I’m amazed at what my friends put on their online profile!

People have been fired because of their online activities, and it has become more common for employers to look up their prospective employees before they offer a job.

It’s getting easier and easier to update your profile whenever and wherever you are. Sites like Facebook, Pounce, Twitter and Jaiku allow you to update your status using your mobile phone; and photos can be sent directly to the web from your phone in one click.

This makes the warning “don’t drink and dial” seriously worth listening to.

And it’s shocking what some people write about their friends online, let alone what photos they add. Users sometimes have very little control about what is said or shown online.

Facebook has recently been opened up (further!), to allow search engines to index profile pages.

We saw Rachael’s parent’s house trashed earlier this year after she publicised it on MySpace, and we’ve been warned recently that sharing certain personal details on sites like Facebook can leave us open to identity theft.

I’m going to sound like my mum, but be careful what details you make public online… you don’t know who will read them, and you don’t know how you will feel about it in 10 years time!

*Image borrowed from dups, who’s running an interesting online commentary about St Patrick’s Day.

I love new developments, new gadgets, and trying out new technology.

So Internet marketing is ideal for me. But researching, reading, going to conferences, lectures and sitting behind a monitor can only get you so far - sometimes you need to get involved.

And I’ve found it can be more challenging than you ever expected!

I’m doing a podcasting course at the moment, and after a half hour podcasting session, I feel like I’ve done a full days work!

I’m fine with editing, publishing and promoting, but presenting is a skill that clearly takes a lot of practice!

(unless you’re happy sounding like an Alvin/Simon/Theador combo)