Google's New Privacy Policy - Too Important to "Dismiss"

A distinct change to Google’s privacy policy, will affect millions of people, and you’re probably one of them. A vast collection of free services reside under the Google umbrella, including Gmail, Chrome web browser, YouTube, Blogger and more. One goal of the new privacy policy, proposed for March 1, 2012, is to remove the separate policies, and cover all the products with the same agreement. This means Google can take the information gathered from all the products you use, and compile it into one customer profile. They will collect basic contact information, and record other data, such as your search queries, e-mails, location and computer configuration. Concerning the policy update, Google states, “Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.” If you have ever searched for a product, and noticed ads for related products suddenly show up on web sites you browse, you just witnessed an example of how Google uses the information they gather.

In an age of computer hackers and identity theft, it’s understandable that many have feelings of trepidation over this privacy policy. You will not have the option to “opt out” of the new policy, which is another issue that’s been heavily debated. Although Google accounts provide some options for tailoring privacy settings, the casual user may not know how to limit the flow of personal information. Frida Ghitis, author of the CNN opinion piece “Google knows too much about you,” looked for an easy way to prevent Google from saving personal information. However, she stated, “There was no such button.” Deleting information is not a guaranteed solution either, since the data may still be stored on servers for days, or even months after you hit “Delete.”

The broad area covered by the policy raises concerns for many people, including consumer advocate groups and lawmakers. Recently, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed suit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as an attempt to halt the changes proposed by Google. James Cantor of The New York Times reported that the European Union (E.U.) is investigating the new policy to ensure it does not conflict with data protection laws. The E.U. asked Google to delay implementing the privacy changes until their inquiry is complete. Google executives also met with members of the United States congress on February 2, 2012. This came on the heels of a lengthy letter submitted to the lawmakers on January 30, 2012. Both the letter and the meeting however failed to dispel all the concerns. In an interview with Tech Live, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack commented, “I think Google is trying very hard to calm a nervous public about what they're doing.”

Google asserts their basic privacy principles haven’t changed, and reiterate that they recognize the serious responsibility of protecting the information in their care. On their Public Policy Blog, you will find several posts defending the new policy and attempting to clear up misconceptions. Nevertheless, it’s always prudent to take steps to guard your personal data. First, you should read Google’s new privacy policy in detail. In Google’s favor, they worded the policy very simply, so you won’t be confused by any long legalese. Next, read the answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about the update, because they focus on specific points of concern. Finally, familiarize yourself with Google’s privacy tools, and follow the instructions to review and edit your privacy settings. It’s easy to become complacent, but your information is out there, and when this privacy policy moves ahead, it could all be in one place.

Diversifying

“Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket.” It may sound cliché, but that’s the basic idea behind diversification. If you don’t diversify, and someone suddenly comes along and steals or destroys your single basket of eggs, you’re left hungry and wondering what to do next. Hence, diversifying your online business is extremely important if you want to stay busy and keep your paychecks regular. In an uncertain world, you never know when a source of income may unexpectedly disappear.

Unfortunately, many writers who focused on one company are now facing the reality of losing their income. Demand Media Studios recently announced to their writers via e-mail a cut in available titles and upcoming company changes. These adjustments come after Google’s algorithm update in February, referred to as “Panda.” According to The Official Google Blog, the goal of this update was to “Provide better rankings for high-quality sites—sites with original content and information such as research, in-depth reports, thoughtful analysis and so on.” Google’s update affected the rankings and profitability of DMS content giant EHow, and many similar sites. Demand Media Studios still holds the stigma of being a “content farm.” However, the company consistently balks at that label and states they are working toward improving the quality of titles and content. Consequently, Demand Media Studios needs to make changes to their business model, which has resulted in a lack of material to write and is forcing many freelancer writers to diversify.

Marketing yourself as a freelancer can be an intimidating concept, but it’s the first step to diversifying. Education will make the transition easier, so take advantage of the wealth of advice available from successful freelance writers. Your initial goal will be to find new sources of income. One place many writers start looking is through online job postings on freelance websites. These sites have their place, but remember that most writing jobs listed there will be low paying and there’s usually plenty of competition. Acquiring a few jobs that way could be beneficial if you want to build your portfolio and gain more experience. However, your long-term goal should be to build business contacts that will be regular clients, and that means promoting yourself.

Here are some steps you can take to move your business ahead:

• Find a focus for your business. For example, if you’re best at creating website content, concentrate on that.

• Update and polish your resume. Revise your resume to highlight work reflecting your specialty. Don’t forget to include recent work. Assemble a link list of published work that you can easily copy into job applications.

• Create or update your website. Make your website SEO friendly, with relevant keywords and content. Include pay-per-click ads or affiliate marketing links to monetize your site.

• Start or update your blog. A blog is an excellent way to express yourself and show off your talent. Post a link to your blog from your website and social networking sites. You can also insert ads and affiliate marketing links on your blog.

• Network with other writers. You can do this through social networking and writers forums.

• Contact potential customers directly. E-mail or call local and online businesses that could benefit from your writing. If you write SEO content and see a website that needs help, let them know about your services.

Of course, growing a diversified business takes time and work, but the results are well worth the effort. You will have more security when you don’t have to rely on one source of income. In addition, writing for different clients means your work will be more varied and interesting. Market yourself and build a clientele, then you will develop a more stable and productive freelance writing business.

If you need ways to fill gaps in your income quickly, this will be addressed in my next post.