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Anonymous Blogging – Good or Bad?

General


People have many different viewpoints about revealing your identity on your blog. Some suggest being anonymous. Others argue that you should openly be yourself. I’m trying to figure out what you think.

My reasons

Simply put, here are some of the reasons I have my name (and even picture!) on this blog:

  1. It makes the blog more personal
  2. It promotes transparency
  3. The real name and picture make me real to readers
  4. It enhances reader trust in me
  5. I can control Google search results for my name
  6. My online image is what I make it
  7. This blog actually enhances my resume

Granted, I’m really a “baby blogger,” since I’ve only been seriously blogging since August. But these are my reasons for not being anonymous.

What are yours?

I’m curious to know what your take is on this. Do you blog anonymously or under a pseudonym? Why or why not? Are some of my reasons crazy? Please, prove me wrong.

[tags]legal andrew, anonymous blogging[/tags]

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December 14, 2006 by Andrew Flusche

Comments

9 Responses to “Anonymous Blogging – Good or Bad?”

  1. The Frugal Law Student
    December 14th, 2006

    My main reason is that I talk about my finances. However, I’m thinking about ditching the anonymity pretty soon. Do you think a site like the Frugal Law Student would enhance my resume? At least it would be something interesting to talk about during interviews.

  2. Andrew F
    December 14th, 2006

    I definitely understand where you’re coming from. Disclosing finances isn’t something I’m completely comfortable with. On the other hand, a lot of bloggers do it & do so quite successfully.

    As far as the resume goes, I’m not quite sure. I don’t have my URL on my legal resume. It’s not entirely appropriate, in my opinion. However, I don’t doubt that some employers may have seen my blog (since it’s attached to my name). I have brought it up in interviews (the “what do you do for fun?” questions), and it has been taken in a positive manner. The employer I’m actually going to work for was excited that I knew about technology.

    Thanks for commenting. I’m hoping to get a dialog going here.

  3. Jason Alba
    December 15th, 2006

    I think having a professional blog that shows breadth, depth or passion would be a great way to show more about you, your though process, etc. than just a resume or a generic interview.

    You create your online persona (like, Andrew, when you think of me, who do you think of? What am I?), which can cross job titles or companies… I think its a huge part of personal branding.

    The issue becomes, what is inappropriate to write, and how do you stay away from it (like a bad rant) – maybe you need to rant somewhere else anon 😉

  4. Andrew Flusche
    December 15th, 2006

    Jason,

    You present some really great points about personal branding. That can be an invaluable tool throughout life. You’re absolutely right that you must be careful about how you brand yourself, though, and what you stay away from.

    Out of curiosity, do you have an anonymous alter-ego online somewhere? I’m not trying to unmask you, just curious.

  5. Jason Alba
    December 15th, 2006

    I’ll never tell my secrets! Never!

    Actually, it is all I can do to maintain my one blog, I’ve tried to do another but I put so much time and thought into content, posting once a day each business day.

    So, no, I don’t have an online alter-ego. Just lots of off-line alter-egos 😉

  6. Andrew Flusche
    December 15th, 2006

    I guess we could always go around posting comments on other blogs under pseudonyms. Hey, maybe that’s a good idea to get comments going – fight with yourself.

    Yeah, I’m crazy.

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