Do you know that your customers, clients, vendors and competitors are learning about you online?

Are your online activities conducted in a responsible way that your #business, personal and personal values are not smeared?

Are you comfortable  with what they will find about you on the internet?

Raising an eyebrow? Then, you need to read further:

When you are an active user of any social media platform, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google + etc, you are creating an online reputation that anyone can find. This can make or mar you. Positively, it can showcase your communication skills, knowledge and personality. Flip-side, you can be perceived as insensitive or irresponsible based on the reputation you have built online.

If you were a customer , what would you want to see? An online reputation is an indication of the real or aspiring personality of the business. To learn more about guarding your online brand, follow these five steps:

1) Type-in your name  and your business name (in various forms) into more than one search engine and see what comes out. Read about yourself. What types of images are attached to your name? How do you or your business come cross on social media? Are your online posts helpful or hurtful?

2) Google-Alert your name and your business name: this way you can receive emails about what others are writing about you or your business on the internet. You may assume that you are in charge of certain things because you anchored them; others may share them without your knowledge. On Facebook for example, your picture can be tagged and shared by friends, you don’t need to be consulted for this.  Simply put, your friend Bayo sent your picture to Nkechi and Nkechi tags the picture with your name, then passes it to Jemilah, Ituen and GOD-knows-who. You can be linked to unfavourable images which go viral before you say Jack!

3)  Avoid Cyber-bullying: Express your personal values and beliefs in a way that inspires others, not attacking those that are of a different opinion. Healthy debates are welcome, but postings that ignite agitation and aggression should be avoided. Your potential customers might just be reading  them.

4) Be original:  Avoid lies and deceit of any kind. Your online presence should share a similarity with the real you.  #People pull back when they find an obvious difference between the online you and the real you.

5) Be concerned about your online reputation; create a more polished and decent online image for yourself and remember that you represent your business. Avoid things can destroy your reputation. Your online reputation can do a great deal of good or damage depending on how seriously you guard, promote and protect it. Take steps to create a reputation that reflects well on you and on your brand today in the future.

 

By Christiana Ogeleka

 

 

Tags:  business People socialmedia start-up