Your Digital Footprint In A Social Media WorldProtecting and building your digital resume online

Anton Koekemoer | July 2012

Your digital footprint overview

Agenda

Why are people going online?

A bad digital footprint

What makes your digital footprint stand out?

Are you visible online?

The web is public

A good digital footprint

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Employer background check

Protecting reputations online in plain English

Building your digital resume

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Get found online10

Possibilities11

Your Digital FootprintIntroduction

Why you need to put your best foot forward online

Your digital footprint might not mean that much to you right now, but it really should. Your digital footprint refers to your reputation online and your visibility when anyone is doing a search on you. Your visibility online is endless; your summer vacation video on YouTube, an article mentioning your graduation, party pictures you want to forget about… the list is endless. This content can be seen by anyone doing an assessment of your character online.

People will remember you for the things that you say and the things that you do.

Your Digital FootprintWhy are people going online?

For business purposes For information on a new product, service or location If they have a question If they are looking for help If they want more information on certain organizations If they want more information on certain individuals

Meeting attendants Business contacts General information (maybe about you…) New employees Available jobs

With the constant growth of the web, and more people getting connected every day, being visible in a positive way online has become a necessity in today’s digital market place and to be found online.

Your Digital FootprintWhy are people going online?

Your Digital FootprintAre you visible online?

Do you have a digital footprint?

Do you have a Facebook profile? Do you have a Twitter profile? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Do you have a profile on any social media channel? Have you ever been mentioned on any social media

channel, website or blog? Have you ever been tagged in any image online? Do you have a Google profile? Who uses Gmail? Have you ever Googled yourself?

Your Digital FootprintAre you visible online?

Your Digital FootprintGoogle search: Linda Koekemoer

Your Digital FootprintFacebook profile: Linda Koekemoer

What if a future employer decides to check your online profile?

What information will they find? Is the information positive or negative? Is the information wrong or outdated?

Where will they look for information? Google Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Other social media channels

Future employers search recruits through search engines and social networking sites before offering them jobs – happened to me

Your Digital FootprintEmployer background check

What positive things are employers looking for online?

Employers are increasingly making use of the search engines and other related social media channels to locate and evaluate online information about potential employees.

What are they looking for?

An indication of the applicants personality Online profile supports professional qualifications and conduct Good communication skills Creativity Groups in which the applicant is participating in Do other people provide good references and comments about them Have they received any awards and accolades

Your Digital FootprintEmployer background check

Top reasons why an employer will not hire applicants by screening them online – survey by careerbuilder

Posted inappropriate photographs or information Posted content about them drinking or using drugs Bad-mouthed previous employer, co-workers or clients Showed poor communication skills Made discriminatory comments Lied about qualifications Shared confidential information about previous employer

Source: careerbuilder.com

Your Digital FootprintEmployer background check

Your Digital FootprintEmployer background check

What if your boss finds this online?

What happens online…stays online - forever In 140 characters your reputation can be destroyed Your online image and reputation is like driving; you have to lookout

for everyone around you Party pictures stays on Facebook Pictures can be passed on to someone you don’t know. You can

delete it, but if it was copied, it can stay online forever What are your friends sharing and tagging you in? Think before you share something online. Golden rule – “share it if

you want your grandmother to see it” You can't take something off the Internet – it's like taking

pee out of a pool.

Your Digital FootprintThe web is public

Your Digital FootprintWhat makes a good digital footprint?

Your profile is easily searchable on Google and top social media channels)

All your online profiles have up to date information about you and what you do

You use a consistent message across all the channels you are using Can’t be a party animal on Facebook and on LinkedIn a pastor You display authenticity (communication skills) Other people trust you – credibility Positive mentions Own your own privacy (keep the settings up to date) - Facebook You are in a good neighborhood of friends and circles Everything that you do online (share, update, network)

adds to your digital footprint

Your Digital FootprintWhat makes a digital profile standout?

If you had a good digital footprint…

Display your professional profile online Your digital footprint supports your qualifications Display thought leadership Display expertise Reach millions of people searching for relevant

information Be an influencer Authenticity Credibility Trustworthiness

Your Digital FootprintA good digital footprint

If you had a bad digital footprint…

Inconsistent social media profiles Give the wrong impression to others Negative influence Un trustworthy and not professional Display poor communication skills Won’t be considered by future employers as a suitable

candidate Get dismissed (fired) from your current position

Your Digital FootprintA bad digital footprint

Your Digital FootprintProtecting reputations online in plain English

Start building your digital footprint

View your name as a brand (people like to do business with real people) Use a consistent message across all your online profiles Use a professional photo Create a LinkedIn profile (digital resume) - 100% complete

Add your qualifications Add your education Add skills Follow industry leaders / dream company to work for

Clean up your Facebook and Twitter profile Start a blog (wordpress.com)

Blog about your experience (thought leadership) Build credibility

Your Digital FootprintBuilding your digital resume

Your Digital FootprintGet found online

Your Digital FootprintGet found online – Personal blog

Your Digital FootprintGet found online – Digital Business Card

Your Digital FootprintGet found online – Twitter

Your Digital FootprintGet found online - LinkedIn

Your Digital FootprintPossibilities

Your Digital FootprintPossibilities – Hiremecarsonified.com

Your Digital FootprintPossibilities – Hiremecarsonified.com

Your Digital FootprintThe Google job experiment – pay per click (PPC)

Your Digital FootprintQuestions?

THANK YOU!Twitter: @AntonRSABlog: http://www.antonkoekemoer.com