Blog Safety

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the safety of blogging (Yes, H.C. I'm talking about you and I really want to start blogging even if it's private)! Blogging can definitely be safe. The easiest way to protect your privacy is to make your blog private, then only the people you choose can see your blog. I've thought about it, but decided that's not the best option for us so our blog is public, but I do lots of different things to make sure our blog is as safe as possible while being public. Here's a few tips of blog safety that I've learned over the past year and a half of blogging!

1. Go Private. Instructions on how to make your blog private:
1. Go to your blog DASHBOARD
2. Select SETTINGS
3. Select PERMISSIONS
4. Find the area titled Blog Readers. It will ask Who Can View This Blog?
5. Select ONLY THOSE I CHOOSE
6. Enter the email addresses of those you wish to invite to view your blog.
7. Click INVITE An email invitation will be sent to those you choose.
They will now have to log in with their email address in order to view your blog


2. Change your blog settings. By changing your blog settings you can select your blog to be removed from blog listings and also search engines. By removing your blog from search engines your blog cannot be searched by search engines such as Google. The only way to access your blog is by entering the exact blog address or clicking a link with the exact address.


3. Never use your last name anywhere on the blog. This includes your url address, blog title, and throughout your posts. If your last name is in you url (blog) address it is easy to change to a new name.

4. Never post actual birthdates. Post birthday events a day, week or even a month after the actual event (you might notice that I don't follow this rule so well, but it is a good idea).


5. Add a copyright image or watermark on your pictures. This can be done by using a photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop.


6. Never post pictures of the outside of your house or car. Especially with your house number or license plate visible!


7. Never mention where your kids go to school or any workplace.


8. Do not add countdowns for vacations or other events that would allow people to know when you will be out of your house.


9. Do not post when your spouse is out of town for work or deployment.


10. Moderate the comments made on your blog before they are allowed to be published. This will protect you from random or spam comments posted on your blog. Once again, I don't do this, but that's just because all my blog readers are always so NICE!


11. Add a web or hit counter to you blog site. Although this will not tell you the names of those viewing your blog it will allow you to view the IP address and where your viewer are located (typically State or Country).



12. Add Feedjit (click on the right hand side of my blog to get it) so you can see what city and state people log on from.


13. Have courtesy for you fellow bloggers. When adding your friends and families blogs to your blog list DO NOT include their last names. Many bloggers do not want to go private and are doing their part to protect themselves. Have courtesy and do the same.


14. Assume anything you publish on your blog will be permanent. Anyone can copy, print, or save to a computer what you publish whether your blog is private or not private.