How to improve your online image.

Hands up all those who have Googled someone in the past week. Now, keep your hand up if you Google yourself in that time. Chances are - there aren't many hands left in the air.

According to branding and social media experts, few people bother to check what the internet says about them. Yet, employers, colleagues and potential partners often turn to Google as the first port of call when investigating others.

Problem.

In this electronic age, relationships often begin before you've met someone thanks to that almost unlimited amount of information available online. With just a name, we can spend 5 minutes doing a quick Google search and locate a tonne of personal information.

When you're heading to meet someone in person, chances are they've done their research. "People will search for information before they meet you and afterwards as well" says Krishna De, a social media and branding expert.

Psychologists are now beginning to claim that internet searches have taken over from traditional reference sources like word of mouth. Now, it appears, our searches are beginning with the internet and our friends are coming second.

Therefore, what the internet says about you is very important. The good news is that it is relatively easy to give your online image a quick makeover. Here's how.

1. Find out what you're dealing with

The first step is to do a search on yourself. In this day and age, Googling yourself isn't about stroking your ego. It's an essential tool for reputation management. So are you happy with what the net says about you? Any wild nights out you'd rather keep private?

Plenty of people do a search on themselves and find comments or photos of private events that are never going to be great as a first impression. Social networking sites, like Facebook, have privacy settings that restrict access to photos but most people don't use these so there is no barrier to obtaining their personal information. Use these settings to separate the personal from the professional. The rule of thumb is that if you wouldn't be happy for everyone to see it - friends, family, colleagues and your boss - keep it private. After all, pictures can speak a thousand words.

2. Online credentials are a must

Recruiters and potential employers are increasingly expecting to see someone's professional credentials online. Whilst recruiters won't solely rely on this information, if they can't find anything then there is a growing attitude that you can't be very proactive or a contributor. Employers may be impressed by what they find out about you or unimpressed by a lack of information.

Expect recruiters, clients, colleagues, suppliers and even other interviewees to do a search. So do yourself a favour and put your professional image out there. Sites like LinkedIn and Ziggs are a great way to build a professional profile. Unlike a blog, they don't take much effort to maintain and are highly credible sources of information.

3. Consistency is key

The crucial element in building a coherent profile is consistency. "Before you create your entry, think about what you want to become known for" says Krishna De. You need to keep things consistent so that people can identify you and follow you through different sites. Especially if your name is John Smith.

Each time that your name is mentioned, it leaves a digital footprint which is not only affected by what you say but also what others say about you. The key to burying any irrelevant or outdated results is to create a lot of new entries. People are often lazy and won't go beyond the first few pages of a Google search on your name.

4. One step further

Finally, take things one step further by writing book reviews on sites like Amazon or publishing an article on your area of expertise on ezinearticles.com. Commenting on other people's blogs can also add gravitas. You could also use discussion strands, professional journals and blogging. However, be aware that anything you write that whatever you write could be found by someone. The internet is public and permanent so things can quickly come back to haunt you. If you put anything online, make sure you are happy to stand by it.

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