Managing Your Online Image Across Social Networks

September 27, 2011

Today, we are launching a new version of Reppler, which adds support for Twitter and LinkedIn, among other things.  But before we get into the details of the new version, let us explain the big picture problem we are addressing.

We recently conducted a survey of 300 professionals who are involved in the hiring process at their company to understand the use of social networks for screening job applicants.  The results of this survey are shown in this infographic:

So what do these results really tell us?  From our perspective, there are three key takeaways:

  1. Whether you like it or not, hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants.  This means it is important to carefully manage your image on these types of sites.
  2. Facebook and Twitter are being used a lot to screen job applicants.  On Facebook and Twitter, we believe hirers are trying to get a more personal view of a candidate, rather than the resume-like view they will see on LinkedIn.
  3. Hirers are looking at the social networking profiles of candidates very early in the process.  This means that job seekers need to have their online act in order before they begin looking for a job.

The bottom line is that it is important for users, whether they are looking for a job or building up their professional reputation, to manage their online image across the different social networks they use.  And this is the big picture problem we are addressing with the new version of Reppler.

The features in the new version of Reppler include:

  • Support for Twitter and LinkedIn – Reppler now supports Twitter and LinkedIn, in addition to the support for Facebook it currently has.
  • Cross-Network Analysis – In addition to monitoring each of these services to provide you feedback on the tone of language used, inappropriate content found, and other potential issues and risks identified, Reppler provides cross-network analysis in a couple areas.  It looks at all of your connections across the social networks you use to inform you on the makeup of your connections.  For example, Reppler will show you how many of your professional connections on LinkedIn are also friends of yours on Facebook.  Reppler also provides a comparison matrix of your profile information on each social network so you can see if there are any inconsistencies in how you are presenting yourself.
  • The Reppler Image Score – Reppler calculates what we call the Reppler Image Score, a measure that takes into account a variety of elements that can affect your online image – the completeness of information in your profiles, the consistency of your information across different social networks, the tone of your content, the appropriateness of your content, the number of people you are connected to, etc.
  • Weekly Updates – Reppler automatically sends you a weekly email that summarizes activity across your social networks that could affect your online image.  This keeps you abreast of any issues and gives you the opportunity to take action before it is too late.

That’s a quick overview of the new version of Reppler.  Now you can effectively manage your online image across the different social networks you use.  Reppler is a free service and you can sign up by going to www.reppler.com.  If you have any feedback or questions, go to our Facebook Page and leave us a message on our Wall.

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Posted by reppler

A Guide for Creating A Professional Image on LinkedIn

September 23, 2011

LinkedIn, the leading professional network on the web, is an indispensable resource for job seekers and professionals. Besides offering unique networking opportunities with professionals from all industries, a LinkedIn profile can help to offset any negative content about you online. LinkedIn has currently more than 100 million users, and its members comprise 170 different industries, and include 130,000 recruiters who use the network to search for potential candidates on a daily basis. Furthermore, all Fortune 500 companies are represented on LinkedIn, so it is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to help you in your job search. Here are some tips on how to build a strong online presence on LinkedIn.

6 Tips for LinkedIn

Your Profile Picture

Your public picture is the first thing people will notice on your profile. Faces are often easier to remember than names, so adding a picture will help others identify you when adding you as a connection on LinkedIn. A clear, up-to-date, professional-looking headshot of you with a clear background is a great way to make a good first impression.

Write a Summary

The summary provides you with an opportunity to show who you are and what you do. Be as concise and specific as possible, but also use it as a tool to engage with people and draw in their attention. Don’t forget to include a catchy headline!

Fill Out the Bio

One of the reasons why LinkedIn is a popular tool among recruiters is that users have to be honest in their Bios, as most of them have previous employers and colleagues in their LinkedIn network. Any lies and exaggerations are easy to catch. Just like in your regular resume, accentuate your strengths and highlights, while providing context around your job responsibilities.

Optimize Your Profile

To get the most out of your LinkedIn resume, you need to include keywords and skills from your resume in your profile. LinkedIn has the ability to search any word in the content, and if you list all relevant keywords at the bottom of the page, it will make it easier for your profile to be found in search results.

Get Recommendations

One of the unique features of LinkedIn is the recommendation section, which gives potential employers the opportunity to read a reference in advance. People with strong references have better chances to be selected for an interview or for a job. Avoid exchanging meaningless recommendations with your friends, and rather focus on quality recommendations from people who have benefited from your work. Ask for benefits and results driven recommendations from people who’ve seen you in action and the best way to get recommendations is to give them, so take the time to write recommendations for some of your contacts, and hopefully they will reciprocate.

Build Your Network Before You Need It

Whether you are currently in search of a job or are just browsing the job market for new career opportunities, having a strong network can be a good form of job security. Don’t wait until it gets rough to build your network! In most cases it is much easier to build a relationship with someone you already know than with someone you just met.  Also, keep in mind that networking is not a one way street. It’s not just about what others can do for you, but also what you can do for others. Make the most of your networking opportunities and use LinkedIn as a tool to build a strong professional online image.

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Posted by heidi279

A Guide for Managing Your Professional Image on Twitter

September 16, 2011

Next to Facebook, Twitter is one of the most popular social recruiting platforms with over 100 million active users. If managed correctly, it can be a great tool for building your professional image. You can show off your expertise and engage with industry leaders and companies that you are interested in. By creating a Twitter profile, you have the opportunity to show them just how interested people are in what you have to say, and they will learn about your status in the industry. It will also increase your visibility and add to your credibility as a professional. More and more companies are using Twitter to seek new employees, but there are some common pitfalls users have to be aware off. The following guide provides some tips on how you can create a professional image on Twitter to propel your job search.

6 Tips for Twitter

Become an Expert in Your Field

Use status updates to tweet about industry topics, tips, and advice. Look for key influencers and industry leaders and follow them. If you see interesting material, re-tweet it or try to engage in a discussion. You might not get a response the first time around, but if you continuously contribute meaningful content to discussions, you will eventually be noticed.

Create an Informative Profile

Give concise information as to what you are all about, state a clear purpose and include a professional headshot as your profile picture. Make use of keywords that are applicable to your background and experience in order to catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

Promote Yourself

Post links to your work and don’t be afraid to promote yourself in a responsible, non-annoying way (Don’t blatantly self-promote!). Add a link to your website, blog or LinkedIn account. Your profile’s main link should direct followers to the most relevant and engaging part of your website.

Monitor What Others Say About You

Your success on Twitter is measured by how much you are engaged in conversation, how often your tweets are re-tweeted and how many people are talking about you. You should always monitor what others are saying about you. To monitor yourself, enter your twitter handle (@yourname) in the search box or install TweetDeck on your desktop and then set up a search column for your Twitter handle. All tweets related to you will appear.

Follow the Companies That Interest You

If you already know what companies you would like to work for, ‘follow’ them! Just like with key influencers and industry leaders, try to engage with potential employers by posting meaningful comments and starting discussions.

Locate Job Search Resources

There a lot of resources on Twitter devoted to help users that are looking for new career opportunities. Search out recruiters, ‘follow’ them and don’t be afraid to note in your bio that you are looking for a new job. If you let people know what you are looking for, you’ll find many people happy to help you in your job search.

If you use Twitter effectively and responsibly, it can be a great starting point in your job search. But never forget how important it is to maintain a professional online image!

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Posted by heidi279

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