We are readers of the DINKS Finance blog. We are all online users and therefore, we all have online personas.
How did you choose your online blog user name?
I chose to use my true identity online; Kristina is part of my real name. I also chose to post a picture of myself…with sunglasses on, but nevertheless, the picture is of me.
My friend J. Money has chosen to use an alias. Although, his real name may or may not be Jay; that information is top secret. I love J. Money’s online persona. I feel that it is very suited to his domination of online personal money blogs which includes Budgets Are Sexy.
Is your online persona a reflection of your true identity, or a channel to break free of your everyday life?
Let’s ask some of our DINKS friends about their online personalities…Is Tim your real name? We know from a previous comment that Donna works as a self employed writer. Is Donna Freedman your pen name or your real name? What about our DINKS friend Honey. What is the story behind Honey’s online persona? Does she work as a beekeeper, or is she an heiress to a honey empire in her everyday life?
We have to be very careful about our online presence. Potential employers may no longer check our references, but they will “Google” us. If you choose to use your real name online be careful about your comments, pictures, and social networking. Your online presence could cost you a career. If you were going to start an internet blog or an online business would your branding reflect your personality? Or would your online personality be purely strategic for business purposes?
Kristina Tahnyak
Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.
Hey Kristina, love your writing style.
Thank you James…if James is in fact your real name. :-)
There is an interesting article published today on CNNMoney called “Land a Job: Promote the Brand of You”. It is all about our online presence.
Yes, Donna Freedman is my real name. I was already publishing under it anyway (with a photo!) so I figured anonymity would be a bit after-the-fact.
Besides, some of my Smart Spending and Living With Less readers are finding me this way. I never considered myself a “brand” but I guess I’d better try thinking along those lines. Heck, I’ve barely begun to seek advertising for the site, let alone tried to sell my own name. Dinosaur that I am.
When I started blogging, it was a dating/relationships/sex blog, so obviously I wanted a pseudonym (since I work for a state institution). I chose Honey as sort of a pun (my blogging partner chose Lance as a pun as well). I’ve since gotten out of that blog for a variety of reasons, but I feel comfortable in my “Honey” identity as I’ve had it over 2 years.