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Do you have an Online Reputation?

Authors: Michelle Nicholls & Sandra Olivier
In 2008 Reputation Management emerged as a key focus area for companies and individuals alike to consider. Do you know if you have an online reputation? If you have an online reputation, did you manage it during the year? If you don't know if you have one, well, that's probably not good either.

The truth is that these days the cameras around every corner have turned into mobile cameras on everybody's cell phones. Embarrassing moments are ending up on YouTube, Facebook and Flickr. Your life could be an online reality show and you don't even know it.

So if you didn't create the right kind of awareness you wanted, now is the time to turn it all around. We give you some easy suggestions to find out how your reputation is looking and how you can start creating one if you have no presence at all.

1. Ask Google...
   Open the Google search engine and enter your name to see how many results show up. Are the comments positive or negative and on which sites were the postings made. No results? Don't assume you are off the hook! Not having a presence online is just as bad as having negative mentions in the Top 10 Search Rankings.
   
   
2. Participate...
   By creating a profile on a professional business networking site it will show others your current portfolio with a background on what you have achieved. If journalists / bloggers / citizen journalists can find your personal overview then they are more likely to use this information in their articles.
   
   Sites such as LinkedIn or MyGenius are used by people from all levels within an organisation, to get references from colleagues and to provide recommendations.
   
   
3. You are the expert...
   The most important thing to realise is in the online world content is King as it raises visibility and awareness on the Search Engines. In order to ensure that Search Engine Results for your name lead to positive information it's a great idea to write about what you know. Personal blogs are a perfect way to create content but should be carefully considered as it takes a lot of time to write and respond on comments.
   
   There are however many other ways to create content online. You can actively participate in different forums, make comments on other people's blogs, write articles for other blog owners or newsletters.
   
   
4. Be smart!
   Sometimes it's as easy as adding a link to your online profile in your letterhead, emails and, to your blog, if you have one. This is an easy way to use your daily correspondence as a way to create awareness of your 'Google CV'.

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