A Guest Post
by Jason Nash
Assets, Identity, Online Presence
One of the most important factors to consider when searching for a job, establishing your social network, or simply protecting your assets and identity is your online presence. In today’s society, our names are spread all throughout the internet. The majority of Americans can type their name into a search engine and find information from their Facebook page, their LinkedIn account, their Twitter followers, and their websites or blogs. Additionally, most computer users have information spread throughout the internet in the form of website hosting profiles. As beneficial as these networks are, it is also important that we take the time to “clean up” our internet presence both in the amount of information and the content.
Facebook is one of the most commonly visited sites on the web today. Not only do friends use the site for social networking, but businesses are now using Facebook to contact clients. Employers also utilize it to find out more information about applicants education, work history and social habits. One of the best things you can do to improve your virtual appearance is to make sure that your profile sends a positive message about yourself.
Consider what language you use and how much information you give about yourself. Many people choose to only make their profile visible to friends, making identity theft much less likely. Many people also pay attention to who your friends are. If you have friends you are no longer in contact with, it is best to delete them from your friends list so they will not shed a negative image on your own profile.
Twitter is one of the newest forms of social networking. While “following” friends and “being followed” can be a lot of fun, it is extremely important to be mindful of who is following you. Twitter users can be prime candidates for identity theft, and should always be aware of how much information they are posting. It is also wise to keep your Twitter profile updated so that potential employers and friends see up to date information.
LinkedIn is primarily a business network that allows workers to connect to colleagues in various businesses and industries and establish a network to obtain recommendations. Because this network can be such a valuable business connection, it is a good idea to take the time to go through the “People You May Know” section and find additional connections. Once again, it is also wise to consider how much information you put on your public profile. Make sure people can identify whether or not they know you, but keep personal information available only to friends.
Finally, consider how much information you put on websites and blogs. While website hosting can be an extremely useful tool for sharing information with friends and clients, many web users do not take the time to adequately edit or protect their information. Many users will share highly personal information concerning their family, their location or even their financial situation without taking the necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. They may also share opinions that may not be desirable for employers or coworkers to view. Many websites and blogs have an option that allows only those who are invited to view the site. Other can keep a tally on how many viewers there are and who specifically is visiting. These tools can ensure safety and protection of personal information.
Using social networking tools can be a great asset in today’s highly electronic society. By taking the time to sift through your information and “clean up” your online presence, you can have the best networking experience possible.
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Author’s Bio: The article is from Jason Nash from keybrokersocial.com Jason writes about technology, social media and online marketing strategies and follows brands online and off as part of his work.
Thank you, Jason!
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!
