On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 5 Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 5 Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation Are you your own worst enemy?If you don't think so, read this column I wrote for Gannett, and you may just change your mind:Maybe you put countless hours into carefully crafting a resume and cover letter. Or you sweated buckets over the details regarding your meeting with a key client. Perhaps you had weeks of sleepless nights as you planned your new company. But then it all came crashing down all with the click of your computer mouse. It all came undone because you didnt think about the fact that some of the unprofessional items you posted online were viewed and judged by the very people you wanted to impress. Your digital life is just like real life. Its not outer space. Thats why you must be very conscious of what you put online, says Larry Weber, a marketing and online reputation expert. Whats online is a very important part of the way people are hired, the way people get things done. Weber, author of Sticks and Stones, (Wiley, $24.95), says that too many people are lazy ab out their online reputations, or think that what they post doesnt really matter or wont be seen by people other than friends or family. The key, he says, is remembering that from the moment you go online, your reputation is being formed. For example, he says that at Harvard University they view a variety of records before admitting a student and one of those involves a check of online activity. They take out their laptops and check out Facebook. If there are pictures of you drunk, you can probably forget about Harvard, he says. So how can you best manage you online reputation that aids you professionally? Weber advises you to: Lead separate lives. Use LinkedIn or Plaxo for your professional resume, accomplishments and business networking. Use Facebook to connect only with people you know well in your personal life, such as friends and family. At the same time, sever connections online with people who will drag down your professional image. In other words, dont friend someone on Facebook or through your blog who posts obscene comments or has racy photos. Look for the right groups. The online community is becoming more segmented, and this can benefit your career. Search for groups to join that will connect you with industry leaders or others with similar goals. You know how your mother told you to hang out with certain groups of people. This is the same thing, Weber says. Build social equity. Sometimes it comes out the blue: Critical or derogatory comments about you online. In this case, your network can help you by coming to your defense and posting positive remarks that help thwart your attacker. But the only way this works is if youve been a good supporter of others and their work in the past. You must sincerely work to connect with people and help them when you can so they will return the favor. Remember that nobody likes manipulation. The Web has been ver y good at policing itself, Weber says. It doesnt like liars and manipulators, and theyll be outed. That means if you try and push people into supporting you or try to spin your story to get them to write positive commentary about you without earning it, it usually will backfire. The more you try and spin it, the more you will hurt yourself, he says. The push is really for transparency. Understand that bad can be good. No one is perfect, either online or in real life. Dont worry if there are some less-than-stellar comments about you online, as long as the good outweigh the bad. Having flaws adds authenticity, and makes it easier for others to identify with you.Social Bookmarking