In a world where everyone knows your business, whether through status updates or wall posts, citizens of the internet are having a true reality check. What is your social network reputation, and does it affect your social reputation?
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all began as relativity small networking sites targeted for a niche market. Facebook to college students, Twitter to tech early adopters, and LinkedIn to professionals. Now, there’s no doubt that everybody is on all of these. So how is your image perceived throughout the internet? Everybody, whether on these sites or not, has a reputation. These sites can only help or hurt it. Do you think about how a picture will look to others before you post it, or better yet, before you take it? Anything can end up on the internet in today’s day and age, and it’s forcing people to think twice about their actions. The niche markets that were once specific to each social networking site are no longer.
Your boss is probably on Facebook, and if (s)he’s not, your future boss may be. Your profile should be tailored in a way which promotes yourself as a responsible professional. Sure, there’s no harm in posting pictures from your vacation or weekend activities, but know who’s watching. These sites are no longer a place to display your drunken nights downtown or a crazy weekend at the beach. It’s a place to find a new job, network with others in your field, and connect with friends and family.
Although these sites may have an affect on your reputation, you’ve never had more control over your name as you do now. Your profile picture will be recalled to friends’, colleagues’, and acquaintances’ minds at the mention of your name. This is an opportunity to create an image of yourself that you’ve always wanted. Work on building your profile in your favor. People only know what they see, read, and hear, and you have the ability to control that information! Brand yourself as the person you see yourself as, not how others see you.
