<h1]]>New Year’s Online Reputation Management Resolutions</h1]]>

As New Year’s comes around, pondering recent accomplishments seems to be in order. But besides perennial self-improvement pledges, such as losing weight or joining the gym (Stairmasters get crowded in January), how about a different kind of self-improvement vow: getting your online reputation in order? Pledge to be more active online, address negative reviews, stop living in fear of cyber trolls, or create a true reflection of yourself online are some examples. So, with that in mind, here are some online reputation New Year’s Resolutions.

1. I Will Give Up Hope That The Negative Link About Me Will Magically Go Away

Hiding from something negative and just hoping it will go away is not realistic. If a damaging link, blog post, or review shows up online, it will probably worsen over time and become more visible. This is because the more people see it, the more they click on it, and the more Google moves this up in search results. 

So instead, start the New Year by committing to resolving it. Some things could be done on your own, such as writing good blog posts, being very active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, building a website, and claiming other online platforms. But you might need help, too, so reach out to an online reputation management professional. It could easily be worth it.

Resolution: Fix a damaged reputation.

2. I Will Post On Social Media Daily (Really I Will)

Be very active on a few social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Start by choosing one and post things that naturally interest you. Share with others–but not overtly sell–and dedicate time to grow Connections or Followers.

Resolution: Carve out fifteen minutes a day for social media.

3. I Will be Aware of My Online Reputation by Not Posting Drunken Pictures of Myself

What you post online is like a tattoo: it seems like a good idea at the time, but it’s hard and painful to remove. So resist the temptation to post everything about your life online immediately.  Instead, pause and think: is this a good idea? If not, don’t. Just one embarrassing or worse image can be damaging.

Resolution: Be mindful of what you post; conduct a Google search at least monthly; set up a Google Alert to monitor your name or business.  

4. I Will Write One Blog Post Every Few Weeks

Writing a blog is a big commitment and a powerful way to build or resolve an online reputation. It gets you or your site noticed by Google and, importantly, by others, such as prospective clients, by showing that you are an expert in your field. Write on common questions clients ask and translate them into a one-page, or so discussion focused on solutions. Doing this will lead to more traffic and a more positive online presence.

Resolution: Write one good blog per month.

Don’t despair if, like most New Year’s resolutions, they are broken. Instead, start with the idea that your online reputation matters and try to focus on just one solution.  

Keep it simple, do one step at a time, and you could easily make vast improvements in how you appear online next year.