When I first started writing Web Informant, it was an email newsletter that went out to a few of my firm’s clients to keep them up to date on what I was doing with my Web site. In the 11 or so years (can you believe it) since then, it has evolved into an entire cottage industry that now takes the form of this blog, a series of podcasts, and speaking engagements.  And most of this effort is done without any money changing hands, purely because I enjoy doing it, and because it is a great way to market my own brand. (Well, some money is changing hands shortly — the trademark is up for its renewal and the government isn’t too flexible on when they need their dough.)

So imagine my surprise when I saw this article in the BBC news about someone So Important that he was willing to pay nearly $2,000 a month to someone else to keep up his various social networking sites, posing as Himself and maintaining his blogs, sending emails, and so forth. This seems like a growing career for journalists who are willing to assume other identities. <G>