Have you ever entered your name on google to discover what information about you is publicly available? Were you surprised? Have you been wondering where the photos from the event two years ago or the post about Justin Bieber that you published on Facebook came from? Or the opposite: no information popped up? What does your profile look like on the Internet?
Regardless of your age, your friends, partners, parents, grandparents and future employers will search for you on google. That is why it is so important to take care of your Internet profile. Everything that pops up on the front page should show you your best side so the world knows how amazing and smart you are.
Don’t know how to start? We will guide you through the intricacies of the Internet. Four simple steps will help you build a positive image and remove unfavorable information from the network.
Step 1. Private must stay private
If you use Facebook or Instagram to chat with friends whether to share photos, change your privacy settings to the most restrictive. On Instagram, it’s best to set up a private account immediately if you don’t want the whole world to see your photos from yesterday’s nightclub party. Avoid sharing embarrassing photos and don’t allow your friends to tag yourself without your permission (check your Facebook settings).
Step 2. Google yourself
Enter your full name on the Internet. Enter them in various combinations. In and without quotation marks. Enter your email. Found photos that are old, ugly or downright embarrassing? Use Google+ (if you have Gmail mail, you automatically have a Google+ account) to share good and up-to-date photos that you would like to appear on the web alongside your data. Make sure you include your full name on the photos. Complete the form on Google carefully. When searching, Google will display this information first. And then …
Step 3. Create an account on linkedin (not only for professionals)
Create an account on linkedin and share information about completed education, work experience, internships, volunteering and skills. Remember that this is a professional portal (your online CV), so you should put in data that matches your professional profile, even if you are not working yet. Do not forget about your full name so that Google can position you properly. Also make sure that you have included your knowledge of foreign languages (you can even test yourself by taking the EFSET test, the result will appear on your profile). Bonus tip: a professional photo can do wonders (don’t forget to smile!). Ask a friend who has a good camera to do them for you.
Step 4. Set up your own website. I promise, it will be your best buy this year
Consider buying a domain and even setting up a basic website on the Internet. You can throw a full page of the beautiful photo you took in London last summer. A domain with a website will cost you only about PLN 100 a year. It is a really good investment and will appreciate in value over time.
