Iowa Corporate Lawyer & Attorney : Rush Nigut of Brick Gentry Law Firm : Serving Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, & Sioux City

I will be speaking on a panel today at the Central Iowa Certifiied Financial Planner (CFP) Luncheon on the impact of blogging in my career and whether other professionals should start their own blog.  As I said before to the Sertoma Club, when I started this blog I never could have imagined all the great things that could have happened to me from a business perspective.  Now here I am one year later from my last talk on this subject and it just keeps getting better and better.

One of my favorite quotes about blogging comes from Lexblog founder, Kevin O'Keefe:

"Act as if you have a magic wand when creating a blog. What type of work do you want to do? Who do you want to work with? What type of clients do you want to serve? And be careful what you wish for. Blogging can make it happen."

Thanks to the Central Iowa CFPs for the kind invitation to speak at their luncheon.  I'll be on the panel today with financial planners Art Dinkin of Moment on Money and Suzanna De Baca of Private Capital Solutions Group.

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As a blogger you may want to read this post from the Write Stuff on how to protect your online reputation. 

The post discusses how several employees have been fired from their jobs for writing controversial blog posts including a Web designer that shared stories and opinions about co-workers on a personal blog, an airline attendant who posted photos of herself in an empty jet, and the former CNN reporter who published opinionated entries on his blog.

As pointed out:

In each instance, the blogger’s justifications and legal arguments may be compelling. But that doesn’t change the fact that they all have one thing in common: Termination from lucrative positions that permanently clouds their employment histories.

The post goes on to give some great reminders including

• Blog as if your employer is watching and behave accordingly.
• Don't mix business and personal matters.
• Research company employee handbooks and/or consult HR before blogging.
• Consider what you stand to gain against what you stand to lose.
• If you are monetizing your blog check your company's conflict of interest policy.
• Blog truthfully and accurately.

Above all, whether you are blogging on a personal or business blog, you must be cognizant of whether your words and actions could damage and/or embarass your employer.  If so, you shouldn't be surprised when you receive your pink slip. 

And also always remember the shortest corporate blogging policy:  "Be professional".

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