When you sign up as a Registered User of iplug – a ‘Plugger’ – you have the opportunity to set your ALIAS. This has to be unique on the site, but it can be anything; your nickname from school, your first name followed by 001 or a 69, your favourite X-Men character… anything goes.

But have you considered using your real name?

Before you shout ‘I don’t want people knowing my real name!’ consider this;

You are a consumer. You are making comments on businesses with the express purpose of improving customer service in general. But what about your own benefits? It’s all very well to contribute to the greater cause of service improvement, but how about the way companies and businesses treat you personally?

If you use your real name and give a glowing Plug to your hairdresser, what do you think will happen the next time you visit? Okay, it might be a little embarrassing. But the fact is that people like to be liked (business owners and managers are no exception) and people tend to like the people who like them back.

See where we’re going here?

Your hairdresser, knowing that you obviously like them (which you proved with your well-worded, accurate Plug) will now treat you as a VIC – Very Important Customer. This may not have happened if your ALIAS was SNOOPYFLUFFYKINS.

And so what if the whole wide world learns that you reward good businesses with Plugs (or might be prepared to Slap the poor ones)? If you’ve ever been in business yourself, you know quite well that customers who have given you positive testimonials in the past are welcomed back with open arms, and your staff are made very clear on that fact.

So maybe this is one of the exceptions to the rules of ‘protecting your identity on the ‘net’. Of course you don’t need be be completely accurate, with middle names and DOB. Your first name and initial of your surname might be enough. Or your business name; ‘BUGCATCHER’.

I’d also add that you should still be careful what you say; “XYZ Locksmiths were really cool getting me into my house at 123 Alfabet Street when I shut myself out! Their advice that I hide a key outside (in the big plant on the deck) was wonderful!”

Keep Plugging!