The role of a teacher is no longer limited to the classroom and as education is getting digitized teachers are being able to reach out to other community members and even the best experts to learn more about the forte.
Internet is a vast collection of details, everything you do or say does have an impact on the digital reputation you have.
To make sure that they see the best of you when they Google your profile you must check out these tips mentioned below that will help you create a good digital presence.
1. Manage Your Reach Considering the Audiences
There are many media platforms and the reach they offer varies. Considering your audiences and the people you wish to reach may require you to consider the use of specific platforms. Build your online presence by choosing the right platform and that directly relates to the audience that you want to engage. If you want to reach parents and school community stakeholders, Facebook is a strong bet. If you want to reach other educators, Twitter and Pinterest are big winners. The bottom line is that you don’t have to use them all. Find and connect with your audience where your audience resides.
2. Manage Your Multiple Profiles
Optimize your profile. Make all your profiles by the same username, add an apt bio describing your area of work and other things you feel you can be reached for. It should describe your experience in the field of education and highlight topics that you follow. Also, add links to your website and blog if you have any. Consistency is important to attract traffic. Stay consistent with your updates else you will lose your audience if you make it hard to find you. Also keep your handle simple and short, and try to avoid special characters. When a new platform arrives, try to claim your username early even if you aren’t sure that you will maintain a presence there.
3. Make it a Brand
If used efficiently, digitization and social media can make you a brand. What your website, blog, and social media profile shows says a lot about you. The various platforms that you use like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, G+ and more is a reflection of you, your work, and what you can offer to those who look at it. Your digital reputation is your brand. This is in direct relation to what you represent, the content that you share, your audience, your Personal Learning Network (PLN), and your teaching philosophy. You want your brand to demonstrate that you are trustworthy, and offer quality content, insightful comments, and experience. Your brand tells your audience that what you offer is of value.
4. Manage Setting to Avoid Unwanted Attention
Limit the visibility of your private content. All the platforms offer privacy settings and you should make the best use of. You can, and should, put privacy setting on all content you want to share only with a select group of friends and family. However Facebook and other sites are constantly changing the rules about how much you can protect your content, and your friends can forward embarrassing pictures of you without your consent. It is advisable to use a separate account for personal reasons especially on Facebook.
What ways do you find useful to create “The Digital Reputation” everyone fancies?
