Copyrights and personal websites

[TT AP]

I am a tenure-track assistant professor, and I have a personal website. I've considered posting .pdf copies of my published materials on my website, and I have a few questions.

1. Are there any ethical considerations in doing so? I want to support the editors and publishers who have supported my scholarship, so I'm wondering what arguments they might make against this practice. 
2. Am I legally allowed to do this? I honestly haven't read any of the "contract" or copyright information very closely when I have submitted the final versions, because signing these agreements is a requirement for publication. 
3. Assuming that I'm technically not allowed to do this, what are there any potential (negative) consequences to me for posting the papers? Do the big publishers have some sort of copyright patrol officers scouring the internet for unauthorized versions?
4. Finally, what are potential benefits of making these papers publicly available on my website? Yes, I know that I am the one proposing doing this, but I'm thinking I'm being prompted more by issues of vanity than anything else. Yes, I want more attention (and more citations), but does anybody think posting these papers will lead to that?

(And after writing that last question, I'm kind of feeling lame for even asking now, but since I've now gone to the trouble of writing this up I might as well see if there are any opinions out there.)

[paywall]

I have a personal website, and would like to upload my journal articles to it.  But I fear copyright issues. What's the best way to deal with this?

One idea I had is to upload a draft version of a paper, and note on the uploaded version that it's a draft of an article that was later published.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Miss Ann Thrope]

That's what many people do - upload the post or pre print version, with a link or note to the published version.

[retain]

As far as I know, the guidelines are generally that it is ok to post the accepted version of your articles (but not the PDF proofs generated by the published) on your personal websites.

[thanks]

very helpful info, thank you

[sage]

For Sage journals, the policy is that you can post the first version you sent (before revisions), although I can't imagine anyone would notice/check if it is the accepted version or the first one. You can post the printed version two years after it has been published.