The document discusses managing your online identity. It states that your online identity represents you and your interests through your email addresses, screen names, websites, social media accounts, and the content and behavior associated with them. It emphasizes being clear about who and what you represent with different online accounts and identities to build your personal and professional brands. It also provides tips on choosing identifiers, profiles, and accounts to represent yourself consistently across the internet.

1. Managing & Maximizing Your Online Identity by Roxanne Darling knowhowcafe.com [“rox”] barefeetstudios.com beachwalks.tv BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

2. Who am I? Your identity is how people know you on the internet. It confers certain rights & responsibilities. You may have many online identities, in many forms. Consistency and transparency can help you build your personal as well as company brand. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

3. Online Identity - what Your online identity is a virtual way of representing yourself & your interests; it may take various forms: Your email address(es) Your screen name(s) - both real name and aliases Your avatars/gravatars Your web site address(es) The content at each of these locations Your behavior on each interactive web site BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

4. Online Identity - what (2) In some cases you will have personal and professional identities. Be clear when you are representing your company or yourself, or in some cases both. If you are a company, it’s important to monitor your brand as others may be assuming your identity under false premises. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

5. Online Identity - who It is important to be clear and consistent about who/what you represent with different accounts. If you are using an email address from work, you are by default representing your company’s interests. If you are using your home email address, you are more clearly speaking for yourself. If you’re a “solo-preneur” or in business for yourself, it’s easy to blur the line between the personal you and the professional you. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

6. Online Identity - why We use an online identity because it’s convenient. Our websites and email addresses are where/how we communicate with others. Our online “brand” helps establish trust with our customers. Being consistent with your identity across the web also helps search engines know where to find you. Our identity is also used for “authentication” when you conduct secure transactions online. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

7. Online Identity - where Our online identities can be used in many online situations, including our web sites, email, and blogging, as well as Twitter and other social networking tools. We can use our identities on many different devices: iphones & blackberries, computers, Apple TV, etc. Our online identity, and the brand that we develop with it can be local or global. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

8. Online Identity - where (2) Start Here: get a gmail account for your name & company get a web site address for your name & company get a Twitter account at twitter.com get a LinkedIn account at linkedin.com get a Facebook account at facebook.com get a Flickr account at flickr.com BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

9. Visit the membership or transactional website. Choose “Register” or “Sign” up link Your email address is often the “key identifier.” You can usually change it later if necessary. Your username and/or screen name is what is publicly displayed. Choose it wisely! It usually cannot be changed if it is a username. Add any additional “profile info” that is accepted. Upload your picture or use a gravatar. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com Online Identity - how

10. Online Identity - how (2) Think strategically about how your online identity helps (or hinders) the interactions with others. Most business people use their real names as that is how they want others to find and remember them. This “transparency” builds your “personal brand.” Sometimes a company name is used, even though one or more people may be managing the account. For personal use or special projects, many people use a nickname, and this is often recommended for kids using online networks. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

11. Online Identity - how (3) Keep your identities “filed” by categories (business, personal, shopping, etc.) Develop tricks for remembering your usernames and passwords. Have an alternate screen name especially if your preferred name is common and already in use. Use Google alerts and other search tools to track your identity in other people’s hands. Create custom tags for events & projects. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

12. Online Identity - when If you are thinking of starting a new project, go ahead and buy the web address. Grab your “screen name” at different online services as you learn about them, even if you don’t plan to use it for now. This keeps someone else from using “your name.” It’s also known as protecting your online real estate. Just as you keep track of your passwords, it’s a good idea to keep track of your usernames and your screen names. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

13. Join Us on the Social Web! The social web is a rich and wonderful place to make friends and conduct business. Just like offline, there are standards of behavior that when understood, can truly serve you and your interests. Just like offline, some neighborhoods are more to your liking than others, and sometimes it takes knowing someone personally before you can appreciate the hidden jewels that “locals” know about and enjoy. Unlike offline though, it is generally easier to make friends and build your business in unexpected ways. Serendipity abounds on the social web. BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com

14. Credits Conceived and written by: Roxanne Darling co-creator of KnowHow Cafe: knowhowcafe.com ceo at Bare Feet Studios: barefeetstudios.com host of Beach Walk with Rox: beachwalks.tv Email: roxanne@barefeetstudios.com Twitter: roxannedarling Contributors: Judi Clark digital identity coach; twitter: @judico Shane Robinson my everything partner; twitter: @shane BrightTalk 25 November 2008 Roxanne Darling • barefeetstudios.com