It's always great fun to do a segment with Rachael Ray & we both hope the material on defending your reputation and combating CyberBullies is helpful. She was gracious enough to dedicate the entire first half hour of today's program to the issues. Here are some related notes.
Consider your online identity your credit score for the 21st century. Mistakes can cost you. The stuff you put out there or risk having put out there by friends or friends of friends is kind of like a tattoo. It has a certain staying power ... But just as tattoo removal has become popular, so has cleaning up ones digital dirt. Here's how, plus some ways to avoid rolling in the mud in the first place ...
1) Look in the virtual mirror.
Google Alerts
It's a good idea to "Google" yourself periodically to see what pops up. The easiest way to do this is to set up "Google Alerts." You will receive an email as soon as your search phrase (like your name or company) enters Google's index. Google Alerts cover news stories, video comments, blogs, pages found in web searches, etc.
And if you want to see what might have been out there and is still traceable, use this amazing little tum-back-time "Wayback" machine - Internet Archive.
HR Professionals Search Online Profiles Before Making Hiring Decisions:
If you are interviewing for a new job, be prepared to be "Googled." Prospective employers are taking a close look at you. A recent poll of hiring managers (conducted by Harris Interactive) shows the majority of them Google prospective candidates prior to interviews, so consider removing that spring break photo slideshow.
2) Once it's out there (online), you can't get it back.
It doesn't matter where you've posted it – MySpace, Facebook, YouTube – once it's out there, you can't get it back, because you don't know who grabbed and is storing it. Though most social-networking sites make it possible for users to make their page "private," so they can roster in their friends or classmates vs. allowing any registered user to view their page, this is by no means fool proof, especially when you have 500 or 5000 so-called "friends" on your page ... Your "private" information won't be "private" for long. The Internet is a very public place. Those photos or words of wisdom you thought you shared with a few close friends, could be off and running online in no time.
3) Getting Help Cleaning up Your Digital Dirt
ReputationDefender.com
If you've screwed up or someone has posted negative/unflattering stuff and it's on the front page of Google, you can employ services like "Reputation Defender." I spoke with the Founder & CEO Michael Fertik. Smart guy & terrific concept. They'll wrestle stuff to the ground/white it out on your behalf. For as little as $10, they'll dig through clients' Internet profiles and show them how they appear online. If you see something you don't like, Reputation Defender will contact whomever controls the web page and request they delete the material.
4) Take Control: Register "YourName.com" (or .Net, .Info, .Org, .Name, etc.)
One of the single best ways to make sure an online search of your name returns results for a web site which you control, is to register the "yourname.com" domain. It will cost you a few bucks monthly or annually, but it's money well spent when it comes to having a say in what turns up in an online search of your name.
Being personally findable online is important, particularly when it comes to your career. Claiming one stationary place in cyberspace can also serve as a jumping off point to other web pages, social-networking sites or online forums you are a part of (if you wish, you can provide links to those).
Increasingly, it's not unusual to be asked for your URL if you're applying for anything remotely connected to the tech, arts or advertising industry. Universities are steering students in this direction too, so they'll have a virtual portfolio when they need it. Creating your own URL is a $10 issue. www.godaddy.com or www.networksolutions.com.
Setting up a blog is also a way to showcase your writing skills, and adding content regularly bumps you up in Google searches. "Digg-ing" your own posts is considered bad manners and if you get caught(and there's lots of smart people on the Internet), you can get "cyber-punished." Best to play it straight. Be authentic & be willing to put your name against anything you write. Anonymous posts seem to be behind a lot of what turns sour.
5) Do the little things right.
Whether you're looking for a new job or just networking online – maybe to generate some sales leads – doing the little things right, counts.
* Make sure your email has a signature, so people know how to reach you if they decide to jump at the chance. Plaxo will provide active users signature templates that can include photographs, company logos and links to Web sites. LinkedIn, another networking service, has a signature that includes a link to your LinkedIn bio. Whichever way you go, it's best to keep it simple.
* Email your resume -- or any important document -- to yourself first. It's the best way to know how it looks on the receiving end.
* Don't spam people. If they don't respond to your email, resend it, but don't be aggressive. A quick little ... "In case you didn't receive. Don't mean to badger. Point me in the right direction if you can." Personally, I wouldn't send it a third time. After the second attempt, you probably have your answer.
* Use an appropriate email address. You can go the extra mile and create an impressive one ... If it's intuitive (easy to remember), bonus. You can create your own email address. www.domains.aol.com
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