Notes

10 Ideas to Effectively and Proactively Manage Your Online Reputation
Until very recently, only the people with access and influence, or some quantity of luck were the ones that could take advantage of publishers along with other contacts to greatly help them promote their work and personal image. The same was true of television and print media, that have been considered two of the most powerful tools because of their influence and capability to manipulate perceptions through content.

But, with the recent "democratization" of communication, linked with the development of the web and the emergence of a number of online tools and applications, the way companies and people interact, collaborate, communicate, play, work, share information, trade products or services has changed. And that change is profound.

Nowadays, anyone with internet access and a willingness to be proactive and to put some passion into learning how these tools work has the ability to gain a voice, add visibility to the exterior world and to create, share, distribute and publicize his / her own ideas, preferences, opinions, successes, experiences, and knowledge. Concurrently, it became an alternate method for promoting who we have been and to "influence" just how we want others to perceive us as individuals so when professionals.

It also facilitated the procedure of establishing informal relations and dialogues with individuals who we may or might not know, or who have been once inapproachable owing to that fact that these were reserved or simply shrouded by influence games and secret contacts.

As check here of ultra-competitive world in which we live today, it became increasingly very important to each of us to attempt to find and use creative methods to create buzz about ourselves, and that will help us to differentiate and stick out from the crowd and your competition while communicating those factors, qualities, characteristics which make us unique and valuable. Obviously, area of the solution is based on effectively managing and monitoring the web reputation for our own private brand.

Simultaneously, we ought to also be careful and check if the information that exists online and what others say about us is correct and represents a clear, positive and relevant image of who we really are. Especially when there exists a greater likelihood that someone, such former colleagues, recruitment companies, friends, family, ex-boyfriends, teachers, consultants and others, would use Google to try to discover reasons for having us.

Even when it is still impossible to totally control what others say about us, we can and should make an effort to at the very least be better ready to respond, minimize and perhaps avoid the effects and confusion that might follow from misinformation. You'll find nothing worse than having incorrect, embarrassing or negative information associated with our name, particularly at a time when reputations can be created and destroyed online in under seconds and at the speed of 140 characters.

For all this, I would like to ask you if you ever Googled your name between quotes on Google.com? If yes, did you prefer what you found? In the event that you haven't done this yet, what are you waiting for?

Make sure you take action and then read the 10 practical tips below on how to better manage your web reputation.

Contrary to what lots of people think, it's no more enough to simply create profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. You will need to go just a little further and complement this with other styles of proactive and well structured tactics

1. Register your name: For under $10 a year, it is possible to reserve and register your name being an online domain through services such as GoDaddy.com; DomainsInSeconds.com; Joker.com; Registera.com; IWantMyName.com; Register.com; etc. Preferably select one that ends with.com or. net (or. co,. tv) since they are the ones that search engines respect most. If your name is fairly common and is not any longer available consider using your middle initial or a shorter version of your name and even an invented word which might be easily associated with your personal brand. Thing about also buying a "hosting" service that enables you to build a website where you can put up your credentials. Then ensure that you list your site or blog on relevant websites, search engines and directories such as technorati, blogcatalog and mybloglog

2. Build your personal "window:" create a website or a blog that connects your web domain with your name using WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, BuddyPress, LiveJournal, Tumblr, etc. This will allow you to have a online location where you can not merely write and share your opinions, stories, experiences, wisdom and knowledge on a specific subject, but also boost your credibility, reputation and authority with se's, especially if your articles and comments start being shared by others in other internet sites and thereby obtain "back links" (links that time and connect directly to your website). Make sure you include your name in the description and title of one's blog, along with relevant tags in the titles of your articles and remember that "ideas are worth nothing until other people know about them" - Bo Fishback

3. Registered as a member: create, claim and secure your brand on several internet sites which are highly indexed in Google. Make certain you fill out your profile form completely to increase your visibility, even when you don't turn into a very active member.

Start by examining "List_of_social_networking_websites" on Wikipedia to become acquainted with the countless tools and social networks that are offered. It's essential that you devote time investigating how exactly to highlight your brand. For instance, the most crucial ones in Brazil are Orkut and Orca but in the United States the most notable are Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, and Portugal may be the Hi5.

Then head to KnowEm.com or checkusernames.com - to understand in which popular internet sites (you can find currently over 400) your name is still available also to claim, reserve and protect it.

Facebook Username and fanpage - a social network that already has a lot more than 50 million members worldwide and where it's possible to use a large number of applications associated with your personal profile. It also permits you to start creating our very own and your preferences.

Twitter - a social networking that provides a micro-blogging service where users are allowed to send, share and read messages known as "tweets" with no more than 140 characters. Users can also ask and answer questions and answer comments.

LinkedIn - a business-oriented social networking that's mostly used for establishing contacts and for networking on a specialist level.

Flickr - allows the integration and sharing of personal photos and videos that may be embedded in blogs or other social networks.

Google Profiles - a free service that makes personal profiles on Google's search engines and facilitates the control of some form of information that may appear associated with your name.

Digg - a social news website where users can discover and share content from anywhere online, by submitting links and stories, and at the same time, it offers the opportunity to vote and comment on those.

Hi5 - a social network where users will get, interact and stay static in touch with friends whilst having fun with them.

MySpace - a social network that became quite popular in the usa in June 2006 and where users can meet friends/colleagues/new people, listen and create music playlists for free, share photos, watch videos, etc.

Naymz - a professional social networking platform that allows its users to connect with other professionals that participate in specific networks.

StumbleUpon - an online community that allows its members to discover, classify and recommend personalized Web pages, photos and video.

Friendfeed - a real time feeds aggregator that consolidates news, social networks, blogs & micro-blogging updates, and RSS feeds.

Ping.fm - a straightforward and free micro-blogging service which allows members to update content from/to their various internet sites in the blink of a watch.

Tube Mongul - a free service that provides a single spot to upload video to any of the major video sharing websites.

YouTube - a free service that enables you to store, view, comment and share online video. Alternatively there are others like http://www.vimeo.com and Ustream.tv - http://www.Ustream.tv - a network of diverse channels providing a platform for video and online events.

Skype - a software that allows users to make voice calls, including video conferencing, on the internet. Calls to other users inside the service are free, but, for example, calls to landlines could be made right after paying a user fee.

eBay - a shopping website where people and businesses trade a wide variety of products and services worldwide via an auction system.

Friendster - a social networking service that allows users to get in touch with other members while maintaining contacts and sharing content, including videos, photos, messages and comments.

Friendfeed - allows you to create a way to obtain personalized content (articles, photos, etc.) that may be shared with friends.

Ning - an online platform which allows people to create their own internet sites. The service can be tried free of charge during 1 month, but after that, a small monthly fee applies.

Add a short biographies about yourself on websites, such as Wikipedia.org; knol.Google.com/ke and Squidoo.com.

And since the first impression is always the one that everyone could have of you, make sure you:
- Complete your profile completely and carefully on each social networking
- Use a photograph that shows you in a professional and consistent way across all the social networks... remember that "a picture is still worth a thousand words".
- Include links and addresses from the major social networks in every contacts that you make, including on your email signature.

4. Get involved: Do not be online by just creating a simple online profile. It's essential to be involved and to take part in discussions in groups, fan pages, and forums which are linked to your topics and interests by posting comments, answering questions, disseminating and sharing interesting content, establishing relationships, and interacting with others.

Most of these activities are necessary and may help us get the attention of our market and make them thinking about getting connected and getting together with us. If this happens, the likelihood of being followed and the likelihood of seeing our views and messages being broadcasted beyond our very own network of contacts (networking) will gradually increase.

The secret also involves being excellent storytellers - a person who is interesting and is able to inspire, motivate and capture the attention, heart, mind and interest of others. We ought to try to offer something free of charge that can bring added value. Use titles or subjects inside our own blogs or from other websites for reference that are relevant, innovative, and controversial.

Consider writing books and opinion articles for magazines, blogs, newsletters or influential websites on current or relevant topics for your target audience. And, spread those via links to your personal website or blog.
Also, try to be quoted in specialty articles and consider providing consultancy services.

Make a PowerPoint presentation on a particular topic and make an effort to book yourself into seminars, conferences, television programs along with other events where you could be a guest speaker. Make your self available to answer questions and discuss your personal views and experiences. Mean make that same presentation on websites like slideshare.com since, in accordance with Gary Vaynerchuck, every conversation that you start is another possibility to discuss your passions.

5. Monitor: Figure out how to read (between your lines), listen, and observe what others are saying about you, your individual brand, and the problems that are relevant to you. Try to identify which blogs, forums and personalities are the most important in a particular field and/or deserve to be followed. This type of monitoring allows us to become better informed about new trends, potential threats and better prepared to respond, innovate, adjust, change and adapt to new realities and situations if necessary. Here are some tools that will help:

- Google alerts - allows the creation of email alerts for your selection of query or topic and based on the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.). You should create alerts for your own name, your website/blog, your "competitors" and the topics which are relevant to you.

- Google reader - is a service that enables you to add and access content from your own favorite websites in a single place.

- Search.twitter.com - enables you to see what's happening or being said instantly on the topic that you would like search about - consider using it for your own name/brand.

- Backtype.com - is a social analysis platform that helps companies better understand their social impact, and warnings when a specific name is mentioned on blogs' comments.

- Socialmention.com - is really a real time search engine for all social networks user-generated content: blogs, comments, bookmarks, events, news, videos, etc.

- Boardtracker.com - provides notifications whenever a specific name or topic appears mentioned in discussions, in forums and IMs alerts. Cost: 39 USD monthly but the first 1 month are free.

- Blogsearch.google.com - is a technology that helps the user search and explore the blogging universe better in order to discover what is being said about any subject of interest.

- Tweetbackup - is really a tool that allows to release our twitter account. They recently started offering a monthly premium subscription for $1/month.

- Collecta.com - is a real time internet search engine time that includes results from blogs, micro blogs, news feeds and photo sharing services on a specific topic, name or website.

And when you ever need to provide or analyze statistical data on your website or audiences from other sites, use compete.com; alexa.com; pagerank.net; quantcast.com and googlerankings.com

6. Be real: behave online in the same way you do each day. Act with good manners, respect, professionalism, honesty, friendliness, consistency, dedication, adaptability, reciprocity, etc. Be considered a leader by being authentic and by showing that you care, respect, and are interested in learning more about the opinions, ideas, values, dreams, vision of others. This way it is possible to fully capture their interest and their willingness to connect to your own brand.

7. Be careful: do not put anything online that you'll not want your mother to see about you or your brand. Understand that Google never forgets and it's really virtually impossible to remove content from it. Therefore, think and become careful with what and the comments you post online. One day, you may regret having done it. Also, be cautious with those you meet and speak to online. Make an effort to disassociate yourself from anybody that may have a negative impact on your image. Tidy up your profile from spammers and questionable websites - and do not take sides in heated discussions, if you don't are prepared to defend your situation today as well as tomorrow. Finally, review the privacy settings of every of the social networks you use to help you stay in control of the public information that appears together with your online profile. Example: utilize the application PrivacyDefender for a graphic image of the kind of information to share online.

8. Take action - follow the maxim of not leaving for tomorrow what you can and really should be doing today. Don't forget that the way we act in relation to situations makes a big difference, especially if this is a less desirable situation. For example, when one makes a comment that is misinterpreted, the best thing to do would be to act immediately and clarify the problem. Don't forget what happened recently with BP CEO's comments that created a mini-crisis for that company that is considered by many a report case in PR.

If there is less worthy content, make an effort to use the "rule of thumb" to remove those. An alternative would be to directly contact the author of your blog or website and ask to have the information corrected (example: Correction: we got confirmation that xx was not fired but thrilled to defend myself against new roles as the zz at company zz).

9. Plan - Establish, in your lifestyle, a time to read, participate, comment which can help others remember you as well as your name/brand. Make time for the desired objectives and list ways to achieve them. Invest in consistent messaging and relevant content that is updated regularly. Never quit to evolve and improve what you do and know (even when you succeed). Don't let success blind you, and become willing to continue to strive to improve and to try new things.

10. Do not quit - Be patient and persistent because these steps require commitment, dedication, also it takes time to have the desired results. Be prepared to repeat each one of these tips over and over again and as often as needed.

But sooner or latter, you will see that your effort will be rewarded. All you have to to do would be to simply live up to your passion and do everything you have confidence in. Start managing your reputation today, dare to risk, and become prepared because you might be contacted by someone out of nowhere. It happened if you ask me already and it'll eventually you. (Just i want to know when.)

Copyright (c) 2010 Miguel Carvalho

Miguel Carvalho holds a Masters in Business Administration from Universidade Catolica Portuguesa and a MS in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College. Having more than 14 years experience in marketing, he's works as a Public Relations Manager in New York for days gone by six years. His interests include marketing, social networking, branding, organizational leadership, pr and strategic communications. More descriptive information is available at his personal website [http://miguelcarvalho.co]
My Website: https://youclerks.com/tips-for-making-your-insurance-commercials-even-more-pointless/