Comments on: Make Sure You Avoid this Online Branding Fiasco

By: Starring in our Own Truman Show | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Starring in our Own Truman Show | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:17:12 +0000

[...] when I wrote about a personal branding fiasco where (among other mistakes) the subject of my post wrote insensitive comments about his wife on a [...]

By: R Wood

R Wood — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:11:50 +0000

I dont think I would use that site after reading this. I think that kind of site should protect their clients, as they are obviously in an emotionally vulnerable state.

By: Dawn Mann

Dawn Mann — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:16:39 +0000

Though people are still using screen names and other pseudonyms, the cloak of anonymity the internet used to provide is gone. Anyone can get Googled, viewed on LinkedIn, Facebook, or quoted via Twitter. All of these things can be amazing for building your personal brand, but can also kill your professional reputation if used carelessly.

By: Katie Konrath

Katie Konrath — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:00:13 +0000

@Danny You are right that he chose to use his full name. However, he did not do so because he wanted it to be connected to his personal brand, or because he felt it was important to be honest online. He simply did not think. It never occurred to him that using his full name would connect his comment to his personal brand.

I know that he’s mortified that others found the comment. It wasn’t “honest,” it was inappropriate. And it was not the image he wanted to project.

By: yinka olaito

yinka olaito — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:36:17 +0000

Google has become a great FBI agent, we must be careful to beware and watch our online posting. Thanks

By: Mohammed Al-Taee, PMP

Mohammed Al-Taee, PMP — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:11:08 +0000

I agreed with Danny to the point that we are making personal branding more isolated. Also, we should not judge hiring decision only by a comment.

I think we should create a standards and Code of Ethics as Andrew mentioned.

Thanks,

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:58:54 +0000

That’s your choice to not use your full name, Katie – this guy wants to use his full name (as many do). Maybe he could have used a pseudonym or abbreviation, but he chose not to. Many others do. There’s a line between insensitivity and honesty that I feel is blamed too often and stops people being honest.

Twitter goes into Google; obviously blogs go into Google; Flickr comments go into Google. If we start dissecting every minute thing that goes into Google, then we’d never offer completely honest voices and opinions.

And a company that doesn’t employ the best person for a job because of a comment made on a marriage counseling site would come across as a little short-sighted.

By: Mohammed

Mohammed — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:57:11 +0000

Great story Katie,

Is the blog comment that you found written recently or before years?

Thanks,

By: Katie Konrath

Katie Konrath — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:49:20 +0000

@Danny Whatever this person does in their personal life is their own business. That’s not what’s dumb about it. What’s dumb is using their full name and photo on a post that shares uncomfortable information about their spouse and their relationship.

I comment on personal websites as well, and I have no problem with others doing so. It’s important to be able to talk about the problems you’re having.

But I never use my full name and I make sure it doesn’t link up with my professional profile in any way.

The problem with this comment on the marriage counselling website was that this person is looking for a job by trying to demonstrate their online expertise. And right now, when someone does a blog search for them, a comment that feels insensitive towards his wife comes up twice in the first page of results. It’s uncomfortable to come across.

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:22:52 +0000

Okay, so the LinkedIn and professional stuff is a major boob, but what someone says about their personal life shouldn’t be up for discussion.

The fact that the “embarrassing comment” was on marriage counseling site kinda negates how embarrassing it was. People have personal issues – they might not be able to talk it through with their spouses or partners. They may go elsewhere to get advice on how to broach a subject with their partner.

Calling someone dumb for what they do in their personal life is pretty below par, Katie – sorry.