What Info Do You Want to Share With The World?

Know More: Home Based Business 2.0, Home Based Business

I ran across this blog post about staying safe at home. I am a single mom of 7 kids and I have been back in the 'dating scene' for about 9 months. I have always thought I have done a pretty good job of using common sense about the new-fangled online dating sites that are all the rage. I don't give out my last name, I don't give out my home number-just my cell, I don't give my home address, I use a generic dating email, I meet them in a neutral place etc. but then the above blog post got me thinking.

With regards to running a business from home you will find yourself needing to share some personal information and how do you know how much to share and how much to keep personal? If you are doing business from home it would seem just natural to use your home address for shipments, letters, even meetings.

I want to share a little story about personal information and how easily it can be found out. I was interviewing some writers for some contract writing pieces. I would handle the initial contact through email, offer some info on what they would be writing and then ask for writing samples that illustrated experience writing similar pieces. One man just didn't have what we were looking for and I told him. He was very persistent and asked if he could fax some other examples to me. Since my fax number is also my home number I ignored his email.

The next thing I know I am receiving a fax from him and wondering how the heck he got my number. I called him back and he told me that I had signed my email with my company's and my name. He did a search to find our company online, got our home office number and called to ask if he could have my fax number. The receptionist was new and didn't think anything about handing over my phone number to anyone who might ask for it.

Lucky for me he just wanted to write for us. If he had wanted to find out where I lived it wouldn't have been difficult. With a name and a phone number he could have easily found my home address. Point of the story: use a business number instead of your home number, use a postal box instead of your home address, and even use a separate email address for business than your personal email.

When men I am getting to know ask what I do for a living and I share with them they usually ask for our web address. Other than my real name and picture I try my best not to share any other personal info in my blog. The world is reading and you just can't be too careful. Sure, every business wants the consumer knocking at the door-just not the front door to your home!

Marta: this is good advice. Since you mention the "dating scene," I wonder if you could help me. I've just realized I would like to marry Meg Ryan. With your months of experience as a single parent, what advice would you give me? Thanks, as always, and keep up the good work.

Posted by: John Gratton | May 20, 2006 6:49 PM | Permalink to Comment

John,

Surprisingly enough I have been told in years past that I look like Meg Ryan! LOL Not so much anymore but for a good 3 years straight I had a comment a week, at least! As to how to marry the real one? I have no idea. Good luck. I wanted Brad Pitt did I get him? NO!

Marta

Posted by: Marta Wells | May 20, 2006 6:54 PM | Permalink to Comment

Brad Pitt's parents live not far from me, and I taught where he went to high school. Want me to see if I can set you up for his next time around? I would just have to scale the fence and get past the guards and the dogs, but I probably could do it. Although, I must say, his track record for marriages isn't too good. Are you sure you want to go in that direction?

Posted by: John | May 22, 2006 1:41 PM | Permalink to Comment

And don't forget about Zillow...If you have someone's address you can pretty near look in their window with Zillow's new "bird's eye view"!

Posted by: Cathi Kent | May 22, 2006 11:58 PM | Permalink to Comment

It's incredible how much personal information you can find about people for free on the Web. It just goes to show how careful we all should be with our personal information. Thanks for the great post, Marta!

Posted by: Easton Ellsworth | May 23, 2006 11:29 AM | Permalink to Comment

Easton,

Scary huh? You can never be too careful. In a recent article in Reader's Digest it told about the newest high tech ways of stealing identities!

Posted by: Marta Wells | May 23, 2006 10:09 PM | Permalink to Comment

Free Money ! Yes , Free !

Fusion Cash pays you to take surveys, enter contests, request free samples, and more!

You can get a payment from Fusion Cash without ever using a credit card or spending a dime. Our advertisers know that savvy customers want to get paid for their time. It's really that easy. What have you got to lose?

Hello. My name is John

This is my new business I have started. Made money the first day and i will make more.

Get $3 deposited into your account instantly.

You've got nothing to lose and FREE cash to gain!

http://lnk.in/6es9

Posted by: john h. | December 13, 2008 9:56 AM | Permalink to Comment

Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

related entries

7 Comments/Trackbacks

submit a trackback

post a comment

Comment Preview

Advertise

Related Resources

recent comments

sponsored ads

topics

subscribe

Current News

resources

Support This Blog

archives

blogroll

Know More Media - Small Business / Home Based Business

know more media network

we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness