Take control of digital footprint
By Darius Fisher |
Today, Google is the new first impression. What shows up in your
search results affects your bottom line. According to a 2012 Harris
Interactive survey, 42 percent of Americans have searched for a company
or individual online before doing business with them. Although you can’t
completely control your digital footprint, what you can do is positively
impact your online presence. Below are seven easy steps to build, manage
and protect your positive online brand.
1. Google yourself. Search for your name and analyze what shows up
online. Anything you want to improve? Immediately tackle and correct
areas of vulnerability. Speed matters: The longer something negative
appears online, the more damage it causes. It’s natural to be concerned
with negative publicity or unflattering photos, so you should do what
you can to delete any photos or content that could pose a risk to your
personal brand. You should also be equally concerned if nothing shows up
in your search results. If you have no digital footprint, create a
positive one today.
2. Build a personal website. Buy your name domain (e.g., JohnDoe.com
), and make an online resume that highlights your career and
accomplishments. There are plenty of intuitive sites, like Crevado and
Squarespace, for example, that make it easy to create your very own
landing page. Google’s search algorithm values fresh, relevant content
and will naturally think your personal site is important when anyone
searches for your name online.
3. Get social. The big social media sites usually show up on the
first page of Google. Plus, social media platforms make it easier to
connect with your target audience and establish relationships. When
selecting a platform, consider your brand or business goals. You should
also understand which platform your target audience uses and how it
works. For most professionals, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook
are an absolute must.
Remember that every post, comment and “like” is a reflection of your
personal brand and how the digital world perceives you, so chime in with
caution. Aside from deleting unfavorable photos and content, take the
opportunity to present yourself positively.
4.Take professional photos. Hire a photographer to shoot headshots
for your personal website and social media properties. Make sure to
dress in business attire and smile. Then swap these professional photos
for your profile pictures on LinkedIn and professional sites of which
you are a member. Potential employers and investors won’t want to see
cropped photos of you taken in a bar in college. People judge you within
the first second of seeing your photo, so you might as well put your
best face forward.
5. Remember that content is still king. Content is the foundation
for any successful online brand management campaign. Consistently create
content that’s helpful to your target audience and you’ll become an
authority figure while also boosting your organic search rankings. Take
advantage of opportunities to become a thought leader by guest blogging
on websites in your field — this will help increase the credibility and
exposure of your brand. Not only will you build your online portfolio,
you’ll also strengthen your presence by speaking directly to potential
customers and clients.
6. Seek positive press. If you have negative press on the first page
of Google, part of your strategy must include getting new, positive
press mentions. So how do you do that? Learn how to write a press
release and hone your pitch to journalists. Before pitching, consider
the five factors that make a story newsworthy: timing, proximity,
prominence, significance and human interest. Apply those factors to your
pitch and create a fresh angle that is going to be compelling to the editor.
7. Bring in the experts. While the steps above seem easy,
coordinating a campaign, especially if you have bad publicity on Google,
is daunting and time-consuming. Professional online reputation
management firms have experienced staff and processes in place to
improve your online reputation quickly and easily. When hiring a firm,
ask for references and avoid firms that have very low pricing. Low
prices indicate outsourcing overseas, which can lead to embarrassing and
ineffective results on your online reputation.
In today’s world, your online presence can make or break you if
you’re looking to switch careers or apply for an award or grant. If you
simply want to look your best in front of your online audience, then
take these steps to stand out from your competition. A positive digital
footprint reaffirms your professional worth and makes the ultimate first
impression.
Darius Fisher is the president and co-founder of Status Labs, a
premier online reputation management, digital marketing and public
relations firm. BusinessCollective, launched in partnership with Citi,
is a virtual mentorship program powered by North America’s most
ambitious thought leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and small business
owners.
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*================================================ Duane Whittingham -
N9SSN (ARES/RACES, EmComm, Skywarn & Red Cross)
http://www.radiodude.info ================================================*
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