The document is a presentation by Sarah Tharp on creating and maintaining a strong online presence. It discusses the importance of SEO, personal online reputation, using WordPress, a case study of reputation management for American Apparel, and advice for students. The presentation provides an overview of Sarah's background, her role at Brain Host, and contact information.

1. Creating and Maintaining a
Strong Online Presence
Presentation by:
Sarah Tharp
Director of Online Marketing, Brain Host
@stharp14

2. • SEO
•
Overview
Personal Online Reputation
• WordPress Tutorial
• Reputation Management for Clients
• Case Study
• Advice

3. • Graduated from Ohio
University in 2011 with a
Bachelor of Science in
About Me
Journalism
• Started at Brain Host 2 weeks
after graduation as a Social
Media Manager
• Currently the Director of
Online Marketing for Brain
Host

4. • Web hosting company based in Akron, OH
• Young, tech startup company
Brain Host
• 75+ employees
• Hosts over 180,000 websites

5. What is Web Hosting?
Brain Host

6. SEO

7. • Stands for Search Engine optimization
• Process of getting traffic from the “organic”
listings on search engines
SEO
• Web pages and other content such as videos or
local listings are shown and ranked based on
what the search engine considers most relevant
to users
• Importance of keywords

8. Have You Ever Googled
Yourself?
SEO

9. Personal Online Reputation

10. Personal Online Reputation • 59% of hiring managers are influenced by
your online reputation (The Green Internet
Group)
• 70% percent of company recruiters said
they'd rejected applicants based on
information they found online (Microsoft
Study 2010)
• Almost 9 /10 hiring professionals said a
positive online reputation could boost an
applicant's chances (Microsoft Study 2010)

11. Personal Online Reputation If I Have Social Media Profiles,
Should I Still Consider a
Website?
• Definitely.
• With our information so widely spread
across the internet, having a central hub
where recruiters, hiring managers, business
contacts, family, and friends can go to learn
about and contact you is vital.
• Websites are the new “first impression.”

12. Personal Online Reputation
Perks of a Personal Website
• Best chance of ranking first for your name
– 10 Most Expensive Domain Names
• Broaden your skill set
• Resume, writing samples and personal
information all in one place
• Say goodbye to generic email addresses
– Hello@yoursitename.com

13. Personal Online Reputation
Examples
• http://davelee.me/
• http://www.rachelyouens.com/
• http://www.pohsiteng.com/
• http://www.alexandermunk.com/
• http://dotmick.com/
• http://joannalord.com/
• http://www.professorcraigdavis.com/#!

14. Personal Online Reputation
Other Sites to Claim
• http://flavors.me/
• https://brandyourself.com/
• http://about.me
• http://www.quora.com/ *Google loves
• http://cuttings.me/
• http://pressfolios.com/
• LinkedIn with vanity URL

15. Personal Online Reputation

16. • WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
• Started as just a blogging system
• Has evolved to be used as full content
WordPress
management system
• Thousands of plugins, widgets and themes
http://www.professorcraigdavis.com/#!

17. Runs on WordPress
WordPress

18. WordPress Tutorial
WordPress
http://sarahtdomain.com/wp-admin/

19. SEO & Reputation Management
“Customers complain;
Competitors lie;
Haters hate.”
–Arienne Holland

20. SEO & Reputation Management
Knowledge of SEO is Imperative
for Every PR
Professional to Have.
• Reputation Management
• Brand Awareness
• Event Planning
• Fundraising

21. American Apparel
Case Study

22. Case Study

23. Case Study

24. Case Study

25. Case Study

26. • SEO has an important role in reputation
Case Study
management, as it can push down negative
results.

27. How Scripps Prepared Me for
Life in the “Real World”
•
Advice
Writing skills
• Relevant projects
• Internships
• Bobcat “safety net”
• Work Ethic

28. • Be proactive while still in school.
• Never think that you know less or under qualified.
• Work on your personal presentation – online and
Advice
offline.
• You can’t get fired from college. Test everything here.
• Go to career fairs, networking events, parties. Be as
social as possible. You never know who you are going
to meet or when you’ll see them down the road.
• Many companies hire for personality. Don’t be afraid to
show yours.
• Eagerness to learn trumps experience for entry level
positions.

29. Questions

30. • Email: sarah.tharp@brainhost.com
• Twitter: @stharp14
Contact
• Website: www.sarahtharp.com
• www.sarahtharp.com/bobcat
– 50% off hosting with coupon code BOBCAT
– Presentation, coupon information and extra
resources

31. Image Credit
• http://www.createafreewebsite.net/
Image Credit
• http://mashable.com/