In session one of three for Digital District and George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, we discuss cleaning up your social media presence. In session two and three we show you how to slowly release the more important, professional areas of social media sites, and build out your personal brand.

1. How to clean up your Web presence

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A non-profit focuses on improving digital
literacy, best practices, and facilitating
conversations
Designed and managed by the DC
community, for the DC community
Previously called Social Media Club DC, which
was the largest chapter in the global
organization
Learn more at www.thedigitaldistrict.org

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Elliot Volkman (@TheJournalizer)
Co-Founder of Digital District
One part journalist, two parts
communications, and a bunch of social media
on top

5. Tweet with us using #GWUDD
Instructor @thejournalizer

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Establishing Your Personal Brand: How a
Strategic Online Presence Can Land You a Job
Before Graduation
◦ Hiding Last Friday Night: How to Clean Up and
Secure Your Online Networks
◦ Building Your Brand: How to Create and Build a
Strong Online Presence
◦ Personal SEO: How to Rank For Your Name on
Google

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Not all employers or recruiters will search for
your name; however, many do
Most won’t search past the first page
If you have a common name or share it with
someone famous, it’s more challenging to
control the information
Once you have the job, there is no law preventing
a company from monitoring your social accounts,
and you can be fired for what you post
Though it’s not used as frequently, it doesn’t
hurt to know what shows up on Bing

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Start by cleaning up Facebook, it ranks high
Select the Privacy option, then look at how
public your profile is:
Who can see my stuff? -> View as -> Public

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There is no way to completely hide your
profile
Always require approval for images, status
updates, and comments tagged to you
You can ask Facebook not to index your
profile, but it does not always work
Photos of you posted by friends can still be
found publicly
Your public comments on public groups or
friends walls can be accessed by anyone

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Applying to a job that involves social media
or journalism?
◦ Yes -> Don’t lock your profile
◦ No -> Lock your profile

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Don’t tweet about getting drunk, high, etc.
Don’t tweet about negative things relating to
your current job/classes
Be careful who you have conversations with
or tweet at, as their profile image will appear

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Check your profile and the photos/videos you
shared, this includes from conversations
Have a professional or at least normal photo
of yourself
Point your profile to a portfolio or something
professional
Make sure you don’t follow anyone that may
have an odd profile image, it will show up on
your profile

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Make your profile private while job searching
Go through and remove any questionable
content
Make sure you don’t publicly Like any images
that could get you in trouble
Selfies are acceptable, just no duck faces

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Set your custom URL to your name
Have a professional image
Build out your profile with as much
professional information as possible
(including internships, school clubs,
charitable work, etc.)
Ask for recommendations from friends,
professors, and anyone else that you have
worked with

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Google yourself
Personal view vs Public view

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Set up a Google Alert
◦ http://www.google.com/alerts
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Have extra questions?
◦ Send them to @thejournalizer or @alexkstevens

30. Learn more about the digital space
 Meet awesome people
 Get a student discount
 Connect with hiring managers
 Join the street team and get into free events
 Build a stronger social following
http://bit.ly/joinddgw
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