How important is your individual or organizational reputation? This is a common dilemma facing many individuals and businesses in our new and evolving digital economy. My research partner, Dick and I just got finished publishing some research on just this topic and it was eye opening! Cottage industries are popping up just to help organization's manage this for their businesses; individuals are spending countless hours, sleepless nights and money just to remove disparaging or negatively impactful digital footprints related to their digital identity; and individuals and businesses alike continue to perpetuate their digital personae without strategically thinking about the downstream impacts and effects on "reputation".. So, why should you care and why does this matter?
Time for reflection.....
How many digital sites have you visited this past week?
How many accounts and passwords are you juggling?
When was the last time you did some searches on your identity (or your business)? How about sites that might just mention you in some way?
What kind of information have you posted on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, etc etc?
How many bank accounts, credit cards, etc are you accessing via your Mobile devices (and how frequently)?
What kind of information have you shared via messages, emails over the past few days (anything you might want reconsider)?
But, what can we or should we do about this?
For businesses and organizations, it's time to start placing digital reputation as a "key" organizational strategic element, instead of some kind of tactical remediation event; put digital reputation management as key initiative and develop proactive plans to proactively manage it!
For individuals, begin to think before you "click"-is it really necessary for everyone to know your home is empty while your vacationing? or, where you're currently partying? (I guess that's an individual choice, but one worthy of some reflection and consideration).
More to come, but wanted to share some of these thoughts and outcomes from our research to date!
