The document discusses the concept of a digital footprint, which encompasses the online traces individuals leave behind, and highlights its significance in reputation management, especially during employer searches. It outlines strategies for managing one's digital presence, including creating a personal value proposition, engaging meaningfully on social media, and crafting a professional online identity. The text emphasizes the importance of showcasing positive aspects of one's digital footprint to influence perceptions and opportunities.

1. Managing Your Digital Footprint
#TravelTalk

2. People you can talk to.
Results that speak for
themselves.
Award-winning social media
and digital marketing agency.
We work with a wide range of
travel and tourism brands.
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Digital Visitor

3. Our clients
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4. Digital footprint
What is a digital footprint?
• What you leave behind as you surf the
internet; your online history
• Potentially seen by others
• Tracked in a database – some private
many public
• Social media (and dark social)
• Stored somewhere “cold”
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5. A trail of data…
Your digital footprint includes
• Timeline comments
• WhatsApp chats you had
• Photos shared
• Skype video calls
• LinkedIn jobs enquired about
• Emails (regrettable & un-regrettable)
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6. Goes way back…
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…lasts forever!

7. Why is it important?
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8. Employers are watching
• 60% of employers do detailed people searches
• Not everyone snooping 24/7
• But don’t expect people not to use info
• What if you have a problem – content or
pictures that damage reputation?
• What’s a better way to look at the challenge?
• How can you think more positively about
impacting your digital footprint?
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9. “Everything you do now ends
up in your permanent record.
The best plan is to overload
Google with a long tail of
good stuff…”
Seth Godin, 2008
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10. “What if, instead of avoiding social
media in school altogether or
focusing solely on the negative
aspects, we teach students how to…
build a digital footprint that reflects
their best selves…”
Susan M. Bearden
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11. Professional branding online
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12. Managing your footprint
• Always start with insight on yourself first
• Search your name in Google or Pipl
• Regular & image searches
• Understand “situation”
• Good or bad (odd!)
• Perfectly possible to stay less visible –
whatever results currently say
• Algorithms rely on relevance & freshness
• Possible to change picture (what Seth said)
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13. What is a digital footprint?
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Pro Imposter Personal

14. What it says
• Professional persona important
• Content creator
• Like travel
• Team player at work
• Sociable (responsible)
• Family
• I could use a good wig
• Others are criminals, obsessive & even odder than me
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15. Why create personal brand?
• Like business brand
• Gives you an identity
• Platform to project USPs
• Help focus content you create
• Help identify a role for you
online
• Support what you say about
yourself
• Shows you “walking the talk”
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16. Personal value proposition
Be your social professional best…
• Focus on showcasing the results you
create – not what you do
• “the value you add”
• Where you “fit”
• Focus on area of unique ability
• Your PVP is a personal statement
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17. How to write a PVP
1. Set a clear target – what do you want to be?
2. Identify your strengths – not ‘I’m a marketer’
3. Tie your strengths to your target position
4. Provide evidence and success stories
Harvard Business Review
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18. Socialise your PVP
• Use it to guide your online presence
• Your editorial direction on themes to cover
• Guide channel focus – LinkedIn Twitter etc
• Guide content plan – this kind of content
• Guide a role to play – curator, thought leader, helper etc…
• All professional “public” touch points – should say the same
• Know employers will look (just like customers look at brands)
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19. Creating great content
• Ask what are you good at?
• Writing, video, photos etc…
• You want to be good at?
• Train & practice – grow
your skills! (no shortcut)
• Frequent – use social tools
• Relevant – add value
• Consistent – stick to PVP
• Listen & learn
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20. Dos & don’ts?
• Engage!
• Comment regularly
• Share stuff you love
• Like stuff you like
• Thank people for comments
• Social signals impact search
results = impact your footprint
• Engagement brings your PVP
to life
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21. “Your future is created
by what you do today,
not tomorrow.”
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22. Questions next…
Simon Quance
Head of Strategy
+44 (0) 117 911 1420
s.quance@digitalvisitor.com
Twitter: @simonquance
LinkedIn: in/simonquance
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