Most people today have online profiles and connections, and
share their ideas and experiences online with others. Online activity blurs the
line between private and public communication, and between personal and
professional. So in today’s digital age I have found it important to consider
my presence and identity in online spaces. I have created a simple acronym which
represents four basic steps you can take to manage your online identity:
·
“S”= Search & Sort – Discover what’s “out there”
regarding your name and identity. Conduct a search for your name using a
popular search engine or media aggregator. Search your name on popular social
networks as well, to double-check your privacy filters and determine what
information is public.
·
“A” = Analyze – Determine whether or not the
results you have found match your personal and work objectives. Do you have content
published that is unflattering or misleading? Is there another person of the
same name that is overshadowing or potentially skewing your online presence?
·
“F” = Focus – Utilize
social media tools and applications to help you manage your online content.
Consider separating your personal and professional content, either by
establishing separate profiles or at minimum by selectively filtering and
publishing based on channel (e.g. "personal" content for Facebook,
"professional" for LinkedIn). Publish online content with a purpose,
so it moves you toward your objectives.
·
“E” = Engage – Build your online presence and
reputation by contributing to blogs, forums, and white papers. Share
interesting links and articles with others. Utilize industry webinars, online
conferences, and virtual events to learn and build your professional
network.
Popular Facebook author Mari
Smith recently wrote a related article regarding personal and
professional Facebook profiles/pages at: Click here for Mari Smith blog article.
Mashable also had
a related article last year in regard to cleaning up your online social
identity at: Cleaning up Your Social
Media Identity.
What do you think of my SAFE method to
assess your online/social identity? Search your name in popular search engines
and media aggregators and let me know of your experience with this process. I
look forward to your comments and feedback!
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