Is your online-self really you, or just an alias? Google Plus seems to think you’re one in the same. That’s why the new social networking site, as an article on CNN Tech reveals in its title, is starting to “boot ‘fake name’ users.”

Though praised by the tech community for its innovative features like Circles and group video chats, Google Plus has instated a policy that users must use their real names “to fight spam and prevent fake profiles.”

The debate is simply whether or not people want to be identified by their image online, and take responsibility for it. Facebook wants you to escape into a parallel universe and care less about the reflection of your online behavior. You can go by a fake name, have a picture of the Lochness monster as your own, and call it a day. Google, on the other hand, truly wants people to be able to find you— the real you— through your Google profile.

A Google spokeswoman said in an email, “By providing your common name, you will be assisting all people you know— friends, family members, classmates, co-workers and other acquaintances— in finding and creating a connection with the right person online.”

But what if you don’t want to be found?

College-bound seniors and job-seeking young adults often change or abbreviate their names on Facebook to preserve their image for future bosses, co-workers, schools and universities. Though Google’s position may be a little strong, it’s important to remember that whether you’re a CEO or 17, you never know who’s watching you online.

If Google sticks to this position, it will be even more important to monitor the information you post and posts about you.

Congratulations to Lynd, a growing commercial real estate investment and management company, for this feature story in the San Antonio News Express.  The article detailed  how brothers Mike and David Lynd are taking the company their father founded to a new level. Lynd has made substantial investments in distressed properties this year with big plans for future growth. Their strategic use of public relations has not only crafted an image for the company as it grows, but has also created new business leads. To read more click here.

In an age where face-to-face communication seems to be on the outs, even the gruesome act of firing someone has transposed itself onto the social media platform. Rather than do the deed in person with a melancholic handshake to seal the deal, many have taken to mass media outlets instead.

Chris Colfer of Glee reported last week that he found out he was not going to be a cast member for the show’s third season…through Twitter. According to People Magazine, Creator Ryan Murphy took to Twitter before letting Colfer know he got the boot, and of course, thousands tweeted Colfer with their reactions.

“I didn’t necessarily know that it was going to be our last season next year,” he told Access Hollywood. Well, he certainly knows now! And Colfer isn’t the only one that’s gotten the bad news from the media. According to Crushable.com, former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi found out she’d been expunged via a news article, Fox-News on air commentator Marc Lammot Hill got notified of his expulsion by checking his own Google Alerts, and Alyson Hanigan reportedly heard she had been slayed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer by tuning into a co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Entertainment Weekly interview.

Though this certainly means bad news for Colfer and his fellow ousted co-stars, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, it could be worse for Fox if they don’t enact some sort of crisis communications plan. Having yet to comment on the incident, Fox needs to address the hurt done unto the three actors as well as the mistake made by the Glee producers.

And most importantly, while media, both social and traditional, is a current craze, some institutions require personal attention. As in, in person! If you’re letting someone go, do so respectfully. Look them in the eye, explain the reasons for your decision, and shake their hand.

Privacy is a hot topic in the social media industry and Google’s recent release of Google + is sure to stoke up the fire.  That’s because Google and Facebook see privacy differently.  Facebook encourages users to share more, to be more integrated with their network, to share links, pictures, updates their status with their friends.  Google, after weathering their own privacy storm (remember Google Buzz?), is taking a more conservative approach with Google +.  Google thinks users would rather compartmentalize their sharing, that is to share certain things only with certain people.  That’s the idea behind the circles – a Google+ user can choose to share pictures, updates and links with only the people or groups they want.

What does this mean for your business?

Privacy should always be a one of the top concerns for anyone who goes online.  Frequently checking and updating your privacy settings on any social media is important for maintaining control of your brand.  Do you really want to share everything with everyone?  We’ve written advice on drawing the line between your personal and professional  life on social media, but what should you know about privacy on Google +?

First of all, Google + allows you to add people to circles, but won’t show the person which circle you’ve added them too.   This allows you to share your company’s latest news with coworkers, colleagues and friends in the industry, but not share your kid’s latest preschool award.  Google + also lets you share in extended circles, meaning your update will be shared with your circle and also two degrees outside your circle (so your circles, circle).  This is especially useful when you’re posting something about new business or perhaps looking for a new employee.   You can also share with individuals only, much like a private message on Facebook or a direct message on Twitter.  Google + also allows you to set privacy settings on your account, so you can choose which sections of your profile are visible.

Will Google+ take over Facebook?

Only time will tell.  Google is banking that people want to control their online exposure while Facebook is banking on the fact that people care less and less about their online exposure.   For businesses, it’s important to remember that social media can be a powerful messaging and branding tool, but that like anything online it has to be managed!

Here at Boardroom, we have a very open environment in the office. Rather than isolate ourselves from each other, our cozy cubicles allow us to communicate easily and efficiently. Unlike most, we like our cubicles.

Thanks to an article in Fast Company magazine titled, “Redesigning Cubicles,” our cubicles may be receiving a face-lift. The typical cubicles or “corporation killjoy” are no more.

On those beautiful sunny Florida days, all you want to do is be outside. And according to the article, giving your office that “outdoor” feel is simple; you can add plants for some natural greenery and have shorter cubicle walls. The plants will give your cubicle the fresh oxygen of the outdoors, and the shorter walls will give you a better view of your office’s window and a better opportunity to interact with colleagues.

Other creative ideas for ways to be interactive and friendly would be to add a foldout chair and a media screen. The foldout chair can be used to let clients sit in your cubicle comfortably or colleagues can join you for a scenic view of a tropical paradise on your large media screen.

To accommodate colleagues and clients’ needs, an adjustable desk is perfect for all heights so no one has to squeeze or stretch to get their work done. And if you have a client who requests a webcam-meeting, you can have a special webcam lighting feature in your cubicle so it doesn’t look like you’ve been partying all night.

But say you want some alone time for the hectic office life for you and your client or for yourself, adding a privacy shield gives your cubicle the “office-like” feel. Another great thing to add is noise-canceling speakers to cancel out those bothersome noises if you’re hounded with work or if colleagues are shouting throughout the office.

With these simple tips, you can create your own safe-haven at work within your walled-in space. We certainly have. And Boardroom has never looked better!

It’s the case heard ‘round the world, and everyone seems to have something to say about it. Yes, Casey Anthony’s controversial trial and her equally controversial choice in counsel, Jose Baez, have made national headlines and dominated the media. With virtually no personal effort of his own besides taking on Anthony as his client, Baez has found his name all over the media before, during, and after the trial.

Though we all seem to have differing opinions regarding the verdict(s), there’s one thing we can agree on: Baez has gone from a nobody to a somebody, and might just be here to stay.

Baez, a high school drop-out and relatively new lawyer (he’s only been practicing for three years), has made quite the reputation for himself. His peers in the field have named him the luckiest man in America, and just one day after the sentencing, he sat down with the one-and-only Barbara Walters to discuss his thoughts. He told Walters, “After I heard the last not guilty verdict in the court yesterday…I thought to myself, ‘My life may start to change.’”

And it has.

Rumors of potential book deals, bio-movies, reality TV shows, and more surround the lawyer.

The lesson us PR folks can take is simple. You don’t have to be a lawyer to recognize the idea of sacrificing in the short term for long term gains. Sometimes it’s better to give up time and money in the short term for the publicity, exposure, and post-benefits that await us in the long run. So while the aggressive tactics Baez used in the courtroom remain questionable, his PR skills have most definitely served him well.

Just when you thought social media wasn’t pervasive enough, Google has launched “The Google Plus Project”- their take on the networking frenzy. Though as the recent Miami Herald article explains, “For now, Google+ is for social media geeks,” the week-old site is still running on an exclusive basis— only dolling out limited invitations so they can continue to work out the kinks— many believe Facebook may have a run for its money. If G+ is successful, it could be the first real competitor for Facebook in terms of both users and advertisers.

G+ works on the simple premise of combining Facebook and Twitter while cracking down on privacy settings. With the site, you can compile your friends into “Circles” so you have more control over what you’re sharing and with whom. For example, “Co-workers” “Friends” and “Family” can now all be grouped separately, so you don’t have to share your family reunion photos with your boss or your bachelorette party pictures with your grandparents. The only person who can see your Circles is you, which is a big plus for those interested in having more privacy. Like Twitter, people don’t have to agree to be friends to see your feed of activity, but there is much more control over who sees a post than on Twitter. Unlike Twitter, you can disable other users from sharing a post you made— another attempt at beefing up privacy.

But there’s more to Google+ than just these circles. With the “Hangout” feature, you can instantly create a video chat room with up to ten of your friends, and you can also alert certain groups of friends as to when you’re hanging out. The “Sparks” feature gives you a continuous newsfeed that relates to specific keywords you choose. “Instant Uploads” automatically posts pictures and videos from your mobile device into a private album. From there, you can decide where to place the photos. And “Huddle” is a group texting device, so you can save time and text all of your friends at once in a group chat situation.

Stay tuned for “addition”-al information on the Plus Project. If the hundreds of millions of people with Google accounts take a liking to the sleek site and advertisers follow suit, G+ could be the next great social media tool on the Web.

Jeff Haden recently wrote about 8 words you should not use on your Twitter bio for his LinkedIn column. This should be expanded to essentially all bios – and other copy as well.  Too many brochures, websites, and other collateral use jargon that is so repetitive, it is meaningless.  How many things are truly passions?  What makes you an authority?  And what the heck is a technologist? Click on the image below to read his full article.

Also check out his “10 words you should never use on your website.”   Good stuff!

Boardroom’s very own account executive, Jami Baker, recently joined The Children’s Bereavement Center’s Young Leaders Board.  Last Friday they raised over $5,000 at their most recent fundraising event.  About 300 people attended to taste desserts from STK and have drinks provided by Wodka Vodka, Mar Azul Tequila and Crown Wine and Spirits at Coco de Ville in the Ganesvort hotel.

The Children’s Bereavement Center (CBC) provides peer support groups for children, teens and young adults who are grieving the death of a loved one.  Proceeds from the event will directly sponsor five children to attend the CBC for a full year.

“The Young Leaders have gone above and beyond our expectations and created an incredible event,” said Mindy Cassel, Ph.D. and Executive Director of the CBC.  “We are so lucky to have a board of dedicated and enthusiastic young leaders.”

The CBC promotes the principles supported by research that grieving is a normal, natural process and that people have the ability to heal from their loss at their own unique pace and in their own style.

“We are so excited about the success of this party,” said Lauren Zuckerman, Chair of the event.  “Our goal is to spread the word and really gain visibility in the community; we are looking forward to having more great events like this one.”

For more information about the CBC, please call 305-668-4902 or visit www.childbereavement.org.