Are you an early adopter like me?
If you use twitter, you may have recently seen a post from a friend of yours that said “Just started using http://twply.com/ to get my @replies via email. Neat stuff!”

Being the early adopter that I am, I thought it sounded great. I miss the “tracking” feature where I used to get sms updates when someone sent me an @reply on Twitter. So what did I do? I went to the site and checked it out. When I got there, I saw an extremely vague website.

In fact, there’s no links at all on the site to explain how the service works at all. There’s not even a privacy statement! Instead, at the top of the page, it simply asks you to give them your Twitter Username and Password with the phrase “Your password is safe with us. No worries!”

I THINK NOT!

Don’t do it people! There are ways that this type of service can be done without needing your password!. Just below the username and password fields, there’s a question that says “Support Twply on your first login?” There are two radio buttons where you can choose to answer “Yep, go ahead!” or “No thanks!”

That’s all it says. When I read it, I’m thinking they are asking for donations! Right?

NOPE!

Basically, what happens is that if you click “Yep, go ahead!,” without notifying you, the service LOGS INTO YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT and makes a post ON YOUR ACCOUNT saying “Just started using http://twply.com/ to get my @replies via email. Neat stuff!”

As it turns out, this is what they author of the site considers supporting Twply on your first login. Two things have obviously happened. The site is gaining a massive number of new users every minute. Why? Well, I have about 1,600 people who follow me on Twitter. Over time, I’ve developed a relationship of trust with most of them. If they were to see a message from me giving such a glowing endorsement of a site that says I just started using this service, please come check it out, people would respond.

But what about the password? One might hesitate, but through this “social engineering” marketing plot, people are giving away their passwords by the droves! Why? Well, go back to the hypothetical scenario I gave before. People might say, “Well Cliff obviously trusted them enough with his password” and knowing that someone they “TRUST” sent a message saying the service is good, and then you see that it says.. “Don’t worry, your password is safe with us!” Well, people just type it in and move forward through the process.

So what’s the big deal? 1) They have your password and shouldn’t need it to do the service they are doing! 2) They don’t explain what “supporting them” means. (There is a difference between supporting a service and endorsing a service! 3) There’s no privacy policy 4) They send out a tweet in the “first person” as if YOU were the one endorsing the site! 5) Read on, because it gets worse!

YOUR INFORMATION HAS BEEN SOLD!
I’m not kidding. You can see this “FOR SALE PAGE. In the information about the site, they write “All advertising is running through word of mouth on twitter, we used a very different method. The method is not loved by everyone but we clearly ask on the homepage weather to use it or not. If they choose to “support us” then a message with the link of twply will be sent out to the users.”

The worst part is that the site actually sold! That’s right, access to literally thousands of Twitter accounts just sold for a measly $1,200.00.

I could go on and on about this one. However, I don’t think I need to say any more to convince you that this is one site that you don’t want to be an early adopter on! Have you already given them your Twitter ID and password? CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY!

As for your email address. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a bit of increased spam traffic coming in as result of the sale of this site!

This is my recording from my talk at Podcamp Nashville this morning. The outline was literally typed up just hours before I spoke. You know me, I just like to speak from my heart.

I had a touch of nerves just minutes before I spoke, but like normal, that all went away after I got started.

Here are my notes that I was reading from!

Podcasting As A Career in TWENTY MINUTES or less!

Introduction in 3 minutes or less!

CC Chapman’s Managing The Gray – Episode 50
How to Break Into New Media as a Career

CC gave some great tips to folks who often ask how to break into new media as a career. I want to tell you a little about my story and then let you know how I got to where I am today, fits in with the advice that CC gave in his show!

My name is Cliff Ravenscraft
I’m married, going on 12 years, to my lovely wife, Stephanie
I have three children ages 8, 6, and 2
I recently left my career in insurance after 11 years to pursue my passion for a living as a full time podcast and new media personality.

A Couple of Facts About Me that helped lead me to where I am today!
Insurance Agent – I Love To Sell!
Associate Pastor – I Love To Talk!
Pastor of Small Groups – I Love To Teach!
I Love People!
I Love Technology – I’m a gadget freak!

How I got into podcasting as a hobby in five minutes or less!
Leo Leporte + Father Roaderick + A Couple From Hawaii

My First Podcast – Lost – Faith – Technology! – Generally Speaking!
People begged me to do just Lost!
14,000 Listeners within just the first few episodes!
My Calling To Ministry
Launched More Podcasts!

The Decision To Go Full Time! – In 4 Minutes Or Less!
Used to be VERY Successful as an insurance agent!
Lost All Passion for Insurance!
Podcasting On My Mind Every Waking Moment!
January 2007, decided to do it as a part time job!
Started Consulting
Got too busy and really affecting my DAY JOB!
Decided I either had to go full time or go back to podcasting as a hobby!
Decided to focus on the Day Job!
Became Extremely Miserable!
Everyone told me, CLIFF YOU ARE MEANT TO BE A PODCASTER!
My Listeners
My Insurance Clients
My Underwriters
My friends
My pastor

MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!! MY WIFE!

How To Tell My Parents!!!!!
The 90 Day Notice!

HOW DOES ONE EARN A LIVING PODCASTING AS A PROFESSION – IN 3 MINUTES OR LESS!

ANSWER: I’m still working on that one!

Premium Content – The gspn.tv Monthly Support Team!
hundreds of listeners pay to hear all our content!

Sponsorship – Shows like FamilyFromTheHeart.com have a sponsor.

Webinars!

Podcast Consulting

Equipment Sales!

I’m constantly looking into other avenues for stream of income

THINGS CC CHAPMAN SHARED IN HIS MANAGING THE GRAY!

You Must Discover Your Niche!
Entertainment
Technology
Faith

Be Passionate About Your Niche!
People Are Drawn To Passion
I’m pretty darn Passionate

You Need A Strong Work Ethic!
I recently had to MAKE MYSELF declare one day a week as a day I don’t work!

Be involved!
I answer every single email
I try to play ever call in our shows
I create ways to interact with people and for them to interact with each other.
Online Forum
Twitter
Facebook
LIVE EVENTS!

WHAT CC SAID:

Be Curious! – Have Fun With New Technology
I try nearly every new technology that hits the block!
I try to find ways to use it to interact with my community.

Network, Network, Network.
That’s Why I’m Here
Podcamp Boston- Over 200 Business Cards!

Working Hard is Important, but luck can play a vital role.
CC called it luck, and didn’t want to really go into the discussion of destiny, fate, etc. That’s just not what his show’s about.

For me, you can call it luck, but I know in my heart, I was born to podcast! This is my calling in life.

You Have To Get Paid – Don’t UnderValue Yourself!
This was the most difficult thing to grasp!
I’m still working on how to go about charging for stuff that is just second nature to me!

To Me…. Podcasting is all about Entertaining, Encouraging, and Inspiring Others and Building Community

Discuss Podcasting in the gspn.tv Community Forum.

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