When you hear the phrase, “your reputation precedes you,” these days, it most likely refers to your online reputation. Considering that nearly 40 percent of employers are utilizing social media networks to research job candidates, online reputation management is just as – or more – important than a polished resume. Those working in the educational field stand at an even greater risk for reputation destruction due to their highly visible roles. If your digital persona is getting in the way of real-world professional or personal opportunities, there are a few things you can do to begin cleaning up your image.

Audit yourself

First, clear the cookies and any other stored information from your computer’s memory. Then, perform a search of your name on any major search engine. Removing stored data allows you to see what a future employer, potential customer, or even new love interest sees. If you’re a professor or administrator, use search terms such as “Professor Name Bad Grades” and “Administrator Name Education” to determine if any unresolved grievances have been aired online. Also, check websites such as WizIQ, Discovery Educator Network or edWeb for a more detailed depiction of how your business appears to others.

Determine what information is detrimental

Arrest records, slanderous consumer complaints, and damaging photographs should be at the top of this list. Create a catalog of websites that contain negative information. A good rule of thumb: if you don’t want your students or fellow educators to see it, get rid of it.

Design a digital brand

Whether for personal or professional purposes, digital branding is one of the most important things you can do for your online reputation management campaign. Decide exactly how you want to be viewed and create content that supports that image. Pushing down negative search results requires social media interactions, well-written content, and persistence. Create new Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, start a blog, and be patient. Keep in mind that it may take some time for the new data to outshine the old.

It is important to note that you should never publicly refute a negative review or remark. Adding to the conversation only strengthens the validity of the charges from a search engine point of view. It is far more effective to start with a new foundation then to patch a damaged wall, so to speak.

Get some help

Depending on how strong the negative search results are, it may be very difficult to suppress undesired information in a reasonable amount of time without ample manpower. Any effective online reputation management strategy will require constant attention, whether that be personal or by utilizing the services of a reputable online reputation management firm.

Don’t rush it

As previously stated, online reputation management takes time.  You will not be able to change your search results overnight. Cleaning up your digital persona takes time, especially to ensure the strength longevity of those results you want dominantly displayed.

According to Career Builder, up to 65 percent of those employers who use social networking to research job candidates rely on Facebook and LinkedIn. In the beginning, your online reputation management campaign should focus on these two sites, along with a company or personal blog. If you don’t have time to launch an all-out attack on the negative, keeping tabs on these three information outlets is a good start.

This post was written by Blake Jonathan Boldt