Online image

NaBloPoMo October 2012I got behind this week — actually missing posting a few days. As such, I am digging back a few days into the NaBloPoMo blog prompts. Today’s prompt is from Wednesday: 

Do you give a lot of thought to your image online?

The short answer: YES!

I strive to be a diverse individual. One of the things I loved about majoring in journalism was the many, many electives my degree plan gave me. It let me branch out and sample many things that interested me. (At least in theory. Many classes I wanted were either full or restricted to specific degrees.)

When I started this blog, I had a hard time deciding what to focus on in its content. To be truly successful in the blogging world, I feel like you need to hone your topic to one, maybe two, topics. It’s why there are photo blogs, recipe blogs, review blogs, religion blogs, etc. However, my interests are so vast, and all so important to me, I couldn’t focus on one topic! So this blog is as much of a mish-mash of things as I am.

And that… that can be very stressful for me. Because I am very aware of my online image.

For example, I recently gave my blog link to a colleague of my husband’s. Immediately, I started fretting over what my latest posts were about. I knew I had a few short moments to draw this person into my writing and hopefully gain their respect as a writer and photographer. (And by extension, would my posts shine weird on my husband some how?) Would my last post turn them off in seconds? Or would it just give them a glimpse into another facet of who I am?

I occasionally do a Google search of my own name to see what someone might find if they do the same search. I scour my various profiles at least once a month. Do I still stand behind what I’ve shared? Does it present to the world the truth without over-sharing? Am I professional where I need to be professional? Am I open and honest where that is required?

There are warnings all over the place about not sharing too much about yourself for security purposes. In the same breath, its advisable to be open so opportunities can present themselves to you just as much as you chase them. Where is that line? Where do you find the center of that balancing act?

All I can do is keep in mind everything I do online stays out there online, wide and varied as it all may be. It’s all true to who I am, and I suppose if there is anything that is most important in my online image its that I am honest. And that is something I can always stand behind proudly.