2. Purpose
● Be aware of your digital footprint
● Create and maintain a positive
digital footprint
● Manage your digital footprint
3. What is a Digital Footprint?
“Your digital footprint is all the stuff you leave
behind as you use the Internet. Comments on
social media, Skype calls, app use and email
records- it’s part of your online history and
can potentially be seen by other people, or
tracked in a database.”
(Your Digital Footprint Matters, n.d.)
4. Who has a digital Footprint?
Anyone who uses the internet, social media, or email has a digital footprint.
“Every email, post, photo and
click you make online leaves a
trail... It’s permanent, it follows
you for life and it’s not going
anywhere—it’s your digital
footprint.”
(Erickson, 2018)
5. Why is it important to
manage your digital
footprint?
● Reputation
● Safety/Protection
● Professionalism
● Positive Presence
● Stay Connected
● Stay Organized
6. How to Manage a Professional Online Plan
1. Know your footprint
2. Make and keep your footprint safe and protected
3. Create a professional online presence
4. Keep your online presence positive
5. Stay connected to social media sites
6. Organize online connections
7. Step 1-Know Your Footprint
● Use a variety of search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo to search
yourself
● Put “quotes” around your first and last name when searching for yourself
● Add the city and state you live in to narrow the search
● Search under the Images Google tab as well
8. Resources- Sites to Search People
● Pipl
● White Pages
● BeenVerified
● PeekYou
9. See Something Posted You Don’t Like?
● Delete negative content
● Delete negative images
● Delete outdated information such as old websites
● Review and clean up social media sites
10. See Something Someone Else Posted You Don’t Like?
● Contact the Site Administration (usually found under Contact Us)
● Request your information be taken down
● According to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), “Under Section
512, it’s illegal for someone to post an involuntary photo of you without your
consent” (Fred, n.d.).
Resource-Takedown Notice
● NPPA
11. Video-How to Handle a Negative Post
(How to Handle a Negative Posting about Yourself, n.d.)
12. Step 2-Protect Your Footprint
● Register your first and last name as a domain name
● Create a
○ Blog
○ Website
Resources
● Blogger
● Wordpress
13. Protect-Digital Footprint Management
● Optimize your social media profile
● Publish regularly
● Interact with social media formats
● Provide information on Google Listing
● Supervise all online reviews
15. Step 3-Professional Presence
● Keep your personal site private
● Design a separate profile for your professional career
● Join professional sites that are relevant to your career
● Add the same professional headshot photo for all of your sites
● Create a blog connected to your career
● Generate a niche or specialty that separates you from others
(5 Ways to Create a Professional Online Presence, n.d.)
17. Step 4-Positive Online Presence
● Keep all posts positive and professional
● Proofread
● Reply to all comments
● Network, Network, Network
● Highlight accomplishments
● Keep sites current
● Keep track of all activity on your sites
18. Make Sure to Keep All Posts Positive
“Right or wrong, your digital
footprint can affect your
reputation, both online and
offline. Creating a positive digital
footprint is an important part of
protecting your reputation, both
now and for the future.”
(Leaving a digital footprint, n.d.)
19. (5 Ways to Make a Positive Digital Footprint!,n.d.)
Video-Making a Positive Digital Footprint
21. Step 6-Keep Organized
● Delete all accounts you do not use anymore
● Review and update privacy settings
● Turn on privacy mode on browser
● Unsubscribe to unwanted mail
● Use tools to help organize sites
23. “I want people to know who I am and what I do. By
having a consistent, visible digital identity, I’m
putting myself in a position for good things to
happen. I recommend you do so as well.”
(Taub,n.d.)
24. References
Best Free People Search Engines to Find Anyone easily. (2017, January 17). The Windows Club.
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/best-people-search-engines
DSIM- Digital Marketing Blog. (n.d.). Digital Marketing Blog - DSIM. Retrieved from https://dsim.in/blog/2018/10/13/9-
professional-networking-alternatives-linkedin/
Educatorstechnology. (n.d.). 10 Excellent Social Bookmarking Tools for Teachers. Educational Technology and Mobile
Learning. Retrieved from https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/10-excellent-social-bookmarking-tools.html
Ericksen, K. ( 2018, 16 May). Your Digital Footprint: What Is It and How Can You Manage It? | Rasmussen College. Retrieved
from https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/what-is-digital-footprint/
11 Digital Education Tools For Teachers And Students. (2018, March 31). ELearning Industry.
https://elearningindustry.com/digital-education-tools-teachers-students
Erskine, R. (2017, January 23). How to Protect Your Online Reputation in 2017. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/287581
5 Steps to Creating a Positive Online Presence | Intern Queen Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.internqueen.com/5-steps-
creating-positive-online-presence
5 Ways to Create a Professional Online Presence | Inc.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/john-discala/5-ways-to-
create-a-professional-online-presence.html
5 Ways to Make a Positive Digital Footprint! (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwFE25f50P4&feature=youtu.be
25. References (continued)
Fred. (n.d.). How to track down your digital footprint. Tech Junkie. Retrieved from https://www.techjunkie.com/track-identity-
internet/
Google My Business—Drive Customer Engagement on Google. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/business/
How to Handle a Negative Posting about Yourself. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP5YdpsHfYQ&feature=youtu.be
Leaving a digital footprint. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/articles/leaving-a-digital-footprint
7 Ways to Build a Positive Online Reputation | Brand24 Blog. (2016, December 23). https://brand24.com/blog/7-ways-to-build-
a-positive-online-reputation/
22/6-steps-optimize-any-social-profile-maximum-seo-value
6 Tips That Will Help You Manage Your Digital Footprint. (2018, August 23). Cyclonis. https://www.cyclonis.com/6-tips-help-
manage-digital-footprint/
Taub, A. (n.d.). 5 Key Things Needed To Improve Your Digital Identity. Forbes. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alextaub/2012/06/07/5-key-things-needed-to-improve-your-digital-identity/
Your Digital Footprint Matters. (n.d.). Internet Society. Retrieved from https://www.internetsociety.org/tutorials/your-digital-
footprint-matters/
