This presentation provides ten tips for managing your online reputation

1. Tips for Managing
Your Digital
Footprint
Beth M. Transue, MLS
Boise State EdTech, MET Program
Fall 2012

2. Why?
• Even if you don’t have your own online accounts, YOU are still
online
• Pictures posted by others
• Mentioned in comments by friends
• Your personal life is now open to professional evaluation
• Example:
• Facebook postings, links, photos
• Twitter comments
• Foursquare locations
• Pintrest boards and photos

3. 1. Google Yourself
• Google yourself on a routine schedule such as every six
months
• Don’t forget to do an Image search!
• Use other search engines such as Bing, Yahoo, FB Search

4. Response to Strategy 1
I will Google myself at least every six months, and I will search
not just web posts but also images. I will also search for myself
on Yahoo and Bing. This is critical so I can know how I am being
portrayed online, whether through my own or others’ postings.
I noted in the screenshot above that the first Google posts are
about my current employment, and links to my main social
media pages: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Slideshare.
It does help to have a unique name!

5. 2. Create social media presence
with personal brand
• Portray consistent personal brand across social media
platforms. Family, friends, colleagues and potential employers
should see a consistent portrayal, rather than a confusing and
contradictory presence.
• Think about how you wish to be portrayed. Think ahead to
how this will be viewed in the future.
• Don’t be afraid to be personal; that is what social media is all
about. But don’t overdo it!

6. Response to Strategy 2
I use the same photo and
professional information
to brand myself on
LinkedIn and Twitter. I
change my profile photo
on Facebook to keep it a
little more personal and
fun.

7. 3. Choose a dominant channel
• Choose one social media to be your dominant brand, and
distribute content from this central place.
• This makes keeping up with your online reputation more
manageable.

8. Response to Strategy 3
My dominant online channel is Facebook. I post personal and
professional links, photos, and connect with a wide variety of
family, friends and colleagues through Facebook.
I use Twitter to post links about the intersection of library
services and technology.
I use my personal blog (TechieLibrarian) to reflect upon the
intersections of library services and technology. Blog entries
post simultaneously on Facebook and Twitter.

9. 4. Tag Content Strategically
• Wise use of tags allow others to more easily find your profile
and content through online searches.

10. Response to Strategy 4
I tag all my blog posts with appropriate tags.
I use appropriate hastags in Twitter posts
I use tags in my personal profile on LinkedIn
Blog Tag Cloud:

11. 5. Establish credibility
• Establish your authenticity and credibility by posting
reflections on professional practice and linking to professional
resources.

12. Response to Strategy 5
I typically post 1-2 entries per day on Facebook and/or Twitter
that are professional content. I often receive comments from
students and colleagues about the issues. This establishes my
authority and credibility on campus and within my personal
learning network.
Example: posts from Facebook on my most recent workday:
• Walmart stops selling Kindle
• NYPL revises plan to move books offsite
• Why we need law librarians more than ever

13. 6. Share original content
• Post original content from professional activities in settings
that can be searched, shared, and commented on
• This increases your authority and credibility and relates to
Strategy 5

14. Response to Strategy 6
I share original conference materials from instruction sessions,
posters, or conference presentations that I create on Slideshare.

15. 7. Customize Privacy Settings
• Customize privacy settings. Create lists and utilize privacy
settings within those lists.
• Monitor for changes and updates in privacy policies and
continually customize in response to changes.
• Realize that privacy settings are not perfect. Continue to be
wise about what is posted even when using privacy settings.

16. Response to Strategy 7
I put all Facebook Friends into appropriate custom lists. When
appropriate, I block specific lists from personal posts.
Example: my employer requires a Community Covenant for
students. Faculty are expected to abide by this Covenant when
our lives “intersect” with students. This Covenant prohibits
alcohol. Therefore, when posting pictures of my annual trip
with personal friends to Fingerlake Wineries, I block my
“Students” list from viewing the photos. This keeps me within
the ‘spirit’ of the Community Covenant while allowing other
friends to enjoy the scenic photos.

17. 8. Post resume online
• Post education, experience and skills sets to various social
media accounts.
• Post similar information to professional networking sites,
particular if looking for employment
• Include links to social network sites and immediate contact
information

18. Response to Strategy 8
I post education, experience, skills and contact information to
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Slideshare.

19. 9. Consider blogging
• Create a blog to reflect upon professional interests.
• Link to related blogs
• Comment on related professional blogging and engage in
scholarly communication
• Invite comments on your blog. Respond to comments in a
professional manner, even when critiqued.

20. Response to Strategy 9
I started a professional blog, TechieLibrarian, in January 2012.
Unfortunately I have not blogged since May! I need to create a
formal blogging schedule as part of my workflow.

21. 10. Don’t Forget to Have Fun!
• Social media was made for fun!
• Of course you need to maintain a professional demeanor
online. The above strategies can help. But no one wants to be
friends with just a profile. Allow online friends and
professional colleagues a glimpse into your personal life. You
have the control!

22. Response to Strategy 10
This is why I love social media. I show bits of my quirky self, and
get to see the same in others! I just think before I post!
A recent Facebook post about my crazy adventures as an Auntie:

23. References
• McGinnis, S. (2012). Online reputation management: A how-to
guide. Retrieved from
http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-
management-a-how-to-guide/
• Tools and tips for managing your personal digital footprint.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/mikekujawski/tools-
and-tips-for-managing-your-personal-digital-footprint/1
• Your digital footprint in a social media world. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/AntonRSA/your-
digital-footprint-in-a-social-media-world/1