Did you know you’re naked? Your Online Reputation is showing. People can check out your Online Reputation (your O.R.) by reviewing your Social Media profiles in Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other places on the Web. They’ll also check your website, your blog and they’ll “Google” your name to see what information shows up. I call this process “downloading” your net worth (a la “InterNET”). Doing the “down lo” on you means that I quickly “know” or have a perception of your character by the digital footprints you’re tracking around the Web. Based on these digital footprints, I’m going to decide whether or not I can trust you. You do it yourself, don’t you? You at least Google the name of the person before you decide to commit in some way, whether it be to collaborate or recommend or hire the person you “Googled.”
Your Online Reputation must be a multi-faceted POSITIVE picture of YOU
Like a diamond, your online reputation is multi-faceted. Each facet contributes to your overall sparkle. Be sure every connection to you on the Web is something you could show your mother and make sure she’d be proud of what she saw.
Here’s what happens when I do the “Down Lo” on you
- I check my “gut” (my inner sense or intuition) about you before I make that final decision to connect with you and possibly do business with you or refer business to you.
- If I discovered you in Twitter, I soak in your brand that you’ve, hopefully, extended onto your Twitter profile: I look at your avatar to see if it’s a professional or amateur photo; I read your bio to see if it has keywords that speak to me and what I want and like; I read your tweets to see if you talk about things that have value and to see if you balance the “fluff” with demonstrations of expertise and support. (But I do like “fluff” because I can connect with you when you tell me things like “Having breakfast with my mom on her birthday. Today she’s 70 years old. I hope I’m as wise as she is when I’m her age.”)
- Then I click on your one link that’s allowed in your Twitter profile and if I land on an out-of-date website or a blog that has no posts or very little information, that tells me you don’t really know that people are judging you by this or worse, you might not care about what people see. That’s a big mistake. In Twitter, people are forming a perception of you based, in part, on your Twitter link, so be sure it’s something worthy of a visit, whether it be your blog (filled with helpful posts) or LinkedIn profile or up-to-date and updated website.
- If I’m trying to decide whether or not to employ you, I’ll check your LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have one, then that’s a red flag for me because you’re missing out on big opportunity to show off your “living” resume. When properly maintained, your LinkedIn profile is alive with your work, your recommendations from previous clients/employers, your productivity, your education, your expertise, published posts, status updates and many other things that show what a team player you are and how knowledgeable you are. Your LI profile should be continually updated. In LinkedIn you are two degrees of separation away from a top industry guru, CEO, founder, celebrity, or other BIG mover and shaker. That’s who shows up in LinkedIn. Make your LI sparkle!
- If I’m really curious, I’ll Google you, too. Hopefully, I’ll see press releases, good reviews, good testimonials, articles you’ve written, Tweets, Facebook mentions, your LinkedIn link and so on. I’m not the only one doing the down lo on you so be sure you get a Google Alert set up so you always know when someone has published your name in Google.
- By the way, I’m probably not checking past page 2 of your Google listings and many people only check what’s above the “fold” on their computer screen. It’s important to keep that first page of listings totally positive and impressive.
What can you do to control your Online Reputation?
Simple: hire a professional SEO expert to help you manage your online reputation. You should have enough positive links about you so that if anything negative gets linked to you, people can clearly see the good outweighs the bad or perhaps that one negative thing was simply a fluke or a nutcase. With enough positive listings about you, the whole picture begins to form and people can more accurately perceive who you are. Don’t wait another day to begin growing your positive Online Reputation. I’m here if you need my help.
Note: This post was written in August, 2009.
