3. Audit Your Online Identity
Search your name on several different
search engines (Ask.com, Google,Yahoo),
to determine what information is out on
the web and how it represents you. By
completing an online audit, you will be
able to determine what, if any, action you
need to take with regard to your online
identity. (De, 2014)
5. Alert Yourself to New Activity
Google alerts
▪ Google alerts allow you to
track Google searches in which
you were mentioned. Make the
alerts specific to names,
artifacts, and publications that
belong to you. (De, 2014)
▪ https://www.google.com/alerts
Mention
▪ This tool goes deeper, tracking
any mention of your name in
social media. (De, 2014)
▪ https://en.mention.com/signup
7. Complete All Profiles
With a digital life, it is likely you have
registered with and/or participate in several
professional sites or services. With many of
these sites, you have a profile. In the
profile use information that reflects the
image that you want to portray. You may
also link to sites, publications, or blogs that
align with your ideas. (Dunlap & Lowenthal,
2013)
Possible sites with profiles:
•Google+
•LinkedIn
•Twitter
•Facebook
•Academia
•Mendly
•YouTube
•SlideShare
•Google Scholar
9. Create New Positive Assets
▪ If you do not have an account
on each of the big four social
media sites (Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn, and Google+), get
one. It is not enough to just
sign up for these sites, but you
should also use them from time
to time, if not frequently.
(McGinnis, 2012)
▪ Here are additional sites that
help to build a digital footprint.
– Quora, Slideshare,Vimeo,
Youtube, andVoicethread.
11. Create an About Me Page
Go to about.me and create a page that
includes your picture and a short bio.
You can link the page to your social
media accounts and include a link in the
signature line of your email. (Taub, 2012)
13. Acquire Domain Names
• Owning your own domain names can help
to guide searches for your name and the
results that are found. There are a variety
of websites you can use (tumbler.com,
FullName.com, Alternative FullName.com.
(Taub, 2012)
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15. Get a Twitter Account and Make It
Legitimate.
Establish aTwitter account, using a title that
includes your name. (Taub, 2012)
Keep theTwitter bio short. Hit the high points
and nail the image that you would like to show
online. (Taub, 2012)
Follow people, organizations, and publications
that are relevant to your craft. This includes
those you meet in person.(Cordell, 2010)
Be an active participant. Join the conversation
with hashtags, retweets, and replies.(Cordell,
2010)
17. Post Teaching Materials Online
Posting your materials online
builds a community with fellow
educators and offers validity to
your teaching credentials.
Whether you are sharing
research or great lessons and
teaching ideas, posting materials
is a great way to boost your
searchability.
(Dunlap & Lowenthal, 2013)
19. Review the Work of Others
As you work in your online
communities and review articles,
textbooks, blogs, and wikis.
Provide feedback to educators,
researchers, and publishers.
Organize resources on a website
like Diigo, Delicious, or Evernote.
(Dunlap & Lowenthal, 2013)
21. Protect Your Online Image
It is important to keep your personal
and private profiles separate in the
online environment .
Take care to adjust security settings.
Most of all, remember that the
internet never forgets. Do not post
anything, professional or private
that could tarnish your image.
(Careers, 2014)
22. Sources:
▪ De, K. (n.d.). ManagingYour Digital Footprint - Online Reputation Resources AndTips For Professional
Success. Krishna De's BizGrowthNews. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://krishnade.com/digital-
footprint/
▪ Lowenthal, P., & Dunlap, J. (2012, June 6). IntentionalWeb Presence: 10 SEO Strategies Every Academic Needs
to Know | EDUCAUSE.edu. IntentionalWeb Presence: 10 SEO Strategies Every Academic Needs to Know |
EDUCAUSE.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/intentional-web-
presence-10-seo-strategies-every-academic-needs-know
▪ Sean, M. (2012, August 23). Online Reputation Management: A How-to Guide by @seanMcGinnis. Spin Sucks.
Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://spinsucks.com/communication/online-reputation-management-a-
how-to-guide/
▪ Taub, A. (2012, June 7). 5 KeyThings NeededTo ImproveYour Digital Identity.Forbes. Retrieved September 28,
2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alextaub/2012/06/07/5-key-things-needed-to-improve-your-digital-
identity/
▪ Ryan, Cordell. (2010 Aug 11)."Post Navigation." ProfHacker How to StartTweeting andWhyYou MightWantTo
Comments. Retrieved. 28 Sept. 2014. from http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/how-to-start-tweeting-and-
why-you-might-want-to/26065
▪ Digital footprint. (n.d.). - Careers. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/careers/job-seeking/digital-footprint
