Have a Blog? Then You Need a Gravatar
Grab your favorite picture, or you can even create a logo for yourself using software like Adobe Photoshop or one of the more affordable alternatives. Load the image on your computer as a .jpeg, .gif, or .png file and sign up for an account with Gravatar and upload the image. Ok, now you can relax.
Correction, make that – In Blogging and in Business, You need a Gravatar
Gravatar is a trusted site brought to you by Automattic, the same think-tank responsible for WordPress, WordPress.com, Intense Debate, Akismet and Poll Daddy just to name a few. However, the real reason I say you can relax is because now you have started to build your reputation on social networks and around the rest of the blogosphere. As a business owner, establishing an identity for your brand is imperative! Use your company logo or your personal photo to connect your brand with something tangible that will leave a lasting impression on potential clients and colleagues.
Building a Reputation is Good for Your Brand
If there were such a thing as “Blogging Police” then this would be the line-up of everyone suspected of crimes against the blogosphere!
Funny story – yesterday I left a comment on someone's blog and you can't imagine the guilt I felt when I showed up as Mystery Man. I instantly developed a migraine when I looked up and saw that grey silhouetted image next to a nice juicy comment I had just posted on a well respected blog. Well, maybe this is not such a funny story after all, but I did figure out what went wrong – I used a new email address.
Bad, bad blogger! Shame on me.
UPDATE: Here are detailed instructions on creating an account with Gravatar from Pete Carr over at BloggingGenius called Stop Hiding | Get a Gravatar and Reveal Yourself
In this video I introduce you to the Google Chrome extension for Gmail called socialGmail. This extension will display your Gravatar on Gmail in Chrome. When someone has installed the SocialGmail extension for Chrome your Gravatar will appear in the listing and when they open your email!
Your email address is always required when you leave a comment, and one of the advantages of you leaving a valid email address, by the way, the very same email address that is on your Gravatar account is so that you will be recognized by the system. Don't worry, you can add more than one email address to your account. So after today, if you ever appear as the Mystery Man or that darling little MonsterID at least you'll know why.
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