I have a Google alert set up for my name. Thankfully no one that I am aware of is posting negative information on the Internet, but hopefully this way I will know about it.

I am exploring the subject of personal "branding" and being aware of what others are saying about me is an important tool.

The blog analytics are helpful in determining what brings people to my blog. If my own site is the entry-point for a post, I know that I've created an enticing reason for people to have followed that link.