This document discusses digital footprints and how to manage one's online presence. It defines a digital footprint as the trail of information someone leaves online through their own posts and actions, as well as things others post about them. It notes that one leaves a footprint through websites, social media like Facebook and YouTube, and services like Google. The document provides tips for curating a positive online presence such as using one's real name, posting positive content, and networking with others of similar interests. It stresses the importance of regularly monitoring one's online reputation and removing any negative information.
2. A Digital Footprint
“The world is listening to us when we are on
the web, then let's make sure what we say is
interesting, engaging, positive and
representative of our better selves.”
3. What is a Digital Footprint
Trail of information one leaves online
All of the information about a person
Either posted by that person or others
Intentionally or unintentionally
4. How Do You Leave a Digital
Footprint?
Websites and web merchants
When you sign up for or when you buy
something, you are giving out personal
information.
Your personal information is often shared,
circulated, and sometimes sold.
Facebook
Your conversations on Facebook are more
public than you might realize.
Anyone can copy/paste anything you say into
an email that they send to others - or publish on
Facebook.
5. How Do You Leave a Digital
Footprint? Cont.
YouTube
What is you are video recorded by someone
else, and posted that on YouTube.
If posted on someone else's YouTube site, you
don't have access to it and can't remove it.
Google
Did you know that Google reads your Gmail?
They can choose what advertisements follow
your interests.
6. How to Start a Positive
Digital Footprint
Google
Others can quickly find out about who you are
Google yourself
What did you find?
Can you be confused with someone else?
Was there a clear path?
What to post?
Is this something you would want your
colleagues or future employers to see?
Post articles, achievements, and other things
that that will create a positive image of yourself.
7. How to Start a Positive
Digital Footprint Cont.
Steps to starting a positive digital footprint:
Read blogs related to your interests. Search using
http://blogsearch.google.com to see who has similar
interests.
Participate. If you find someone who shares similar
interests and is interesting, be sure to share by
commenting.
Use your real name. This is a step necessary to be
Googled well. Be careful, do not divulge personal
information.
Start a Facebook page. You can start social networking
and collaborating with those who have similar interests.
Explore Twitter. Enables you to share updates and
network.
8. Accept Your Digital
Responsibility
Sharing publicly
Creating and updated can reach anyone, not just the intended
person or persons.
Know how to present yourself
Every social network is different.
Be authentic
Remain true to yourself.
Big egos will self-destruct
Always remember that this can happen in a big way.
Be respectful
Disagreements don’t have to be nasty or hurtful.
Carry yourself well
Let your character shine through.
10. Accept Your Digital
Responsibility cont.
Think about
How do you want to “show up” online?
Do this before you share/engage in
conversations.
The Internet never forgets!
11. First Impression
Appear online/first impression
How are you perceived?
Are you proud of what appears when
someone performs a search for you name?
Be consistent
Use consistent names
Allows other to find you without confusion
Re-emphasize who you are
Use same picture and name
12. Being Cautious
Information can be leaked
Damage control steps
Delete photos that will send wrong message
Request tagged photos be removed
Set strict privacy measures for personal sites
13. Build a Positive Online
Presence
Easy to be found
Make it possible to be Googled so others with
similar interests can find you easily.
Positive Representation
Ensure your digital footprint is a positive
representation of who you are.
Post Useful Information
Link to interesting articles (Facebook), tweet
about relevant/interacting blogs or websites.
14. Build a Positive Online
Presence
Post positive information on sites
Comment on blogs related to your interests
Write your own blog
Post well-written, positive book reviews on Amazon
Create a professional profile, and build your contact
list using professional network sites (LinkedIn)
Google yourself (information and images)
Remove negative information quickly
Screen information and pictures (can’t always delete)
Don’t assume sites are private (Facebook, MySpace)
Network with those with similar interests
15. Online Presence
To maintain an Online Presence
Use a combination of social tools
Google Maps
Facebook
Twitter
Flickr
Youtube
Pinterest
16. Online Presence Elements
Blogging
Establish and maintain name recognition
Quickly respond
Maintain positive focus
Reputation Management
Track actions and opinions
Respond to negative posting with an apologetic
attitude
Social Media
Create information to attract
Encourage others to share with their social
networks
17. Protect Yourself Online
Create professional email
Limit contact information
Never provide your social security number
or other important information
If something sounds too good to be true,
it probably is!
18. References
Brown, R. (2011, May 13). Digital Footprints. [Web log comment]. Retrieved
from http://www.coetail.asia/rlbrown/2011/05/13/digital-footprints/
Jackson, C. (2012, February 6). What Digital Footprints Are You Leaving
Behind? [Web log comment]. Retrieved from
http://www.trackur.com/what-digital-footprints-are-you-leaving-behind
Managing your digital footprint. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://sites.google.com/site/digcitizenshipadventures/managing-your-
digital-footprint
Managing Your Online Presence. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.manchester.edu/osd/career/documents/OnlineJobSearch0
9.pdf
19. Online presence management. (2012, July 29). Retrieved September 30,
2012 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_presence_management
Shah, S. (2012, September 19). Build a positive professional online
presence. Times of India. Retrieved from
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-
19/work/31054791_1_online-reputation-social-network-business-
website
Your Digital Footprint. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.granvillecsd.org/webpages/lgrandjean/using_the_inter
net.cfm?subpage=635376
Hinweis der Redaktion
What is a Digital Footprint? It is a trail of information that one leaves online. You could shop or comment in forums and it can be traced back to you. It is vital to be aware of digital footprints that you leave behind. This includes all of your information whether it is posted by your or someone else and it can be intentional or unintentional. Be aware of who you want to be online or how you want others to see you.
Leaving digital footprints happens in many ways, including:Websites and web merchants. When you sign up for a new social media site, or when you buy something, you may not realize that you are giving personal information to the people who manage those sites. That information is often shared, circulated, and sometimes sold. Facebook. You have many conversations on Facebook that you think that only your Friends can see. But your Facebook conversations are more public than you might realize, because it's quite natural to lose track of all the Friends you have allowed to have access to your conversations. Also, remember that anyone can copy and paste anything you say into an email that they send to others - or publish on Facebook. YouTube. Perhaps someone video recorded you at a party, and posted that on YouTube. Because it is posted on someone else's YouTube site, you don't have access to it and can't remove it. Google. And don't forget that Google reads your GMail to choose what advertisements you might like to see.
Others can quickly Google you to find out more about you. Be sure to Google yourself and see what you find. Is this the information you want to convey to the world? Would you be confused with someone else with the same name? Was there a clear path to the information you what others to find about you? What should you post? Be sure it is something that you would want anyone to see. If you can say it, then don’t post it. Once you post something online, it is almost impossible to take it back! Be sure to post articles, achievements, and other things that that will create a positive image of yourself.
How do you start a positive digital footprint? You should start with blogs and be sure they are within your interests. Search blogs to see if there are posts that match what you are looking for. Participate within blogs and be sure to share by commenting on those who have the same interests. Be sure to use your real name. This is a crucial step in being sure that you are Googled well and those who you want to find you, will. Start a Facebook page. This will get you started with networking/collorating with those who have similar interests. This is a great way to gain new information. Explore Twitter. You will be able to share updates and network with those who will give you great resources and additional help.
Accept your digital responsibility and take it to heart. When you create (or update) a social media profile keep in mind what you share publicly can reach people outside of those you directly connect with. Remember each social network offers a different experience, so know how you want to present or distinguish yourself.Be authentic – and remain true to who you are. Always remember that a big ego will tend to self-destruct in a big way. Be respectful. Disagreements don’t have to be nasty or hurtful. Carry yourself well. Allow your character to shine through and guide you.
Think about how you want to “show up” online before you share or engage in conversations. Remember that the Internet never forgets
How you appear online is the first impression other get of you. How do you want to be perceived? Are you proud about what sites and articles appear under your name in search engines? You should if you want to build a business or get a job.In order for people to find you online, you need to be consistent. Wherever you are online (personal blog, business website etc) you should have consistent names. If you start a website or blog under your full name, do the same for your social network profiles. Being consistent allows people to follow your digital tracks and not get confused. It also re-emphasises your brand when people see the same picture, name and positioning on every site.
On the Internet there are chances information getting leaked so be cautious. Listed are a few damage control steps: Delete any photos of you that might send the wrong message, Go through any photos (where you're tagged) and request that those you aren't comfortable sharing be removed, Set strict privacy measures for your personal sites so they aren't searchable and your profile picture cannot be seen.
When you are ready to build a positive online presence, consider the following: Make sure it's easy for people to find you. Can others Google you and find what they are looking for, Ensure what others find is a positive representation of who you are and what you represent, Provide information that is useful via social networks, this means linking to interesting articles on Facebook, tweeting about relevant and interacting with blogs or websites.
Post positive information on sites that will show up on the first 1-2 pages of a Google search. Comment on blogs related to your interests. Write your own blog. Post well-written, positive book reviews on Amazon.com (even better, review books related to your interests!). Create a professional profile, and build your contact list using professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Google yourself to see what information and images others will see online about you. If negative information is online, remove it quickly. Unfortunately, once something’s online, even if you delete it, you cannot guarantee that it’s gone for good. Information and pictures can easily be copied. Take care to screen information and pictures before posting anything. Do not assume that Facebook, MySpace and similar sites are private. Network with those who have similar interests.• Create a positive online presence so when employers search the internet to learn about you, they see what a great candidate you are.
To maintain a online presence, one must use a combination of social tools such as Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Youtube, and Pinterest.
Blogging can establish and maintaining name recognition. Blogging is a quick way to respond to complaints and maintain positive focus. Reputation Management is the process of tracking actions and opinions, looking for positive and negative opinions, and removing negative opinions and converting them into positive ones. Try not to attack or try to obscure negative opinions. You should respond to negative postings with an apologetic attitude. Social media focuses on creating information that attracts attention and encourages readers to share content with their social networks.
Create a professional email address specifically for communicating with other professionals. Make sure you check it often or have it forwarded to and email you check. Limit the personal contact information you list online. Just an email address and phone number are enough. You do not need to include personal information or information pertaining to your family. Never provide your social security number, banking information or other personal details online. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!