The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Recently, Readers Digest posted an excellent article by Michael Fertik, CEO and founder of ReputationDefender . It is a subject I am very much passionate about - and for full disclosure, I am also a long time client and fan of ReputationDefender.  At the Internet is growing and expanding at record speed - keeping up can be almost impossible!  However it is imperative you do your best to be in touch with your virtual reputation - and protect your kids, especially your teens that will be applying to colleges and looking for employment. From Readers Digest: As cyberbullying becomes more and more prevalent in the news and in our children's lives it's important to talk to your kids about their online reputation, especially on social networks, and how it can affect their real lives. Here are 5 basic tips to guide your child as they navigate the Internet: 1. If it’s Online, Consider it Public Information There’s no way to guarantee that what you post online will stay ...

At first glance you would think this is a misprint, but after applying online to a health food store, a young college grad student was asked to provide his Facebook link as part of the application process.  Before doing this, he did change his photo, and this is not implying his photo was inappropriate, however really wasn't what you want a potential employer to view.  It was a silly photo of him and his friends on a Merry-Go-Round, not exactly a first impression you want a future employer to view or misunderstand. In reality, many employers and college admissions are viewing Facebook pages.  We don't need The Social Network movie that took the number one spot for two weeks in a row, to remind us of how powerful the Internet has become. Just recently, Jessica Bennett , wrote an amazing article for Newsweek - " What The Internet Knows About You ."  If you haven't read it, now would be a good time, and remember to pass it on to your friends and...

Skip the holiday presents - give the gift of virtual presence! The who: * Help jump-start your potential college applicant/application. * Out of work? Learn to promote your skills online. * Professional or small business owner? Learn to own and manage your virtual image. The why: •53% of Americans Google each other. Pew Internet & American Life •26% of college admissions officers use search engines to research candidates. University of Massachusetts Center for Market Research •64% of teens say that most teens do things online that they wouldn’t want their parents to know about. anti-drug.com •77% of executive recruiters use search engines to research applicants. CareerBuilder The how: Tip 1: Check out your social networking sites. If there is information or photo’s on there you wouldn’t share with your grandparents, chances are they shouldn’t be on the Internet. Keep it clean! Tip 2: Sign up for personal branding services. This is free. Services such as Naymz , Ziggs , LinkedIn a...