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Importance of Digital Footprint Upkeep

A digital footprint is everything that shows up when people search for you or your business online. Have you ever searched yourself or your business online? You should be everywhere that makes sense for you and your business. The more places you are, the more Google will find you. You should be actively adding content and engaging with anyone who checks out your profile.

What is your digital footprint?

A digital footprint is everything that shows up when people search for you or your business online. Have you ever searched yourself or your business online? Try it and see what shows up. If there isn’t a lot to find, there won’t be a lot to see. That’s a problem when you want clients to find you. The other side is all those forgotten profiles you set up and never did anything with. Think they won’t hurt you? Think again.

Where should you be?

You should be everywhere that makes sense for you and your business. The more places you are, the more Google will find you. If you can’t manage multiple social media platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube then it doesn’t make sense to use those platforms. Why? Because you need to be actively adding content and engaging with anyone who checks out your profile. Dead platforms are not the type of footprint you want to have.

Choose platforms that you can easily access, add content and will visit routinely to check in and converse with anyone who’s left a comment. Don’t leave them hanging. They’ll hang out somewhere else.

Delete social platforms that you are no longer using

When you searched yourself, did you find that Twitter account you set up 3 years ago and never did anything with? Was there a Google + business page that you haven’t posted to in a year? You want to make sure that your most used or most fruitful online platforms are showing up when your business is searched. Why? Because leftover profiles look sloppy and might raise questions for potential clients about how up to date your practices are. Seem extreme? It is. But do you want to take that chance?

Update your bio!

All those new treatments that you offer, where did you learn how to do them? You need to back up your knowledge, and as well keep yourself up to date on new products and services in your field. New clients will be looking for your qualifications, this is a form of trust. If you do not update your qualifications, it is hard to build the trust.

On the bio front, personal pictures and presence on the internet are a part of your digital footprint too. While you are a consummate professional now, we all have those moments that we wish would disappear. I am sure that you would not be happy if that booze fest college photo of you showed up on an old friends Facebook page because you were tagged on it. Search for your name and un-tag yourself immediately or try to get photos like that taken down.

Update and track your passwords and platforms

This is very important. It is easy in this day in age to forget passwords, user names and links to the multitude of platforms available. This is just as important as spring cleaning your house or office. Having all of your usernames and passwords organized will save you time, money and energy throughout the year.

If you are anything like me I had sticky notes with passwords all over the place and didn’t know what password was for what. There are lots of free apps and websites that offer safe password storage. Keep it all in one secure place. If you do not want to go 100% digital yet, keep a hard copy in your filing cabinet and put a reminder in your calendar to update it frequently.

Namaste!