How to Protect Your Online Reputation

Chances are you already have a reputation online, even if you don't want one and haven't intentionally set out to create one. On Web sites across the Internet, people can access a variety of information about you. It's in your interest to be aware of your online reputation and to take the necessary actions to make it what you want it to be.

How to Monitor Your Online Reputation

The first step in protecting or improving your online reputation is to find out what information is already posted on the Internet and to assess the impression it leaves on people. Follow these tips to monitor and evaluate your online reputation:

  • Play the name game. Begin by typing your first and last name into several popular search engines to see where you are mentioned and in what context.
    Example:
    Robin Counts

  • Focus your search. To get more precise results, put quotation marks around your name, so that the search engine reads your name as a phrase and not as two or more unrelated words that just happen to appear in the text.
    Example:
    "Robin Counts"

  • Search all of your names. If you have ever used a different name, if you use your middle name or initial, if you use a nickname, or if your name is frequently misspelled, search all variations to make sure you don't miss anything important.
    Example:
    "Robin Counts"
    "Robin J. Counts"
    "Robin Counts Jensen"

  • Be strategic. If your search turns up information about other people who share your name, you can eliminate many false hits by using keywords. You can add keywords that apply only to you; for example your city, your employer, or a hobby. You can also place a minus sign before search terms you want to subtract from your search results. Check the advanced search techniques for each search engine you use to find other ways to zero in on relevant information about yourself.
    Example:
    "Robin Counts" "Woodgrove Bank"
    "Robin Counts" -skydiving

  • Expand your search. After you finish searching for your name, use similar techniques to search for your telephone numbers, home address, e-mail aliases, and personal Web site domain names. You can also search for your Social Security and credit card numbers to make sure they don't appear anywhere online.
    Example:
    robincounts@woodgrovebank.com

  • Target specific sites. Along with generally searching for your name and other personal information, check online phone directories; genealogy sites; alumni sites; the Web sites of organizations to which you belong or donate time or money; and other sites that compile personal, professional or contact information about people.
  • Go blogging. If any of your friends, family members or coworkers have blogs or personal Web pages on social networking sites, check them out from time to time to see if they are writing about you or posting pictures of you.
  • Be alert. Use the feature provided by some search engines that enables you to receive automatic notification of any new mention of your name or other personal information.
How to Manage Your Online Reputation

Once you know what information is available about you online and the image it projects, it's time to start shaping the online reputation you want. These tips can help you manage and protect your online reputation:

  • Safeguard your personal information. A basic strategy to avoid identity theft and online fraud is to keep your personal information private when you go online. Be equally careful about sharing information offline, and be sure you know how organizations will use your information before you give it to them. For example, your charitable donations or political contributions could lead to your address, telephone number, and other personal information being posted online.
  • Put your best foot forward. If you use social networking sites, share photos and videos online, or write a personal blog, think of the content you post as an advertisement for what you want other people to know and remember about you.
  • Watch what you say. If you participate in chat rooms or message boards, or offer comments in response to online content, be sure the things you say represent you well.
  • Use privacy settings. Most social networking and photo-sharing sites allow you to determine who can access and respond to your content. If you're using a site that doesn't offer privacy settings, find another site.
  • Don't mix your public and private lives online. Use different e-mail addresses for different online activities, to help keep your public and private lives separate. Reserve nicknames and clever or informal e-mail addresses for your personal communication, and use a more professional e-mail address for business.
  • Take action. If you find information about yourself online that is unflattering, embarrassing, or untrue, contact the Web site owner or administrator and ask them to remove it. Most sites have policies to deal with such requests.
  • Ask for help. Sometimes you may need extra help to protect yourself or manage your online reputation. If your unlisted telephone number appears on a Web site, for example, the phone company may be able to help. For a small fee, commercial services such as ReputationDefender and Naymz will help you find online information about yourself and your family; negotiate the removal of negative, inaccurate or sensitive information; and help you create a positive online reputation. If necessary, some services will bring legal action to compel sites to remove information that could damage your online reputation or make you vulnerable to online fraud.

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