For years Microsoft has been collecting data on how people use the internet. But in 2012 the company is stepping up its efforts to encourage internet users to think about their online reputation and to practice better reputation management. The company released a report with steps and tips for laypeople and web marketing firms to follow to make sure their online image is safe and positive. A lot of people think about reputation management however countless people also do not. Some seem to be completely unconcerned with their online reputation and this may come back to haunt them in the future.
Microsoft proposes conducting your own reputation report from time to time. You may be surprised by the things you find on yourself when you search your name in search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Microsoft’s data states that only thirty-seven percent of adult internet users ever do this. If you have a profile on a social networking website then something will most likely come up when you enter your name in Google. Analyze the things that come up in the search results and decide if it projects the type of image you want to show your employers and colleagues. If you do not like what you see then alter your online behavior accordingly.
You should also separate your professional and personal profiles. If you would not bring a bottle of schnapps to work with you then you should not have pictures of you drinking and partying on a social networking site that your co-workers can see. It is not necessary for pictures like this to exist online in the first place. But if you decide to keep party photos tagged then make sure your boss and the people you work with cannot see them. The things you “like” on Facebook or Tweet should also characterize you in a positive light. More and more people are getting fired because they are failing at keeping their private and public lives separate online.
Microsoft suggests adjusting the privacy settings on your web browser so that the sites you visit are not visible to everyone. Even if you think you have nothing to hide there is no reason why everyone online should be able to view your “most visited websites.” Something that you may not find embarrassing today may come back to embarrass you six years from now. Microsoft wants internet users to remember that personal information is saved online essentially forever. You can use privacy settings on Internet Explorer and Firefox to manage how people can search for you and what information will appear when they do.
Your online reputation is shaped by what you say, post, and search online. Social networking sites have become a keystone of our modern age and are not going to go away in the foreseeable future. Therefore it makes sense to learn how to properly use the privacy tools at your disposal to shield your online reputation and become skilled at reputation management. People who fail at reputation management today will regret it years down the road when an boss or family member uncovers something embarrassing from the past. Microsoft has more valuable tips on how to manage your online reputation in its “Digital Citizenship in Action Toolkit.”
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