Do you participate in any online forums or discussion groups? That can be a great way to promote your business, form new business relationships and friendships, help customers find you and learn from others in your industry.

In fact, sometimes it feels as though you are writing to a good friend when posting to one of these groups. This is especially true when your postings are done via e-mail. Many people think of e-mail as private (although it often is not). That can cause you to put things online that you may later regret.

Many forums and discussion groups have archives. Even if these archives are supposed to be private, they can usually be accessed by anyone who joins the group. And, they may even be indexed by the search engines.

Think before you post. Is this something you wouldn't mind being read by your competitors, a journalist doing a profile of you--or your mother? If not, don't send it. Even to a "closed" group. You don't know where else it may end up.

I have seen some people learn this the hard way. Don't harm your reputation with a thoughtless email or online post. To paraphrase the old saying, "Post in haste, repent at leisure."

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the IdeaLady, Cathy Stucker helps authors, entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. To learn more about Internet marketing and get free online and offline marketing tips, visit Cathy at http://www.IdeaLady.com/