A Gangster's Guide to Optimize Internet Security When Building Your Home Based Business

When you hear the term "Internet security" you probably think of identify theft and sites that are unsecured.But, that's not what this hub is about!

I am a relative newbie to on-line marketing. But within these past few months, along with all the wonderful tools and social networking sites I have been exposed, I have learned a few things regarding personal security. If I had it to do over again, I would do a few things differently.

When you start your own home-based business, consider one of two strategies to protect your personal security when using the Internet. Either go into a witness protection program or set it up like you were a gangster! (I personally don't recommend witness protection, because you'd really miss your friends and family!)

So, this hub is for the people who follow that are just beginning to set up their Internet presence. Some of my little tips are for security purposes when you are working online, some are just good business tips for anyone starting any kind of new home-based business.

So here we go with things I would do differently if I had to do it again (aka, How to set yourself up like a gangster to be more secure)

There is a ton of information about all of us on the Internet. Even though I have an unlisted phone number, and it has been unlisted for over 20 years, my name, phone number and address are easily found on the Internet. So, I guess I'm not all that hard to find!

Within the past year, I have gone on line and "googled" myself and was shocked to learn that my personal information was easy to access. So, paying for an unlisted number isn't really providing the extra measure of security I thought I was getting.

When I decided to market myself and my business on line, I made a decision that I should use my real name. I felt uncomfortable about it, but how can you really market yourself and position yourself as an expert if you don't use your name?

Now that my name is out there even more than it was a year ago, I reflect on that and regret that decision. Not that I want to lie about my identity. But if I were to start over again, I would chose an alias or pseudonym. There is just no sense in putting too much personal information right out there for anyone to see. I suppose I would be more concerned about it if I were single, young, and "hot." I'm way past the age of being "hot," but you just never know when you are going to run across a kook.

If you're a woman this can be as simple as using your maiden name. If you're a man, you could use your mother's maiden name. You don't have to be really creative, just use a name that works for you. You can just use a first name if you can get by with it. After all, it worked for Elvis and Cher!

Use this pseudonym for all your Internet marketing purposes. Use it on your websites and use it on your URLs in lieu of your real name.

Even if you have a company name or you incorporate and have a corporation name, use your pseudonym in association with the corporation.

I recommend you purchase a post office box or a mailbox for an address to use for your business that is not your home. Tie that mailbox address to your business along with your pseudonym. By doing this, you are essentially building a completely separate identity for business purposes.

This is particularly important if you intend to use email in your marketing strategy. The Federal Government has become involved in reducing SPAM and have instituted the CAN-SPAM Act which has very specific requirements to help on-line marketers prevent sending unwanted email to individuals. One of these requirements is that any email a marketer sends must include the business address on the email. If you don't want to broadcast your home address, then you need to have your "hide out" established.

So this is just one more tiny little area you can prepare for before jumping into your email campaign with both feet. If you have a post office box or mailbox already available, you can keep your home address out of your marketing. Always a good thing to do.

Have a separate phone line dedicated to your business. This is more than a security issue, it's just good business. If you work from home, you need to have a business line for a number of reasons:

• You need a line you don't have to answer when you are "off" work. If you want to answer a business call at 2:00 am or in the middle of dinner, go for it! But I don't recommend it.
• You need a professional sounding voicemail system. When people reach your voicemail, you want to make sure they know they have the right number and that you take your business seriously.
• You need to keep your kids from picking up a business call. Once again, you need people to know you are serious about your business. If you worked in the corporate world, you wouldn't allow your five year old to answer the phone, so don't do it in your personel business either.

The easiest and least expensive way to do this may be through your cell phone plan. Cell phone companies will allow you to add an additional line to your plan for ten to twenty dollars a month. This is a good idea regardless of whether or not you use your alias. You need to have a phone line with a professional outgoing message for your business anyway. So, tie it to your alias!

OK, so I'm not a gangster. And I am definitely not recommending any kind of illegal activities to be used in your business or marketing campaign.

I don't think my tips are all that astoundingly new. But, they are simple things that I did not think of when I started my home business.

There are so many things to learn and build when you begin a new business. Most first-time home-business entrepreneurs are in information overload.

So these are my tips to you. I hope you can benefit.

Good luck, and be safe out there!