he Internet is eternal.  Once you post, what you say is locked in cyberspace for posterity.  Point being, you need to think how what you are saying may be perceived by someone searching your Facebook page or doing a Google search finding all your past posting in years to come.

I attended the National Association of Realtors conference this past week in New Orleans.  One of the classes I attended was the new ePRO Certification instructor introduction.  The certification is all about using the web 2.0 Social Networking for business.

I have a Facebook page, am on Twitter and LinkedIn and also Plaxco.  I must admit I am not the dedicated poster that many of colleagues are.  I am more a lurker.  I read what others write and usually respond to accept being a friend if asked to do so, but I am not much of an initiator.

I see and understand the impact that Social Networking has on business and marketing but I have had reservations about sharing to the world my activities, ideas and interest.  One reason is I wonder “who cares”.  I think I say that because when I read some of the post on Facebook I know I don’t care that someone I know slightly is going to Starbucks again today for another latté.  Excuse me, but that is not the stuff that business is made of.  Now I know that Facebook is social and this information is acceptable in this place but I wonder what these people are thinking and why having a cup of coffee is important to me. 

I mentioned my thinking to a Facebook fanatic that I know and the reply was, well you read it don’t you.  Somehow that reply didn’t register with me.  If it hits on my wall or I get a tweet I will glance at it but only because it is there.  If I don’t reply it is because I don’t care and am not interested in whether someone has a problem with over consumption of coffee.  If my contemporaries have no more to share that another cup of coffee I guess I need to remove them from my list.

All the posting that the young people are doing will be there in cyberspace for a potential employer to read in ten years when they are looking for a job.  If you rag your boss or company on Facebook it is there to be found by any one Googling you forever.

One of the presenters in the class I took last week told of a personal instance he experienced.  He was interviewing for a position in his company.  He had narrowed his search to one individual and felt that this person was an excellent fit for his company.  Before he notified them they had the job he went to their Facebook page.  This person had posted a few days earlier that they were calling in sick today to say at home and play their Wii.  He didn’t hire that person.

On another page I read where where the person was ragging a local football team who lost this past weekend.  Can that come back to haunt you?  You bet it can.  What if you have a proposal out or trying to get a contract with someone who is a diehard fan of that team, could that cost you the business?

The collective brain power of social networking is awesome.  The ability to connect and respond in Wiki groups and blogs to get acquainted with people who share your interest has only been possible for the past few years.  Before that we had websites but there were not two way dialogues.  The site was static.

The Social Networking is the future but a word of caution is in order.  Remember that what you write is out there for now and the future.  Think how your comments can be perceived by the many and not just a few and for how long.