Many people underestimate the importance of a positive online reputation. Far too many aren’t even sure what the term means. Your online reputation can drastically influence how you’re perceived in your personal and professional lives. The first three years of my career, I worked for an online reputation management company. I learned a ton while working there and gained an invaluable understanding on the importance of a positive online reputation, but also how easy it is to end up with a negative one, especially if you’re not proactive about managing it.
What exactly is your “online reputation”?
Many aspects of your online reputation are similar to your personal brand, but it goes beyond the brand you create for yourself. Your online reputation consists of everything that relates to you that’s online, such as your personal blog, social media, and pictures, as well as public records, news articles, or posts other people make. If you were ever on the honor roll in high school or college, those transcripts will often appear when your name is searched. If you have been married or own property, those records could appear as well. If you’ve contributed quotes for a news article or ever had an article written about you, that will come up as well.
You might think those are all fine results, especially if those are all positive events in your life. However, negative results can come up as well. If someone has ever harassed you online and in a medium you can’t control, like on Twitter or in their blog, those posts contribute to your online reputation as well. If you have any kind of criminal record that appears when your name is searched, that contributes to your online reputation. Even if it’s a minor infraction, many employers and people in general won’t look beyond a headline or mugshot.
The good news is that you can control your online reputation. By focusing on your personal brand and creating a positive online presence, even if something unwanted or negative would ever show up in your online reputation, the quality content you’re creating yourself can help overshadow anything else. For some content, you can also request that it’s taken down. Many public records sites have to take down personal information if you request it.
What are the concrete benefits of an online reputation?
Now, you have a better idea of what your online reputation is. You’re probably wondering what the concrete benefits are of it, especially since it takes time and hard work to create a quality online reputation and personal brand. Here are a few:
- Improve your chances for employment: The biggest reason to get a hold of your online reputation and develop a personal brand is to improve your chances for employment. According to Monster, 77 percent of potential employers Google their candidates before making a final hiring decision. Having no online reputation can be just as harmful as having a negative one. Even by simply having a basic website, professional photos and social media profiles, and occasionally sharing industry information to your profiles, it can make you stand out when compared to other candidates. If you put forth a professional brand online and show that you’re engaged in your industry and committed to your career, it can drastically increase your chances of landing a job.
- Find an outlet for your creativity: If you’re a creative person, but haven’t been fortunate enough to find a full-time job in the creative outlet you’re most passionate about, whether that’s creative writing, knitting, or dancing, your online reputation is a great place to express that creativity. You can create videos, take pictures, share projects you’re working on, or simply write and get it out there where people can see it. Don’t worry about whether or not it’s good; it’s showing you can work hard and produce something worthwhile and also shows a unique side of you that may not come out in your resume, job applications, or at work. It can help connect you to others who are passionate about the same things and possibly help you find work or a place for your passion.
- Prevent awkward assumptions in your personal life: I don’t think I’m alone in finding it a little sketchy when people have zero social media profiles. Whether you’re becoming friends with new coworkers, attending local networking events, or trying to date new people, if you have zero presence online, it can lead to awkward assumptions. People might think you’re a player or you’re trying to hide something about your personal life, like a significant other. Or, there might be someone who shares your name that has a negative online reputation and someone looking you up online might mistake this person for you. You absolutely do not need to have public social profiles or even an account on every site, but something basic on the big ones, like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, can go a long way in all areas of your life. Even if you keep these profiles private to friends and approved followers only, simply having the account with a recent picture and basic info can help create a positive online reputation.
How I can help
If you’re looking to create or improve your online reputation, I can help! I offer freelance services for personal branding and marketing and build creating a positive online reputation into these services. Please reach out with any questions you may have about your online reputation or what I can do to help. Also, don’t feel like you need to hire a professional! If you have enough knowledge and time, creating a positive online reputation is something you can do yourself. Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or through my email: julianarknight@gmail.com.