How to Control Your Contact Information

Your contact information is one of your most valuable professional assets. Tabbio gives you granular control over who can see your email, phone, and other contact details. This guide shows you how to manage these settings effectively.

Overview of Contact Information Controls

Types of Contact Information

• Email Address: Primary professional email
• Phone Number: Mobile or office phone
• Location: City, region, or full address
• LinkedIn Profile: Professional social media
• Portfolio URLs: Personal websites, GitHub, etc.
• Messaging Preferences: How people can contact you

Visibility Levels Available

1. Public: Visible to anyone viewing your profile
2. Employers Only: Visible only to verified employers
3. Private Link Recipients: Visible to people with your private link
4. Hidden: Not visible to anyone except you
5. Contact Form Only: People can message you without seeing direct contact info

Email Address Privacy

Default Email Protection

By default, your email address is never shown publicly, even with a public profile. This protects you from:

• Spam emails: Automated scraping and unwanted messages
• Phishing attempts: Fraudulent emails targeting your account
• Unsolicited contact: Inappropriate or irrelevant messages
• Data harvesting: Third-party collection of contact information

Email Visibility Options

Option 1: Completely Hidden

• Who sees it: Only you in your account settings
• Contact method: People use Tabbio's internal messaging system
• Benefits: Maximum privacy, no spam, controlled communication
• Best for: Privacy-conscious professionals, sensitive roles

Option 2: Employers Only

• Who sees it: Verified employer accounts on Tabbio
• Contact method: Direct email from legitimate employers
• Benefits: Serious job inquiries, professional opportunities
• Best for: Active job seekers, career changers

Option 3: Private Link Recipients

• Who sees it: People you share your private link with
• Contact method: Direct email from selected contacts
• Benefits: Selective sharing, networking opportunities
• Best for: Networking events, specific job applications

Option 4: Contact Form Proxy

• Who sees it: Nobody sees your actual email address
• Contact method: Messages forwarded through Tabbio
• Benefits: Screen messages before responding, no spam
• Best for: Passive job seekers, consultants

Managing Email Preferences

Step-by-Step Settings

1. Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Find "Contact Information" section
3. Select email visibility level
4. Choose notification preferences
5. Save your changes

Email Notification Controls

• New Messages: Get notified when someone contacts you
• Employer Interest: Alerts when employers view your profile
• Application Updates: Status changes on job applications
• Weekly Summary: Digest of profile activity

Phone Number Privacy

Phone Number Protection

Phone numbers are sensitive personal information and should be shared carefully. Tabbio provides multiple protection levels.

Phone Visibility Options

Hidden by Default

• Standard setting: Phone numbers are hidden from all viewers
• Contact alternative: People use messaging or email instead
• Recommendation: Keep hidden unless specifically needed
• Override: You can choose to show for specific visibility levels

Selective Display

• Employers only: Show phone to verified employers for urgent contact
• Private links: Include phone when sharing with specific contacts
• Regional considerations: Consider local business culture and norms
• Professional context: More appropriate for senior roles or client-facing positions

International Phone Numbers

• Format properly: Include country code (+1, +44, +971, etc.)
• Local expectations: Understand regional contact preferences
• Time zones: Consider when sharing across different time zones
• Business hours: Set expectations for when you're available

Location Information

Location Privacy Levels

City/Region Only (Recommended)

• What shows: "Dubai, UAE" or "New York, NY"
• Benefits: Shows general availability without exact location
• Privacy: Protects home address while showing work area
• Professional: Appropriate for most job searches

Full Address (Not Recommended)

• What shows: Complete street address
• Risks: Privacy concerns, security issues
• Limited use cases: Only for specific business needs
• Alternative: Use co-working space or business address

Remote Work Indication

• Show "Remote": Indicates work-from-anywhere capability
• Geographic flexibility: Shows willingness to work across time zones
• Global opportunities: Attracts international employers
• Modern preference: Aligns with current work trends

Location for Different Roles

• Local roles: City/region helps with commute considerations
• Remote roles: Emphasize remote work capability
• International roles: Show willingness to relocate
• Consulting: May want to show travel availability

Search Engine Visibility

Hide from Search Engines Feature

Tabbio provides a "Hide from Search Engines" setting that prevents your profile from appearing in Google, Bing, and other search engine results.

How It Works

• Technical implementation: Adds "noindex" meta tag to your profile
• Search engine compliance: Major search engines respect this setting
• Existing listings: May take weeks to remove from current search results
• New indexing: Prevents future indexing of your profile

When to Use Hide from Search Engines

Recommended for:

• Currently employed professionals: Avoid discovery by current employer
• Sensitive roles: Government, security, confidential industries
• Career transitions: While exploring new directions privately
• Personal preference: Anyone wanting minimal online footprint

Not recommended for:

• Active job seekers: Limits discoverability by recruiters
• Freelancers: Reduces client discovery opportunities
• Public figures: Expected to have searchable professional presence
• Growing network: Limits organic professional connections

Search Engine Settings Management

Enabling/Disabling

1. Access Privacy Settings: Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Find Search Engine section: Look for "Search Engine Visibility"
3. Toggle setting: Check/uncheck "Hide from Search Engines"
4. Save changes: Confirm your preference
5. Wait for effect: Changes may take 2-4 weeks to fully take effect

Impact on Discoverability

• Reduced visibility: Fewer people will find your profile organically
• Targeted sharing: Rely more on private links and direct sharing
• Professional networks: May need to be more proactive in networking
• Long-term career: Consider impact on future career opportunities

LinkedIn and Social Media Linking

LinkedIn Integration

• Profile linking: Connect your LinkedIn profile to your Tabbio profile
• Consistency check: Ensure information matches across platforms
• Privacy coordination: Align privacy settings on both platforms
• Professional branding: Maintain consistent professional image

Other Professional Platforms

• GitHub: Essential for developers and technical roles
• Portfolio sites: Personal websites showcasing work
• Industry platforms: Role-specific professional networks
• Company profiles: Links to current employer (use carefully)

Social Media Privacy

• Professional only: Only link professional social media accounts
• Privacy review: Ensure linked accounts have appropriate privacy settings
• Content audit: Review what's visible on linked platforms
• Regular updates: Keep links current and remove outdated profiles

Advanced Contact Controls

Messaging Preferences

Internal Messaging System

• Tabbio inbox: Secure messaging within the platform
• Message filtering: Control who can send you messages
• Response time: Set expectations for message responses
• Archive system: Organize and manage conversations

Contact Form Alternative

• Anonymous inquiry: People can contact you without seeing your email
• Screening capability: Review messages before responding
• Spam protection: Built-in filtering for inappropriate messages
• Professional barrier: Maintains professional boundaries

Contact Information for Different Audiences

For Employers

• Professional email: Use business-appropriate email address
• Business phone: Consider dedicated business line
• Response expectations: Set clear availability hours
• Professional platforms: Highlight relevant professional profiles

For Networking

• Selective sharing: Use private links for networking events
• Event-specific: Create temporary private links for specific events
• Follow-up capability: Ensure people can contact you after meeting
• Professional boundary: Maintain appropriate professional distance

For Clients (Freelancers/Consultants)

• Business contact: Use dedicated business email/phone
• Availability hours: Clear communication about working hours
• Response times: Set expectations for project communication
• Multiple channels: Provide alternative contact methods

Privacy by Profile Type

Job Seekers (Active)

Recommended settings:

• Email: Employers only or private link recipients
• Phone: Hidden or employers only
• Location: City/region visible
• Search engines: Allow indexing for discoverability
• LinkedIn: Visible and up-to-date

Employed Professionals (Passive)

Recommended settings:

• Email: Hidden or private link only
• Phone: Hidden
• Location: City/region only
• Search engines: Consider hiding to avoid employer discovery
• LinkedIn: Careful coordination with Tabbio privacy

Freelancers/Consultants

Recommended settings:

• Email: Visible to attract clients
• Phone: Consider showing for client communication
• Location: Show service area
• Search engines: Allow for client discovery
• Portfolio: Prominently display work samples

Senior Executives

Recommended settings:

• Email: Professional discretion, possibly hidden
• Phone: Hidden unless specific business need
• Location: Region only for security
• Search engines: Depends on public profile strategy
• Professional platforms: Carefully curated presence

Contact Information Security

Email Security Best Practices

• Professional email: Use business or professional email service
• Strong password: Secure your email account with strong passwords
• Two-factor authentication: Enable 2FA on your email account
• Regular monitoring: Watch for suspicious email activity

Phone Security

• Business line: Consider separate business phone number
• Voicemail: Professional voicemail greeting and message
• Call screening: Be cautious about unknown numbers
• International calls: Be aware of international calling costs and scams

Identity Protection

• Consistent information: Ensure accuracy across all platforms
• Regular audits: Periodically review all contact information
• Update promptly: Change contact details when they change
• Monitor usage: Watch for unauthorized use of your contact information

Troubleshooting Contact Settings

Common Issues

Contact Information Not Updating

Possible causes:

• Cache delay in search engines
• Platform synchronization lag
• Browser caching old information

Solutions:

1. Clear browser cache
2. Wait 24-48 hours for changes to propagate
3. Check settings are saved correctly
4. Contact support if issues persist

Receiving Unwanted Contact

If you're getting inappropriate contact:

1. Review visibility settings: Ensure contact info isn't too widely visible
2. Use contact form: Switch to contact form instead of direct email
3. Block users: Report and block inappropriate contacts
4. Adjust settings: Reduce visibility level temporarily

Search Engine Listings

If your profile still appears in search results after hiding:

• Be patient: Search engines can take 2-4 weeks to update
• Submit removal request: Use Google Search Console for faster removal
• Check all variants: Look for different versions of your name
• Contact support: If listings persist after reasonable time

Legal and Compliance Considerations

Data Protection Rights

• Right to control: Choose what contact information to share
• Right to update: Change or correct contact information anytime
• Right to delete: Remove contact information from your profile
• Right to restrict: Limit who can see your contact details

Professional Obligations

• Industry requirements: Some industries may require certain contact visibility
• Company policies: Check if your employer has policies about professional profiles
• Client expectations: Consider client needs for contact accessibility
• Legal compliance: Ensure contact practices comply with local laws

International Considerations

• Privacy laws: Different countries have different privacy requirements
• Business customs: Contact preferences vary by culture and region
• Cross-border communication: Consider international communication preferences
• Time zone awareness: Be considerate of global time differences

Contact Information Best Practices

Regular Maintenance

• Monthly reviews: Check contact information accuracy monthly
• Update promptly: Change details immediately when they change
• Test functionality: Ensure contact methods work properly
• Monitor responses: Track how people are contacting you

Professional Presentation

• Consistent formatting: Use professional formatting for all contact info
• Clear availability: Set expectations for response times
• Professional channels: Use business-appropriate contact methods
• Backup methods: Provide alternative contact options

Strategic Visibility

• Goal-aligned: Match contact visibility to your career goals
• Audience-appropriate: Consider who needs to contact you and how
• Risk assessment: Balance accessibility with privacy concerns
• Regular adjustment: Change settings as your career situation changes

Getting Help

Support Resources

• Contact privacy questions: ahmed@tabbio.com
• Technical issues: Include screenshots of settings if possible
• Urgent privacy concerns: Mark emails as urgent
• Feature requests: Suggest improvements to contact controls

Self-Help Resources

• Settings guide: In-app tutorial for contact information controls
• Privacy center: Comprehensive privacy documentation
• Best practices: Guidelines for different professional situations
• Community: Connect with other professionals about privacy strategies

Summary Checklist

Contact Information Audit

• [ ] Review all contact information for accuracy
• [ ] Set appropriate visibility levels for each type of contact info
• [ ] Configure search engine visibility preference
• [ ] Test all contact methods to ensure they work
• [ ] Set up professional email/phone if needed

Privacy Settings Review

• [ ] Check email visibility level matches your goals
• [ ] Verify phone number privacy settings
• [ ] Confirm location information is appropriate
• [ ] Review LinkedIn and social media connections
• [ ] Test contact form functionality if using

Ongoing Maintenance

• [ ] Schedule monthly contact information reviews
• [ ] Monitor for unwanted contact or spam
• [ ] Update information immediately when it changes
• [ ] Adjust privacy settings as career situation evolves
• [ ] Stay informed about new privacy features

Your contact information is a bridge between your professional goals and career opportunities. Control it wisely to maximize opportunities while protecting your privacy.

Next Steps

• Understand profile visibility settings
• Learn about private links security
• Review account security practices