Using Two Screen Names

Online, many people are known by their screen names, rather than by their first and last names. Most people (myself included) use a single screen name for everything from Twitter to AIM to MySpace. And that’s fine…if you only use social networking for your business.

Image: sxc.hu

But most people don’t. I have friends that I only contact through social networking and instant messaging, and they have nothing to do with my writing business. While some people are able to use one online identity and keep communications separate, many make the mistake of forgetting that clients and business associates have their screen names. It doesn’t look good to put up an away message that says “Getting drunk with my girlzzzzz!!!” if one of your clients could read that message!

Unless you can commit to being professional all of the time, which many people (especially young writers) find difficult, get another screen name. Save “hotgirly4389″ for your friends and be “Jane.Smith123″ for anyone connected to your business. Screen names are free, but your reputation can’t be repaired easily if your clients get the wrong impression of you.