It's estimated that there are more than 8 million blogs today, with people writing about everything from making homemade wine to top vacation spots to their latest love affair. And, of course, they're blogging about work.
Blogging about the job is often a risky venture because many bosses frown upon anything detrimental being said about the company. That means that if you point out on your blog that some blowhard got a raise simply because he sucks up to the boss, you could face a pink slip if the boss finds out.
But what if you want to write about work, and don't plan on saying anything nasty? Could you still get in trouble?
Maybe. Some companies have policies in place regarding blogging (they don't allow it), and some just make it up as they go along. That means that no one at work cares about your blog until they find it. Then, they will scrutinize it to (A) glean everything they possibly can about your private life to share with others at work and (B) look to see if you said something that can get you in trouble.
While this may seem unfair, you should understand that anything you put in writing online could be hurtful to your career not only in your current job, but also in anything you might decide to do in the future. It's sort of like that tattoo you got five years ago on vacation while under the influence of several mojitos. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you're coming to regret you can't have it completely erased.
"You want to stand out and gain attention if you put something online, but you don't want it to be detrimental in your life," says Nicholas Aretakis, author of "No More Ramen: The 20-something's Real World Survival Guide." "If you can't show it to your family or your boss or feel comfortable having it on national television or in a national newspaper, then don't do it."
That's sort of the advice coming from many bloggers themselves these days. Many agree that it's bloggers beware: No whining if you harm your career because you blogged your big mouth off.
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