Comments on: Online is Forever

By: Are You Too Visible? | Get Paid to Write Online

Are You Too Visible? | Get Paid to Write Online — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:42:12 +0000

[...] visible is also a problem. What do I mean by that? Deb Ng explained it best when she said that online is forever. It’s great to participate on blogs, forums and social networking sites, but your comments [...]

By: Carol Ferndale

Carol Ferndale — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:22:10 +0000

Actually, that is a good point from Scribette – warning other freelancers about non-payers is quite important and useful.

I have occasionally been troubled by non-payers, but there are ways of sniffing them out in advance – they are the ones that say what they want from you, but then seem to go all vague when money is mentioned.

By: Career Management: Your Online Persona « Writer Friend Jen

Career Management: Your Online Persona « Writer Friend Jen — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:58:27 +0000

[...] Freelance writers who blog should present an online persona that is informative, but still approachable. I’m not saying to write like a robot. But, as a rule, I avoid those things that divide people, like religion and politics. What you post online stays there forever, so be sure to edit before hitting publish. And, if you’re a teacher, be sure to warn your students about the permanence of their online musings. Check out another Freelance Writing Jobs post on this, “Online is Forever.” [...]

By: Confessions of a Freelance Writer: “I blogged my way out of a job.” | Freelance Writing Jobs

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:23:35 +0000

[...] As I sat in front of my laptop, cursor poised over the “Preview and Post” button, I reconsidered anonymity. The whole world could read my blogs—including would-be, bill-paying clients. Could I be blogging myself out of a job? And if so, how could I remedy the situation? As Deb mentioned not long ago, online is forever. [...]

By: Scribette

Scribette — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:28:38 +0000

If the person is warning other writers about a potential employer that does not pay for instance, I personally would be happy that he or she took the time to warn other writers about the company online.

By: IrreverentFreelancer

IrreverentFreelancer — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:40:34 +0000

Late as usual adding to the discussion, but I’m sure it won’t surprise any of you to find that I completely agree with Ann. Heck, not only do I have no qualms about stating the ugly facts about my bad business dealings, I make absolutely no attempt to conceal my identity. I believe the job candidate referred to dodged a major bullet by being passed over for the position. Anyone who would red flag her for being honest and asserting her first amendment rights would likely prove problematic to work for down the road. If that employer knew s/he would never act the way the former employer did, why would s/he have anything to worry about? Not someone I’d want to be dealing with … especially if I were counting on her/him for reliable income.

By: Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:39:39 +0000

I went digging through the archives of my eight-year-old blog and wanted to delete a lot of entries. I know better not to. However, I’m grateful I didn’t say anything mean, talk about someone, or do any antics that would come back and bite me. So in those terms, I’m fine with what I’ve written.

My daughter talks a lot online and in myspace. I’ve told her repeatedly that I know she’s a teen — but eventually she’ll have a job and her employer could look for her stuff online without any regard to her age at the time of posting.

Let’s hope employers will overlook the typical antics of teens. I know many teens who grow up to be fine young adults after high school graduation.

By: Niki

Niki — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:15:37 +0000

I forgot to mention that I have a name in common with someone else. She’s a model so I probably won’t be mistaken for her!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:10:47 +0000

I find it pretty scary to think that things you don’t think still exist are still around to haunt you. I read another blog today about how a woman had a school system use old blog entries against her when she ended up in special education hearings for her child.

I’m feeling very…exposed at the moment, and a little paranoid.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:10:42 +0000

Hi Deb, excellent post and I enjoyed the history lesson! Online reputation management is something with which we should all be concerned. I have google alerts set for my name and my company name. I also use addictomatic daily to find out what is being said about both. I have sometimes found improper uses of my company name (linked to porn) and without checking regularly I cannot manage my online identity. On a positive note it also keeps me alert when my name is mentioned in blog posts, etc as a reference point. I always counsel clients to manage their reputation online and that includes watching what you say, just as you should offline. Gee, Jesse Jackson could have used our advice recently, sure would have saved him some embarrassment.