Social Networking: How much exposure to promote your blog?
June 9, 2008 – 2:33 am by BeanDo not put anything online that you wouldn’t put on a grocery store bulletin board
That is basically the advice of the Women’s Dish Blog about how much information to disclose online when searching for a new job. When it comes to social networking sites, you might want to consider even less. You might put your phone number on that supermarket bulletin board when you have a litter of kittens that need homes, but I wouldn’t advocate posting your phone number on social networking sites. There are exceptions to that, especially for freelancers that have a business phone that can be screened. A business blog with a brick and mortar presence will want to have their address available as well as their email and phone. If you are blogging about your joys of baby rearing, you will want to keep all that information private. What about if your blogging about your garden? It might make sense to list your geographic region if not state. Gardening issues definitely vary if you live in New Zealand versus New England versus Arizona.
Remember that if you register on a social networking site to promote your blog, you are now associating your blog with the information that you share there. This is true if you are sharing your Instant Message contact, the country you live in, the other social networking sites you participate in or the blog posts that you bookmark. So, how do you determine that balance of disclosure that allows your customers to contact you or your readers to match interests with your need for privacy and security?
For this week’s discussion add your comments here or by pinging back from your own blog.
7 Responses to “Social Networking: How much exposure to promote your blog?”
The Women’s Dish Blog link doesn’t work for me.
Carol
By Carol on Jun 9, 2008
This is a very thought-provoking subject to me because I have several different areas of interest. I think there’s a fine line where social networking could be counter-productive to the goal of the blog…I’m still mulling;O)
By Susie on Jun 11, 2008
I participate in three digital art forums and one all-art-media forum, plus I have paintings at Painter Magazine’s online gallery. All of these are “private” and require registration and being “checked” before admittance. Yet, and I’m appalled at this, when I search for my name (either Barb or Barbara) many many pages show up! It seems every response I’ve ever written in these “private” forums is listed. What’s worse is there’s another Barbara Hartsook who is involved with genealogy research, and her name intersperses with mine. No way to tell the difference. Hmm…
Seems we’re bound to be visible if we participate even in the slightest. And I do find that a bit scary…
I’m not writing anything I’m ashamed of, and actually I don’t mind if people read what I write or see my art work. (I don’t post it if I don’t like it myself… hahaha.) But I’m an introvert, and the more visible I am, the more vulnerable I feel. It’s a good thing to be aware of.
Barb
By Barb Hartsook on Jun 12, 2008
Barb has some interesting points about exposure. But when you think about it, if you want to be known for something, part or even all of your personal life is now public domain. Look at all the movie stars. They have no personal life at all. They have to be resolved to that if they choose a career in the entertainment industry. I think anonymity is easier to maintain on the web, where you are not as exposed to the public. But you still lose some aspect of privacy based on how much you decide to be known for what you aspire to do.
By David on Jun 13, 2008
I personally have a problem with privacy and social networking. For one thing, I am not interested in what teenagers post on myspace, and that seems to be the norm. I have talked to a few people about this and it seems to be a generational issue. IM is another thing I have no interest in. If I need someone’s attention or information, I pick up the phone. Maybe as I explore the blogging world, I’ll change my mine - who knows? I’m always open to new and different (if it serves my purposes).
Peggy
By Peggy Taranenko on Jun 17, 2008