Did you know that on Facebook anyone could type in the search bar “Photos of [insert name]” and all the pictures that were ever posted of or by that person will appear? Yeah, we didn’t know that either. It doesn’t matter if you make your pictures private, or if you aren’t even friends with that person – they can still see your pictures. The point is that social media outlets are becoming harder and harder to navigate – moreover, it is becoming more difficult to hide personal information. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about deleting that epic picture of you and your girlfriends dancing on that elevated surface with suspicious looking beverages in your hands. Her Campus will tell you how to look your most professional on social media.
The simplest way to look your most professional on social media is to monitor your information. While privacy settings can protect some information, clearly it cannot protect everything you wish it would. Unfortunately, that means it might be time to delete that picture of those frat boys holding you up for that keg stand. It may be the simplest way, but it certainly isn’t the easiest. Resist the urge to upload any inappropriate pictures. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Would I be comfortable having this picture shown in on a billboard on Sunset Blvd. or on the biggest monitor in Times Square?” It seems ridiculous, but that is essentially what you allowing when you upload a piece of information. Of course it is okay to post pictures of you and your gal pals having fun on Saturday; just don’t upload pictures where drinks are present. In terms of tweets and status updates, just be polite.
There are other ways to build a more professional web presence. The more you update or check your page on a social media outlet, the more likely it is to appear first when you search your name in Google. For most of us, that means when a future employer searches your name in Google, they will most likely see our Facebook profiles first. If you want your future employers to see the most professional version of yourself, keep updating your LinkedIn profile. This means updating your résumé or adding people as connections. Hint: to appear even more professional, when you request to connect with someone from the workplace, don’t just send the generic LinkedIn invitation. Instead, personalize it. Make sure to specify the environment in which you two connected. The personalization only takes a second, and it further shows your professionalism by displaying that you took the time to make it personal.
You can also invest in other professional social media outlets. About.me or klout.com are great places to start. About.me is a free website that allows you to create your own personal homepage. Use it to add a personal touch to your résumé, or as another way to have your résumé online. Klout.com is a website that measures your web presence and influence. Connect it to all of your social media outlets – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and more. The website gives you a certain score based on how many people you engage by your posts. If you are looking to enter the marketing industry, this is a great outlet to show employers your abilities while staying professional. Lastly, maintaining a blog can be another way to build your web presence. However, it is important that you have a clear, original topic to blog about before creating one.