Managing Digital Footprints:10 Strategies to create a positive Web presence

by: Katelyn Miller (Conner)

Take the Electronic Part of Your Life Seriously!

• It’s not all just fun and games! Whether we believe it or not, the things we do online are here to stay.

• Our digital history plays a role in our everyday lives.

• According to Ryan Cordel (2012), we must “Take the electronic part of your life seriously.”

• Cordel Ryan. (2012, October 03). [Web blog message]. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/creating-and-maintaining-a-professional-presence-online-a-roundup-and-reflection/43030

Create a Professional Website Using Your Own Identity

• If you want to create a positive digital presence, people need to know who you are!

• Even if it’s only updated periodically, creating a digital “home” that showcases your professional self is valuable in establishing a positive digital presence.

• “The bottom line is that scholars who want to be seen as thought leaders in their discipline need to be intentional about how, when, and what shows up when someone uses a search engine like Google to search on their name or area(s) of research.” (Lowenthal & Dunlap, 2012)

• Lowenthal, P., & Dunlap, J. (2012, June 06). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/intentional-web-presence-10-seo-strategies-every-academic-needs-know

Create and Maintain a Professional Blog

• A professional blog provides a place to connect and network with other professionals, while boosting your digital presence.

• Be selective about the Blogs you follow and promote.• “Whether you update it daily, weekly, or just monthly, a blog

can provide an easy place to share with others (and especially Google and other search engines) what you have been up to” (Lowenthal & Dunlap, 2012)

• Lowenthal, P., & Dunlap, J. (2012, June 06). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/intentional-web-presence-10-seo-strategies-every-academic-needs-know

Stay Alert! Set up Google Alerts

• Google Alerts allows you to be notified immediately when new content is added with your name attached.

• “This will help you stay on top of new results whether or not they hit the first page of search results.” (McGinnis, 2012)

• McGinnis, S. (2012, August 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-management-a-how-to-guide/

Brand Yourself!

Brand Yourself!

• Do you want to be Coca-Cola or Marlboro?• Create a “brand” for yourself in the digital world.• Create positive profiles on each of the 4 big social

media locations- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+

• McGinnis (2012), calls these “positive assets”.

• McGinnis, S. (2012, August 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-management-a-how-to-guide/

Don’t Forget About Media!

• “Don’t forget about images and video when creating assets. Both major search engines offer blended search results, often including images and video in the first or second page of search results. Make sure you are creating images and video titled, tagged, and uploaded with your name.” (McGinnis, 2012)

• Create profiles on Flickr, SlideShare, YouTube, and Vimeo. Use each service periodically to positively brand yourself with images and video.

• McGinnis, S. (2012, August 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-management-a-how-to-guide/

Build a Professional Learning Network (PLN)

• Strengthen your positive brand by building a strong PLN• “Personal learning networks are a great way for educators

to get connected with learning opportunities, access professional development resources, and to build camaraderie with other education professionals” (Teach Thought Staff, 2012)

• Not just for educators- for all professionals!

• Teach Thought Staff. (2012, September 09). 8 ideas, 10 guides, and 17 tools for a better professional learning network. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/8-ideas-10-guides-and-17-tools-for-a-better-professional-learning-network/

Share, Share, Share!

• Share resources, research, blogs, etc.- anything to promote your positive presence!

• Share via blog, website, PLN, social media• Strategically tag and attach your name

Teach Thought Staff. (2012, September 09). 8 ideas, 10 guides, and 17 tools for a better professional learning network. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/8-ideas-10-guides-and-17-tools-for-a-better-professional-learning-network/

Be Thoughtful

• There is NO delete button in the digital world! Think twice (and once more) before you post.

• “…although the information you put out on the Web may seem insignificant today, you have to ask the question of whether it will be insignificant tomorrow, or in five years when you need to apply for college or seek new employment. Additionally, you have to ask yourself whether you're just leaving more junk for the next generation to clean up.” (Davis, 2009)

• Davis, L. (2009, January 25). The unforeseen consequences of the social web. Retrieved from http://readwrite.com/2009/01/25/social_web_unforeseen_consequences

Set a Good Example

• It’s up to us to be role models for young users as they form their own digital footprints.

• Teachers, parents, and professionals should set the expectation for creating a positive digital presence!

• “These new realities demand that we prepare students to be educated, sophisticated owners of online spaces” (Richardson)

• Richardson, W. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov08/vol66/num03/Footprints-in-the-Digital-Age.aspx

ResourcesCordel Ryan. (2012, October 03). [Web blog message]. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/creating-and-maintaining-a-professional-presence-online-a-roundup-and-reflection/43030

Davis, L. (2009, January 25). The unforeseen consequences of the social web. Retrieved from http://readwrite.com/2009/01/25/social_web_unforeseen_consequences

Lowenthal, P., & Dunlap, J. (2012, June 06). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/intentional-web-presence-10-seo-strategies-every-academic-needs-know

McGinnis, S. (2012, August 23). [Web blog message]. Retrieved from http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-management-a-how-to-guide/

Richardson, W. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov08/vol66/num03/Footprints-in-the-Digital-Age.aspx

Teach Thought Staff. (2012, September 09). 8 ideas, 10 guides, and 17 tools for a better professional learning network. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/8-ideas-10-guides-and-17-tools-for-a-better-professional-learning-network/