Online Identity Management has become more important with the growth of the internet. It has become more crucial to make sure that your name is not associated with potentially embarrassing content. You do not want a potential employer “Googling” your name only to find the first result is someone with your name who murdered his ex-wife, or worse still pictures of someone at a frat party. In order to make sure that your identity online is reputable; ensure that you follow these simple steps.
Domain name
First and foremost, get a domain name. This gives you your own web page where you can put information that you want others to find about yourself. You control the content; therefore you control what others perceive!
Getting a domain name is very simple today. You can have one within a few minutes if you choose. What’s more, it is also very cheap to do so! You have no excuse not to own your very own of internet real estate.
Redirecting
For some of us, having a domain name is an added burden. We do not possess the proper skills to design and create a good-looking web page about ourselves. Even if you are able to, it is important that you re-direct users to other web pages about yourself that you also control. The best choice is to direct your web page to a portal that has links to pages you have control over.
These pages include your social media presence and blogs, both personal and professional. These portals include Card.ly, Chi.mp, Flavors.me and UnHub. These make online identity management a little more convenient.
Whatever the case, have your domain name directing traffic to a page that has information that you control. This ensures that whoever searches for your name is directed to where you want them.
Linking
It is not enough to have someone directed to your page. Ensure that you link your site on other web pages. Ensure you put links to your site on your social media accounts and use them. Use your real name when carrying out online activity such as Facebooking, bookmarking, blogging, commenting and tweeting.
For professional activity, join LinkedIn, online discussions and forums that reflect your professional interest. If you are an economist, comment on stories, forums and blogs using your real name or an account linked to your personal domain name.
With these steps, your name should start becoming more prominent on search engines.
Activity
Online identity management is an ongoing activity. You need to make sure that you have content that is current about you. This makes sure that whenever people search for your name, they get information about what is happening to you now.
You need to keep at it. Devote a small amount of time to update your status, comment, tweet about something you read, bookmark or blog about a topic. This way, people get current information, not archived history about you. It may seem challenging at first, but you will get the hang of it over time.