CD cover photo and insert. These will all take some more time, so you should prepare well in advance or have a solid block of time to sit down and do this without interruption.
• If you'd like, include information such as your favorite holiday recipes in your newsletter.
• Include your photo with your family together, to give a nice, personal touch. Insert photos related to the news tidbits wherever possible, such as a few photos of your family vacation, or your child's photo on graduation day.
• During the year, when your kids say something adorably cute (e.g. "Daddy! You have a hole in your hair!"), run to your calendar and write it down in the margin. At the end of the year when you're trying to remember significant events, you'll also find these priceless "quotable quotes" to lend an entertaining dash of creativity to your publication.
• If you can't remember all you did during the year, pull out your credit card receipts or checkbook register and check where you spent your money...it's like a trip down memory lane ("Yeah, there's that cute little B&B! Oh, I forgot the time we went to the beach boardwalk..."). And don't forget all those digital pictures you haven't downloaded yet!
• If words fail you, make a photo collage, and just add a few captions to describe the events in those photos.
• Your paper color doesn't have to be white; choose pale green or pale silver for a festive touch.

Warnings

• Try not to remind the recipients about any unfortunate events in their life.
• Steer clear of writing from the point of view of your pets, i.e. "Hey, it's Pokey and Maggie again. Our people left us in a kennel while they celebrated their anniversary on a great vacation in Mexico last July." It's quite overdone and might be annoying to some. If you want, you can include a section or article that is written in this tone to appease the pet lovers, but avoid writing in this style for the whole newsletter.
• Write your letters in the first person, which is using the words "I" and "We" rather than the third person narration style (referring to yourself by your own name). If it's a letter, it should be directly between you and your reader, such as saying "We had a wonderful trip to Bongo Beach, where we tried surfing."
• People are more interested in you than in your kids. Make sure at least half of your newsletter is about you rather than your kids (and coaching your kids' team counts as something about them).

You may want to edit the newsletter for specific recipients. For instance, Grandma and Grandpa might not appreciate knowing that their granddaughter has moved in with her boyfriend. Depending on their ages, let children preview what you've written about them. Anecdotes you find cute and charming may be acutely embarrassing to them. College students and adult children may not want to be mentioned at all. Don't include contact information for them without their permission.

Related wikiHows

• How to Start a Family Newsletter

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Computer program such as MS Word where you can layout the newsletter
• Home printer
• Various family photos related to the news you are sharing
• Holiday stationery
• Christmas cards
• Creativity and imagination

Sources and Citations

• eHow to Create a Holiday Newsletter on Your Computer
• eHow to Produce a Newsletter
• Christmas News Letter Suggestions and Examples

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Christmas Newsletter. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Write a Letter to a Friend of the Opposite Sex

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Eligible to be a love interest for you can be awkward and intimidating. You only feel friendship and want to develop and continue your relationship with a good friend as a friend, but you don't want to drop any hints at romantic interest, nor do you want to encourage any. You can maintain a platonic friendship by writing fun, interesting letters that don't leave any room for ambiguity.

Steps

1. Use a casual greeting. Obviously, this is not a letter that should be started with "My Dearest Robert:" Instead, try, "Hey, Rob --" or "Rob - what's happening?".
2. Be friendly. Don't resort to stiff, formal (boring) stuff. Think about it as if your friend was right there with you and just "talk" to him/her.
3. Fill him or her in on the details of your life. Your friend shouldn't have to guess at what's going on with you, while sitting reading your letter or email. If you really want to stay involved in one another's lives, you will need to share some of what's going on. It may be a little longer than a paragraph or two, but it'll be a better letter in the end.
4. Share your highs and your lows. Just as you would if your friend were there with you, share stories with him or her about your day. If you had a lousy day, saying something like, "... So that was my crummy day. I hope yours was better - to tell you the truth, now that I've told you about mine, I do feel better. Thanks for being a good pal and letting me vent." If you had a great day, how about, "... the only thing missing was being able to see you and celebrate together! Oh, I wish you'd been here, it would have been so great to share this with you. But at least we have email, huh?"
5. Keep it real. You don't need to add a lot of drama. Just stay focused on one or two incidents or events - your pal doesn't need to have all the intimate details of your life.
6. Do let him/her know if you've met someone special. One sure way to create an awkward moment is for you to keep a new romance from your friend. Let him or her know that you're going on a date, or that you had one that was successful and hope this one will be a keeper. Not only does it keep your friend in the loop of your life, but it also cements the notion that you are friends and only that.
7. Sign off with a friendly farewell. Don't gush or get overly sentimental, even if you are really missing your friend - keep it positive and light. "Miss you, buddy," is great. Or "XOXO," even, but just make sure you don't add a bunch of mushy love stuff or else your pal could get the wrong idea.

Tips

• If you're corresponding via email, review before you send. Many a mishap has happened between "TTYL" and send.
• If you're corresponding via snail mail, and if this relationship is very sensitive in terms of the way your friend may perceive any little indication that you may feel more than friendship, consider typing it. It really is less personal than writing it in longhand - there's just something very romantic about receiving a personal letter in the mail.
• That said, however, if your friendship is solid, receiving a handwritten letter in your very own longhand can be so comforting and can really bring a sense of "you" home to your friend. Your scent on the mail, your seal on the letter, whatever you do to make it personal, warm and friendly, it will be more so when received in your own writing.

Warnings

• Do not create any ambiguity. If you feel friendship only, do not ever allude to any other relationship between you even being possible. Saying things like, "We should have hooked up instead of who we ended up with LOL" puts a dangerous seed of hope in your friend's mind and will end up compromising the relationship in the end.
• Squelch any such slips your friend may make kindly, but immediately. If you receive a note containing a comment like the one above, your best bet would be to treat it lightly, but with an unmistakable "no." Example: "Oh, if we ever had hooked up, we'd have killed each other. It's so much better just being friends with you, and I wouldn't trade your friendship for anything."

Things You'll Need

• Letter paper and pen or email

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Letter to a Friend of the Opposite Sex. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Network at a Conference

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Networking at a conference is easier than you think–even if you are shy or don't enjoy participating in networking. The benefits from networking in a conference environment are immense such as meeting new people who can give you new research, product, or information leads that will open up new possibilities for you, so it pays to keep your mind focused on these rather than worrying about putting a foot wrong. If the big names floor you, and you're feeling overwhelmed by the expertise around you, take a deep breath and prepare to realize the opportunity before you. This article provides some tried and true suggestions for helping you to make the most of the big thinkers and agenda-setters at a conference while you've got them close.

Steps

1. Start networking before you even get to the conference. It's important to know who your fellow attendees will be and what their specializations, business, or expertise is. In particular, look up the people who will be presenting at the conference. They are the influencers who can help you get better networked into your targeted industry, or who may even be able to share ideas with you or give you a little time to talk through things that you're doing.
   • Take the time to visit the presenters' websites, if relevant. They should also have email addresses on their websites–even top executives may have emails. But, if they don't try to find them on sites like LinkedIn.[1]
   • If you're aiming to network with someone working for a company, also research the company's background, including its history and age, mission, achievements, and principal staff.
2. Email these influencers to let them know that you look forward to hearing their talks. You're growing a relationship when you recognize someone for the valuable expertise they'll be sharing at a conference. These presenters will appreciate you taking the time and you'll gain relationship equity with them. They will, most likely, email you back and thank you. Now you can re-email them and let them know you will make sure you introduce yourself, in person, when you see them at the event.
3. Go up and introduce yourself at the event. Go to the talks of those presenters you have emailed. Go early and sit in the front row so that you're in a good position to reach them after the talk. Turn off your cell phone if you haven't already done so. Be attentive so that you can raise any particular points with them afterward if the opportunity presents itself. After their presentation, take up a business card with a personalized note you've already written on the back, and start telling them how much you appreciated their insights. This will build even more relationship equity. Introduce yourself, compliment the presenter on their presentation, saying briefly why you liked it, and ask any relevant questions that you have (see next step).
   • If you're terrified of giving out a business card, role play giving a business card to someone with a family member or friend. Introduce yourself first ("Hi! I'm Ken. I emailed you about The Barbie Factor last week.") Then practice steering the conversation away from you and onto the other person by asking open-ended questions. Or, you can practice doing this in front of the mirror. The more you practice giving a business card, the more naturally it will come to you.
   • You can also ask to follow up with a quick phone call with a question you may have about their presentation. Now you're at the point where you have really created a connection and, more likely than not, laid the groundwork for a long-term connection with whom you can develop all kinds of new business, creative, scientific, or career opportunities.
   • Be sure that your business card is up-to-date with the latest details to contact you. If what you do is not clear from the card, be sure to fix that because the presenters will be receiving many cards and you don't want to be lost in the pile because of ambiguity. Also be sure to use clean, unbent cards for a professional look.
4. Be ready to get to the point quickly. Presenters, business people, and others associated with the conference will generally be time-limited and won't get much of a chance to stand around chatting with you. This is an aspect that often scares novice networkers because they're worried about being tongue-tied. As with giving the business card, it's a really good idea to role play the kind of conversation openers and content that you'd like to convey with the particular person. Coupled with your prior research into their expertise or business, you should be able to hone down the precise things that you'd like to get across in a very short period of time.
   • Make a list of questions you'd like to ask the presenter. Consider picking the most important two questions in case you really are time pressured, so that you get the optimal connection without feeling too flustered. Practice asking the questions in front of the mirror.
   • One way of getting assurance that your questions are welcome is to preface the conversation with something like: "Have I caught you at a bad time? I had two quick questions I wanted to ask you."
   • Bear in mind that you might be able to arrange to see them later at a dinner event or similar event during the conference if they're not free straight after their talk. Still aim to give them your business card, but be sure to make a time or reason to catch up again during the period of the conference.
   • If you have promotional material, a paper, or any other documentation or software that you'd like the presenter to have, be sure to have it ready and packaged up to give to the presenter. This is a good way of having a reason for more follow-up too, as you can ask the presenter what they thought of the things you gave them.
5. Listen. Whatever opportunity you get to network directly with the presenter, be sure to listen well. A good networker is a good listener and while you're talking to the presenter, focus on them and their answers to your questions and not on anybody else in the room. Limit your own talking and encourage the presenter to talk. Whatever you do, no matter how excited or enamored of this person's expertise/fame/importance you are, don't jump to conclusions about what they're going to say next and try to fill it in for them. Remain calm and let them do the talking.
   • Stay positive and don't fear pauses. Be considerate of the fact that the conference is probably abuzz with atmosphere and more overwhelming for the presenter than it is for you even.
   • Maintain eye contact, nod, and unfold your arms.
   • Don't be afraid to make notes on your business cards or in your smart phone if there is anything you promise to follow up. This shows your enthusiasm and willingness to do what you've promised. It also ensures that you won't forget!
   • Enjoy talking to the other person. Here is a wonderful opportunity, so make the most of it by enjoying it as well as trying to connect.
6. Learn how to excuse yourself gracefully. There will be times when the presenter doesn't turn out to be the right contact you were hoping to connect with, or you start being clearly aware yourself that the presenter does not appear that interested to talk with you. In this case, excuse yourself politely, thank them for their time, and continue your networking with other members of the conference.
7. See which other conference attendees seem to be with the presenter. If the presenter came alone, then this step won't be of help. But if the presenter came with a team and some of them are part of the audience, try to network with them and exchange business cards. Let them know what your business, research, or study is, and see whether it is possible for them to connect you to the presenter in some way, or even better, find out which other people within the presenter's team are worth connecting with more deeply in terms of doing business or exchanging information and ideas.
   • Remember that those who act as "spheres of influence", while often lower in a company, institution, or organization, have just as much importance. They are the people who have time to listen to others and are proud of what they do and are happy to share information to others. These people will network with integrity and can share good information with you and be important contacts too. For example, you might have wanted to discuss something with the professor who just gave the presentation but he's had to rush back to his baby's birth. If his PhD student is attending the conference too, find her and ask her the questions and share your ideas. If she's convinced that you're genuine and someone definitely worth staying in touch with, she'll help remind the professor about you. Just be sure to keep in touch with both her and the professor after the conference.
8. Follow up with an email to the presenter. If you can, send a relevant article to the topic they shared. This will show that you have an avid interest in the topic and that you're willing to share information with them. And if possible, connect the presenter with other relevant people you know personally and share information as generously as you can.
   • Follow up with promptness anything that you promised you'd do. If you find for some reason that cannot meet the promise, let the presenter know that there has been a problem and what you intend to do next. Keep the channels of communication flowing; not everyone follows up after networking and they miss enormous opportunities.
9. Stay in touch with the presenter by email and phone. Anything can happen here. It's all about sharing who you are and what skills you offer to the world of work that should start a great conversation around connections and opportunities for all those great influences you meet at conferences.

Video

A range of networking ideas to help you.

Tips

• Note that you are about 7-10 times more effective face-to-face than you are over the phone. That's why being present at a conference with industry influencers you can meet and network with is very crucial to your success.
• Remember when connecting with someone, it is all about figuring out what matters most to that person. To this end, ask great questions like, "What's one thing you have not done in your career you would still like to do?" For many, this question can lead to more opportunities for the person when you realize you've got such opportunities to offer, and in turn, they'll feel keen to provide you with an opportunity too. You might end up getting them to coach you or your organization, join you on a TV show, co-author a book, or many other possibilities!
• If there are name tags at a conference, wear them. It makes it easier on everyone, especially those prone to forgetting names. Wear it on your right hand side so that when you shake hands, it remains clearly visible.
• Attend as many conference social functions as possible.
• When you arrive early at a session introduce yourself to the people around you.
• If the conference is organized by a professional society find out if the business and other planning meetings are open to you. If so, attend. Frequently, business meetings are not well attended and provide you with the opportunity to interact with the organizations senior leadership on a 1:1 or in a small group setting which might not be available at other times.
• If you are a student see if the conference is looking for student volunteers. If so, volunteer to help out in an area where you will have the opportunity to meet many attendees. Asa an added bonus, you may get some of your registration fee waived.
• Establish a business-card workflow.
  • Several months before the conference verify that you have a set of current, professional business cards for distribution at the conference.
  • Each morning verify that you have a sufficient number of business cards and a good pen with you to last the entire day.
  • Make a habit of giving out and requesting business cards.
    • Taking blank business cards with you is a great way to get other people's information when they've forgotten their business cards! Or, just cross out the front of one of yours, so you won't hand it out accidentally, and use the back.
  • When you receive a business card, note on the back of the card when and where you met the person named and anything important not apparent from the preprinted information. Put it somewhere separate from your stash of business cards to hand out.
  • Enter the business cards, with notes, into personal information manager software.
  • Follow up with the people promptly after the conference, preferably with a note relevant to their specific interests.
  • Contact them from time to time afterwards with something relevant to their interests, perhaps an article relevant to their interests or scheduling of related conferences you may attend, to establish and maintain rapport.[2]. You could even establish a routine (perhaps names ending in one letter of the alphabet per week) or automate reminders to follow up with batches of people periodically (most suitable if your specialty is one which numerous low-level relationships would facilitate, such as sales).

Warnings

• Remember not to be greedy and focused on you first. Networking is a relationship strategy, not a selfish pursuit.
• Don't push your ideas. Ask questions instead, first and then, use your ideas to add to those with whom you are networking.
• Don't lie about anything. Trust is an implicit part of networking and your reputation will be damaged if caught out.
• Don't pretend to know people you don't and drop names. You will be found out and it's lame.
• Avoid badmouthing anybody, no matter how useful this might seem. Even if the person you're networking does so, refrain from joining in. It gets around.
• Avoid swearing or using any language that might be considered offensive. You don't know people's backgrounds or beliefs, so be respectful at all times.
• Never interrupt. Bear in mind how much this irks you when someone else does it to you.

Things You'll Need

• Business cards
• Email address (make sure it's suitable and easily recognizable)
• Papers, background information if you want to pass anything to the presenter
• Internet access

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.linkedin.com
2. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapport

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