Googled! If You Don’t Want People to See It Don’t Put It Online!
Business professionals are asking a very valid question: Is social media relevant in my industry?
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Googled! If You Don’t Want People to See It Don’t Put It Online!
Have you been “googled?”
There is a reason why Google is used as a verb. In today’s world people “google you” in an effort to get a glimpse of who you are and what you are all about; based on what they find written about you or what you have written about yourself online. What they find about you will impact your ability to gain new business, retain customers, keep your job, get a new job and build relationships.
Today’s episode is a rant. My objective is to get your attention and I hope you will send this message to your friends, peers and even your children. I am so sick and tired of the sob stories from people who have lost jobs, customers, career opportunities, damaged relationships and even blown up their marriages because of the stupid stuff they posted online.
Just recently a politician’s tasteless post on Facebook and a teacher’s hurtful comments about her students and parents made national news. Both experienced irreparable damage to their reputations, embarrassment, and the untimely end to distinguished careers. Neither expected others to find their comments online – they both told news reporters that they thought what they had written was private.
Seriously. Are people still this naïve?
Google is a verb in our modern vernacular as in: “Have you googled him yet?
But as these stories and many others unfold I think being “googled” may soon gain a new connotation. As in: “Did you hear about Steve? Man did he get ‘googled!’ His boss found his post on Facebook and fired him.” Or perhaps Steve got ‘Facebooked.’
Just as “going postal” became a phrase for losing one’s temper and “drinking the koolade” became the analogy for blind devotion to group think, being “googled” or “facebooked” will become the label for self-destructive posts made by those naïve enough to think no-one will read them.
I have good news though. If you will simply pay attention to one law of the internet you will never have this problem – ever!
The People Buy You Law of the Internet states that “Whatever you post on the internet that could have a negative impact on your career, reputation, or relationships can and will be found by the wrong person at exactly the wrong time.”
Therefore you should NEVER put anything on the internet that you don’t want someone else to find. Ever – no exceptions. Forget about privacy settings. Forget about hiding things from everyone except your friends. Assume that everything you post is available to the public because it is. If you get googled don’t blame google, facebook, the boss, or the media. You are not a victim. What you posted on the internet was completely voluntary.
Does this sound harsh? Well good because it is meant to be. I hope it is a wake-up call to you as a sales professional because your online presence is a direct reflection on your personal brand. It is impacts your ability to open doors, influence prospects and retain your customers.
Your professional presence online should position you as the one person who is most capable of bringing solutions to the table for your clients. That positioning plays a key role in getting people to buy YOU. So here is a question? Does your presence online support your reputation as an industry expert who solves problems and can be trusted?
Before you answer take a closer look. It is easy in a moment of emotion to express an opinion that could be considered offensive or controversial to another person. This week take a close look at everything you have posted online on all of your profiles. Go back in history. Try to view your posts from the point of view of a prospect, client, boss or hiring manager. Remember that these people cannot see things in context only as a snap shot. Then take the time to remove anything that does not provide positive support to your personal brand.
My mother always said that one should never talk about money, politics or religion in polite company. She was right and I bet you’ve heard your mom, dad or grandparents say the same thing. However, once online many people feel free to discard manners and decorum and post whatever comes to their mind at the moment. They allow emotions to trump self-discipline and sometimes this lapse in judgment comes back to bite them is a bad way. The good news is if you pay attention to your manners and develop the self-discipline to control what you post online you can use social media to help you build a winning career and a solid professional reputation.
For more information on building your professional presence online read chapter 8 in my new book, People Buy You: The Real Secret to What Matters Most in Business available in book stores everywhere.
This is Jeb Blount, the Sales Guy. If you have a sales question please send it to salesguy@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email.
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