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Crowdsourcing :: DOs and DONTs of Online Reputation Management
October 20, 2007 | |
So I’ve been MIA for a while (don’t you hate it when bloggers do that?)…Ok, 6 weeks is pathetic; I can hardly call myself a blogger anymore. I didn’t really want this to be my first post back from the dead, but I had to get it out there. So, quickly, my apologies for the lack of attention. On to more important things:
As my Aussie explained in his post, he, Mike Denton and I are presenting at Podcamp Boston in a week. Our topic is Reputation Management for Digital Natives, and we could really use your help.
You see, we thought it might be way more fun, and way more in the spirit of social media to poll the collective consciousness for ideas. There has been some great discussion lately about how young people should be presenting themselves online and even some case studies about what happens when we type before we think about how others might react (or when we knowingly write about controversial topics).* For better or worse (I tend to think better), we are the first generation to live with Google tattoos. How do we react and modify our online behaviors to deal with these implications? Are there ground rules for this stuff? Is tweeting about your unmentionables taking transparency too far?
So because we aren’t experts and because we don’t want our whole presentation to be Paull telling bad Australian jokes, we’re asking for your input:
Give us your top 3 DOs and DON’Ts for personal online reputation management.
That’s all. Just 3. We’ll take your comments and points to Podcamp and feature them in our discussion. With the audience (here’s hoping we have one 
), we’ll come up with some underlying principles and guidance to pass on to our peers. So leave a comment here, or better yet, blog it yourself. In your post, tag others and start a meme. The more opinions the better!
Paull tagged other young PR bloggers, so I’m going to kick things off with the educators. If you’re anything like my past profs, you will all certainly have strong opinions on this topic. Poll your students or tag some of your seasoned professional friends, and do what you do best by spreading the knowledge (and link love).
So: Robert, Richard Bailey, Philip Young, Karen Russell, Bill Sledzik, Kaye Sweetser, Heather Yaxley, Les Potter, David Phillips, Christine Smith, Kelli Matthews, Ross Monaghan, Greg Smith, Tom Watson, Gary Schlee, Derek Hodge, Tim Penning, Walter Carl, Bob Batchelor, and the folks at Cac.ophony and anyone else reading (you don’t have to be an educator) discuss. Go.
As an added incentive to participate, Paull is threatening to get his own Google tat (to drive his point home, of course) if enough people participate in this little meme and attend our Podcamp session. I’m calling his bluff, but you really never can quite tell with him.
*Sentence has been slightly altered from the original. See comments.
Comments
19 Comments so far
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Get my feed
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Hey, Christi. Thanks for including me in the discussion. I’ve decided to limit my comments to Facebook, since it’s the one place most every student and young professional hangs out.
First the don’ts:
Don’t leave the door open. Ratchet up your privacy settings and limit your network to people with whom you have regular contact. There is no prize for having the most friends. Besides, if you don’t interact with friends, what’s the point of having them?
Don’t feel obligated to join groups just because someone invites you. Last month a young friend invited me to join the Facebook group, “I love clubbing baby seals.†He meant it as a joke (I think), but adding such a group to your Facebook resume reflects poorly on your judgment. Avoid the whacko political groups, too, as your future employer may come from the other side of the aisle.
Don’t ham it up for the cameras, especially when you’ve been drinking. Everyone knows this, but among 20somethings, 99% of errant behavior is triggered by alcohol. As a professor who’s had many students as Facebook friends, I’ve seen things I don’t care to see.
Now the dos:
Do regular searches on your name within your social networks. If you find objectionable content on the pages of others, ask that it be removed. Pull tags from photos that identify you in scenes depicting alcohol, tobacco – or worse.
Do treat social networking information as an online resume. Find the bad and remove it, but also showcase your good works. Link to your online portfolio and feed your blog into your Facebook page. Join groups that do good works for people in need. Show that you care.
Do “friend†Mom and Dad. Yeah, you heard me. If they don’t have a Facebook page, help them set one up. Knowing that your folks are watching will keep you honest. Just be sure to tell them no posts to your wall! It’s embarrassing.
My opinion about online reputation can be pretty simply summed by the following: Never push, only pull. Don’t show up at a social media site with an agenda to get out. Forget about your “message”. Help people without expectation of immediate reciprocity. Be a friend.
ps. Looking forward to meeting all you Aussies at PodCampBoston.
Interesting.
An interesting classification - “… when you type before you think,” for a Blog post that clearly involved very well thought out, albeit contentious, claims. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on precisely which parts of the initial post or any of its subsequent dialogues was not well thought out. And a reminder - just because you don’t like the implications of another person’s thoughts, does not mean they are incorrect or poorly conceived… Regardless, I’d be interested in how you would support your slightly accusatory claim above?
- Paul
Paul,
You actually got me on this one with my own words. I typed that sentence without thinking it might be offensive to you. I appreciate you calling me out on it.
Although it certainly came out that way, I didn’t intend to imply that your post was wrong or poorly argued. I just reread, and it certainly was as you say “very well thought out, albeit contentious.”
I can’t argue with you on the basis of your original claim. I think you did a good job of defending it in the linked post (which I hope people read). I’m glad to hear that you still stand by your post, and that is one of things I’m sure we will discuss.
I, however, do not stand by MY original words
. You’re right. That sentence was framed in an unnecessarily accusatory way. Apologies.
Bill, thanks for your input. I really love that last one about friending your parents
Joe, very wise words. Well said.
Geez, tried to comment with a link to a USA Today article on the subject, and it rejected me!
What I wrote, though, is that you don’t necessarily want to friend your parents. College is a time to grow and be independent, and most parents should understand.
Jeremy — Sorry about the link. I’ve been meaning to fix that problem.
So true about the college thing, but will your employers understand? (Just playing devil’s advocate)
[…] Eubanks, of my PRception, asks me and dozens of PR educators and practitioners to share our “top 3 DOs and DON’Ts […]
No, the job won’t understand. But, man, there is no reason to share everything online. It’s that level of privacy that needs to be set.
This will be short and sweet.
Don’t lie!
Have the courage of your convictions. If you want to mix personal and professional, don’t come crying when it bites you in the career.
A whole week it took to catch up in RSS to find this excellent discussion - sorry for being so tardy.
Being our real selves is not easy. Humans have many ’selves’. Its how we are able to belong to different social groups like home and work and out with the guys. Our nature changes with environment and context. So when online which ‘real self’ are we? In different media we are different ’selves’. For example my writing style changes from my blog, Facebook and Twitter. It happens. So being ‘yourself’ online is a tough call.
But there are rules.
Humans have a set of values that are common and have been common for generations worldwide. They modify our nature, our reactions to stimuli and our emotional responses.
They satisfy the deep need in humans to sustain social groups, way beyond those of other species.
There is only one rule and it applies to social media as well as all our interactions.
Its simple: Don’t be anti-social.
I know this means having to understand that busting into an online conversation is rude and being civil online requires an invitation. But that’s no more than what we do in daily life. It means that we don’t make offensive comments or publish offensive photos, but that is no different to offline interactions.
We are, above all, human on and offline its part of human DNA. It applies online - don’t play the odds with human DNA.
[…] your online reputation 28 10 2007 I’ve only just got around to the Crowdsourcing request to provide my thoughts on what digital natives (ie those brought up in an online world) […]
SPOS #75 - Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - +1 (206) 666-6056 - PodCamp Boston 2 - The Irish PubCast…
Welcome to episode #75 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. This episode is chock full of amazing insights from Facebook’s VP of Media as well as an Irish PubCast that was done in South Boston on the weekend of PodCamp Boston 2. The …
Recycling’s in fashion, so this is inspired by Paull Young (and Bill Sledzik, above):
“Imagine your mother is reading everything you write.”
[…] Crowdsourcing :: DOs and DONTs of Online Reputation Managment […]
[…] Auburn PR student Christi Eubanks asks for the Dos and Don’ts of Online Reputation Management. […]
Christi:
I am late to the party. I regret that, but I’d like to contribute since you so graciously included me. I love what you are doing with your blog. I believe this subject is timeless, and we must keep DOs and DON’Ts in out mind continuously. So, here goes…
Les’ top 3 DOs and DON’Ts for personal online reputation management:
DOs
1. Participate in online media. Don’t be afraid of it, just be alert to what Christi is wisely compiling, DOs and DON”Ts.
2. Be careful of what you post. Google never forgets. Keep it tasteful in thought, word and deed. Make a constructive contribution to the dialogue. Try to advance the human condition.
3. Support others. Help others when you can. We are all learning about social media. It’s more fun to study with others. That is why they call it “social” media.
DON”Ts
1. Don’t post in anger. Think about it. Think it through before you say what you wish to say. Think clearly. As as above, be constructive, even in criticism.
2. Be honest, and consider leaving your agendas aside. Make your points, but be up front about where you are coming from.
3. Like #2 above in my suggested “DOs”, don’t post unflattering thoughts, words or deeds. Don’t use excessively foul language. You can make your points without it. Be careful of the images you post. They can come back to haunt — and to hurt — you. Keep it high level.
Respectfully submitted,
Les Potter
Can I add a legal slant?
DO:
1) Speak your mind, clearly and confidently; the exchange of ideas is what makes this entire endeavour exciting.
2) Choose where you speak. Don’t go to the “Save the Seals” blog (to borrow an example from above) and talk about clubbing them. Deliberate confrontations are unnecessary and lead to unfruitful conflict.
3) Use your real identity wherever possible. It keeps you honest, and achieves the ultimate goal of relationship-building.
DO NOT:
1) Libel individuals, especially with information you cannot independently corroborate. Ad hominem attacks are distasteful, but they can also result in suits.
2) Spread hate speech. This may also be precluded by law under legislation currently under review. But beyond that, it’s simply an anti-social approach to dialogue. Temper your critiques by creating a deeper and more nuanced perspective of groups or beliefs you disagree with.
3) Plagiarize. Provide attributions for ideas wherever possible, and at the very least, hyperlink to them. Direct quotes should always be sourced. There’s no point in developing a fraudulent reputation for originality.