08+-+Online+Presence

Introduction
Online presence has become a very important topic in the professional world today. We have created an overview of some of the most important pieces of information that you need to know to maintain a professional presence online.

_ =Networking Sites= ====== Online profiles on networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace can say a lot about you. If future employers were to look at your profile, what would they learn about you? Here are some aspects of these websites that you should consider:

__Pictures__
It is important to keep your online profile appropriate for the workplace. One of the most important aspects of you online profile is how you represent yourself visually, for instance, through pictures. The following are examples of pictures that are **not** acceptable and are acceptable:

[] It's ok to appear like a normal, fun-loving person on your personal web page! A tasteful photo with the family or relaxing by a campfire is perfectly acceptable and shows a bit of your personality to employers and coworkers. However, too much fun can look tacky and unprofessional. Try not to include plastic cups or beer bottles in your photos and make sure your eyes (or even your friend's eyes) aren't bloodshot!

It is important to keep your social life out of your business life. Therefore, you must be cautious with what pictures are posted on your online profiles. If pictures of you are posted, you can delete them or un-tag yourself. If you do not want to do that, then you can set your profile to private so that employers cannot view your page. If all else fails, if and when you do go out, make sure to keep the camera facing away from you!
 * How can I avoid being tagged in a picture that might make me look unprofessional?**

__Privacy Settings__
To set your facebook profile to private, first go to the Settings link on the top right hand corner of the screen. Then click the link to manage Privacy Settings. From here, you can control who can see your profile as well as how much certain people can see. The following is a link to an example of the Profile Privacy settings page.
 * Setting Facebook to Private**

__**Information**__
An example of an About Me section that you would want to avoid follows: //My name is Lola and I like to par-tay! LOL My favorite drink is Sex on the Beach ;oD and I like to go out to the clubs all night long!// //Hit// //me up if you like to party too!// This is inappropriate for several reasons including: inappropriate subject matter, improper grammatical use, and emoticons. It would be most professional to leave your About Me section blank, and instead listing a professional website or portfolio as links. It would be most professional to communicate through personal messages that are not available for public viewing.
 * Online profiles usually give you a space to write about yourself, your interests, and your activities. In these sections, remember that future employers will be able to see the information you put up.
 * Another way that employers could potentially learn about you is through public messages your friends send you. For example, if your friend sends you a public message that says, //Hey girl! Thanks so much for ditching work and coming to the beach with me,// your employer might not think that speaks very highly of you as an employee.
 * Am I keeping myself safe (giving out information)?

[]**
 * //See this article for the Dos and Do Nots of Facebook//

__Pros and Cons of Myspace and Facebook__
//MYSPACE// Pros •Myspace has a great user interface. It is user friendly, open for changes and also allows for great creativity. •Myspace has great entertainment options. They allow for videos, music, games and pictures galore. •Myspace is one of the most widely used online communities. If you are looking for friends, dating, or a great way to communicate with family, this is the way to go. Most everyone who has email has Myspace. Cons •Myspace has lower security than other online communities. •Myspace has a wide variety of users; this increases the chance of meeting distasteful people. •There are some problems with programming when transferring the layouts and generated data if any is left out. •There are some slow times when loading high graphic pages. •Some music, files, etc. have a hard time running through Myspace. FACEBOOK Pros •Facebook has a clear, easy to use, and uncluttered interface. •Facebook has a smaller community and therefore a lower chance of meeting people that you would not want to. •Facebook targets college and higher-level adults. •Facebook does not have much of a risk for programming or loading problems. •Facebook has good tools like the use of the history. The history has an open area for when changes occur on your page. Then you, family and friends can all see all of the new stuff on your site. Cons •Facebook is less entertaining. The pages are somewhat boring. •Facebook has limited users; therefore you would not have a change to meet as many new friends etc. •Facebook cannot be changed much. The most you can do is move a few boxes around. •Facebook is newer and does not have as much technology backing the interface yet. Therefore there is not much that has changed since it first came out for Harvard students.

Video on Negative Effects of Facebook
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=Online Journals/Blogs= Online journals and blogs are a great way to showcase your writing ability and demonstrate your strengths as an employee. However, if you are not careful, they are another area that can potentially lead your career into a disaster zone! When journaling online, keep in mind, what you write, anybody can read. If you had a horrible day at work, it would be prudent to not post that piece of information online where your boss can read it. The same goes for journaling about the crazy weekend you had with your girlfriends. Better topics of discussion would include research findings, professional essays, or commentary on your line of work.


 * //Online journals and professional blogs are a great way to get your ideas out there! Here is a video on how to create a completely free professional blog!//**

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=Online Portfolios= For information on online portfolios, visit: **[]**
 * The Online Portfolio: It show and tells employers about you and your qualifications**

=Professional Emails=
 * Visit Email Etiquette:Tips for Professional Email []** **to learn tips on communicating through professional e-mail.**

**__Email Addresses and Screennames__**
Here are examples of non-professional and professional email addresses:**
 * Your email address can say a lot about you, even before someone reads what you send. Make sure it says the right thing!
 * ~ Not Professional ||~ Professional ||
 * XXhotgrlsheilaXX@gmail.com || sheilaJ@ufl.edu ||
 * rugbyisFUN@hotmail.com || rjohnson@ufl.edu ||
 * LoVeS2DrInK@aol.com || sbrown24@ufl.edu ||

=Resources=

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 * [|**http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/154374/facebook_etiquette_five_dos_and_donts.html**]
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