1. Online Reputation Management
(What you need to know)

2. Pretty much everything you ever put on the
Internet is there for anyone to see, forever.
If that statement strikes fear in your heart, as it
does most people, then it's time to start
managing your reputation now. While you can't
get rid of everything you have online about
yourself or your business, you can get control of
your image, manage it and improve it.

3. Even innocent comments made on someone
else's Facebook page can show up on search engines.
Like a controversial page? Like a divisive picture?
Everyone will know, regardless of your privacy settings
if they happen to search for the right keywords. Once
you realize that your online presence is actually your
first impression today, you'll realize the importance of
managing your online reputation. To start today
managing your online reputation start with the
following.

4. Separate Personal from Professional
It's easier to manage your online reputation if you keep
business and personal separate. It can be awkward and
difficult to change after doing something one way for
so long, but it is important that you do it. Simply create
the separate social networks, and then invite the right
people to join explaining to them what you are doing.
Most people will totally get it and even follow what you
are doing.

5. Clean up your Mistakes
When possible, ask for erroneous or inappropriate
information to be removed. Did someone snap a photo
of you drinking a giant margarita at a private family
function, post it on Facebook and tag you and everyone
you know? If you do not want the picture out there,
you have a right to ask that it be removed. Even Google
has procedures to remove old information from Usenet
groups.

6. Monitor Online Activity
Set up a Google Alert on your name in its
various forms, as well as certain keywords that you
would like to command. Check this activity at least
weekly so that you can know what the buzz is about
you, your products and / or services. By setting up
the alerts, you will be able to circumvent, remove,
or cover up information that you'd rather not be
public.

7. Think Twice before Posting
Starting today, give every word, picture, or comment
you write a second thought before posting. It's time to
realize that the days of imagined privacy on the
Internet are over. Therefore, it's important not to say
anything on the net, that you would not say to your
family dinner, or in a business meeting. If you'd be
embarrassed if certain people knew, don't say it, share
it, or comment on it.

8. Build your Brand
You can cover up a lot of information you'd rather not
be public by creating new content that builds your
brand. Try writing a new blog post for 30 days and a
new article for article marketing sites for 30 days that
focus on the keywords that you want to show up when
people search for you. By building your brand in this
manner the other less relevant, though titillating,
information will be covered.

9. Use Privacy Settings
Every social media group has privacy settings
of some kind. It is important to learn how to use
them, and be aware of their limitations. Just
because your Facebook page is set up that certain
things you say are only shown to friends, does not
mean it won't show up on a search result if you
made a comment on a page that does not have
such settings.

10. THE END