And is a easy way for a prospective client to find out more about you then you would like, lets say they do some research on google / y / msn for your companies website, they find the forum sig's, they then read all the post's take any emails or usernames that you use there and do a google search with those, and then they find joe's fishing forum (or a personal myspace account for the younger realtors) where you do non-work related postings, where in the off-topic forum you talk about personal views ect, which makes you not only lose the client, but passes the word of mouth around badly.

This could happen, and all for some small link juice?

I am not afraid to let anyone find anything I have posted anywhere on the internet. If they go looking for my name and/or username they better have some time on their hands because I am all over the internet.

My outlook is exactly the opposite. I want them to find me. I want them to do the research. I have gotten referrals from posting on forums. Do I appeal to everyone? No way. Do I appeal to some? Apparently.

Link juice is just the icing on the cake. Social interacting is the big plus here and personally I do not like to interact with people who are hiding.

Isn't this the point? Dont you want your client to find out about you on the internet? I would want all my clients to search my name on the Internet so they see all the marketing I do!!!

Well according to my local paper this week, it reported that, a report just in from Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that 47% of adult Americans have goolged themselves. This is more than twice the 22% that googled themselves in 2002.

It also stated that 60% of Internet users said they weren't worried about the extent of the information available online. Also that the younger generation were more careful about the information that they put out on the internet than their parents.

More interesting was the fact, (sorry no percentages available because I throw that bit of the paper away, whoops)was the fact that although men and women were both prone to googling a love interest, it was the information that they were researching, like wealth, court records, bankruptcy, etc.that made me wonder.

Whatever happened to going out for a beer?

Regards
Alan

Hey LPI even I have googled my name but sad couldn't find myself. Well, I don't know about others but as far I am concerned I have only tried to find people just for some kick, nothing else. However, it is really sad to see the intention with which people are looking up for things on google. What a bad bad, sad world? Hmmm..

We google all of our clients and potential clients and I google people I meet on these forums. Watch out.

I googled Landwatch.com, 12 posts in 4 days, that makes it an addiction already.

If you google Bigtoe, you just get Soccer, Music or Monsterbikes!!

This would require babysitting, possibly a designated driver (two beers would make me buzzed). Costs money to go out.

Staying home with the laptop and surfing with a bottle of wine: costs vary/depends on the wine. Internet service for the month costs less than one evening of babysitting for three kids.
Staying home....no babysitter needed, no designated driver, and I don't have to wear makeup or get out of my pajamas.

I agree. Just have to make sure the kids don't hit the "History" button; they might find REODayton's favorite link!