Online Profiles: Keep Yours Positive

     Success language is everything you say and do that communicates who you are and for what you stand. This includes your online presence as you post profiles, communicate, blog, join networks, and otherwise reach out into a universe that makes it easier and easier to find out more and more about you.

     As I say in my programs, be careful how you stand out to be recognized. An article in Kiplinger Personal Finance noted that a careless comment, embarrassing incident journalled, or racy photograph posted online can seriously damage your overall reputation. A survey by ExecuNet, a business networking organization, found that 83 percent of corporate recruiters and executives research job candidates online. 43 percent have eliminated a candidate based on search results.

     Find out what is out there about yourself by using your favorite search engine and searching your name. Set up accounts with a professional focus on sites such as LinkedIn. Create a professional or school subject content blog. Make your avatar in virtual worlds such as Second Life a professional-looking human.

     Apparently all is not lost if you have skeletons in your virtual closet. Websites like DefendMyName.com and ReputationDefender.com are in the business of cleaning up a less-than-stellar online image. Yet, the best defense is no offense. Avoid putting a negative image out there to begin with to make success language a part of your virtual communication about who you are and for what you stand.