1st Step to Sculpting an Online Reputation is to have one!

I recently googled myself using my real name, and nothing came up, others who share my name came up, but nothing under my real name in which I would be addressed as professionally. I see it as a positive because I still am still learning how to sculpt the proper online reputation for myself.

All of my life my family and friends have called me by, well, my mother refers to it as a shorter version of my name, others beg to differ.  It is the name I have always used, except on passports and formal documents, so of course when it came to joining social media sites, the only way I would have any hope of other people finding me was to use that name. It has actually worked out quite well in hiding my identity. It’s very similar to what other professionals are doing now to protect themselves, by using their first and middle names on social media sites instead of their first and last.

Therefore to currently evaluate myself, as you can see or perhaps as you won’t see, I don’t really exist online. I am more of a confusing muddled mess of names.

Moving on to a solution, well first, I will want to introduce myself to the world. Start with a strong professional portfolio. I can also join some of the social media sites I am on just under my true name and in a more professional networking manner. That also goes for other networking sites dealing with the professional job marketing industry. 

The one thing I am learning very quickly is that maintenance is key. Once you become a part of any of these networking sites, it is very important to maintain your profile.  Anything you start online, should not be considered like a fine wine.

I understand I can’t build up my online reputation overnight, and I know personally it will take me awhile. I plan on researching media sites I join, and you won’t offend others if you don’t accept their invitations.  Again, as I have mentioned in my previous blogs, I am not computer savvy, I would prefer to build up some confidence navigating online before diving in head first and making a bad first digital impression.