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YOUR INTERNET TRAIL ~ WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

YOUR INTERNET TRAIL ~ WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Internet

Richie Naggar wrote an excellent post the other day that really got me thinking about what I put out there on the Internet.  Now that we have all entered into the world of Cyberspace, each of us who engages in social media, blogging, emailing, websites, You Tube, etc. have now each have created an Internet trail. 

What does your Internet trail look like?  Does your trail include things that you might not want your clients, family or employers to see?  What about a future spouse, a child, a parent?  Everything that you publish and write carries with it a history of parts of your life.

THINK before you post, write, send or publish.  What may seem like fun today could come back to haunt you later in life.  We are all seeing legal cases where the things posted on the Internet are coming back to incriminate people every day!

What do your comments that you place on sites such as Active Rain or other sites look like?  What is the tone, the message and the personality that you are creating through these comments?  If you tend to leave a negative trail, this is how you will be perceived.  Likewise, a professional and polished comment can make a huge difference in how you are presented to the world.

I tell my own children each day that the world of the Internet has changed all of our lives.  Take care each and every time you post something that you ask yourself if there could ever be a time when you would not want this out there for the world to see?  Ask this question each time BEFORE you press the ENTER, POST, LIKE, UPLOAD, etc.

I work hard to insure that the Internet trail that I am leaving paints a positive picture of who I am.  I want my children and my grandchildren to be proud of who I am.  Protecting our integrity is vital.  Take care to use the utmost discretion when posting!  Your Internet trail is a reflection of YOU!

 

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Comments(9)

Jeanean Gendron
The Address Realty - Redding, CA
Specializing in Selling Unique Properties

Paula, most of the bloggers that I read are every mindful of this advice. There are always a few who are not and your advice is good for us all. I long ago built a blogsite for First Time Home Buyers. AT that time, we were going to partner with an agent that I still work with. Well, I can't remember why but it did not result in our plans going forward and so about six months later, I took his name off the site. Do you know that to this day his name shows up anywhere that blogsite comes up. It's a good thing because he is still my friend and is actually a co-listing agent on my Commercial Buidling up in Mount Shasta. But can you believe that after six months of exposure he will be on that blogsite forever. Proof of the concept. Great advice and good post. Have a beautiful day!

 

Oct 18, 2011 02:34 AM
Larry Lawfer
YourStories Realty Group - Newton, MA
"I listen for a living." It's all about you.

I am someone who has never met you in person and yet I feel I know you well from your internet personality.  You have always show a professionalism, a dogged determination to survive and thrive and a willingness to reach out and help.  I look forward to meeting this wonderful human in person some day.

Oct 18, 2011 02:34 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Thank you both.  I continue to see things on the Internet posted by people that make me cringe.  I just don't think we all take enough time to really ponder on some of the things that we put out there.  Taking a pause or two before hitting that button could save you a lot of heartache in the future.  Hope you both have a great day. 

Oct 18, 2011 03:00 AM
Broker Patty Da Silva Da Silva
Green Realty Properties® - 954-667-7253 - Cooper City, FL
Top Listing Broker

Paula, I am in complete agreement. THINK BEFORE YOU POST! Folks don't always realize that what they do on the Internet is there to stay.

Oct 18, 2011 03:15 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Paula. You are so right on about our "Intranet Trail and Presence" online. Opinions are being formed about what we blog about and what we make our comments on to. We certainly don't want to give the wrong impression, since you might not get another chance.

Oct 18, 2011 03:27 AM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

Paula,

I think we have held back on showcasing our flaws, though it's impossible to be totally discreet when interacting on the internet.  Nonetheless, we're doing our best to inform the public, as well as to represent our company... g

Oct 18, 2011 08:07 AM
Billi Evans
Murney Associates - Springfield, MO

Good Post! Sometimes I browse Facebook and wonder what people are thinking or how they aren't.

Oct 18, 2011 08:27 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Thanks you guys.  To date, I have seen some pretty racy things out there from my fellow agents.  Most seem to know their limits but there are always that few that seem to ignore just good common sense.  Only takes a second of a bad decision to have a lifetime of consequences.

Oct 18, 2011 08:51 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Guilty as charged if I could take back a host of things I've done, said, acted upon and the list goes on what a difference it would have had on my life. 

Oct 19, 2011 11:46 PM