Based on last week's Young Professional's Mixer, today's entry gives a quick run-down of the information provided for us by guest speaker Erika Spalding, Didlake Inc. Erika was kind enough to share her notes with us. Thanks Erika!

Today's business professional must recognize that anything posted online has the power to affect their reputations among clients and colleagues. Online content may influence your career and alter public perceptions. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing! Take some precautions and you can affect your professionalism for the better.

Here are some helpful hints that, while based on common sense, may not be so obvious:

• Don't post photos or status updates when you call in sick...especially if you were not really sick!
• Disclosing trade secrets or classified information could lead to termination or loss of security clearance.
• Beware of libel and defamation (Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a printed or fixed medium, such as a magazine or newspaper while defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person which causes that person to suffer harm).
• Consider yourself a 24/7 Professional- If you are a salaried employee then you are technically always on duty. Think twice about what you post on your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or personal blog!
• Refrain from arguing! We know its archaic but please pick up the phone if you have a point of contention with someone's post. If its really none of your business, then take the high road by not responding at all!
• Be picky about who you friend. It is suggested that you review your friends lists quarterly. Don't be afraid to weed some people out. Create lists so that you can have full control over who sees what.
• Stay up to date on privacy settings!
• If you have followers on Twitter or blog subscribers, be aware of who they are!
• Always use social media on your own time and on your own computer. (Note: The Blackberry given to you by the office is a work computer!)
• Follow all social media and privacy guidelines set forth by your organization. Err on the side of a conservative interpretation and you should be pretty safe.
• If you are friends with a client/patient, refrain from discussing business with them online.
• Do not identify any client by name.

Before we close this post, there are just a few more things to consider as you navigate the wide world of social media:

• Discussion posts are often indexed by search engines such as Google. Have you ever done a search and found entries from chat rooms or discussion boards? If you post a critique on a discussion board, it is being shared and indexed by Google unless you are in a private group. 
• Your posts never die, even if you delete them. Broadcasting tools like TweetDeck and HootSuite are a great example. Messages deleted from Twitter will not be deleted from the broadcasting tools. Others can still retweet your deleted post! Be sure to post online only the things that you would wanted printed on the front page of the Washington Post!
• Be aware of any code of conduct agreements you may have signed. Is your reputation linked to your company? If so then you are accountable to someone less forgiving than dear old Granny.

If nothing else, awareness is key in maintaining your professionalism in the world of social media. Being connected online can lead to an expanded business network, a major sale; any number of positives. Its important that you use your network to promote those positives and eliminate the negatives. Happy Tweeting!