Final Thoughts

Overall, from this project I take away the knowledge that everything and anything you do online is a component of your online identity. From various news articles to organizations, I learned the significance of my online identity and how everyone's online identity now affects their offline identity. This is a very prevalent issue in society, as it is contributing to all areas of our lives, that will not be solved anytime soon. The issue may only become greater as more social media sites are developed, more security concerns are brought forward and people increase the amount of time they spend living online.
While most people immediately think of their online identity as a negative aspect of their lives that they must attempt to hide from others and employers, there are many ways reasons your online identity should not be hidden, as discussed throughout the blog. Everyone must remember, myself included, that your online identity now is a significant aspect of of you are and how people are going to perceive you, therefore it is important to act as you should offline, respectful and appropriate. Always remember to be a safe online user and think about how you can use your identity is a positive way.

In Conclusion....

Never having a blog before, I never truly understood the use of this tool. In fact, upon completing this project, I was able to see the true benefits of having a blog post- especially for one's online identity. Many individuals use blogs to update their fan base on their travels, or their interests. Case in point, it is a great tool to be used as a portfolio. Gwenyth Paltrow is a celebrity who consistently updates her wildly successful blog, Goop. She comments on specific cities, and where to go when there, as well as recipes, and restaurant recommendations. I for one, love reading her blog, as it is a great way to obtain suggestions on places I've never visited!
This project was a great introduction into the blog world. It was interesting to me how a simple 200 word post about a current event or class discussion could be a captivating idea, even on a single topic-Online Identity.
Although I didn't find having a blog too strenuous, I don't believe I will continue to have one. This is because, I find that my interests lie in areas that my family and friends may not necessarily care for. My roommate, however, has a fashion blog, in which she loves to update regularly, as that is a true interest of hers. In fact, she is building it to add to her resume to ensure she has experience in the fashion world when applying for jobs later on.
I've learned that individuals can talk about anything on their blog, however as we've learned in class, they must be careful. Things posted on the Internet are there forever, so before writing an inappropriate comment, or starting a controversial post, think about who could be potentially reading your blog. However, I have also learned that blogs can truly be useful, for recommendations and suggestions.
Be careful what you post and have fun!

More than an Online Resume

LinkedIn has grown to be highly successful, allowing people to publish their resume online and connect with others. While everyone should have LinkedIn, depending on the type of work one does, some should consider going further than just publishing their resume online and instead develop an online portfolio. Many people are using Pinterest to their advantage to develop an online portfolio. The following article discusses how Pinterest allows you to build an interactive portfolio that showcases your talents in a unique way. By using Pinterest you can share snapshots that link back to your blog, samples of your work, articles or interviews you have contributed to and clubs or organizations you belong to, all while broadening the number of people who view your work. Pinterest allows you to showcase your work in addition to expressing your personality and interests. Check out the article to read the useful tips and points on developing a portfolio with Pinterest.

http://www.onwardsearch.com/Graphic-Designer-Jobs/careers/Graphic-Design-Portfolio/

Social Media Profiles for Companies

It is not only are students who are worried about their online identity, companies also put an importance on their online identity but for different reasons. It is crucial for companies to keep their online identity up to date as a company evolves. "How to Effectively Rebrand Your Social Media Profiles" is an article that discusses the appropriate steps that are necessary to take, should a company decide their online profile needs to be rebranded. Like any individual, a company can use various social media sites to create an online presence, such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Clearly communicating the company and changes that are being made is essential to ensure current customers remain loyal and new customers become attracted to the company. With people spending an increasing amount of time on the Internet it becomes more important for companies to use this platform to reach and communicate with its' customers. Read the article and learn about the three steps of rebranding a company's online profile.

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/rebrand-your-social-media-profiles/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=linkedin

Online Applications and Identity Theft

How many times have you applied for a job through an online application? Today, online application systems are widely used by various companies. It is easier for companies to narrow their search for the right applicant, which is why we see more and more companies using the internet to post and accept job applications. As privacy is always an issue with the internet, it becomes a greater issue with people applying to jobs, as people are required to submit their resumes which include personal information.

Personal information, including phone number and address, is information no one wants in the wrong hands. Identity theft is a important issue that everyone must consider when applying online and developing an online identity. This information combined with the information thieves can find and access on social media sites makes identity theft much easier.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation in the UK offers some suggestions to stay safe and help protect everyone from identity theft. Make sure to click on the link below to ensure you are being safe when applying for jobs.

http://www.rec.uk.com/jobseeker/jobseekercvs/protect-cv

Using Online Identities to Target Consumers

Have you ever signed onto Facebook and looked at the advertisements on the side panel? Have you ever been shocked at how well the advertisers seemed to know you? I definitely have. The coolest, and creepiest part of your online identity, is that social media websites and companies trying to advertise are able to tailor the ads to you!

That means, depending on how much information you publicize (your interests, your hometown, the city you reside in now, schools you’ve attended, your major, etc…), the more tailored the advertisements are. This is because the companies know more about you and what you’d be interested in buying.

In a marketer’s point in view, this is a great way to get the most out of your advertisements and thus, be the most successful. However, as the consumer, it makes me feel uncomfortable, as they know too much about me.

What do you think? Are you uneasy with what companies know about you? 

Using your Online Identity in a POSITIVE Way!

With Movember upon us, the month where many males grow moustaches to support prostate cancer, I started to think about how our online identities can be used in such powerful and positive ways.

Many of my friends that are trying to raise money and awareness for Movember, are using their online identities, (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail etc…) to promote the cause to all of their friends and try to raise money to meet their goal.

Although I’ve discussed many ways in which your online identity can be used in negative ways, using it to raise awareness and money for a worthwhile cause is definitely a positive way to use one’s online identity.

 Have you seen any of your friends post about their Movember pages? Have they posted about any other charities? I think it’s a great use of social media and definitely gets your message across, fast.  

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1280705--movember-raises-funds-and-awareness-for-male-mental-health-and-prostate-cancer