This brief post is all about the trail of published content we leave around the Internet and the impact this has on our reputation.
When I was starting out in sales and marketing, one of my former bosses advised me to always engage my brain before I engaged my mouth. His point, was that it was easy to say the wrong thing by accident – simply by not thinking first. That was well over 20 years ago, but his advice is just as valid today as it was when I was a 21 year old, hot-headed salesman.
However, in the era of the Internet and social media, it’s just as important for us to think before we post content to a forum, a blog or our accounts on services like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc. Just last month, both Google and bing.com announced deals with Twitter, to allow them to show real-time search results from people’s tweets. In other words, it’s no longer ‘just’ the millions of people with Twitter accounts, who can search your tweets, but anyone that wants to!
It’s hard to get the toothpaste back in the tube
Once we hit that send, publish or tweet button – that’s it: Another chapter in our online profile has been created. The challenge with the written word online, is that it’s a bit like toothpaste. Toothpaste is really easy to get out of a tube, but very, very difficult to get back in again. What we publish online leaves a trail around the Internet, which anyone can follow.
Even after it’s deleted, much of the material we publish online is still possible to locate. This is what my good friends at Symantec call your digital tattoo.
Then, let’s not forget that anyone can use The Internet Archive for free, to track ‘deleted’ websites and the content of those sites! Quick tip: If you have never used the Internet archive, give it a go – it’s amazing!
Our clients, future clients, employer or future employers can easily get a snapshot of the kind of person we are, simply by knowing how to use Google. Business owners and consultants would do well to consider that by most estimates, over 90% of people now check-out a potential service provider online, before they decide to do business with them.
Always remember, once you hit that send / tweet / publish button – It’s gone. However, it’s seldom gone forever!
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I see people on sites cussing each other and saying how drunk they are. Do they even know that people can see that stuff?
I see companies or ‘brands’ every day either arguing with people in blog comments / forums or on Twitter / Friendfeed.
Some people seem to believe that once a message has left a screen, it can’t hurt them. It can!
Thanks Alyson.
The internet never forgets and so there will be times when things are written that should never have been sent.
I also feel it is having another effect though by making people overly cautious. When you are worried about everything you say it can sometimes make the message blander and “safer”.
A balance somewhere in the middle is needed. The internet is also fickle and while comments may lay dormant for people to find later today’s “Fry Quits Twitter” was yesterdays “Jan Moir”…
Good points there Nigel, thanks.
I think you’re right about balance = particularly when it comes to businesses and brands. In their case, I think it’s about letting enough of their personality come across, whilst remembering to keep the information consistent with how they want to be perceived.
We must have been thinking on the same lines, Jim. I just wrote about Facebook No-Nos from the career professional vantage point but you are right, it affects us as business owners too. I am careful what I say online but people notice. Last summer when I was struggling with too much work, I put “I’m sad” or something like that on my profile on FB. My other role with Wausau Whitewater connects me personally with many people who live out of the area but I see when they come to the water. I had people checking up on me on the river… Now if such a relatively “safe” comment can generate responses, what can a drunken tirade do?
Good advice as usual!
I agree with Jim, I think it’s really, really important to have personality in your online communications – I guarantee that people feel more connected to you because of your ‘I’m sad’ comment. As long as you also offer business value, it’s a good mix.
In real life, people say things off topic, they might even say the wrong thing. Often, this just results in them being more human and a real bond being created.
I think ‘mistakes’ – as in potentially inappropriate comments – aren’t always a bad thing. I completely agree that blogging, commenting etc while drunk in a business context would be a terrible idea
… that said, on something like Twitter, I think even that is forgiven… as long as you’re not being abusive, of course.
This is called corporate censorship and it is hogwash. On youtube for example some of the biggest channels, the ones youtube makes a ton of money off talks of sex and violence. Right now companies can get away with firing people for social media… but in time we online will unite and make it so unpleasant they will fear the backlash… businesses only have the power cause we are fractured online but if we unite… the same tweets that got you fired can be used to drive away business…
Thanks for the feedback Gebadia.
I agree we should all be free to say whatever we please online. The point of this post, is to let people know that what they say is often permanent.
As you say, some companies are firing people for what they say on sites like Facebook – there was a high profile case here in the UK. The company in question got a ton of bad publicity for firing the employee: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/4838076/Office-worker-sacked-for-branding-work-boring-on-Facebook.html
Bottom line for me, is to do what you think is right for YOU online – so long as you make that choice knowing that it’s usually searchable.
Jim, at the end of the day it comes down to common sense.
In the case of that employee it showed lack of common sense to say those things about her job with her boss as a friend who can see what she has said.
Which also applies to the companies that let their employees argue with companies online as well.
Sadly we live in a world with very little common sense being applied.
Come to think of it Darren, they might want to rename common sense UNcommon sense; it’s that rare. Thanks for the comment.
I was thinking about this recently as well, Jim. Scary thought when you step back and think about it.
But it is our responsibility to be aware of the consequences. If we choose to interact with this medium of the Internet, we need to play by its rules (nothing goes away).
I think the near future will be showing the real impact of this (as I think the recent past has).
Interesting feedback there Tim.
I think your final point is extremely good. As new technologies make it easier to collect information on people and (just as importantly) process that data, I think we might see some significant changes to internet privacy. Time will tell.
It is easy to flip right off the handle and say things without thinking. I have often been accused of having a “broken inner dialog”. I believe that if you write it, you had better be ready to stand behind it. I know that I say things that will not meet with every reader’s taste, but you can bet that I will back it up with my integrity. Sure, I may apologize once in a while, but not for saying something I did not mean.
I recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for death threats … yes, actual BOMB threats … that I received on my blog. It was in response to a blog post that I certainly did not think to be incendiary, nor did any of the many other respondents. Although the reader may not like my writing, it seems that it is little reason that he/she should risk going to jail.
I wrote a piece about cyber bullying after this insane event. It does not have to be cyber bullying to be abusive. Remember that many of the things we write will not be accepted the same as intended. Sometimes there is a language barrier, a religious difference, or a wide cultural divide that we may not foresee. It is always important to be aware that once you click that send button, your words are up for interpretation and scrutiny.
I hope that you do not mind me including a link, Jim. This is the piece I wrote about cyber-bullying and it is just an extreme example of instances when people type without their mind.
http://www.awebguy.com/2009/11/cyber-bullying-death-threats-and-other-cyber-crimes/
Another interesting point to note is how young people view privacy. We’ve got guys in their early 20s working for us here, and their attitudes to privacy are very, very different from mine.
They don’t seem to care greatly about the information they share online – they find it completely acceptable to share very personal details in a public space – it simply doesn’t trouble them.
As these ‘natives’ progress through their careers, I think these attitudes will grow with them – and this could have a large impact on how information is shared (and stored) online.
Excellent point!
Maybe that’s how the next generation will be Nigel (I’m 44 BTW.) I grew up in an era where people were more closed-off, BUT I actually believe 100% in transparency. So long as people know their information is public, it’s their choice what to do. Personal choice MUST come first.
Thing before you Tweet, blog, post in a forum, or anything else on the web. Because once it’s on Google, it’s there forever!
My general rule of thumb is if it’s something that my grandmother is going to find offensive at the dinner table, then I’m not writing it (tweeting it, posting it, etc.).
Really great post. I always check out potential clients before working with them. And as my mother once said if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all. It can ruin your reputation.
Jim, really great advice. We hear so many stories of kids NOT getting into Harvard because of something they put on their MySpace page.
Same issue for companies and business professionals.
Common sense rules the day. If you’re going to say something online, at least make that decision consciously, being fully aware of the perception others might have.
Jim:
Good post. Web comments are like tattoos. Just today in fact, I googled my own name to see how many blog posts came up.
There were a ton and on page 3 or so, there was a petty now-embarrassing argument I had with another photographer (that was my thing then) about some inane Photoshop scripts and blown highlights in photos. It was from about 10 years ago!!
Now after 10 years of learning how to keep calm, pick my battles and act like a gentleman online, this looked really petty and immature.
I’m sure most of us have locked into one of these online battles in the olden days.
So, keep in mind. It’s all out there still. And for a long time.
Well I have the same opinion as soon as you hit the button you are into a global platform called internet. So make sure you have proof read your content before publishing. There’s a famous saying “It’s useless to cry over spilt milk”. So ensure before posting may lead you towards success as well as strengthen your business. People have too many resources to check your past record and if it’s bad then you are probably going to lose potential clients.