How To Protect Your Shadow Footprint - Part 1

Huh? What are you talking about? What's a Shadow Footprint?

Good Question!   With our Social Web, it is important to protect your Digital Shadow because what others say about you online can either boost your image and reputation, or completely destroy it. This holds true regardless of what people say, whether they are talking about you, your brand or your business in a professional or personal manner.

Your Shadow Footprint is defined by what others have to say about you online. This includes pictures, video's, audio recordings and text posts on blogs, social media and internet websites. On the Social Web, your image and reputation is the the sum of Google's Search results.

Most of us have heard the message “Protect Your Digital Footprint”. Your Digital Footprint is defined as anything you put out on the internet and social media sites about yourself. Your Shadow Footprint is content and information that others post and publish about you or your business online.

While you may take the action to be a good Digital Leader, others may not, and what others say and post about you or your company can really hurt your reputation.

Why is it important to protect our Digital & Shadow Footprints?

In our digital world, most people go to the internet as their primary research tool to look things up on Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other search engines. Thinking about our Digital and Shadow Footprints, anything you, or others, put up about you on the internet is searchable and can have more meaning than anything you might include in a proposal, company overview, a resume or application paper.

Here's the thing, even if what is being said about you is not true, when people see things in print they tend to believe it, especially if the content is published on a credible site like an online article on a newspaper's website, or a podcast on a radio station's website.

The reality is our Digital & Shadow Footprints:

• Remain on the Internet Forever

• Are defined as the amount of content that is traceable back to a given individual, brand or company, whether the content is words, photographs, audio, or video … regardless of the publishing source

• Define our social identity, online brand and persona. As an internet user, we create our social identity in online communities, blogs and websites. It is defined through our actions, behaviors and interactions with others. Through our social identity people determine our online personality / persona which defines our online brand. Our online brand and persona is who we are as a person and how others perceive us online.

• Over time, our digital and shadow footprints combined, create our Social Identity

• Can be our new first impression.  By this I mean, people may meet you for the first time online through social media sites or reading about you on a blog or in the news. Think of it this way, you have probably met people online first through reading a news article, through your friends, or by joining an online community, before actually meeting them in-person offline. What they see about you online will create a first impression, and that impression will either be good or otherwise. I am sure many of you have accepted friend requests from people you never met, and did so because they had a positive online image. I am also sure many of you have declined friend requests or blocked people because of their online behavior and negative online image.

• Examples of Digital Footprint: photographs you uploaded to social sites, blog posts, shared video files, posts you wrote as status updates or comments you made on a friend's wall.

• Examples of Digital Shadow: photographs, video's and audio clips your friends or family members post about you as their update status, news articles published on the newspaper or radio station's website

As internet users, we are responsible for our own actions, and we need to be Digital Leaders. We can make a conscious decision to protect our Digital Footprint, as well as the Shadow Footprint of others by being a Digital Leader and a good Cybercitizen. We control what we post and we should not let technology betray us or others.

One of my all time favorite authors and speakers in Digital Marketing is Erik Qualman [@equalman]. When we interact through social media and email, he calls me #OhCanada and I just love it! Erik is the author of Socialnomics and Digital Leader, and he is a strong proponent for Digital Leadership. Two must read books for ANY user of the social web is Socialnomics and Digital Leader by Erik. I strongly encourage you to read both of his books as they are truly insightful.

While we can control our Digital Footprint we have no control over our Shadow Footprint. However, we can … and MUST ... take measures to protect it.

Next week, I will share part two of this two-part blog series. In part two, I will share strategies and tactics on how to actually protect your Shadow Footprint. In the meantime, if you have any questions on part one, please post questions on this blog, or you can post them to my Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/sweetmarketing

In closing this post, take a moment to watch “A Tale of Two Footprints” by Mr. Sheehy  This video reinforces the content in this post.

A Tale of Two Footprints from Mr. Sheehy on Vimeo.

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Nancy Beth is an Entrepreneur & Small Business Owner, Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada and a Motivational Speaker for Women & Girl Leadership.

• As an Internet and Digital Marketing veteran, Nancy Beth has vast experience in Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Online Safety and Protecting Your Digital Footprint.  Since 2010, Nancy Beth has been highly sought after to share her message on being a Digital Leader, using the Internet & Social Media for good, and how to safely navigate the Social Web. 

  
  

  Keynote Speaker | Executive Coach | Training Consultant | Founder of  Sweet Spot Marketing Canada (@sweetmarketing) |(@nbguptill) | Digital Leader |

   Women & Girl Leadership

USA Today - Social Media Makes It Easy to Share and Overshare Alike

Last night I was having trouble sleeping, so I pulled out my smartphone and did some Internet Research, then decided to search on my name to see what information would come up in a Google Search.

To my surprise, and excitement, I found an article authored by Kevin Shelly of Courier-Post, published in USA Today, with my name mentioned throughout the article. Here is the story behind how this happened.

In April 2013, I was giving presentations on "Protecting Our Children Online" and "Internet Safety & Digital Leadership" to local groups and organizations in Prince Edward Island, Canada as a Keynote Speaker at Annual General Meetings. During that time, I was tweeting, facebooking and blogging about the hazards of oversharing.  In a series of tweets, I shared that key management and decision makers avoid people who are negative online, bashing other people, companies, brands, politicians, etc., because they view these people as unstable and if they get disgruntled they'll take it to the social web versus other means ... so in other words, there's a total lack of trust and credibility in people who negatively overshare, challenge others, and complain on social media.  

This led to Kevin Shelly tweeting me (@kcshlly), asking if I would do an email interview because he was writing an article on oversharing.  I said yes, I would be happy to help and saw it as a good opportunity to share our message of Digital Leadership and Protecting Your Online Footprint.  I had absolutely no idea Kevin was writing the article for USA Today.  I answered the questions, added a few of the key findings of the research work I have been doing with East Prince Women's Information Centre, sent it off, and that was it.

Last night, I Googled my name, and found the USA Today Article and thought 'That's Pretty Cool'.  I then noticed the article is published on a few other news websites.  I honestly had no idea Kevin was writing the article for USA Today, however, I am happy that the message we have been sharing locally here in Prince Edward Island Canada, is now all over the social web .... Thank You Lord!

Below is the full article. To view it on USA Today: 
Social Media Makes It Easy To Share and Overshare Alike

Social media makes it easy to share and overshare alike

by Kevin Shelly, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post    Published: 05/09/2013 08:21pm

The good news with social media: It's easy to share.

The bad news? It's so easy to overshare.

Want proof? Google the word overshare. Check #overshare on Twitter.   

There's horror story after horror story. Maybe not Anthony Weiner of Weinergate fame bad, but bad.

Here are a few examples straight from Twitter's #overshare feed:

--"I lack any sense of forethought, higher-level reasoning skills or dignity. So I'm a big hit at parties. Add me!"

-- It's really not necessary to tell me you had a stomachache then follow it up with, "I was in the bathroom for a while."

Then there was this exchange:

"I feel bad for all my non-followers; you are missing out on reading my hilarious, embarrassing, and emotionally intense tweets."

Followed immediately by:

"had to unfollow due to your non-funny, embarrassing, and emotionally intense tweets."

Sometimes it isn't what is said, it's the sheer volume. In fact, FourSquare has created an overshare badge for users who "check in" — obsessively telling the world where they are — 10 or more times in a 12-hour period.

Frankly, unless you are one of George Clooney's ex-girlfriends, I don't care where you've just checked in, let alone that you have done so repeatedly. Hmm, I seem to have overshared here — and that's the point.

We all know someone who overshares. Sometimes it is us.

For instance, I have a relative who posted nearly 1,000 words, filled with intimate details of another relative's illness, in three Facebook status updates.

The three posts attracted more than 100 comments.

I was aghast, but held my tongue, trying to keep in mind that sooner or later, we all overshare.

Me included.

Stuck at home for two days while sick — never mind exactly how — I recently posted multiple times on Facebook out of utter boredom. I probably didn't go over the edge in terms of content, but the volume was certainly near the tipping point.

Someone I know posted numerous glazed-eye pictures, generally with a glass in hand. The person wrote things such as "marinate me in sauvignon blanc" as a status update. Let's just say this didn't help their case later — in court.

Nancy Beth Guptill -- who does marketing for Sweetspot Marketing in Prince Edward Island, Canada, advises social service agencies, and posts on the dangers of oversharing -- says businesses routinely monitor social network postings and checkout online profiles.

"Anybody can paint a really good picture of themselves in a resume and company portfolio — however — how they behave online gives insight into who they really are," she said.

"People who overshare, badmouth others, including companies, brands and complaining about customer service, are deemed untrustworthy. Also, from a cyber bullying point of view, people who overshare, that information often gets used against them by others wanting to hurt and harm them, plus predators seek out emotionally insecure people," said Guptill.

Guptill has some general pointers about things to keep in mind:

-- Postings are permanent.

-- "Secure" sites aren't secure.

-- Internet postings can carry more weight than a resume.

-- Your postings become your brand, including interactions with others.

-- People and organizations will "creep" your postings to learn about applicants, looking for insights regarding values and character.

Worrisome content includes:

-- Provocative photos and information.

-- Drugs and alcohol.

-- Badmouthing and rudeness.

-- Poor communications skills.

-- Gossip, complaining, discriminatory comments.

-- Sharing too much confidential information about self and others.

Guptill's final tip: Think before you post.

I have a tip of my own: Unfollow or unfriend folks who routinely overdo it. Don't announce to the world or the "friend" that you have done so. Simply move on.

Doing otherwise is, well, oversharing.

Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com

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Author: Nancy Beth Guptill
Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
Digital Marketing &  Social Media Training Consultant
http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter: @SweetMarketing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing

About Nancy Beth:   Nancy Beth is an Entrepreneur & Small Business Owner, Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada and a Motivational Speaker for Women & Girl Leadership.   As an Internet and Digital Marketing veteran, Nancy Beth has vast experience in Internet Marketing, Social MEdia Marketing, Online Safety and Protecting Your Digital Foot Print.   Since 2010, Nancy Beth has been highly sought after to share her message on being a Digital Leader, using the Internet & Social Media for good, and how to safely navigate the Social Web.

Complain About Others Online Much?

You Could Be Guilty of Internet Defamation & Cyber Bullying

Libel and Slander on the Internet is a Crime in Canada.

Photo Credit: @stickyJesus

There are many people who have a hard time managing their emotions and conducting themselves in a professional manner when they become disgruntled. With the internet right at their finger tips, they 'loose it' and feel the need to go online to use social media to harm others. They take all their anger and frustration online and loudly shout it out across their social networks and blog to complain and bad mouth their victim – whether their victim is a person or individual, a group or organization, or a business or brand.

Despite there being any truth in their complaints or not, it is now a crime in Canada to publicly bash and humiliate others online for personal gain, and to commit libel and slander online. This crime is called Internet Defamation.

It is important for Canadians to understand the internet was never meant to be used as a tool to harm others. It goes back to proper education. For some reason certain people think that they are entitled to behave this way - using social media to harm - when in fact they are committing a criminal offence

Take stock of your online behaviour and answer the question: Am I using social media for good, or am I using it to hurt others?

To narrow things down even further, ask yourself these questions .... are you:

1. someone who has written something spiteful, malicious or untrue about another person or entity online?
2. a consumer who has made public complaints on social networks or blogged negatively against a supplier because you were upset or mad at them?
3. Someone who rallied fans and followers against a person, a company or brand, encouraging negative behaviour of your fans and followers to participate in making negative derogatory comments?
4. Someone who rewards a fan or follower for making the `best` comment against the person or entity you were talking badly about online?
5. Someone who brags publicly online that you are posting negatively against a person or business on your social networks and blog to draw attention to yourself ?
6. someone who hops on the bandwagon - when seeing negative posts, you jump in to make negative comments yourself, or you re-tweet, share and re-post?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have committed Internet Defamation and Cyber Bullying - both of which are criminal offenses.

On the flip side, if you are a business, brand or individual who is on the receiving end of someone’s malicious, spiteful comments, you do have rights under Canada’s libel and slander laws. While at one time it was believed there is nothing that can be done, that is no longer the case here in Canada.

I have taken the following information from a Toronto Law Firm Website that may be helpful to those who are victims of Internet Defamation:  http://zvulony.ca/portfolio/ask-a-defamation-lawyer

The internet is a powerful communications tool. It gives us the unprecedented power to communicate a message instantly to our friends, family, and the world. The internet also empowers us to quickly reach a mass audience at a relatively inexpensive cost. Unfortunately, this power of communication can be abused all too easily.

Internet Revenge Victims

Is your business being ruined by a malicious consumer complaint or someone seeking on-line revenge? Has someone accused you of being a scam, a rip off, or a fraud. Are Google results ruining your reputation?

Defamation Law Issues
Are you a victim of a malicious consumer complaint? Has someone written something malicious or untrue about you online? Are you a blogger being silenced? Are search engine results ruining your reputation? Has someone accused you of defaming them? Are you an ISP or website owner concerned about the actions of your users? Do you have a question about Defamation of character?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is possible someone has committed Internet Defamation and you are entitled to seek professional council and take action against the person committing the crime.

On the flip side, if you are thinking `Gee, I have done these things – I am the person complaining about poor customer service and making spiteful comments about people and businesses online` or 'Yikes, I re-tweeted, re-posted and shared someone's complaints, I even threw in a few of my own complaints' ... you may want to re-think your online behavior and digital footprints.

Still wondering if you are guilty? Here`s a good list taken from @stickyjesus - if you`ve posted or seen posts like this - you`ve committed cyber bullying at least, and quite possibly Internet Defamation: http://stickyjesus.com/2011/02/count-to-10-before-you-hit-send



You’ve seen the posts (and just maybe even shared a few): The service @____ is horrible

• The waitresses @____ are clueless
• Some people don’t deserve to _____
• _____ customer service rep is______
• That idiot at _____ figured my bill wrong
• I will die of old age just waiting for service @____
• The pastor at ______ is preaching on ______ again
• My husband / wife is _____
• My kid never____
• That teacher is_____
• Our (insert government leader) is an _____

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOOD:

Some people reading this post may be wondering why we are so passionate about this topic.

The bottom line is we work with local, national and international organizations that promote the responsible use of digital media and being a good cyber friend and neighbour. In this line of work, we educate others on Internet safety, creating positive digital footprints, and protecting your online identity, reputation, image and brand (Reputation Management) amongst many other things.

We work with many Government organizations, industry groups and corporate clients on how to use the Internet and social media for marketing, promotions and business communication. We help companies and individuals realize the benefits of using digital technologies as communications and productivity enhancement tools.

We also work with women and girl organizations on Internet Safety. With the amount of online cyber bullying, we stress the importance of adults being good role models in responsible online behaviour and using social media for good, not to use it as a tool to harm and hurt others.

Naturally, in both realms, we need to keep a pulse on Canadian legislation as it relates to Internet Defamation.  Quite simply, many people are not aware that when they complain online about others, they are putting themselves at risk of committing criminal offences known as Internet Defamation and Cyber Bullying.

We encourage everyone to use the Internet and Social Media responsibly, and to be a good Cyber Friend & Neighbour. Lets lead by example and be good role models for responsible use online behavior.

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Author: Nancy Beth Guptill
Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Consultant
http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter: @SweetMarketing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing


ABOUT SWEET SPOT MARKETING:

MISSION:  We help companies and individuals realize the benefits of using digital technologies as communications and productivity enhancement tools.  Our goal is to encourage and motivate our clients to: Do, Act & Experiment.

DESCRIPTION:  We are Marketing, Digital Technology and New & Social Media training consultants. We live by the motto "It is better to know than to think you know - there is power in knowledge". Our goal is to share information on a variety of business development topics including digital technology, new and social media, marketing automation, creativity, commercial innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.